If you have a few hours while visiting Boise, the Old Penitentiary is worth your consideration…read more It's quite interesting to see the cells and tidbits of inmate history. There was one inmate who successfully escaped by building a ladder to climb the wall. She escaped for the express purpose of visiting her mom, getting a good meal and then just waited patiently for police to bring her back to jail. Don't skip the bonus weapons/gun museum housed in the corner building. They have an impressive collection of prior war guns and swords. Only $9 admission fee.

I went to Boise with friends, and pretty much did what the group wanted to do, because I had no…read moreclue what to do on my own. I had no expectations, well I wasn't really expecting much. I have to say I really enjoyed touring around here! I'm sure it's a lot more beautiful then when it was in operation. I loved reading the stories of the inmates, though a lot were sad stories. I spent a lot more time here than I was expecting to!

Tour guide Rob was fantastic! It only took us 12+ years to visit Boise Depot. Don't wait to take an…read moreengaging free tour and hear the fascinating history of railways in Boise dating back to 1887 (in current location since 1925). We had a small group at noon on March 22, 2026 and Rob was great about answering our many questions and curiosities! His next tour at 1:30pm was huge so we were lucky to have a more intimate gathering! Now I need to figure out a reason to have a party there and rent the space. So cool.

The Boise Depot is a historic Spanish-style structure operated by the Boise Parks & Recreation…read moreDepartment as a public ceremonial or meeting space & historic site. It was designed by NY architects & opened in 1925. However it was closed when we arrived Monday at 10:30 we came back in the afternoon and walked inside. We took the elevator up to the bell tower for city views. The Great Hall is a 3,542-sq ft multi-story atrium that once was the stations waiting room. Ten original benches line the walls of the Great Hall holding 300 standing & 165 seated people.. hours are limited because this venue is rented out The original 1925 Barkalow Brothers Newsstand is featured on the west wall. The newsstand has been slightly restored but remains in its' original form. This area is great for a buffet or display. The Great Halls' ceiling is lined with Spanish trusses, each imprinted with antique locomotives. The famous Platt Gardens are here.

Just moved near the neighborhood, and this was our very first hike here. It was a safe, easy…read morechoice! We went in early December, so it was definitely chilly and muddy from the rain the day before. However, we wore good hiking shoes, so we were dry at least. Trail took about 2 hours round trip, and the trail was dirt/rocks but easy enough for kids. Bring: water, snacks, appropriate clothes depending on the weather, dog! I brought a beanie, gloves, and warm clothes for the hike in December. I would avoid going on rainy days or if it recently rained. Mud will slow you down. There are little info boards posted along the trails - nice read. Great trail for a short walk. I hear it gets crowded during the weekends and good weather days. Go early!

3.39 miles of decent incline. Nice benches up top to sit on. We started hike at 5:50am and we're…read moreable to watch the sunrise it was beautiful. Plenty of parking down below at trailhead.

The stunning home was commissioned by Boise entrepreneur Walter E. Pierce who sold the structure in…read more1898. In 1959, the house was purchased by Vernon K. Smith and moved from its original location to the present site, in the middle of a cornfield west of downtown Garden City. The home is not open to the public, in fact it's uninhabited and has fallen into a state of considerable disrepair. The street runs parallel to a storage facility, and the home is marked as private. Please do not disturb the neighbors. There is ample space to turn around in the private culdesac.

I love this house so much . I really want to peek in the windows and just sit on her porch . I…read moredrive by this house everyday and I always look at her even if it's dark and I can't see her.

I visited Boise ID with friends, and the Ann Frank museum was on our list to check out…read more Unfortunately, we could not fit it in. On Sunday, before the farewell brunch we were attending, we stopped by. It's a very beautiful and calm. We walked around the grounds and drank up the beauty and words of wisdom. We did not get to check out the inside of the museum since it was closed. If I make it back to Boise, I will make it a priority to visit the museum when it's open!

It's ironic that this is in a place like Idaho that does so much against kindness for all. As a…read morenative I'm frequently ashamed of us, but this place is lovely and actually seems to carry the message of what I hope things could be. Some people left their trash around and I don't love that for us, it was easy to pickup with trash cans near by-but otherwise, it was a lovely, peaceful, and calm place. It was so nice and cool on a long hot walk along the green belt and more work seems to be happening to expand it! Worth the visit!

