I encourage you to make your own list with your family. To help you get started, I'm going to throw out a few suggestions. Ok, 101 suggestions. Here we go!
1. Float the river--put in at Barber Park and don't forget drinking water and lifejackets for all (no alcohol) (FREE)
2. Go to a movie on a blistery, hot day. REGAL, REEL THEATER, OVERLAND PARK
2. Go to a movie on a blistery, hot day. REGAL, REEL THEATER, OVERLAND PARK
3. Go geocaching, visit www.geocaching.com to learn how (FREE once you have a GPS)
4. Paint pottery at Ceramica
5. Bead at Need to Bead
6. Take the kids to a class at Lowe's or Home Depot on a Saturday morning (FREE)
7. Go to Wahooz Fun Zone for go-carts, bowling, arcade, and mini-golf
8. Go to Roaring Springs Waterpark. Just know that they are sticklers about food-- and water! No food allowed and bring empty water jugs cuz they will dump your water out in front of you.
9. Go to the MK Nature Center (FREE)
10. Go to the Boise Depot and Platt Gardens--to see the interior, check their website for days they're open, I think it's only Sundays and Mondays after 1pm (FREE)
11. Hike around Hull's Gulch in Boise (FREE)
12. Hike around Table Rock in Boise (FREE)
13. Hike around Snake River Canyon (FREE)
14. Check out the shops in Hyde Park, get a snow cone or ice-cream from Goody's
15. Check out Bown Crossing. Enjoy a patio lunch at Flatbread or local food from Locavore, then buy something sweet from Powell's Sweet Shoppe and lunch at Flatbread
16. Picnic and play at any city park, see your city website for park info (FREE)
17. Chill at Sandy Point Beach, don't forget the inflatable raft and $5 for parking
18. Cool down at Eagle Island, don't forget lifejackets and $5 for parking
19. Take a swim at Black Canyon Beach
20. Swim at the Natatorium and slide down the hydrotube
21. Swim at any city pool
22. Rock climb, workout, swim at your local YMCA or try one in a different city.....have you been to the Caldwell Y yet?
23. Rock climb at Boise Peak Fitness
24. Walk or ride bikes on the Greenbelt, skip rocks into the river (FREE). Click HERE for a map of the Greenbelt in Boise, Star, Eagle, Nampa, Caldwell, and Parma. We have a very long, accessible, and spectacular greenbelt!
25. See the animals at Zoo Boise
26. Ride the paddle boats in Julia Davis Park
27. And while you're there smell the roses in the Rose Garden at Julia Davis Park (FREE)
28. Then head over to the Boise Art Museum
29. Cross the street to the Idaho Historical Museum
30. See old, long homes in Pioneer Village (FREE)
31. Cool down at the Discovery Center and light up your science brain
32. Learn more from the Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial, enjoy inspirational quotes, and the sound of water (FREE)
33. Go to the Black History Museum
34. Dare step foot into the eerie Idaho State Penitentiary
35. Create an earthquake at the Idaho Mining and Geology Museum, see the glowing rocks, buy some geodes, and crack them open (FREE) every Friday
36. Hike the Castle Rock loop and check out the Quarry View Park (FREE)
37. Take a tour of the Bishop's House at the Bishop's House Fair on June 10
38. Hit some balls at Divotz Golf Range or any of the driving ranges
39. Take in a show at the Shakespeare Festival outdoor amphitheater
40. Movies at the Park-- at Settler's Park in Meridian and Julia Davis Park in Boise (FREE)
41. Participate in Free Fishing Day on June 9 at Park Center Pond in Boise, Merrill Pond in Eagle, Lake Lowell in Caldwell
36. Hike the Castle Rock loop and check out the Quarry View Park (FREE)
37. Take a tour of the Bishop's House at the Bishop's House Fair on June 10
38. Hit some balls at Divotz Golf Range or any of the driving ranges
39. Take in a show at the Shakespeare Festival outdoor amphitheater
40. Movies at the Park-- at Settler's Park in Meridian and Julia Davis Park in Boise (FREE)
41. Participate in Free Fishing Day on June 9 at Park Center Pond in Boise, Merrill Pond in Eagle, Lake Lowell in Caldwell
42. Head out for a Ghost Town Adventure in Silver City (FREE)
43. Fish, camp, or watch a shoot-out in Idaho City. Nice antique shops too.
44. Eagle Fun Days (FREE)
45. Take a class! The Nampa Rec Center offers the most amazing classes and camps as does Meridian and Boise
46. Take a stroll through Edward's Greenhouse (it's huge!) and point out the flowers and plants that you know the names of (my kids hate when I do this, ha ha). FREE for lookers, but I guarantee you're going to want to buy something.
