Boise Travel Guide

Boise's entertainment matches its landscape: colorful and expansive. Enormous hot-air balloons fill the summer sky during the Boise River Festival. Rodeo clowns, clad in red-and-white-striped long johns, entertain audiences at the Snake River Stampede.

Rodeo

The Snake River Stampede blows into the Boise Valley every July. Reminding Idahoans of their cowboy roots, "the wildest, fastest show on earth" is a colorful collection of cowboy and cowgirl events, including rodeo clowns and bull riding. The Caldwell Night Rodeo, also considered to be one of the top rodeos in the nation, offers its nightly boot-stomping entertainment during August.

Sports

Sports lovers enjoy baseball with the Chicago Cubs affiliate, the Boise Hawks Baseball Club, or catch fast-paced arena football featuring the Boise Stallions at the Bank of America Centre. Rounding out Boise's professional sports offerings are minor league ice hockey's Idaho Steelheads Hockey Club, perhaps the most popular professional team in the area.

Classical Music

While Boise is enthusiastic about its sports, the city is equally proud of its arts. The Morrison Center for the Performing Arts hosts the Boise Philharmonic, Opera Idaho and Ballet Idaho. The angelic voices of the Boise Master Chorale can often be heard accompanying the Boise Philharmonic Orchestra.

Theater

Theatergoers won't find the bright lights of Broadway burning in Boise, but there are local companies that offer entertaining community theater. The Boise Little Theater performs at a distinctive dome-shaped theater located at Fort Boise Park. Contemporary theater is also offered by the Stage Coach Theatre, Knock 'Em Dead Dinner Theatre, Fulton Street Theater, and Spontaneous Productions. In addition, the Morrison Center for the Performing Arts often hosts national touring companies.

Museums

The Boise Art Museum is also a cultural focal point. The museum is not only home to a variety of art exhibits and programs, it also participates in downtown Boise's First Thursday, and hosts BAM After Hours and the annual Art in the Park. Located near the museum is the Log Cabin Literary Center, offering author readings and writing workshops.

Boise's diverse history has resulted in an original museum mixture, including the Idaho Black History Museum, Basque Museum & Cultural Center, and Idaho State Historical Museum. History buffs won't want to miss the Idaho Military History Museum, Old Idaho Penitentiary, Fort Boise Park and Old Fort Boise. Children will also enjoy exploring the old forts and the Pioneer Village, located adjacent to the Idaho State Historical Museum.

Nature

The Discovery Center of Idaho and Morrison-Knudsen Nature Center, with its underwater views of the Boise River, will fascinate young scientists. Visitors of all ages will enjoy the World Center for Birds of Prey, featuring more than 200 birds, and Zoo Boise, located in Julia Davis Park. Wildlife viewing is also possible along the Boise River Greenbelt and at the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area, south of Boise. Wannabe firefighters will be intrigued with the National Interagency Fire Center and Wildland Firefighters Monument, featuring the newest in fire fighting technology.

Nightlife

Eventually, all night-loving visitors and residents alike find themselves in downtown Boise, searching for a cold drink or toe-tapping music. On Wednesday evenings during the summer, stroll over to the Boise Centre on the Grove for people watching and live music at Alive After Five.

There are also bars and clubs where you can dance until the wee hours of the morning. For a truly late night marathon, check out Log Cabin Literary Center. Longtime nightspot, Hannah's, can be relied on for solid musical entertainment and dancing while the alternative dance club scene is found at the Emerald City Club and the Neurolux.

Blues fans will fit right in at the Blues Bouquet or Big Easy Concert House, which brings a touch of New Orleans to Boise. If you're looking for swing-dancing then hop in a cab and head to Shorty's Country and Western Saloon in Garden City. Finally, if you just want to escape into the night, retire to theGamekeeper Restaurant & Lounge or Pengilly's Saloon.

Boise is home to folk musician, Rosalie Sorrels, so it's not surprising that folk music is offered at different venues including the Kulture Klatsch near the Eighth Street Marketplace. The Marketplace is also home to the Funny Bone Comedy Club, where you can catch local and national comedians trying to hit the big time.

Cinema

Near the Eighth Street Marketplace sits first-run independent film venue, the Flicks. You can find first-run mainstream movies at the Egyptian Theatre; however, the theater itself is anything but mainstream. Popular surroundings are available at the Edwards 21 Cinemas, home to the Edwards Boise Imax.2008-08-02T07:29:22.000 283