Things to do in Boise

Boise is the capital of Idaho and its cultural heart. While not known for world-famous landmarks and attractions, the city offers a number of interesting sights and activities for visitors.

The destination has a few excellent museums including the Boise Art Museum, the Idaho Black History Museum, and the popular Basque Museum and Cultural Center. The World Center for Birds of Prey is also worth a visit as it hosts live presentations and educational tours for the whole family.

There are some lovely parks in Boise, too. Julia Davis Park is home to a small zoo and rose garden, as well as a scenic railroad. Barber Park is known for its wildlife, and visitors can spot deer, elk, bald eagles and other animals. Barber Park is also the starting point for a summer tradition in Boise: floating down the Boise River. The Greenbelt path system connects five major parks throughout Boise, providing wonderfully extensive space for exercise and recreation.

Basque Museum and Cultural Center photo

Basque Museum and Cultural Center

In the 1830s a flood of immigrants from the Basque Country (Spain and France) arrived in the United States, Idaho being one of the five US states with notable Basque heritage. The …

Basque Museum and Cultural Center

In the 1830s a flood of immigrants from the Basque Country (Spain and France) arrived in the United States, Idaho being one of the five US states with notable Basque heritage. The mission of the Basque Museum and Cultural Center is to preserve the Basque history and culture through education, research, collections and activities. The museum provides a look into traditional Basque heritage as well as the lives of Basque-Americans since settlement in the US through their collections of books, manuscripts, photographs and unique oral history archives. The museum's calendar is filled with many interesting events, and visitors may get the chance to see colourful dancing, taste delicious food and shop at the market.

Website www.basquemuseum.com

Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area photo

Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area

Bogus Basin has grown from a small ski hill with a rope tow into a large holiday ski destination with three lodges, numerous chairlifts, night skiing and Nordic trails. Rental, rep…

Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area

Bogus Basin has grown from a small ski hill with a rope tow into a large holiday ski destination with three lodges, numerous chairlifts, night skiing and Nordic trails. Rental, repair and retail shops are available on site, as are a ski and snowboarding school and tubing hill. During the summer, a Frisbee golf course is set up on the thawed-out trails, and nature hikes and children's camps are offered. Only 40-minutes' drive from downtown Boise, Bogus Basin is a popular day or weekend excursion from the city and one of the most popular snow playgrounds in Idaho.

Website www.bogusbasin.org

Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve photo

Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve

The Craters of the Moon in Idaho was formed by volcanic eruptions about 15,000 years ago. The National Monument and Preserve offers a fascinating glimpse into the state's dramatic …

Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve

The Craters of the Moon in Idaho was formed by volcanic eruptions about 15,000 years ago. The National Monument and Preserve offers a fascinating glimpse into the state's dramatic geological past through its vast landscape of hardened lava. The landscape may seem barren, but there's a large population of creatures and birds here. Thirtieth president of the United States Calvin Coolidge described the park as 'a weird and scenic landscape peculiar to itself'. While it may not look exactly like the moon, the similarities were enough to encourage Apollo 14 astronauts to use it to prepare for their lunar expedition in 1969. Today visitors can take the Loop Road to most of the interesting sites, including the North Crater Flow, Devil's Orchard, Inferno Cone, the Tree Molds and even lava tube caves. Craters of the Moon is located about 178 miles (286km) east of Boise.

Website www.nps.gov/crmo/index.htm