Boise, Idaho - Things to Do
Boise visitors will enjoy indoor and outdoor events that stimulate the senses, from the Boise Art Museum, which showcases the finest contemporary work and increasingly significant permanent collections, to the Discovery Center of Idaho, which has fun down to a science. Wildlife aficionados will enjoy the World Center for Birds of Prey, where there are live presentations every hour. Use your Discovery Map to locate all the tourist gems in Boise.
From white, fluffy powder in the winter to lush, green links in the summer, Boise presents a complete package of outdoor recreational activities. Visitors will find Bogus Basin Mountain Resort, which offers outstanding skiing in Boise. There are 18 golf courses to choose from—starting with the Crane Creek Country Club, home to the area's finest 18-hole championship golf course—that feature canyon ravines and sweeping vistas. Visitors preferring to drench themselves during the heat of summer will find endless miles of whitewater rafting available. The health-conscious tourist can take advantage of the 26-mile greenbelt for walking, jogging, and biking. Your Discovery Map will show you the way to Boise's outdoor adventures, such as Roaring Springs Water Park, which offers the Viper's Vortex, a children's pay area, and private cabanas. Families will find many ways to enjoy the beautiful outdoor weather at any one of the 65 parks dotting the Boise landscape.
Basque Museum and Cultural Center 611 Grove St—The Basque Museum and Cultural Center area was redesigned in 2000 to include public art and redesigned sidewalks. The center celebrates Basque culture and is used for outdoor events and fundraisers, which usually include performing arts.
www.basquemuseum.com 208-343-2671 Click below to visit a location on the interactive map!
Bear Valley River Company Hwy 55, Banks—Only 35 miles north of Boise on the Payette River. Idaho's best whitewater offering extreme fun for everyone. Full, and half-day trips. Family scenic float or heart-pounding Class IV rapids. Check us out on the Web.www.float4fun.com 800-235-2327 Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area 16 miles north of Boise—Snowboarding, alpine, and Nordic skiing; rental and retail shops; learning center and childcare; seven chairlifts, three terrain parks; day and night skiing; tubing hill. Three full-service day lodges with food service during the winter and available for parties, meetings and weddings during the summer.
www.bogusbasin.org 208-332-5100 / 800-367-4397 / Snow Phone: 208-342-2100 Click below to visit a location on the interactive map!
Boise Art Museum 670 S Julia Davis Dr—The Museum offers a lively array of exhibitions, collection displays, educational programming and community events throughout the year.www.boiseartmuseum.org 208-345-8330 Boise Little Theater 100 E Fort St—Produces plays of all genres: contemporary & classical, comedy & drama, mystery & musical. Well known for family-oriented productions. Unique round, 364-seat facility that has become a city landmark.www.boiselittletheater.org 208-342-5104 Boise River Greenbelt Along the Boise River, runs through town—Walk, jog or bike along the Boise River on the 22.5 miles of the Boise Greenbelt with its towering trees, lush growth and abundant wildlife. Even though you are in the center of town, you are enjoying beauty and wildlife at its finest!www.cityofboise.org Boise Tour Train Julia Davis Park—One-hour city tour on open-air train. Also offered with combination guided raft trip on the Boise River. Custom tours & charter shuttle service are available for small or large groups.208-342-4796 Cascade Raft and Kayak 7050 Hwy 55, Horseshoe BendRiver rafting fun for everyone, from a splashy three-hour getaway on the Main Payette to a day filled with raging whitewater thrills on the South Fork Canyon. Located 30 miles from Boise. Bring your spirit of adventure, we'll supply the rest!
www.cascaderaft.com 208-793-2221 / 800-292-7238 Click below to visit a location on the interactive map!
Crane Creek Country Club 500 W Curling Dr—Home to the area's finest 18-hole championship golf course surrounded by the quiet challenge of its canyon ravines and sweeping vistas, state-of-the-art tennis facility, recreation Olympic-size swimming pool, fitness center, and an elegant, newly remodeled clubhouse.
www.cranecreekcountryclub.com 208-514-4340 Click below to visit a location on the interactive map!
The Discovery Center of Idaho 131 Myrtle St—We have fun down to a science! Drop from the ceiling, create a tornado or generate your own electricity.www.scidaho.org 208-343-9895 Egyptian Theatre 700 Main St—On the Historic Registry, this theatre was restored in 1979 and again in the early 90s. It has 756 seats total with a balcony of 375. It is a rentable performance facility. It has a small stage, pipe organ, and small orchestra pit.208-345-0454 The Flicks Movie Theatres 646 Fulton—Boise's unique entertainment center with four movie theatres, a caf with house-made soups, appetizers, grilled sandwiches, lasagne, desserts & more. Beer, wine, & espresso drinks, a video/dvd rental shop with 2,000 titles. Hours: M-Th 4:30pm-9:30pm, F-Su noon-9:30pm. Cash, credit cards, DBA gift certificates, ATM.www.theflicksboise.com 208-342-4222 Fulton Street Theater 520 S 9th St—Restored seed warehouse turned 200-seat theater. Home to Boise Contemporary Theater, Balance Dance Company, Idaho Shakespeare Festival business offices. Play series each year, live theatrical and dance performances.208-331-9224 Grove Plaza Intersection of 8th St and Grove St—Welcome to Boise's Public Plaza! This rentable outdoor location hosts performing artists on Saturdays (summer), as well as a number of festivals and Alive After Five, a summer music series.
208-336-8900 Click below to visit a location on the interactive map!
Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial Intersection of the Boise Greenbelt and 8th St—An educational outdoor park. It was inspired by Anne Frank's faith in humanity and was built to promote respect for human dignity and diversity. It contains over 60 quotes from leaders and human rights figures throughout history, representing almost every region in the world.
www.idaho-humanrights.org Click below to visit a location on the interactive map!