Located on Lucky Peak, the dicey drive up on pretty treacherous road was so worth it when we got to…read morethe top to observe and talk with the BSU students as they caught and tagged small migratory birds and raptors for this non profit, school of graduate studies effort. This area has one of the largest fall raptor migrations in the West and the students do raptor catch, banding and release. They also do net catch, banding and release of songbirds. And the same at night for owls. It is remarkable to have the opportunity to observe all this. Fitting for Review 1000. OPEN: To the public roughly mid July through end October. GETTING THERE: The trickiest part. Be sure to look at directions page on the web site. Your GPS won't get the job done for you. http://ibo.boisestate.edu/visit/#directions DICEY DRIVE: The road was repaired some last fall. Our visit was before those repairs were made. It was a treacherous drive along deep ruts in some parts. One of the guys in the car is the most expert driver I know and even he was concerned. Hopefully the repairs have helped. But plan on a four wheel drive vehicle and slow going! I understand the program offers rides at some times to a few people. Contact them for details. No H2O or LOO: There is no water. You'll need to bring your own. You'll also want to know that there is no Loo but for one pit toilet downhill of the site. IT'S COLDER AT ELEVATION: Lucky Peak elevation is high and you'll want to hang out for a while (be sure to stay for the raptor catch and release) so a jacket is a good idea. MORE OR FEWER PEOPLE: The four adults in our party thought a September Sunday early morning would be a good time to go to avoid crowds. HA! There was a grade school group with parents and teacher in tow that had camped there overnight (a brave lot, remember no water or bathrooms in the mix) and so there were a lot of people present to enjoy the setting, the birds and the grad students as they answered eager questions. If you want to plan a daytime field trip for a group or an overnight stay, you'll need to use the contact info on this Yelp page or at their web page to schedule with them. DATA COLLECTION: While we might advise a weekday excursion when the kids are in school if you're looking for connecting with the quiet Zen of the location, the kids were part of the fun as they were eager to hold and release the birds after the grad students took the ones they caught to weigh them, tag them and record them in the paper record keeping book. That was fun in itself, in this day of automated everything, to see scientists like these grad students keeping uber-detailed paper records. They use the data to identify migration routes, wintering areas, breeding areas, and mortality factors. HANDS-ON: I took the opportunity to release some of the smaller songbirds from my palm when offered the chance to do that. I passed on the chance to hold and release a raptor given absence of raptor gloves to wear to handle him or her. (Those talons are sharp!) But my friend was brave enough to do this and she described the experience of releasing that magnificent bird truly awe inspiring. ACCESSIBILITY: This location is more accessible to people with limited mobility than one might expect it to be. The surfaces at the site are relatively hard packed and the slopes between accessible entry parking and the bird activity site are doable with help. I have MS so had first hand experience with using same. I think wheelchair users might find it doable too. However, the Loo is not accessible. The raptor catch and release site was not walkable for me up a steep slope. They suggested I drive up, although vehicles are not typically allowed at the raptor ridge, to be able to participate like everyone else. Lovely! PARKING: Parking is outside a locked gate near the Loo. Park there and walk up. For people needing accessible parking or for those in pre-approved overnight groups, contact them in advance and they'll tell you the protocol to have the gate unlocked so you can drive up and park closer.

I like to check out the historical museums any time I visit a new city to learn the history of said…read morecity. The Boise one was fascinating and covered everything from the geography of Idaho to the great fires to winter sports. Definitely worth your time.

This museum has a good mixture of exhibits that people of all ages and interests can appreciate. As…read moreI first walked in, I was greeted by John, a volunteer, who was almost giddy with excitement when he learned that this was my first visit. He then gave me a warm welcome, along with an orientation of the different levels of the museum and his recommendation on what order to take things in. There are regular exhibits as well as temporary ones that are on loan from other locations. The one that was on display when I visited was the Bob Hope exhibit. It was very well done and I enjoyed learning more about how he and his team of entertainers brought moments of joy to the soldiers. If you've got yourself a little time and want to learn more about Idaho, this is a good place to come and do just that. It's also entertaining for kids, since they have several hands-on exhibits and the lower level is geared toward the youngsters.

The Jacobs family home began being used as a Basque boardinghouse in 1910 and functioned in that…read morecapacity until 1969. First rented by the Galdos, Bicandi, and Uberuaga families, it was finally purchased by the Uberuagas in 1928 for the sum of $2,000. Jose and Hermenegilda Uberuaga had three children: Joe P., Serafina, and Julia. As a boardinghouse, it was a home away from home for sheepherding men emigrating from the Basque Country to job opportunities in Idaho and served as a social center that preserved many elements of Basque culture including food, music, dance, games, and most importantly, their language, Euskera. Today as part of the Basque Museum on Basque Block, it serves as a touchstone for many thousands of Americans who trace their ancestry through Basque heritage. This is the oldest brick building in Boise and served as one of 400 Basque boardinghouses in the West. Over the years as Basque sheepherders settled and integrated into the many areas of the Western States where they now reside, they took up other trades, business and professional careers eliminating the need for boardinghouses.

Little secret in Idaho. Great place to see a beautiful view of Boise. Wouldn't have known about the…read moremonument or opportunity to watch an amazing sun set unless an Idahoan friend told us about it. Final drive to monument is on a dirt road with gravel.

It is very cool that Americans remember the past sacrifices made by common folk to enrich our…read morecountry. Unlike today's entitled mob demanding things they do not deserve, these people gave up everything to seek a better life. The families of the pioneers made sure that these efforts from over 160 years ago would not be ignored and lost, forever. This monument is placed at the SW corner of the intersection of two very busy roads today, Chinden and Eagle.