Over the years, we’ve been in many cities, both capitals and smaller cities. Boise, Idaho ranks high in our estimation as one of the most attractive downtowns we’ve seen.
With a population of over 200,000, Boise still seems like an accessible and people-friendly place to live, raise children, work, and enjoy leisure time.
A stopover on the way to Yellowstone, Idaho Falls was a great place to take in some scenery. Some of the scenery is manmade, but the falls on the Snake River are impressive, anyway.
We used our time for R ‘n R and a business visit, but we enjoyed the peaceful community and the friendly people we met.
Since we were staying at the Ameritel Inn near the falls, we had an opportunity to see the falls close up. There is a walking greenbelt on both sides of the falls that gives you a chance to see the falls from many different vantage points.
The falls - at Idaho Falls
Not quite Eden, the Idaho Botanical Garden is a great place to slow the pace and enjoy some eye-popping color when you’re in Idaho.
A view of downtown Boise
Just east of downtown Boise by about three miles, the Idaho Botanical Garden is a great stop for a chance to amble about and enjoy nature. Because they are located next to the former penitentiary, there is also a tour there to enjoy, if that’s of interest.
Since they have an “outlaw” connection, Outlaw Field, adjacent to the Garden, is also the site for concerts. Coming up, they’re hosting concerts with big names like Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Chris Isaak, and Jackson Browne. (more…)
We spent two terrific days in Boise, Idaho and wished we had more time. After starting in West Yellowstone and driving west on Interstate 86, then Interstate 84, and contending with construction traffic, we finally arrived.
We checked into the Hyatt Place Boise on North Milwaukee Street not too far from the highway, our first experience at a Hyatt Place. We were impressed!
The friendly staff was smiling and efficient. If we hadn’t had so many questions as first-timers, we could actually have used the automated check in. However, our host was eager to show us around in the lobby. Everything is easy to access.
The décor is sleek and inviting. We really liked the room, too. Technology is very much accounted for- you can use the free wireless Internet connections or dock your iPod. The bed is in an alcove-like arrangement so there is a feeling of a suite. The “living room” has a fabulous couch that wraps around with an ottoman. In the “office area” a desk with connections faces away from a small fridge with a wet sink and a coffee maker. http://boisetownesquaremall.place.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/place/index.jsp
Great space!
If you’ve been reading the blogs, you know that we wouldn’t miss a Farmers’ Market. Boise’s Farmers Market is certainly worth seeing! Such fun – and four blocks worth of scrumptious fresh produce, hand made items and entertainment in downtown Boise every Saturday, from 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM.
Boise Farmers Market
A fun way to spend a Saturday
The atmosphere is entertaining and everyone seems to be in a festive mood.
Entertainers at Boise Downtown Farmers Market
Fresh cheese, delicious brittle pine nut candy, and some hand-carved wooden items were some of the great items we purchased. If we had lived there, we would have chosen fresh eggs, meats, flowers and – well, it would be hard to hold us back!
Boise Farmers Market has almost everything everyone would ever want to eat - cheese, eggs, meats, fresh produce, candy - and crafts
Then, we decided on a fun café/pub-like restaurant, the Brick Oven Bistro, at 801 Main Street. After review of an enormous menu of soups, salads, main dishes with so many choices I had trouble choosing, I had some terrific food. The portions were enormous and the staff was competent, efficient and friendly. I spilled my soup as I sat down and a staffer was so nice about cleaning up my messy spot at the table. Reasonable prices, great food, fun atmosphere – we recommend Brick Oven Bistro! http://www.brickovenbistro.com/
Come back next week when we take a jaunt to a penitentiary where they cultivate flowers!
Just when you thought you’d never see another blog from Travel Tips and Adventures…well, here we are again!
Some other business activities have been keeping me busy – which I’ll share with you all soon. We also had the infamous “technical difficulties.”
In the meanwhile, we’ve been traveling and will, over the weeks to come, be offering our accounts of our visits to Yellowstone National Park, Southern Idaho and travel eats and accommodations along the way.
We’re getting very close to having traveled to every state in the United States – especially my husband – and on this particular trip, we were in five different states – Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.
In the Western United States, spaces seem more spacious. Although places may look close on a map, you can drive for many miles before seeing another town or any humans. Other than car occupants, what we saw more of than anything in our travels were buffalo – or bison – at Yellowstone National Park.
We also saw one lone buffalo that had strayed out of Yellowstone and was munching placidly on grass in the small resort town, West Yellowstone, adjacent to the Park. The buffalo was now legendary, as he had been in West Yellowstone for a week. Turning up behind a restaurant, behind someone’s home and in various other parts of town, no one seemed too concerned about their new inhabitant. The theory seemed to be, “let it be.”
Tune in next week and we’ll share more about our trip to the 2.2 million acres!! (we didn’t get to all of them, but many amazing locations) of Yellowstone National Park.
And the travel winner is…
(Okay, we have not been blogging recently. Our internet connection was very iffy, but now we seem to have resolved those issues.)
After reviewing travel options for our nine-day excursion, we have decided to choose - ta da da da dah da!-
IDAHO!
10. After looking randomly at the Idaho Web site, I was hooked! www.visitidaho.org
More to come as we refine our travel adventure!
