There aren’t many cities that effortlessly combine wellness, outdoor adventure and incredible food and craft beverages, but Boise — the capital and largest city in Idaho — seems to have achieved this balance with ease. The 25-mile, tree-lined Boise River Greenbelt is both a joy to cycle and your path to the city’s top museums and cultural attractions.
For a taste of Boise’s beer and more, visit the wineries, breweries and cider houses clustered in nearby Garden City. You’ll also explore downtown Boise’s Basque culture, shop in historic Hyde Park and take in the views from the top of Camel’s Back Park.
As always, check for travel restrictions and closures before planning your trip.
Friday: Discover Basque Culture in Downtown Boise
Start your trip to the city off right with a jog or bike ride along the Boise River Greenbelt, a 25-mile, tree-lined pathway that weaves through the city’s wildlife habitats and riverside parks.
Then take to Downtown Boise for a stop at Form & Function for some of the best coffee in town. Order a milky cortado or cappuccino and pair it with the eatery’s oat porridge: This traditional breakfast dish is made decadent with toppings of housemade granola, cherry compote and steamed oat milk.
Once you’re caffeinated, it’s time to explore the city’s network of waterfront parks and museums — known locally as the Ribbon of Jewels — set along the Boise River.
Begin in Julia Davis Park, home to the Idaho State Museum. Here you can learn about the state’s unique history, from prehistoric times to the present, which includes an explanation of how the state was first settled and how it became an agricultural hub and a spot on the Oregon Trail.
Nearby, step inside the Boise Art Museum, where you can explore exhibits focusing on everything from artists from the American West to modern and contemporary ceramics.
You might not know that Boise is home to the highest concentrations of Basque descendants in the United States. Prepare to explore this history over lunch at Ansots, where you can enjoy Basque wine and cider with a variety of pintxos (small plates) like chorizo sausages, spinach-stuffed piquillo peppers and patatas bravas (roasted potato wedges with a piquant dipping sauce).
Next, stop by the Basque Museum & Cultural Center to learn why Basque immigrants left their homes in Europe to come to the American West, with reasons ranging from the gold rush to a once-booming sheepherding industry. Because their culture and history is unique to this area, the museum is one of those unexpected gems you’ll remember for years to come.
End your first day in downtown Boise with dinner at the upscale restaurant KIN. Opt for the five-course tasting menu, which features seasonal dishes such as salmon served with fennel, yogurt, elderberry and vanilla. And do save room for chocolate.
You’re just a five-minute walk to the Chocolat Bar, where the organic lemon-lavender almond bark is a fave and there are always micro-batches of seasonal treats (the Champagne truffles are a holiday delight).
Saturday: Stroll the Shops of the North End Historic District
Grab coffee at the hotel and begin your day in Boise’s North End Historic District. Start at one of the city’s most beloved green spaces, Camel’s Back Park, for a morning hike of its 11 acres. When you make your way to the top of the hill, it’s time to enjoy the effort: Take in the panoramic views of the city below.
You’ll find wonderful restaurants, coffee shops and boutiques in the Hyde Park Historic District, just a short walk from the park. Begin with brunch at Certified Kitchen + Bakery. Enjoy a sesame coconut latte or a nitro cold brew before digging into a classic egg sandwich on an English muffin or French-style pancakes topped with Nutella and fresh berries.
Then stroll the area’s many specialty stores, including Dunia Marketplace, a nonprofit, fair-trade store with global goods, where you can shop for everything from peanut-butter dog treats to handwoven baskets made in Ghana.
The main thoroughfare is 13th Street, where you’ll also find G. Willikers Toy Merchant, selling both old- and new-school games and toys, and Goody’s Soda Fountain, an old-timey spot for candy in glass jars, handmade treats and really good coffee drinks.
For dinner, head to Cloud 9 Brewery in West Downtown — close to both Hyde Park and downtown proper — a nanopub offering a range of certified-organic beers.
Opt for a grass-fed, organic beef slider topped with white cheddar cheese. Alternatively, order the Korean or Mexican street-style tacos. Pair your meal with a double IPA, a salted caramel stout or, for nondrinkers, a foamy glass of house-made root beer crafted from burdock root, dandelion, cinnamon and honey.
Finally, cap off the evening with a live music show at the Visual Arts Collective, a gallery by day, music venue by night, or the Revolution Concert House, which hosts both big-name acts and local talent.
Sunday: Visit Garden City’s Wineries, Breweries and Cider Houses
Travel 2 miles outside of downtown Boise to Garden City, located along the Boise River. Once there, fuel up with a beautifully plated breakfast at Push & Pour, a stylish café with an outdoor patio (try the brioche sandwich with scrambled eggs, cheese and avocado).
The spirited — we’ll get to that in a bit — enclave gathers artists and artisans, as well as riverfront parks and playgrounds. Over breakfast, peruse the Garden City map (downloadable here), which organizes venues into three categories: taste, create and play.
If it’s still early in the day, start with “play” by strolling through the Pollinator Garden— where botanicals are cultivated to attract bees and butterflies — or the section of the Boise River Greenbelt that runs through Garden City.
Devote the rest of the day to exploring the area’s artisan studios and craft beverage purveyors. At Telaya Wine Co. you’ll try six of the winery’s finest blends and varietals, all grown in the Snake River Valley — an Idaho valley on the same latitude as Rioja in Spain and the northern Rhône in France.
The tasting trail also features Cinder, hailed as one of the best urban wineries in Idaho, and Split Rail Winery, known for its funky natural wine. Stop into Meriwether Cider, which pours ciders with a twist — fruits such as blackberry, cherry, plum and apricot. And for something sudsier, head to Barbarian Brewing to taste the house specialty (sour and barrel aged beers).
You’ll need a hearty dinner after all this exploring, and Garden City’s Stagecoach Inn is where you’ll get it. The circa-1959 restaurant is housed in an Old West-style brick building that was once the site of a dance hall and casino.
A recent renovation preserved the antique charm but updated the interiors and the menu — and you can still order an old-school prime sirloin steak (served with kidney beans), breaded and deep-fried halibut chunks and grilled salmon filets.
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