100 Things to do in Boise Idaho

100 Activities do in Boise

When we say there is a lot to do in and around Boise, we mean it! These 100 hand-picked things to do are just a fraction of what there is to do. We tried to cover various topics and capture all corners of the Treasure Valley (and beyond). What isn't in Boise is in parentheses. Luckily, you are never more than 30 minutes away from anything in the Treasure Valley. The day trips take about 2.5 hours to drive to, leaving you plenty of time to get there, explore, grab a bite to eat, and drive home.

State of Idaho

Water, Lakes & Rivers

  • Black Canyon Reservoir (Emmett)
  • Brownlee Reservoir (Payette)
  • Cascade Lake (Cascade)
  • CJ Strike (Mountain Home)
  • Deadwood Reservoir (Cascade)
  • Givens Hot Springs (Marsing)
  • Idaho Springs (Idaho City)
  • Float the Boise River from Barber Park to Ann Morrison Park
  • Kellys Whitewater Park (Cascade)
  • Lake Lowell (Nampa)
  • Lucky Peak Reservoir
  • Lucky Peak State Park
  • Payette Lake (McCall)
  • Shoshone Falls (Twin Falls)
  • Swan Falls (Kuna at Snake River)
  • Thousand Springs (Hagerman)
  • Owyhee Reservoir (Adrian, OR)
  • Local Pools

Explore: Hike and Bike

  • Ridge to Rivers Trail System - Interactive Map
  • Avimor Area
  • Boise Bike Park
  • Boise Greenbelt (View Map)
  • Bonneville Point (off I-84 at Blacks Creek Exit)
  • Celebration Park (Melba)
  • Deerflat National Refuge (Lake Lowell)
  • Eagle Bike Park (Eagle)
  • Hulls Gulch (north of 8th Street)
  • Jump Creek (Marsing)
  • Kathryn Albertson Park
  • Meridian Bike Park (Eagle & McMillan Rds)
  • Roswell Nature Area (near Parma)
  • Seamans Gulch (Eagle)
  • Table Rock
  • Quinn's Pond & Whitewater Park
  • Rock Climbing below Lucky Peak Reservoir
  • Sky Diving
  • Eagle Island State Park (Eagle)
  • Idaho Shakespeare Festival
  • Payette River Whitewater Rafting (Horseshoe Bend)
  • Bogus Basin Resort
  • Camel's Back Park

Fun Day Trips

  • Anderson Reservoir (Pine, ID)
  • Atlanta, ID
  • Bruneau Dunes & Observatory (Mountain Home)
  • Resort Towns
    • Cascade
    • Donnelly
    • McCall
    • Ketchum/Sun Valley
  • Centerville, ID
  • Kirkham Hot Springs (Lowman)
  • Leslie Gulch (Oregon)
  • Mundo Hot Springs (Cambridge)
  • Oregon Trail Interpretive Center (Baker City, OR)
  • Shoshone Falls (Twin Falls)
  • Silver City, ID
  • Thousand Springs (Hagerman)
  • Hell's Canyon (Cambridge, ID)
  • Ponderosa State Park (McCall)
  • Ice Caves (Shoshone)
  • Thousand Hot Springs (Hagerman)
  • Farewell Bend State Park (Huntington, OR)
  • Stanley, ID & Sawtooth Mountains

For Everyone

  • Basque Museum & Cultural Center
  • Boise Art Museum
  • Boise Depot and koi ponds at Platt Gardens
  • Deerflat National Wildlife Refuge (Lake Lowell)
  • E-Museum (Grand View)
  • Freak Alley Gallery
  • Idaho Botanical Garden
  • Idaho Ice World
  • Idaho State Capitol
  • Idaho State Museum
  • J.U.M.P.
  • MK Nature Center
  • Meridian's 21 city parks
  • Boise's 100+ city parks
  • Old Fort Boise Park (Parma)
  • Old Idaho Penitentiary Site
  • Rainbow Bridge (near Melba at Snake River)
  • Roller Dome Skating Rink (Nampa)
  • Roswell Marsh Wildlife Habitat Area (Parma)
  • Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation (Kuna)
  • The Boise Aquarium
  • The Discovery Center
  • Warhawk Air Museum (Nampa)
  • World Center for Birds of Prey (Kuna)
  • Zoo Boise
  • Boise Philharmonic
  • Farmer's Markets (across the valley)
  • Paddle Boats at Julia Davis Park
  • Boise Art Glass
  • Idaho Military History Museum
  • Boise Hawks
  • Idaho Steelheads
  • Ballet Idaho

After Hours Fun

  • 8th Street Marketplace
  • BoDo (Downtown Boise)
  • Liquid Laughs
  • Boise nightlife hotspots
  • Local breweries
  • Local vineyards and wineries
  • The Village at Meridian
  • Big Als (The Village)
  • Wahooz (Meridian)
  • Roaring Springs Water Park (Meridian)
  • Firebird Raceway (Star)
  • Meridian Speedway (Meridian)
  • Fast Lane Indoor Kart Racing
  • Starlight Mountain Theater (Crouch)
  • Dave & Busters

Shopping

  • BoDo
  • Boise Co-Op (Boise and Meridian)
  • Boise Towne Square Mall
  • Bown Crossing
  • Cabela's
  • Crossroads Shopping Center Nampa (I-84 & Garrity)
  • Idaho Mountain Touring
  • Idaho River Sports
  • Indian Creek Shopping Center (Caldwell)
  • Karcher Marketplace (Nampa)
  • Treasure Valley Market Place (Nampa)
  • REI
  • Sportsman's Warehouse (Meridian)
  • The Village at Meridian (Meridian)
  • Trader Joe's (Across the Valley)
  • Whole Foods (Across the Valley)
  • Hyde Park

Event Centers

  • Boise Center on the Grove
  • Century Link Arena
  • Expo Idaho
  • Ford Idaho Center
  • Nampa Civic Center
  • Knitting Factory
  • ExtraMile Arena
  • Revolution Concert House
  • Morrison Center
  • Egyptian Theatre

Top Local Restaurants

  • Barbacoa
  • Bardenay Restaurant & Distillery
  • Bar Gernika
  • Big Bun Drive Inn
  • Big Jud's
  • Boise Fry Company
  • Chandlers Steakhouse
  • Cottonwood Grille
  • Eddie's Restaurant
  • Flatbread Neapolitan Pizzeria
  • Fork
  • Goldy's Breakfast Bistro
  • Goodwood Barbecue
  • Guido's Original New York Style Pizza
  • Lucky 13 Pizza
  • Tucano's Brazilian Grill
  • Westside Drive-In
  • Lucky Fins
  • DK Donuts
  • Enrique's Mexican Restaurant (Kuna)
  • Bella Aquila (Eagle)
  • Epi's (Meridian)

More Cool Ideas

  • Canoe from Linder Bridge to Star ID
  • Follow Eagle Rd north from the City of Eagle into the Foothills
  • Travel Forest Service Roads from Idaho City to Horseshoe Bend
  • Follow Forest Service Roads anywhere
  • Explore hops fields around Parma & Homedale in late summer