47. Drive out to Garden Valley and see a show at the Starlight Mountain Theater
48. Keep up those reading skills and take the kids to the library to check out more books or sit down for story time
49. It wouldn't be summer without the Capital City Public Market. This is a must to-do for us!
50. Take a walk up and down Harrison Blvd (the best time to do this is in the Spring and the Fall)
51. Take a walk up and down Warms Springs Ave and learn more about the geothermal water there
52. The Nampa Farmer's Market is also noteworthy, although not as large-scale as the farmer's market in downtown Boise
53. Family date night at the Parma drive in-- Kids 11 and under are free
54. Create a scavenger hunt for the Boise Towne Square Mall (FREE)
55. Take a self guided walking tour in Boise. Pioneer Cemetery Self Guided Walking Tour (FREE)
56. Here's another self-guided walking tour in Boise's Morris Hill Cemetery. Notably, Joe Albertson is buried here.
57. More Boise walking tours HERE. AWESOME and FREE
58. Art in the Park. Held in Julia Davis Park every September
59. The Lavender Festival
60. The Idaho State Capitol Building. Take a tour and check out the gift shop.
61. Buy local from the Boise Co-op then get some gelato, yum.
62. Get a flavored dip cone from Fancy Freeze.
63. See the ruts of the Oregon Trail at Bonneville Point 15 miles outside of Boise. Take the Black's Creek exit and follow the signs
64. Take a day trip to Shoshone Falls in Twin Falls
65. See at matinee at the historic Egyptian Theater
66. White water rafting on the Payette River
67. Camping
68. Hot springs
69. World Center for the Birds of Prey
70. Mountain Biking at Bogus Basin. It's open year round.
71. Take a tour inside St. John's Cathedral (FREE)
72. Then order a dip cone from the famous Fancy Freeze on State Street. This was a favorite haunt of my mothers when she was a teen. My kids love this place.
73. Scotch 'n sodas from the Big Bun on Overland. Do they still have these?
74. And then there's Westside Drive-In, another Boise institution.
75. Bown House on Park Center. It's the oldest stone house in Idaho and we've been wanting to go here for the past two summers. This is our year. Open only the first Saturday of the month from 1-4 pm. July 7, Aug 4, Sept 1. Interactive, living-museum. (FREE)
76. Peruse the petroglyphs at Celebration Park along the Snake River just south of Melba
77. Rollerskating at the Nampa Rollerdrome. (You can usually find a Groupon for this)
78. Treat yourself and the kids to a pedicure and/or manicure. Beauty schools are an affordable option.
79. Get a babysitter and then a facial, you deserve it
80. Check out Jump Creek Falls (FREE)
81. Plant a garden in your backyard or in a community garden. Teach your kids where their food comes from.
82. Hike to the top of Camel's Back mountain (FREE)
83. Meridian Dairy Days in June (FREE)
84. Idaho Western Fair (DEFINITELY NOT FREE)
85. Four Rivers Cultural Center in Ontario, wow, what a lesson in history and worth the drive
86. Deer Flat Nature Trail in Caldwell (FREE)
87. McCall
88. Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, Baker City OR
89. Bowling at Boise State University S.U.B., then walk around campus
90. Idaho Botanical Garden. They have spectacular concerts on the grass, movie nights for families, classes, opera night, Bug Day, a children's garden, wine tastings, and more. But most of all, we just like walking around.
91. Be sure to get in any wellness appointments, eye exams, dental cleanings, etc.
92. Bounce
93. Jumptime
94. Just Kiddin' Around
95. See the Treasure Valley's newest park--the Julius M. Kleiner Memorial Park (FREE)
96. Swim lessons!
97. Alive After Five in BoDo
98. Boise Music Festival (Get A FREE Ticket)
99. Arrange to stay overnight at the Grove Hotel or another hotel downtown
100. Idaho Aquarium
101. Boise River Park June 28
43. Fish, camp, or watch a shoot-out in Idaho City. Nice antique shops too.
44. Eagle Fun Days (FREE)
45. Take a class! The Nampa Rec Center offers the most amazing classes and camps as does Meridian and Boise
46. Take a stroll through Edward's Greenhouse (it's huge!) and point out the flowers and plants that you know the names of (my kids hate when I do this, ha ha). FREE for lookers, but I guarantee you're going to want to buy something.
