Boise is a frontier city, founded back in 1863 and was the first capital of the Idaho territory. Today it is a vibrant western city with a population of nearly 600,000 in the region. There are a lot of historic sites in the city and the natural wonders of the region are difficult to top.
Here are a few activities when in the city of Boise:
Idaho Botanical Garden
The garden is a 33-acre collection of gardens that began in 1984. The gardens are located in the Boise foothills, where there are a number of beautiful trails to hike. The gardens also serve as a living museum dedicated to environmental education and preservation. The gardens are open from March to November and admission is $5 or less per person.
World Center for Birds of Prey
It was founded in 1970 by a Cornell University Professor of Ornithology as a center to preserve the habit and livelihood of the Peregrine Falcon. The center has been expanded to educate and try to protect all birds of prey. Tours of the center include education on the process of saving endangered species. There are a variety of different exhibits including one on California Condors, a magnificent bird, whose habitat is in constant danger. Open from March to October, admission is only three dollars per person.
Kathryn Albertson Park
Created by the founder of the grocery chain Albertson’s, Joe Albertson created wanted to create a nature preserve for the wildlife of the area. Named in honor of his wife, a 41 acre-horse pasture was modified to serve as a wildlife sanctuary. The park has a wetland habitat and numerous walking paths, all within the downtown Boise area. Preservation of wildlife is of the utmost importance to the residents of the city.
Old Idaho State Penitentiary
Formerly an active prison, now the Old Penitentiary is a working museum. Active from 1872 to 1973 the prison housed more than 13,000 inmates during its operation. It now houses a number of exhibits about Idaho’s prison history. Open all year, visitors can tour the cell blocks, gallows and solitary confinement. Adult admission is five dollars and children under 12 are only $3.
Boise River Greenbelt
The Greenbelt is swath of land along the banks of the Boise River in Boise city limits. Overall the system of trails contained measure more than thirty miles. A planned development from the 1960s it serves as a nature preserve within the city limits of Boise.
Source: Staff, Things to do in Boise, ID, Uptake.com