Boise

Understand

Although its economic growth has its roots in agriculture, the city is now home to many high-tech firms, including Micron Technology. Related to Idaho's agricultural history, notable food-related firms such as Albertson's, WinCo Foods and the J.R. Simplot Company are headquartered in this city. Although the origin of the name is disputed, "Boise" is thought to be derived from the French les bois, or "the woods." The name is a reference to the tree-lined Boise River, which passes through the heart of the city. To this day the city takes its "City of Trees" moniker very seriously, although before white settlement, there were actually very few trees in the area. Boise began its life in the mid-1800s as Fort Boise, a U.S. Army installation located at a strategic junction on the Oregon Trail between what were then the major settlements in southern Idaho Territory, the mining camps of Silver City to the south and Idaho City to the northeast. A city grew quickly around the fort, and by 1865 became the capital of Idaho Territory (much to the chagrin of northern Idahoans, namely residents of the original capital of Lewiston). By the dawn of the 20th century, Boise was far and away the dominant city in the region, having long eclipsed the likes of Silver City and Idaho City. Today Boise is sometimes seen as the eastern edge of the Pacific Northwest, or the western edge of the Rocky Mountains, or both, depending on whom you ask. Downtown Boise and the North End neighborhood offer a PNW feel every bit as strong as anything in Portland or Seattle, while suburbs such as Meridian and Nampa steadfastly cling to the decidedly self-reliant ethos of the Intermountain West. Boise is a sports town strongly supporting its local teams, especially the ECHL Idaho Steelheads (which as of 2018 have never missed the playoffs in their entire history), and the college football powerhouse at Boise State University. Slowly but surely, Boise is beginning to accept its role as a major metropolitan area in the western United States, while at the same time embracing its small town past. Regions of the city are best distinguished by the age of construction (pre-1950s, 1950s-1980s suburbs, and post-1990 suburbs) and the affluence of their inhabitants, with the premier exception being the downtown core, which primarily consists of non-residential corporate and nightlife establishments. The North End refers to a distinct neighborhood due to the grid style of street construction, smaller pre-1940s suburban houses, relatively dense vegetation, and numerous amenities within walking distance of m

Getting there

By plane 1 Boise Airport (BOI IATA), 3501 W Airport Way (terminal at the south end of S Vista Ave, off of I-84 at Exit 53). is less than 5 mi (8.0 km) south of downtown Boise. It can be directly accessed from both directions of Interstate 84 at Vista Rd (Exit #53). Getting downtown from the airport is simple, essentially requiring driving in a straight line (i.e. north on Vista Avenue). The airport is serviced by several airlines, including Alaska, Allegiant, American, Delta, Jetblue, Southwest, and United.The airport sports a modern terminal building and offers free WiFi.Buses #3 and 4 run hourly from the airport to downtown Boise and further. It costs $1 or a daypass is $2. (updated Jun 2018)

By car Boise can be accessed by car via Interstate 84, which connects to Meridian, Nampa, and eventually Oregon to the west, and to Twin Falls and eventually Utah to the southeast. Boise can also be accessed via State Highway 55 from McCall and Northern Idaho. Boise can also be accessed via State Highway 21 from Idaho City, Stanley, and broadly into central Idaho.

By bus 2 Greyhound, (bus station) Flying J Travel Center at 3353 Federal Way (Federal Way & Broadway Ave, off of Exit 54 from I-84), ☏ +1 208-343-3681, toll-free: +1-800-231-2222. Greyhound travels primarily on Interstate 84 (Portland, Hood River, The Dalles, Baker City, Stanfield/Hermiston, Pendleton, La Grande, Ontario, Nampa, Boise, Twin Falls, Burley, Tremonton, Ogden and/or Salt Lake City) some eastbound buses continue contiguously from Salt Lake City to Denver. Passengers transfer buses in Portland, Salt Lake City and Stanfield, OR to reach additional destinations. The stop for the #2 bus into town is at S Federal Way and Findley Ave in front of Walgreen's next door.Take the #2 bus going the opposite way (west) on opposite side of Federal Way for going to the airport. (updated Dec 2016) Salt Lake Express, Bus stop at Boise Airport (load in the Shuttle/Taxi pick up lane.), ☏ +1 208-656-8824, toll-free: +1-800-356-9796. Travel primarily on Interstates 84 & 86 towards Pocatello via Mountain Home, Burley and Twin Falls. Passengers transfer buses in Pocatello to continue to their other destinations in Idaho, Montana, Utah and northwestern Wyoming. (updated Aug 2017) Northwestern Stage Lines (Northwestern Trailways / Salt Lake City Express), (Greyhound bus station) Flying J Pilot Travel Center 3353 Federal Way (Federal Way & Broadway Ave, off of Exit 54 from I-84), ☏ +1 509-838-4029, toll-free: +1 800 366-6975, [email protected]. Bus service between Spokane and Boise (via Co

