Boise Travel Guide

Nestled on a high desert plain with the snow-capped Rocky Mountains as a backdrop, visitors will be hard pressed to forget the city of Boise. Its location makes it a convenient gateway to Idaho's great outdoors. The Boise River flows directly through the centre of town, enhancing the 25-mile (40km) Greenbelt path system, which connects five major parks throughout Boise, providing runners, walkers, bikers and skaters with endless space for exercise. Towering mountains lie to the north, including the Bogus Basin Mountain Resort, which is just a few minutes' drive from the city. Also easily accessible are natural sand dunes, hot springs and crystal clear mountain lakes.

When not exploring the area's natural wonders, travellers can enjoy Downtown Boise's shops, galleries, restaurants and clubs. Central Grove Plaza hosts free concerts throughout the summer and festive celebrations, including the lighting of an enormous Christmas tree in winter. Renovated historic buildings such as the 8th Street Marketplace offer unique shopping and dining experiences. Boise has an active downtown association, which promotes initiatives such as First Thursdays, when city businesses stay open late and offer various promotions.

Visitors should be sure to sample Boise's Basque cuisine. In the 1930s, a group of Basques left Europe and settled in Boise, leaving their unique mark on the city's culinary tradition. Today, Boise has one of the largest concentrations of Basques in the world outside the Pyrenees. In Boise's Basque neighbourhood, visitors can enjoy the Basque market, traditional restaurants and various cultural events.

Things to do in Boise

Boise is the capital of Idaho and its cultural heart. While not known for world-famous landmarks and attractions, the city offers a number of interesting sights and activities for visitors.

The destination has a few excellent museums including the Boise Art Museum, the Idaho Black History Museum, and the popular Basque Museum and Cultural Center. The World Center for Birds of Prey is also worth a visit as it hosts live presentations and educational tours for the whole family.

There are some lovely parks in Boise, too. Julia Davis Park is home to a small zoo and rose garden, as well as a scenic railroad. Barber Park is known for its wildlife, and visitors can spot deer, elk, bald eagles and other animals. Barber Park is also the starting point for a summer tradition in Boise: floating down the Boise River. The Greenbelt path system connects five major parks throughout Boise, providing wonderfully extensive space for exercise and recreation.

Basque Museum and Cultural Center photo

Basque Museum and Cultural Center

In the 1830s a flood of immigrants from the Basque Country (Spain and France) arrived in the United States, Idaho being one of the five US states with notable Basque heritage. The mission of the Basque Museum and Cultural Center is to preserve the Basque history and culture through education, research, collections and activities. The museum provides a look into traditional Basque heritage as well as the lives of Basque-Americans since settlement in the US through their collections of books, manuscripts, photographs and unique oral history archives. The museum's calendar is filled with many interesting events, and visitors may get the chance to see colourful dancing, taste delicious food and shop at the market.

Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area photo

Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area

Bogus Basin has grown from a small ski hill with a rope tow into a large holiday ski destination with three lodges, numerous chairlifts, night skiing and Nordic trails. Rental, repair and retail shops are available on site, as are a ski and snowboarding school and tubing hill. During the summer, a Frisbee golf course is set up on the thawed-out trails, and nature hikes and children's camps are offered. Only 40-minutes' drive from downtown Boise, Bogus Basin is a popular day or weekend excursion from the city and one of the most popular snow playgrounds in Idaho.

Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve photo

Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve

The Craters of the Moon in Idaho was formed by volcanic eruptions about 15,000 years ago. The National Monument and Preserve offers a fascinating glimpse into the state's dramatic geological past through its vast landscape of hardened lava. The landscape may seem barren, but there's a large population of creatures and birds here. Thirtieth president of the United States Calvin Coolidge described the park as 'a weird and scenic landscape peculiar to itself'. While it may not look exactly like the moon, the similarities were enough to encourage Apollo 14 astronauts to use it to prepare for their lunar expedition in 1969. Today visitors can take the Loop Road to most of the interesting sites, including the North Crater Flow, Devil's Orchard, Inferno Cone, the Tree Molds and even lava tube caves. Craters of the Moon is located about 178 miles (286km) east of Boise.

