This past weekend, my friend Alex visited from Seattle, to see his family and partake in one of his favorite activities: Frisbee. Andrew, Alex, and I took off Saturday evening to the best place in town for Frisbee, just in time to escape the direct summer heat. Camel’s Back Park is a great place for being active. Due to its flat expanses of grass, huge matured trees, large play area, picnic tables, tennis courts, and trails leading back into the foothills, one would be hard pressed not to find something to do here.
Thanks to the trees we were able to find a shady spot to toss the disk between the parking lot, a party of volleyball players, and a band of kids chasing each other among the monkey bars. We spread out in a triangle, throwing the Frisbee between us, none of us quite proficient in the skill of catch and release. Read the rest of Frisbee Fun in Camel’s Back Park »
Ten Mile Campground on Highway 21 lies between rivers and strange cartoonish conifers, resembling trees that could be found in a Dr. Seuss story book. Nestled in the Boise National Forest, Ten Mile became a final happy destination after a number of camping mishaps I experienced last weekend while spending time with my friends Andrew and Taylor. While it wasn’t our desired destination we found ourselves very content to relax in this quiet hideaway.
We set ourselves up at the first site on the left hand side of the freeway next to the smaller creek. We paid our 15-dollar site fee and began setting up camp, choosing to move our tent down below the main area of our site to a small flat area next to the water. We grabbed our gold pans and did a little bit of amateurish panning, passing the time away in the cool water while observing the abundant periwinkles (at least thats what Taylor called them) creeping below the surface. Read the rest of Ten Mile Campground- Relaxing In The Boise National Forest »
No one would consider Boise to be one of the art capitals neither of the world nor by any means the country. But perhaps in some respects the city is home to some of the finest collections of art I’ve seen in a city of Boise’s size. In Julia Davis Park sits the Boise Art Museum (BAM), across the street from the Boise Library and in front of the rose garden on Capital Boulevard.
Here at BAM I never cease to be impressed by the constantly changing exhibits. What it lacks in size is made up for in quality and presentation. Their permanent collections preserve some old favorites of past visits as well as new purchases I’ve yet to study with my five senses. My most recent visit was one of the best so far. Read the rest of The American Cockroach- Infesting the Boise Art Museum »
Aptly named, the Great Garden Escape concerts at the Idaho Botanical Garden are truly a wonderful escape and one of my favorite Boise summertime activities. Every Thursday night from June through August, the Botanical Garden presents a different musical act and opens its grounds to all those who wish to come in and enjoy a relaxing, beautiful evening.
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The smell of kettle corn wafts through the air as you approach 8th Street on Saturday mornings in Boise. To me this can only mean one thing, a visit to the Saturday Market, Boise’s bustling weekend farmer’s market and art sale.
On a fairly regular basis I find myself at the 8th Street Market walking past booths while waiting for a call from Wanda at Goldy’s Breakfast informing us a table has finally opened up. It’s a nice place to pass the time, people watching and checking out the fresh produce.
The Capital City Public Market can get pretty hectic some weekends if the weather is nice. Make sure to come early if you want parking near by or plan on walking a little. The market officially opens at 9:30 am but runs until 1:30 pm on Saturday’s so I have plenty of time to sleep in before heading down.
From downtown I work my way up Bannock towards 8th Street. Its easy to tell when your getting close by the music visitors heading back to their cars with crates of fresh berries in hand.
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My boyfriends out of town and my parents are on an anniversary getaway. This can only mean one thing: Girls Night. Unfortunately I only have two girlfriends, one of which was busy on Saturday night. Thankfully, I managed to pull Breanne away from an evening of teen movies (Clueless was in the cue) to hit the town as a duo. We met at Boise High School, parked our cars and strolled downtown to Satchel’s Grill.
Satchel’s is located on 8th and Bannock behind the Idaho building and during the summer months, when its too nice to stay inside and veg-out in front of a TV they have movie nights. I used to love living downtown on 8th street and listening to the sounds of the movie projected just below my cracked window. Satchel’s takes advantage of the open space on the side of the Idaho building to project films on movie nights.
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Many, many years ago, Sherwood West-an older subdivision, was constructed above the west rim of it. The former gravel pit, supplied raw materials such as sand and gravel, to the ever growing communities being built on the Boise Bench. One reason I am familiar with it, is that my dad had built many homes in the same subdivision.
About four years ago, the wife and I moved into the area, just a few blocks away. I hadn’t seen the old gravel pit in years. On one of my first walks in our new neighborhood, I quickly rediscovered an old friend. Read the rest of Hyatt Hidden Lakes Reserve »
Last week, I purchased a single speed beach cruiser to get me around my college campus this fall. I’d grown tired of being scoffed at by my peers for not riding a bike on a regular basis and when I do attempt to pedal around the block I’m too slow to accompany them. I’d had enough, and determined to prove that I knew the proper way to enjoy a bike ride I grabbed my helmet and steered my self in the direction of the Boise Green Belt, my boyfriend by my side.
The Boiseans take pride in their greenbelt as just one aspect of inheriting a biking town badge of honor. Thus it is imperative that as a member of the city of Boise, one enjoys it at least once during their time here. Run it, stroll it, bike it, trike it, or unicycle, the Boise greenbelt is a place for all to enjoy. Read the rest of A Ride Along The Boise Greenbelt »
Movies just aren’t cheap anymore, but I am. I have to really want to see a flick on the big screen in order to pay for it, and I know I’m not the only one like that. Add up ticket prices for a couple of kids and their parents with snacks, whether from the concessions stand or the corner market, and the total can be a deterrent for a lot of families. Solution? Family movie night at the park. Officially, CableONE Movie Night in Meridian. Every Friday night in the summer the city sets up an inflatable screen in Settler’s Park and shows a movie, for FREE!
I can’t remember if this is the second or third year the City of Meridian has put on movie night in the park. My daughter has been hooking up with friends and cousins and heading over with munchies and blankets since it started so I decided to check it out for myself. Read the rest of Movies in the Park –Movie Night in Meridian »
Last week my friend suggested we take a camping trip, but could not settle on where to go. We were less than excited about taking a ford focus four hours to Atlanta and not so certain that Bogus Basin wouldn’t be crowded. This subject was resolved by one suggestion, a campsite my boyfriend and I discovered last summer.
Pine Flats is a site in the Boise National Forest along the south fork of the Payette River, approximately an hour and a half outside of Boise. With a full tank of gas it’s an easy trip to make even if you’re leaving late in the evening like we were. We packed a small tent, swimsuits, sleeping bags, breakfast and dinner into my car and headed out to Highway 55 and Horseshoe Bend. Read the rest of Wading in hot springs in Boise National Forest »