Getting around

By public transportation Idaho is not known for public transportation, so most places outside the city center require a vehicle.

Valley Regional Transit. Routes are lacking compared to other cities of similar size. Make sure to check schedules since most buses do not run on Sundays and many stop running at 6:45PM. $1.50/ride or $2.50/day pass. (updated Apr 2024)

By car Cars can be rented at the Boise Airport from major rental companies including Hertz, Avis, and Enterprise. Traffic in Boise is relatively light and peaceful, especially compared to Seattle or Portland. But Boise is no stranger to heavy traffic in certain places. Interstate 184, Capitol Boulevard, Meridian Road, Eagle Road and State Street should be avoided during rush hours. Interstate 84 between I-184 and the Garrity Boulevard exit in Nampa (and sometimes into Caldwell) can be challenging as well. I-84 traffic in eastbound lanes is heavy in the morning, and in westbound lanes in the afternoon. If I-84 is in bad shape, Ustick Road can be a smart alternative from Boise to Canyon County and vice versa, passing north of Nampa and south of Caldwell. Ustick runs unbroken for some 35 mi (56 km), from the Boise Bench neighborhood to U.S. Route 95 northeast of Homedale, close to the Oregon border. Victory Road provides a similar but more direct alternate route between south Boise and Nampa. Traffic east of the Idaho City (State Highway 21/Federal Way) exit on I-84 from Boise towards Twin Falls is rarely - if ever - problematic. However, winter storms can make the Mountain Home area treacherous. If you're going downtown, expect to pay to park even though parking meters aren't enforced on weekends or after 6PM. After hours you might get lucky finding a spot on the street, but chances are you'll be heading to a private parking garage and paying a $2 minimum. This is especially true on weekends. Fortunately, parking outside the downtown core (i.e. east of Broadway, south of Myrtle, west of 15th and north of State) is insanely easy - and almost certainly free 24-7.

By taxi Taxi service has been decimated by ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft. Boise City Taxi is now little more than a network of Uber drivers. Taxis are still common at the airport, though. Because the city is so spread out even traveling between neighborhoods can easily run over $20. During peak times, wait times for a cab can be upwards of 45-60 minutes. Companies and drivers must be licensed by the City of Boise. Established companies include:

ABC Cab Company, ☏ +1 208-344-4444. 24 hr. metered.

By bicycle The

See

Boise is the administrative and cultural hub of Idaho. Many of Boise's main attractions are in the downtown area.

Downtown 1 Idaho State Capitol Building, 700 W Jefferson St (Downtown at the northeast end of Capitol Blvd). M-F 7AM-7PM, Sa Su 9AM-5PM. If you are bold, you can ring the bell at the foot of the Capitol steps. The Capitol underwent extensive renovation and in early 2010 reopened amidst much fanfare after being completely closed (including to government officials) for the better part of two years. Guided tours are by reservation only, but there is an exhibit about Idaho and its government on the ground floor. All exibits and floors, except for government offices and the legislative chambers during government sessions, are free and open to the public. (updated Jun 2018)