Getting Around

The Boise River Greenbelt path system makes walking, jogging and biking highly enjoyable. ValleyRide bus service is available through all the major tourist areas and the airport. There are always taxi companies available for a relatively reasonable price and, for those with rental cars, Boise offers many convenient and inexpensive parking options. Lyft and Uber are also available.

Boise Climate and Weather

Summers are hot and dry in this semi-arid continental climate, while winters are generally cold with snow falling on the surrounding mountains. There's very little annual precipitation in the city. Summer temperatures average 90ºF (32ºC), but hotter spells are common in July and August. Winter temperatures are typically between 24ºF (-4ºC) and 37ºF (3ºC).

United States of America travel info

Electricity

The electrical current is 120 volts, 60Hz. Plugs are mainly the type with two flat pins, though three-pin plugs (two flat parallel pins and a rounded pin) are also widely used. European appliances without dual-voltage capabilities will require an adapter.

Language

English is the most common language spoken but Spanish is often heard in the south-western states.

Money

The official currency is the US Dollar (USD), which is divided into 100 cents. Only major banks exchange foreign currency. ATMs are widespread and credit cards are widely accepted; Apple Pay and Google Pay are very popular. Banking hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm.

Tipping

A 15 percent tip is expected by taxi drivers, bartenders, hairdressers and waiters, but travellers shouldn't tip in fast-food or self-service restaurants. In expensive restaurants or for large parties, the tip should be 20 percent of the bill. It's normal to tip staff such as valets and porters in hotels; this is discretionary, although a minimum of $5 is expected. Most services are customarily tipped if the service is good.

Health

There are no specific health risks associated with travel within the USA. Medical facilities are excellent, but expensive. Only emergencies are treated without prior payment and treatment can be refused without evidence of insurance or proof of funds. Good medical insurance is essential.

Safety

Travel within the United States is generally trouble-free, though travellers should be aware that the US shares with the rest of the world an increased threat from terrorist incidents. Security has been heightened, particularly at airports. Restrictions on hand luggage apply and travellers are advised to check on the latest situation with airlines in advance. Travellers should also be alert to the dangers of car and street crime in cities and should use common sense and take basic precautions. Hurricanes are common between June and November, putting the southern USA, including the Gulf Coast and the eastern US at risk. There's a risk of wildfires in many dry areas in the US, particularly on the West Coast from March to November.

Local customs

Laws vary from state to state, including speed limit, fines and punishment. The age at which alcohol may be legally bought and consumed is 21 years.

Doing business

In such a large country, filled with so many diverse groups, business practices may differ according to each state, though rarely to any large degree. The East Coast is traditionally more formal than the West Coast, though in states such as California, dress code and conservative appearance are as common as they would be in New York. Punctuality is important throughout the country and it's considered rude to be late for a meeting. Gift-giving is uncommon as it may be construed as bribery. Appropriate titles (Mr, Mrs, Ms) are used upon introduction and until otherwise stated. Americans favour politeness and greetings of 'Hello' and 'How are you?' are often expressed with sincerity. Business hours may vary in each state, but an 8am start and 5pm finish Monday to Friday is the most common with an hour over lunch.

Status and age are not necessarily indicative of seniority, nor do they carry much weight in themselves. Those doing business in the States should be mindful of this fact; foreigners should never make assumptions about someone's position or rank. Best practice is to be respectful to all parties. That said, the US upholds a hierarchal business structure in which 'the boss' is the ultimate decision-maker. Senior leaders have the power of the last word, and can go against the grain just as easily as they can follow popular opinion. Foreigners should concentrate on winning over this individual, even if the greater group seems unsupportive. Americans value a direct style of communication. In this fast-paced, consumer culture 'time is money', and small-talk is viewed as unnecessary and wasteful. It's best for foreigners to get to the point quickly, speak about issues in a frank and open manner, and to avoid taking offence if someone questions or challenges them outright.

