Boise Things to Do

This takes a bit of driving to get to but is a rewarding trip. Most of the drive South from Boise is along Western Heritage Scenic Byway and through the Snake River Birds of Prey Conservation area.

The total one-way trip from Boise to the Swan Falls Dam is about 30 miles.

The first place to stop is Dedication Point where there is parking, some informational signs, and after a short walk, your first view of the Snake River Canyon. This was very impressive to me especially since the drive up to that point was across a very flat, desert-like landscape.

After spending some time looking at the Canyon and at the birds, continue driving to the Swan Falls Dam area. Here there is a road down to the river level, parking, bathrooms, and picnic areas. There is also the Dam itself with a powerhouse that is open at limited times for visitor access. Even when the powerhouse is closed, it is a beautiful and impressive area to visit.

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Visit the state capitol building! This is something I do in every state capitol city -- the buildings are beautiful and give you a great sense of history. There is a self-guided brochure which explains the history of the state and the building. There is also permanent and roving art exhibits. Best of all this tour is free!

The Idaho Capitol Building is open 7:00 am to 6:00 pm on weekdays and 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on weekends and holidays.

Most of you that have travelled to state capitals have seen one of the United States' State Capitols. Idaho has a few unique facts surrounding its Capitol Building:

In 1885, the territory allocated 80,000 USD for its Capitol building. The original building did not have indoor plumbing.

In 1905, the Capitol building structure that you see today was implemented. Its final cost was well over $2M dollars.

To date, this is the only Capitol heated by a geo-thermal heating device.

Four types of marble were used for the Capitol’s interior: Red marble from Georgia, gray from Alaska, green from Vermont, and the black marble is from Italy. Chandeliers were purchased in Chicago that would accommodate both gas and electric lighting.

The World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, Idaho was dedicated in 1984. It is The Peregrine Fund's world headquarters. From there they operate our national and international conservation programs.

The Peregrine Fund's original breeding facilities at Cornell University, New York and Ft. Collins, Colorado were consolidated there. They also operated a facility on the Big Island of Hawaii for breeding of endangered Hawaiian birds which we transferred to the Zoological Society of San Diego. They have field stations in Madagascar, Panama, and Greenland.

My husband and I went there once. It is pretty interesting and cute to see. There isn't A LOT of stuff, but to see it once it is pretty cool. I am sure the Kids would like to see the birds!!!

I have already posted one tip about the Jaialdi Basque Festival, which takes place every 5 years and draws Basques from around the world, but this is specifically about the part downtown.

Before the big events at the fairgrounds (see the other tip), there are various events downtown, culminating in a big festival on the Basque Block, with street food, music, dancing, and more. It lasts late into the night.

The website below is for the Basque Center, which is on the Basque Block, and is the best place for information on this.

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Every 5 years, Boise hosts Jaialdi, the international Basque Festival. This includes music, food, etc., on the Basque Block downtown, plus cultural displays, dancing, and more. It lasts for several days, building to the main centrepiece which is the big festival of dances, music, competitions, and food, etc., at the Boise fairgrounds to the NW of downtown.

It is very large and Basques from all over the world come to the event. There were many from Spain and France, as well as the UK, Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, Australia, etc., in addition to Basques from all over Idaho, California, Nevada, Washington, and Oregon.

This is in part because Idaho, especially Boise and the Boise area, has one of the largest Basque communities in the US (although California has the largest, with the greatest concentration being in Bakersfield).

The website I give below is for the Boise Basque association, probably the best place to get info on it, as well as other Basque-related things. However, as I said, this festival is only once every 5 years. It just took place thus summer, 2010, so the next I suppose will be in 2015.

The old Ada County Courthouse, near the state capitol, is an interesting building. Completed in 1939, it is a striking art deco structure, unusual in Boise. It was being used as state offices during the capitol renovation. However, the building itself has been of uncertain status the last several years and when I was there, there was some construction going on. I don't know the status of it and neither did people I asked when in Boise.

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Downtown Boise is large and attractive, with many nice old buildings. It is also lively, with many places to eat, relax, or shop, as well as many hotels. Although some streets are very automobile-oriented, overall the town is very lively with pedestrians and bicyclists and some streets are very pedestrian-friendly, lively with people and shaded in large trees. It also has a small old-town area with some historic buildings, more eateries and the like, and the Basque Block, the main Basque part of downtown.