28 Dec 11 Things You Need to Know About Boise Before You Move Here
1. Behold the green. It’s really green here. Seriously: like lots of really-cool-towering-beautiful-green-trees green. Boise, or if you want to get old school, Les Bois, doesn’t mean “city of trees” for nothin’. Want more green? Look no further than (most likely) a few blocks away from your soon to be home and you’ll find some of the greenest parks in the Pacific Northwest! Boise has hundreds of parks waiting for you to spend a lazy, warm afternoon enjoying a plentiful picnic.
2. Boise’s beer and food scene is incredible. It’s called craft beer and modern cuisine, folks. Boise’s downtown scene is full of hops, barley, cocktails and plenty of tasty grub. Beer lovers will love the barrel of breweries to choose from as you enjoy soaking up the suds and spuds on a warm summer evening. Make sure to pack your appetite.
3. Your sports fix will be fed. You may have seen or heard of the famous “smurf turf” or “the blue” when mentioning Boise’s most popular sports team — the Boise State Broncos. Second to football, the hockey faithful will be at the rink cheering on the Idaho Steelheads. During warm summer evenings, you will enjoy rooting the single-A baseball team, the Boise Hawks at Memorial Stadium (be sure to stay for the fireworks). Football in the fall, hockey in the winter, and baseball in the summer; Boise has the sports junkie covered.
4. A river runs through it. That’s right, the Boise river runs through the heart of the city. Residents enjoy miles of paved paths which run alongside the river. The Greenbelt, which locals affectionately refer to, will be your summer hang. Runners, tubers, cyclists, and fisherman are all staples during summertime on the greenbelt. Grab your pole, shoes, bikes, tubes and join us!
5. Affordable real estate. The median home value in Boise is in the high $250’s. Home values have enjoyed an increase of 10.5% over the past calendar year. Real estate professionals predict an increase of value at about 3.6% for the next year. What does this mean for you, Mr. and Mrs. Mover? It means strike while the iron is hot, find your dream home and watch your value grow with the rest of us.
6. A mountain adventure an hour away. Look north, and there it is: Bogus Basin. No matter the season, the recreational hot spot has many activities to enjoy. During summer, it’s a mountain biker’s paradise. Come winter time, skiers and snowboarders unite, carving their way down the mountain. Bogus offers 7 chairlifts, 66 trails, and a cozy ski lodge to sip hot cocoa next to the perfectly warm fire.
7. All. Four. Seasons. Boise’s beautiful location allows the sun to sizzle during the summer, be delicate enough for fall, and revive your soul during spring. Come check it out for yourself and make sure to jump into a big pile of colorful leaves during the fall. Oh, and winter? The occasional snowfall and brisk temps are perfect for building a snowman. Boise’s a spectacular show waiting for you to buy tickets.
8. Scholarly Schools. Not to be outdone by its blue turf, Boise State University offers an academia where students can open their minds and express themselves. Northwest Nazarene University is a private liberal arts school located just outside of Boise. From the tikes to the teens, Boise will have you covered. Charter schools are a popular choice for parents and Boise has plenty of them. It’s been a popular choice for kids to stay local. Don’t forget your apple and No. 2 pencil.
9. Boise is so much more than “just potatoes”. We are not gonna lie, we’re proud of our standing as potato country, but there’s more to us than meets the eye. Did you know the largest concentration of Basque Americans lives right here in Boise? About 15,000 Basque are proud to call Boise home. Along with culture comes antique shops. You’ll find dozens of antique stores littered throughout the city. Boise folks, most of all, live an active lifestyle. Come see what all the fuss is about and don’t be a couch potato.
10. Hiker’s paradise. Speaking of the outdoors, and all that jazz, you might wanna write down that Boise is hiker’s heaven. Make the trek to Hulls Gulch, Harrison Hollow, Table Rock, and don’t miss the North End’s own, Camel’s Back Park.
11. Water, Water, Everywhere. Calling all water wing wearers!! This place is for YOU. Yes, you can bring your boat and your raft, too. Boaters will enjoy Lucky Peak reservoir just east of downtown with miles of open water to rev those engines and make some ess turns. Did you say whitewater rafting? Cool, just checking. North of Boise, the Payette River is a summer destination for the thrill-seekers and first-class rapids lovers.