2 Basque Museum & Cultural Center, 611 W Grove St (Downtown between Capitol and 6th St), ☏ +1 208-343-2671. Tu-F 10AM-4PM, Sa 11AM-3PM. The Boise area is home to one of the largest concentrations of Basque populations in the world outside of the Basque Country. The museum, in a part of downtown known as the "Basque Block," is a great place to visit whether or not you are of the Basque descent. Chock full of enriched heritage and even a bar to hang out at. A must see if you are in the Boise area. $5/adult, $4/concession, $3/child. (updated Jun 2018) 3 Julia Davis Park (Downtown with entrances on Myrtle St. and Capitol Blvd.). sunrise to sunset. This Olmsted-esque urban park contains many of the downtown attractions in Boise. It sits across the Boise River from Boise State University. Located within its confines are Zoo Boise, the Rose Garden, Boise Art Museum, a scenic railroad, and the Idaho Black History Museum. 4 Boise Art Museum, 670 Julia Davis Dr (In Julia Davis Park), ☏ +1 208-345-8330. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM. A great contemporary art at a very reasonable price. This museum is planned out beautifully and much more than most would expect from a town the size of Boise. Great local pieces as well as other western art. Free and open later on the first Thursdays of the month. $6/adult, $3/student, $4/senior, $4/military,. (updated Jun 2018) 5 Idaho State Historical Museum, 610 N Julia Davis Dr (in Julia Davis Park), ☏ +1 208-334-2120. M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM. History of Idaho from prehistoric days to now. Includes exhibits on Native Americans, Basques, pioneers, and Chinese history. Due to renovations, a small temporary exhibit is at 214 Broadway Ave and open M-F 11AM-4PM. (updated Jun 2018) 6 Discovery Center of Idaho, 131 Myrtle St (next to Julia Davis Park at 2n

Do

Because of Idaho's massive outdoor recreation industry, Boise is the starting point for many outdoor activities in the surrounding mountains, including rock climbing, mountain biking, and kayaking. However, since Boise is also a large city, it also has urban attractions consistent with its status as the largest city in the state.

Arts 1 Boise Contemporary Theater, 854 W Fulton. Since 1997, Boise Contemporary Theater has been Boise's premiere professional contemporary theater. Located in downtown Boise, BCT creates, produces, and presents vibrant and dynamic professional theater that illuminates enduring themes while exploring contemporary issues and ideas. BCT has had several world premieres, including Last of the Breed by Maria Dahvana Headley (author of The Year of Yes) and No.You Shutup, a one-woman show starring former Daily Show correspondent Lauren Weedman. (updated Feb 2016) Idaho Shakespeare Festival. Of course, this is why you come to Boise. During summer, shows are performed at the theater at the base of the Boise foothills. First Thursday (Downtown). Just like it says, on the first Thursday of every month there are a variety of events including a gallery stroll, live music, and in-store entertainment. Gene Harris Jazz Festival, Student Union Building (Boise State University), [email protected]. Held in the Student Union on the BSU campus, this March event benefits the Gene Harris Scholarship Endowment. Capital City Public Market (Downtown). Boise's largest farmer's market. Held every Saturday from April to December, the local producers offer a wide variety of produce alongside local artists and live music. Alive After Five, Grove Plaza (Downtown). Every Wednesday evening is the summer concert series that also features food, beverages, and the Grove Plaza fountain. Free. Hyde Park Fair. Held every August, the Hyde Park Fair is in the North End of Boise at Camel's Back Park. It houses various indie rock bands and various hippie cultured events, clothing, and accessories. Art In the Park, Julia Davis Park (Downtown). September Art in the Park features artists from across the nation. There is live entertainment, food, children's activities, and a pub. Winter Garden Aglow, 2355 Old Penitentiary Rd (2 mi (3.2 km) east of downtown on Warm Springs Ave). Located in the Idaho Botanical Gardens, this event is held every November through January. This holiday festival of lights includes a special visit by Santa and a train ride.

