For families:
Fall and winter bring cooler temperatures to Boise, but there’s no reason to stay indoors. The Treasure Valley has activities to keep your family busy all season long. Want a leisurely walk through brilliant fall colors? No problem. How about an adrenaline rush on the slopes? We’ve got you covered.
Visit a pumpkin patch
Nothing beats the tradition of visiting a family-owned pumpkin patch. During October, come pick the perfect pumpkin at any of our local patches, including Lowe Family Farmstead, Linder Farms, Twin Oaks Farms and more. Enjoy corn mazes, fall treats, hayrides, pumpkin chucking, pony rides and other family-friendly activities.
See holiday lights
From late November through early January, the Idaho Botanical Garden Winter Garden aGlow event features more than 400,000 twinkling lights, a holiday garden cottage, snacks and warm drinks from local vendors. Only a short drive from Boise, downtown Caldwell also turns into a winter wonderland around the same time.
Go ice skating
Strap on some skates and head to Idaho Ice World, The Village at Meridian, or Indian Creek Plaza in Caldwell. Ice skating is a great workout and fun for the whole family. Ice World is open now through April (check their activity calendar for open skating times), The Village rink is open November through January, and Indian Creek Plaza opens on November 19.
Snow tube at Eagle Island
Eagle Island State Park covers 545 acres and is bordered by channels of the Boise River on the north and south. In the winter, you can tube, ski and snowboard until your heart's content. A magic carpet even transports you back up the hill, and the park makes its own snow well into spring. Many consider this the best tubing park in the state.
Snow activities at Bogus Basin
Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area offers skiing, snowboarding, night skiing, a snow tubing hill, Nordic (cross-country) skiing, snowshoeing and a mountain coaster from December to April. Gear rentals are available. Best part? It’s only 16 miles north of Boise.
For couples/friends:
Whatever you do this winter, don’t hibernate. Boise has something for every taste, from hockey games and holiday markets to snowshoeing and shopping. So grab your boots, a few friends and go make some warm memories during the year’s coldest months.
Pub crawl in Garden City
Garden City is the perfect place for a brewpub crawl. Most of the breweries use locally sourced ingredients and are within close proximity to each other. The area is one of the city’s most up-and-coming pub locales, with a new brewery popping up every couple months.
Go shopping
Boise has all your favorite stores, from independent boutiques to the national chains you know and love. Whether you want to shop downtown or at The Village, the City of Trees is also known as the City of Shopping. While you’re out, don’t miss the shops at Boise Spectrum Center.
Shop Downtown - Downtown Boise has a vibrant shopping and dining scene. From Boise Centre, a large convention center in the heart of the city, you can stroll to more than 80 restaurants and 100 shops that include a mix of local stores and national retailers.
Check out The Village at Meridian - Designed with European-style architecture, The Village is an upscale outdoor shopping mall that offers designer apparel, specialty retail, casual dining, outdoor concerts, a movie theater and an elaborate fountain with hourly shows.
Visit a holiday market or light display
Boise’s winter markets are full of gift ideas and holiday cheer. Try Merry Maker’s Market, Wintry Market or 34th Street Holiday Market. While you’re in the holiday spirit, be sure to check out the area’s light displays. From late November through early January, the Idaho Botanical Garden Winter Garden aGlow is the place to stroll through holiday lights. Downtown Caldwell, which is a short drive from Boise, also turns into a winter wonderland around the same time.
Watch a hockey game
Cheer on the Idaho Steelheads at the Idaho Central Arena in downtown Boise. Grab a beer and hot dog and enjoy winter’s favorite sport. The atmosphere is loud, fun and full of adrenaline. The season goes from October to April. The Steelheads are an affiliate of the National Hockey League's Dallas Stars.
Ride the slopes at Bogus Basin
Want to ski or snowboard? Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area is only 16 miles north of Boise and offers 10 ski lifts and 80 runs across 2,600 acres of terrain. In all, the resort offers 1,800 true vertical feet for skiing and snowboarding, as well as other various snow sports. Gear can be rented at the Bogus Basin Rental Shop. The season is open from December to April.
