Summer is almost here and before you know it, the kids will be out of school. I love this time of year—the anticipation of nice weather and all of the fun adventures to come. And the hope of soon having more time—time for longer family adventures, sans school schedules and commitments. This is when I book out our summer calendar with the hikes and trips that are at the top of my list, and that list keeps me going until the real fun starts.
One of the adventures I like to plan for is a summer kick-off, a family trip to set the tone for the season. I try to do this as soon as the kids are out of school, because it functions as both a celebration and a launch. If you’re looking to plan your own summer kick-off adventure, I have the perfect destination for you: Boise, Idaho.
Boise is an ideal spot for an active family adventure, especially in June. It’s in the high desert, so you can expect warmer and sunnier weather than in many other places in the Pacific Northwest that are still heating up. Its high desert location influences the landscape—you’ll hike among sagebrush and climb dry, golden hills. But Boise has so much more than that too, including a lush greenway with a river that flows peacefully through town and nearby shady canyons replete with towering pines and thick with wildlife. For being a mid-size city with great cultural attractions and celebrated restaurants, there’s a surprising amount of nature in the city and all around it, and it’s all very easy to explore, especially with kids in tow.
To make the most of your time, here’s my 4-day itinerary for exploring Boise as a family—on foot, by bike and by water, with plenty of kid-friendly attractions. Note: This itinerary is designed with early summer in mind. If you’re visiting at a different time of year, check the opening times of the spots I suggest and reorder as needed.
Tip: The outdoor adventures I recommend in Boise are relatively exposed, so pack plenty of water and sunscreen.
Day 1:
Morning adventure: Explore Camel’s Back Park
Visit Hyde Park, one of the nicest neighborhoods in Boise, and get oriented to the layout of the city with a 1.7-mile panoramic hike at Camel’s Back Park. This is one of the most iconic hikes in Boise. From the route, you can look down on the capitol building and the other important structures of downtown, all on a very kid-friendly and easy-to-follow loop trail.
Once you’re done with the hike, head to the park’s large playground, where kids will be drawn in by the expansive equipment and climbing trees. It may take a couple of hours to tear your kids away, but once you do, wander down 13th Street to the epicenter of Hyde Park, which locals refer to as the crown jewel of Boise’s North End, complete with cute coffee shops, highly rated restaurants and little stores that are perfect for popping into.
Afternoon adventure: Visit Zoo Boise
I love visiting zoos when we travel, especially for the opportunity to see local fauna, and Zoo Boise is no exception. It’s a small, very accessible zoo, perfect for a 2-hour adventure. One of the unique things about Zoo Boise is that it has a moat, which you can explore by boat. Something else to add to your list: the brand-new red panda exhibit with a cool overhead walkway for the animals. But the best thing to do at Zoo Boise is one of their private animal experiences. In the company of a zookeeper, you can do everything from get up close and personal with a giraffe to feed the anteaters. My kids loved both the anteater experience and the reptile experience, and I loved that they learned so much more about the animals than if we were just walking around looking at them. It really made our visit special and memorable.
Tip: You can get in to Zoo Boise for free if you have a membership to another zoo that’s part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Day 2:
Cycle the Boise River Greenbelt
This 25-mile path that weaves through the city, following the Boise River, is the perfect route to adventure. Along its length, you can find playgrounds, restaurants and cafes, museums and even spots to swim. Here’s my suggestion for an 8.4-mile ride that will appeal to even the smallest members of your family.
- Start your ride at Julia Davis Park, which you’ll recognize from yesterday as the home of Zoo Boise, as well as several other Boise family gems, including a playground, the Idaho State Museum, the Boise Art Museum and the Idaho Black History Museum. I recommend saving your exploration of the park until at least mid-way through your ride (you’ll be back here half-way through and then at the end of your ride).
- Cycle 2.3 miles north to Esther Simplot Park. Along the way, pass the Ann Frank Memorial, Ann Morrison Park and Boise Whitewater Park, where you can watch people surfing in the river. Along the way, and especially near Esther Simplot Park, there are many establishments—breweries, coffee shops and restaurants—to take a break and enjoy the nice views of the river. Pack your swimming stuff—you can swim at Esther Simplot Park.
- Cycle back to Julia Davis Park for a picnic lunch. For picky eaters, kids that can’t agree on what they want for lunch or those looking to eat a little healthier, there’s a Whole Foods with a buffet-style hot bar very close to the park. We love these—everyone gets to pick out their own food and it feels healthier than eating out at a restaurant, without all the food prep of a picnic.
- After lunch, get out any wiggles with a visit to the Julia Davis Park playground, then stop by the Discovery Center of Idaho, a science museum where currently kids can explore a dinosaur exhibit (main exhibits change from time to time). The real hit, especially for younger kids, is the interactive room toward the rear of the museum, where they can play and experiment to their heart’s content—all while learning about all things STEM. This is where my kids wanted to spend the majority of our time at the museum.
- Tip: The Discovery Center of Idaho participates in the ASTC Travel Passport Program, offering reciprocal admission benefits to members of other participating science centers and museums.
- If you still have the energy, cycle 1.9 miles south along the Greenbelt to the Natatorium Pool and Hydrotube, an outdoor pool and water slide that’s open in the afternoons and evenings during the summer. Along the way, pass Kristin Armstrong Municipal Park, which has a playground.
- Cycle back to your starting point at Julia Davis Park.
Day 3:
Morning adventure: Hike Table Rock
This 3.9-mile route to Table Rock is the other kid-friendly hike in Boise that is a must do. It leaves from the grounds of the old penitentiary and climbs up to a high plateau with a cross and a fantastic view of the city from the southeast. Because the hike is a little steep on the way up (the route has 882 feet of elevation gain), be sure to bring lots of snacks and water to entice your littles to keep climbing. Or do what I do—bring along an audiobook for your kids to listen to (and headphones), and you probably won’t hear a peep from them!
Afternoon adventure: Soak in natural hot springs
After several active days, it’s time to unwind and reset your legs with a trip to The Springs, a natural hot springs resort that’s a gorgeous 45-minute drive from Boise through deep canyons and dense forests. On Sundays, the resort is all ages. Adults sip drinks on the edges of the main pool while kids quietly splash around. You can order food and drinks pool-side, and there are kid-friendly menu options. When you’re done soaking, be sure to drive into nearby Idaho City and stop for ice cream at Sarsaparilla Ice Cream Parlor.
Tip: Reservations at The Springs fill up weeks in advance, so be sure to make yours as soon as you know your travel dates. Reservations are for 2-hour periods.
Day 4:
Go crazy at Wahooz Family Fun Zone and Roaring Springs Waterpark
Expend the rest of your vacation energy and tire your kids out for the journey home at Wahooz Family Fun Zone and Roaring Springs Waterpark, a 15-minute drive from Boise. At Wahooz, there are enough indoor and outdoor attractions—think putt putt golf, bumper boats and laser tag—to keep your family busy all day. We budgeted 5 hours at the park and spent almost 8! You can get a combo ticket that includes the waterpark, which is perfect for sunny days. There are food options at both spots, so you don’t need to worry about packing snacks or lunch.
Boise is the perfect place for a family-friendly active getaway—especially as a summer kick-off. I hope your family enjoys it as much as mine has!