5 Things you HAVE to know before visiting Boise, Idaho
Back in October 2024, I visited the lovely city of Boise, Idaho. In its crevice between the foothills, this city has much to explore. From the peaceful natures of the national parks to the vibrant moments that lay in “Freak Alley”, Boise is slowly becoming one of the most up and coming cities in the U.S. So, if you’re planning to visit (which I HIGHLY recommend you do), then these are 10 things you HAVE to know before planning your next vacay there!
1. You NEED to be in shapeLike I said, the national parks are to die for. The history and views accompanied with each of these destinations was one of my favorite parts of my trip. But, what I wasn’t prepared for, was the cardiovascular health my friends and I were going to need to do some of these adventures. For example, climbing the Bruneau Sand Dunes. That was HARD. Especially from a bunch of native Floridians who live at sea level. Not only were we having to dig our heels into sand that was barely holding on, but our bodies were already at an elevation we were NOT comfortable with. So, what I recommend (especially if you’re coming from flat territory), is to maybe prepare in advance. Get used to walking uphill, like through inclines on a treadmill. Also, give yourself a day to get used to the climate. We, unfortunately, did the sand dunes on our first day in the Western City, and were EXHAUSTED by the end of the day.
2. Visiting craters of the moon? The caves are a MUST see. One of the many destinations I was eager to visit was the Craters of the Moon National Park. While the true story behind this monument may or may not be featured in an upcoming post (so stay tuned ;) ), there are definitely a couple things you need to know if it's on your bucket list as it was on mine. For example, I HIGHLY recommend bringing gloves, water and a flashlight. With these 3 items, you’ll be able to visit the Indian Tunnel and the Dewdrop Cave. These sites were extras during the trip, which neither me or my friends had planned for but were definitely worth it. Just make sure you stop by the welcome center on your way in to complete the waiver and get extra information on each destination. I will recommend wearing tight clothing if you have an inkling of going into the caves. And the tour guides will tell you the same thing. While this is to prevent your clothes from getting snagged on sharp rocks, it is also because the tour guides prefer you to wear clean clothes that have not traveled into any other caves. This helps prevent the spread of white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that kills bats. In the past, this disease has led to specific bat species becoming endangered. So, while there are some precautions you need to take with visiting the caves at Craters of the Moon, I highly recommend doing them. To the right, you’ll see pics of my adventures there!
3. Freak alley is the place for all art lovers Into art? Then freak alley is the place you’ll want to be! Located between 8th street and 9th street in Downtown Boise, this strip of murals features art from both local and distant artists. It is the largest open-air, public mural gallery located in the Northwest and it is something I seriously enjoyed getting to see. Every spring and fall the pieces are updated after they have submitted their pieces to the organization. So, if you want to see the talented artists visiting Boise for these events, I think visiting between the 1st Saturday to the 2nd Saturday of August would be best! As a non-profit organization, the Freak Alley Gallery also takes donations all-year long, including painting/building supplies for their artists to use.
4. If you want to see the best places, you’re gonna need a car!Now, while many of you may be googling the interwebs “Things to do in Boise” and seeing a plethora of options and pictures of Downtown Boise, you might be thinking that these places are all easily accessible by walking/a quick uber ride. Well, you would most definitely be wrong because the AMOUNT of driving my friends and I did on this trip was insane. Simply getting to Craters of the Moon and the Bruneau Sand Dunes took 3 hours a piece at minimum. And not to mention, during these adventures you travel through such rural areas that you will absolutely lose service. While this did give me time to just admire the view and be close to nature, it was a tad upsetting when it was something none of us had prepared for. In order to better prepare for these long adventures, I would definitely recommend screenshotting and/or writing down the directions on your phone. Yes, there are usually signs that will direct you for the most part, but I am someone that has a deep fear of getting lost so I highly recommend coming into this better prepared than I was
5. Visiting in the fall? It might not be as cold as you think it’s going to beIf you’re planning to go in the fall to see the reds and yellows of all the trees and you’re thinking “Cold out west, it HAS to be a little cold”. Well you would be correct, if the sun is down that is. But during the day? I could walk around in a thin pair of jeans and a short sleeve. And that’s coming from a native Floridian. Now if you are planning to go in the winter when it will for sure be snowing, then yes please pack the extra layers. But, if you are going in the months between September-November, then you will more than likely be just fine with some jeans and a couple tops, maybe a light jacket for at night, or on the windier days. And if you’ve been following along and have made it to this final tidbit of the blog, then I will tell you that when I visited the national parks I was definitely NOT in need of any extra layers. With the unwarranted exercise on top of the blistering Western sun, I was sweating by the end of each excursion. So, save the extra money that you’d spend on 2 checked bags and maybe try to just fit it all in a carry on.