Duty free

Travellers to the United States who are returning residents of the country do not have to pay duty on articles purchased abroad to the value of $800 provided their stay was longer than 48 hours and their duty-free allowance was not used in the 30-day period prior. For passengers arriving from Samoa, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, a duty-free allowance of $1,600 is allowed. The following items are included in this: 50 cigarettes and 10 cigars and 150 millilitres (5 fl. oz.) of alcoholic beverages or 150 millilitres (5 fl. oz.) of perfume containing alcohol. Restrictions may apply to goods from Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Burma (Myanmar), Angola, Liberia and Sudan. It is prohibited to import Cuban cigars from any country.

Travellers to the United States who are non-residents do not have to pay duty on the following items: 50 cigars or 200 cigarettes and gifts to the value of $100 provided their stay in the USA is not less than 72 hours and that the allowance has not been used in the preceding six-month period.

Prohibited items for residents and non-residents include meat or meat products, poultry, narcotics, absinthe, plants, seeds, vegetables, fruits, soil, live insects and other living plants or animal pests. Fish is prohibited unless it carries disease-free certification. Wildlife and animals or their by-products carry restrictions. Dairy products and eggs from specified countries are not allowed. Firearms and ammunition are not allowed without the necessary license and permit.

Communications

The international country dialling code for the United States is +1. Mobile networks cover most of the country, especially all urban areas; travellers can purchase local prepaid SIM cards for unlocked phones or use eSIMs if their cellular providers support it on their networks. WiFi is widely available.

Passport & Visa

It is highly recommended that travellers' passports have at least six months' validity remaining after the intended date of departure from them travel destination. A visa is required for short visits unless travellers qualify for entry under the Visa Waiver Program.

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables citizens of certain countries to travel to the US for a stay of up to 90 days without a visa. Visitors under the VWP need a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which allows the US government to screen all visitors before travel. Visitors entering the country under the VWP must have a machine-readable passport (MRP) that has a barcode on the photo page. Travellers under the VWP must have passports that include biometrics if they wish to enter the country without a visa, which means that passports must contain unique personal data such as fingerprints or iris details. All passports must contain a digital photo image in order to travel visa-free. All visitors to the USA have a photograph and two fingerprints taken by an inkless scanner on arrival, including those travelling visa-free under the VWP.

As part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), all travellers travelling between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean region are required to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the United States. If departing from the USA, a valid passport is required by immigration authorities. Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources.

Entry requirements

US citizens require passports.

UK nationals require a passport valid for duration of stay. Most passport holders can get an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) through the Visa Waiver Programme, which allows travel to the US for up to 90 days. The VWP includes tourism, certain types of business visit and transit to another country.

The most important requirement on entering the U.S. is providing proof of Canadian citizenship. A valid Canadian passport is the best document to prove Canadian citizenship and the right to return to Canada. However, several other documents can serve, depending on the mode of transport. Generally, Canadian citizens do not require visitor, business, transit or other visas to enter the United States from Canada, though there are some exceptions.

Passports must be valid for the period of intended stay. If visiting the US for fewer than 90 days, Australian nationals may be eligible to apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), and enter under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

South Africans must hold a passport valid for duration of stay. A visa is required.

Passports must be valid for duration of stay. Irish nationals can get an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) under the Visa Waiver Programme for entry into the United States.

Passports must be valid for duration of stay. New Zealand nationals can get an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) under the Visa Waiver Programme for entry into the United States.

Useful contacts

United States Tourist Office: www.usatourist.com

911 (General)

Embassies / consulates in other countries

United States Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 20 7499 9000.

United States Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 688 5335.

United States Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 2 6214 5600.

United States Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 12 431 4000.

United States Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 1 668 8777.

United States Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 4 462 6000.

Embassies / consulates in United States of America

British Embassy, Washington DC: +1 202 588 6500.

Canadian Embassy, Washington DC: +1 202 682 1740.

Australian Embassy, Washington DC: +1 202 797 3000.

South African Embassy, Washington DC: +1 202 232 4400.

Irish Embassy, Washington DC: +1 202 462 3939.

New Zealand Embassy, Washington DC: +1 202 328 4800.