Idaho Black History Museum 508 N Julia Davis Dr—An artistic and educational experience detailing heritage of African-Americans in Idaho and beyond. Hours June-September: Tu-Sa 10:00am-4:00pm; October-May: Tu-Sa 11:00am-4:00pm. Admission is free; however, donations are cheerfully accepted.
www.ibhm.org 208-433-0017 Click below to visit a location on the interactive map!
Idaho Botanical Garden 2355 N Pennitentiary Rd—Located just two miles from downtown Boise and adjacent to the historic Old Idaho Penitentiary. The Idaho Botanical Garden offers visitors a feast for the senses with its rich tapestry of color, fragrance and sound. Thirteen specialty gardens, nature trails, ponds, arbors and plant collections create a memorable experience not to be missed!www.idahobotanicalgarden.org 208-343-8649 Idaho Historical Museum 610 N Julia Davis Dr—Discover the fascinating history of Idaho and its people. Open M-Sa 9am-5pm; Su 1pm-5pm; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Amission is free.
208-345-2120 Click below to visit a location on the interactive map!
Idaho Ice World 7072 S Eisenman Rd—Idaho's premier indoor family skating & entertainment facility! Recreational skating, figure skating, Learn-to-Skate classes, youth & adult hockey programs, figure skating, Jazzercise, dance, martial arts and so much more! Named Nation's Coolest Places on Ice by American Hockey magazine.
www.idahoiceworld.com 208-331-7983 Click below to visit a location on the interactive map!
Idaho Northern and Pacific Railroad's Thunder Mountain Line Two locations—Round-trip train rides: Horseshoe Bend to Banks, & Cascade to Smith's Ferry. Inquire about our special events. Please call for reservations.
• 120 Mill Rd, east of Hwy 55 in Horseshoe Bend.
www.thundermountainline.com 208-793-4425 / 877-432-7245 Click below to visit a location on the interactive map!
Idaho X-Sports 1042 Old Crouch Rd, Garden Valley—Garden Valley's hot spot for fun. Snowmobile, ATV, kayak, river tube, and fishing pole rentals. The latest styles of clothing, accessories and footwear. Group rates and weekday specials available.www.idahoxsports.com 208-462-2555 Knock 'Em Dead Theatre 333 S 9th St—Unique combination of fine arts and excellent cuisine! Offers unique theater experience with shows ranging from musical comedy to avant-garde drama.www.kedproductions.org 208-385-0021 Morrison-Knudsen Nature Center 600 S Walnut—This center is a sample of wild Idaho. Open every day of the year and free to the public.
208-344-2225 Click below to visit a location on the interactive map!
Museum of Mining and Geology 2455 Old Penitentiary Rd—Lean about Idaho's colorful history of mining and geology through historical photographs and artifacts from early Idaho mining days, and exhibits depicting our state's varied and spectacular geologic features.
www.idahomuseum.org 208-368-9876 Click below to visit a location on the interactive map!
O'Farrell Cabin 450 W Fort St—This cabin is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was restored to its 1912 condition in 2002, retainint 85% of the original construction and it is considered the first family home in Boise.
208-384-4060 x319 Click below to visit a location on the interactive map!
Old Idaho Penitentiary 2445 Old Penitentiary Rd—Over 13,000 prisoners did time at the Old Idaho Penitentiary between 1870 and 1973. This territorial prison grew from its original single cell house into a complex of buildings surrounded by high stone walls. Enjoy the tour of this National Registry Historical Site.
Photographer: David Habben. Courtesy of the Idaho State Historical Society.
www.idahohistory.net/oldpen.html 208-334-2844 Click below to visit a location on the interactive map!
Pepsi Goldrush Tubing Hill at Bogus Basin Mountain 16 miles north of Boise—Tube the GoldRush! Hang on for the 800-foot downhill thrill ride (tube included!) and enjoy the scenery during your leisurely trip uphill, with rope tow doing the work! Then, do it all over again and again and again! Check our Web site for Tubing Hill hours and availability. (Note: children must be taller than 36" to tube.)
www.bogusbasin.org Click below to visit a location on the interactive map!
Roaring Springs Water Park 400 W Overland Rd, Meridian—Exciting water attractions including the NEW VIPER'S VORTEX, family raft ride, wave pool, float river, kiddie play area, private cabanas and more! Mid-May through mid-September. Just minutes from Boise, exit 44, Meridian.
www.roaringsprings.com 208-884-8842 Click below to visit a location on the interactive map!
Silver State Helicopters 4700 W Aeronca St—Discover Boise aboard the best-selling helicopter in the world. Offering tours, charters and photography. Booking day & night flights daily. Flight training available.
208-514-3800 Click below to visit a location on the interactive map!
Starlight Mountain Theatre 850 S Middlefork Rd, Garden Valley—Broadway's best-loved musicals performed under the stars in the beautiful mountains of Garden Valley. Only 45 miles from Boise. Please call for reservations or information.
www.starlightmountaintheatre.com 208-462-5523 Click below to visit a location on the interactive map!
World Center for Birds of Prey 5668 W Flying Hawk Ln—Enjoy live bird presentations every hour on the hour and explore the world of raptors through interactive displays and multimedia shows. Something for all ages! Open daily (Mar-Oct) and Tu-Su (Nov-Feb) Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, and Easter.
www.peregrinefund.org 208-362-8687 Click below to visit a location on the interactive map!
Zoo Boise 355 Julia Davis Dr—Located in beautiful Julia Davis Park, Zoo Boise is home to over 200 animals from 83 species. Zoo Boise is open year-round from 10 am to 5 pm daily. For more information visit our Web site or call.www.zooboise.com 208-384-4260