Outdoors

Boise River Greenbelt. A great place for a walk, rollerblading, biking, or just walkin

Buy

1 Boise Towne Square, 350 North Milwaukee. The city's main mall. It is a fairly large mall, mostly due to its lack of competition from any other similarly sized shopping center in the city. Its anchor-stores include Dillard's and a particularly upscale Macy's (formerly the Bon Marche). The mall also has a free-standing MAC makeup store. Eighth Street Marketplace (in the center of downtown Boise). The Eighth Street Marketplace is a popular sight to go shopping, have a bite to eat, and go dancing at night. It's all three in one! This area has been revitalized and is often referred to as "BoDo," short for "Boise Downtown." Miscellaneous Shopping. Along with the Eighth Street Marketplace, you may want to just wander throughout the downtown core. The area of Broad St (between 9th and Capitol) and 8 St (between Front and Myrtle) is home to many fashionable retailers like Urban Outfitters. As well, the area of 9th St. between Idaho and Main, parts of Main Street, areas of Idaho St. around 8th St. are all good areas to walk around and spot a few good shops and restaurants. 2 Historic Hyde Park (N 13th Street north of Alturas Street). A view into Boise's "greener" lifestyle, the Hyde Park district is on the National Historic Register due to its unique architecture and unique environment. Hyde Park sports a great number of eateries such as the 13th Street Pub and Grill, as well as some more "independent" retail stores such as Hyde Park Books and Dunia Marketplace. It's almost like a little offshoot colony of Portland.

Eat

Most of the fancier restaurants are in the downtown area.

1 Lucky 13 Pizza, 3662 South Eckert Rd, ☏ +1 208-344-3967. Pizza and beer in a patio setting snuggled into the Harris Ranch area of East Boise. A great place to go on a warm summer evening. Smoking is allowed on the patio. 2 Flying Pie Pizzaria (sic), 6508 Fairview Ave, ☏ +1 208-345-0000. Su-Th 11AM-10PM, F Sa 11AM-11PM. Possibly the best pizza in the Northwest. They have a great selection of beers which can be delivered (along with the pizzas themselves). A summer-only promotion is the habanero pizza which is definitely not for the timid - the heat equivalent of pounds of jalapenos. Flying Pie and their habanero pizza have been featured on the Travel Channel's Man vs. Food. The "Pie" also has locations on State Street, Broadway, and in Meridian. 3 Big Jud's, 1289 S Protest Rd, ☏ +1 208-343-4439. Not to be outdone and with a national reputation in its own right, Big Juds offers quite possibly the biggest hamburgers in the state. They have one-pound burgers, and yeah, they do doubles. 4 Cottonwood Grille, 913 West River St, ☏ +1 208-333-9800. An amazing place to eat. With its specialties in American and Caribbean foods, it is one of the most popular places to eat in Boise. Whether you're going on a date or just want a nice night out, you can't go wrong. Reservations recommended. 5 Mai Thai Restaurant & Bar, 1744 W Main St, ☏ +1 208-344-8424. A great selection of Thai cuisine. The lunch bento specials are a nice sampling of various dishes. Dinner runs on the pricier side. 6 Boise Fry Company, 204 N Capitol Blvd, ☏ +1 208-949-7523. Home grown, cut and made fries, "with a burger on the side." Choose your type of potato, the cut, and size and then fry them to order. Get a Bison burger to go along.

Drink & nightlife

Boise has a surprisingly well-rounded nightlife, all stereotypes to the contrary, but once again, the best places to drink are all downtown. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, throngs of young women in midriff-baring outfits (no matter the weather) and young men strutting their stuff cruise downtown bars. Boise bars may serve from 10AM-2AM daily, however some close earlier. All bars within Boise city limits are smoke-free, although smoking at bars is still permitted in nearby Garden City.

