Family Fun in Boise

Author: momoftwo
Date of Trip: January 2003

Boise is all about family fun. Both kids and adults have a great time here without putting much of a dent in the wallet. Here’s what we did on our great trip.

Discovery Center of Idaho

We never miss going to the Discovery Center even if we are just passing through Boise. There is alway a new themed exhibit as well as old favorites. This last summer the special exhibit was “Grossology” and it had displays on everything from why we burp to a huge Operation Game, and even a climbing wall that depicted skin. My five-year old loved it and so did his grandma! My favorite display is the giant flash camera that leaves your shadow on a big wall.

Boise Art Museum

A nice art museum with several different exhibits a year. When we were there, it was Japanese art. After the Discovery Center, my boys weren’t into visiting a place they couldn’t go crazy in–next time we’ll do the Art Museum first.

MK Nature Center

This sample of Wild Idaho is a great place to go and spend an hour or two. The kids can run along the trail and discover the fish tanks built into the rocks and hillside that show the different stages of trout development. This place is just off downtown Boise, but you really feel like you’re out in the middle of a forest.

It’s located adjacent to the Idaho Fish and Game Office. To get there, simply travel north on Myrtle Street and turn east on N. Walnut. There is a great playground as you exit the gardens where the kids can burn off even more energy as you unwind with a book.

Idaho City

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“Where the Past comes Alive” — if you’re on your way to Sun Valley from Boise or have an afternoon to spend in the area, head north 45 minutes on Hwy 21 to the colorful town of Idaho City. This old mining town was once the largest city in Idaho and it now caters to tourists.

My 5-year old loved the Old West shootout at high noon with Bad Bart and the sherrif, a duo that puts on a little show in the middle of the street a couple of times a day during the summer; check at the visitor center when you first pull in to town to find out about their performances and get a map of the town (mostly a walking tour of different buildings of which our favorite was the old prison).

In all, it’s a fun place to spend the afternoon and there are several ghost towns nearby to boot. Be sure and have some huckleberry ice cream in a waffle cone at the soda shop on Main Street.

TableRock BrewPub and Grill

What a great place, with great burgers, great beer, and a great staff. Children are welcome so it’s a great place to cap off a day with the family. Home of Idaho’s “Whitebird Wheat” beer, this world-class microbrewerey boasts hearty hand-crafted beer and ales brewed on-site by one of the Northwest’s premier brewmasters.

They serve British pints (20 oz.) for only $3!! And if you can’t make up your mind as to which beer to try from their extensive list, go for the 4oz samples at only 75-cents a pop!

It’s open seven days a week. Don’t miss out.