WAYS TO PLAY IN BOISE
First, it was Seattle. Then Portland. Could Boise be the next familyfriendly destination of the Pacific Northwest? It certainly seems that way. We stopped in this beautiful, high-desert city en route to Sun Valley and found everything Bay Area urbanites crave, from upscale tacos and award-winning craft beer to booze-infused ice cream, cycle-themed dive bars and an interactive creativity museum with a five-story slide. Yes, really. Here are seven favorites.
1 Freak Alley
This alley of satirical, thought-provoking building murals started with one artist in 2002 and has grown to include the works of more than 200 local painters, graffiti artists and more. Today, Freak Alley is the largest outdoor gallery in the Northwest, and it’s still free, day or night, at 201 N. Ninth St. in downtown Boise; freakalleygallery.org.
2 Madre Boutique Taqueria
San Francisco-worthy gourmet Mexican is the focus at this new fine-casual restaurant inside an ultra chic, remodeled cinderblock building. James Beard-nominated chef John Cuevas uses regional ingredients, and his menu darlings are seven fresh and flavorful a la carte tacos ($4-$6), such as a crispy idaho spud & chorizo served with zesty jalapeño pesto, and a bright chicken tinga taco salad ($12) we’re still dreaming about. Open daily at 1034 S. La Pointe St., Boise; madrerestaurant.net.
3 Lost Grove Brewing
Located in the hip Lusk District, a few doors down from Madre, is a sustainable (they make beer with pure, recycled water) brewery and new 70-seat taproom. Lost Grove offers a rotating tap of craft IPAs, sours, seasonal and experimental beers, as well as local wine, cider and kombucha. Food trucks — Sushi Shack, Urban Smoke or Black Sheep Organics — sit just outside the 30-person patio Thursdays through Saturdays to help soak up suds. Kid- and dog-friendly. Open daily at 1026 S. La Pointe St., Boise; lostgrovebrewing.com.
4 JUMP
The massive, nonprofit interactive museum is dedicated to Idaho entrepreneur and McDonald’s potato supplier J.R. Simplot. He was known for his pioneering creativity, and Jack’s Urban Meeting Place, or JUMP, is the city’s way of honoring him and providing a place for kids and adults to explore, do 3D printing, dance, draw, build, cook and more in five engaging studios. Take a class, catch a concert, swoosh down the five-story slide or check out Jack’s collection of 50 vintage tractors dating to 1885. Free, Tuesday-Saturday at 1000 W. Myrtle St., in downtown Boise; jumpboise.org
5 World Center for Birds of Prey
This indoor-outdoor education center is home to eagles, owls, vultures, hawks and falcons from around the world, against the backdrop of the serene Treasure Valley. See the world’s largest captive flock of California condors and check out artifacts from ancient falconry traditions. Better yet, watch them do their thing during Fall Flight, Sept. 21 through Nov. 3. Witness raptors swoop and soar sometimes inches above your head during 30- to 45-minute trainer-led demonstrations (held at 3 p.m. Fridays-Sundays). Admission is $10. Open Tuesday-Sunday at 5668 W. Flying Hawk Lane, Boise; peregrinefund.org/visit.
6 The Stil
It stands for the Sweetest Things in Life, and handcrafted ice cream is the star. Custom flavors with names such as Grandma’s Laugh (dairy-free snickerdoodle) and Parry Hotter’s Beer Butter (butterscotch cream soda) are made in small batches daily using Idaho dairy. But here’s the extra whip: The year-old Stil also offers booze-infused flavors, such as Good Luck, made with vodka, lime and ginger beer, plus flights of beer or wine paired with ice cream, and beer, wine or soda floats. Sweet, indeed. Open daily at 786 W. Broad St., Boise; ilovethestil.com.
7 Old Idaho Penitentiary
Unlike Alcatraz, this historic prison, which held some of the West’s most serious criminals from 1872 to 1973, is affordable and easy to get to. Located in Boise’s Old Penitentiary Historic District, the prison features 30 buildings with access to solitary confinement, the cell blocks, the gallows and more. A series of annual nighttime events, including Paranormal Investigation (Friday), Dudes & Disco (Sept. 18) and Frightened Felons X (Oct. 26-27) adds to the fun. Admission is $6. Open daily at 2445 Old Penitentiary Road, Boise; history.idaho.gov/oldpen.