1 Bittercreek Alehouse (Red Feather Lounge), 246 N. 8th (8th & Idaho downtown Boise), ☏ +1 208-345-1813. 11AM-late. Very busy local independent downtown hangout, rustic northwest food & beer. Focus on local organic products and 30 beers on tap from small batch regional brewers. The above standard "pub grub" fare is also vegetarian friendly. lunch dinner. (updated Feb 2016) 2 Red Feather Lounge, 246 N 8th St, ☏ +1 208 429-6340. Sibling of next door's watering hole Bittercreek, these two bars/restaurants share a bathroom and a patio, but just about nothing else. Red Feather is a swanky, low-lit lounge with an amazing three story, award winning wine selection. Red Feather's menu emphasizes products that thrive in the southwest Idaho region. Both have freshly made cocktails and share an outdoor see-and-be-seen patio on the pedestrian friendly 8th street corridor. 3 Bardenay Restaurant and Distillery, 610 W Grove St, ☏ +1 208-426-0538. M 11AM-9PM, Tu-Th 11AM-10PM, F 11AM-11PM, Sa 10AM-11PM, Su 10AM-9PM. Bardenay, the first restaurant in the nation to include a distillery, features hand crafted cocktails of the finest ingredients. Bardenay distills rum, vodka and gin and uses them all in their drinks. This bar has an outdoor patio and a cool, laid-back vibe. Happy hour from M-6PM (updated Jun 2018) 4 McCleary's Pub, 604 N. Orchard St, ☏ +1 208-342-3007. Daily 8AM-2AM. A friendly neighborhood bar on the Bench which tends to get livelier as the night progresses. McCleary's also has a location on State Street towards Eagle. 5 Dirty Little Roddy's, 100 S. 6th St, ☏ +1 208 345-9515. Maybe a little what you might expect; Country music, sawhorse tables, peanuts and a mechanical bull that ladies can ride for free. You might not expect that this bar is popular with college kids and is nearly impossible to get into on a weekend night. It's in the basement, so be prepared to walk drunk up a narrow flight of stairs if you plan on spending any time here. 6 Mulligans, 1009 W Main St, ☏ +1 208 336-6998. A typical would-be Irish dive bar with a very distinctive, but not altogether

Sleep

1 Holiday Inn Boise Airport, 2970 W Elder St, ☏ +1 208-344-7444. A completely non-smoking hotel for business travelers located near Boise Airport and 3 mi (4.8 km) away from Boise State University. 2 The Grove Hotel, 245 S Capitol Blvd. A part of the Coast Hotels chain, it's probably the highest end hotel in Boise. 3 Homewood Suites by Hilton, 7957 West Spectrum Way, ☏ +1 208-375-8500. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Free breakfast and light dinner. Free high-speed Internet. 4 Hotel 43 (formerly, Statehouse Inn), 981 Grove St, ☏ +1 208-342-4622, toll-free: +1-800-243-4622, [email protected]. A boutique hotel in downtown Boise. (updated Oct 2019) 5 Idaho Heritage Inn Bed & Breakfast, 109 W Idaho, ☏ +1 208-342-8066. Built in 1904, former Governor's mansion, near downtown shops and dining, close to parks and historic district. Rooms $70-85, suites $99-110. All have private baths and are furnished in turn of the century antiques. Free wifi. Free gourmet breakfast. 6 The Modern Hotel and Bar, 1314 Grove St, ☏ +1 208-424-8244. Boutique hotel with tiled spa-like bathrooms, 32" flat screen HDTV, free wifi. 7 Hilton Garden Inn Boise Spectrum, 7699 West Spectrum Street, ☏ +1-208-376-1000. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. $99. (updated Jan 2016) 8 Hyatt Place Boise / Downtown, 1024 W. Bannock St, ☏ +1 208-991-5275. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. A new hotel within walking distance of much of downtown Boise, including the Idaho State Capitol. $119. (updated Dec 2020) 9 Fairfield Inn & Suites Boise West, 7881 W Emerald St, ☏ +1 208 378-4044. (updated Mar 2025)

Go next

Idaho City. 40 mi (64 km) northeast from Boise via State Highway 21, Idaho City makes for a good day trip from Boise. Once the largest city in the Pacific Northwest, this small mountain town offers a glimpse of Idaho's rich mining history. The winding road to this town of 500 offers some of the beautiful scenery provided by Idaho's natural forests. Stanley. 110 mi (180 km) northeast from Boise via State Highway 21, Stanley is another fantastic day or overnight camping trip from Boise. With the Sawtooth Mountains and both Little Redfish and Redfish lakes just minutes from town, along with ample camping and boating opportunities, this is one of the premier locations to see Idaho's remote mountains.