47. Drive out to Garden Valley and see a show at the Starlight Mountain Theater
48. Keep up those reading skills and take the kids to the library to check out more books or sit down for story time
49. It wouldn't be summer without the Capital City Public Market. This is a must to-do for us!
50. Take a walk up and down Harrison Blvd (the best time to do this is in the Spring and the Fall)
51. Take a walk up and down Warms Springs Ave and learn more about the geothermal water there
52. The Nampa Farmer's Market is also noteworthy, although not as large-scale as the farmer's market in downtown Boise
53. Family date night at the Parma drive in-- Kids 11 and under are free
54. Create a scavenger hunt for the Boise Towne Square Mall (FREE)
55. Take a self guided walking tour in Boise. Pioneer Cemetery Self Guided Walking Tour (FREE)
56. Here's another self-guided walking tour in Boise's Morris Hill Cemetery. Notably, Joe Albertson is buried here.
57. More Boise walking tours HERE. AWESOME and FREE
58. Art in the Park. Held in Julia Davis Park every September
59. The Lavender Festival
60. The Idaho State Capitol Building. Take a tour and check out the gift shop.
61. Buy local from the Boise Co-op then get some gelato, yum.
62. Get a flavored dip cone from Fancy Freeze.
63. See the ruts of the Oregon Trail at Bonneville Point 15 miles outside of Boise. Take the Black's Creek exit and follow the signs
64. Take a day trip to Shoshone Falls in Twin Falls
65. See at matinee at the historic Egyptian Theater
66. White water rafting on the Payette River
67. Camping
68. Hot springs
69. World Center for the Birds of Prey
70. Mountain Biking at Bogus Basin. It's open year round.
71. Take a tour inside St. John's Cathedral (FREE)
72. Then order a dip cone from the famous Fancy Freeze on State Street. This was a favorite haunt of my mothers when she was a teen. My kids love this place.
73. Scotch 'n sodas from the Big Bun on Overland. Do they still have these?
74. And then there's Westside Drive-In, another Boise institution.
75. Bown House on Park Center. It's the oldest stone house in Idaho and we've been wanting to go here for the past two summers. This is our year. Open only the first Saturday of the month from 1-4 pm. July 7, Aug 4, Sept 1. Interactive, living-museum. (FREE)
76. Peruse the petroglyphs at Celebration Park along the Snake River just south of Melba
77. Rollerskating at the Nampa Rollerdrome. (You can usually find a Groupon for this)
78. Treat yourself and the kids to a pedicure and/or manicure. Beauty schools are an affordable option.
79. Get a babysitter and then a facial, you deserve it
80. Check out Jump Creek Falls (FREE)
81. Plant a garden in your backyard or in a community garden. Teach your kids where their food comes from.
82. Hike to the top of Camel's Back mountain (FREE)
83. Meridian Dairy Days in June (FREE)
84. Idaho Western Fair (DEFINITELY NOT FREE)
85. Four Rivers Cultural Center in Ontario, wow, what a lesson in history and worth the drive
86. Deer Flat Nature Trail in Caldwell (FREE)
87. McCall
88. Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, Baker City OR
89. Bowling at Boise State University S.U.B., then walk around campus
90. Idaho Botanical Garden. They have spectacular concerts on the grass, movie nights for families, classes, opera night, Bug Day, a children's garden, wine tastings, and more. But most of all, we just like walking around.
91. Be sure to get in any wellness appointments, eye exams, dental cleanings, etc.
92. Bounce
93. Jumptime
94. Just Kiddin' Around
95. See the Treasure Valley's newest park--the Julius M. Kleiner Memorial Park (FREE)
96. Swim lessons!
97. Alive After Five in BoDo
98. Boise Music Festival (Get A FREE Ticket)
99. Arrange to stay overnight at the Grove Hotel or another hotel downtown
100. Idaho Aquarium
101. Boise River Park June 28
