Table of Contents
INTRO, LOCATION & TRANSPORTATION
Immediately after our Park City wedding, we drove to ~4 hours to Boise, ID to kickoff the first few days of our honeymoon. The artsy mountain town, which has a nice dining scene, is an underrated vacation spot that you should add to your list. Boise also has a high Basque population, so you’ll find an abundance of delicious Basque options. The town is close to the western border of Idaho and Oregon and sits next to the Boise National Forest. Boise International Airport is a smaller airport and direct flights from the eastern part of the country can be hard to find, although direct flights from the western part of the country are more abundant. If you fly in, I recommend renting a car for any outdoor excursions.
LODGING
We picked this airbnb for its cozy, yet modern, homey feel. When we stayed here, we had been on the road for 1-month+ and wanted a fenced in backyard for Leia and a place where we could decompress. I highly recommend this property for dog owners and non-dog owners. It’s also a quick drive to downtown Boise and hiking. The spot is thoughtfully decorated.
Charming, Renovated Farmhouse, Airbnb ~$132-$149+/night
Boise has numerous airbnb options at fairly reasonable price points. The Jefferson Street Cottage in West Downtown Boise is a 2-bedroom, 2-bath, thoughtfully decorated house (no pets). It’s priced ~$113-$129/night. This 1905 beautiful bungalow, in the incredible North End neighborhood has 3-bedrooms, 1-bath and is priced ~$149-192/night. For a slightly smaller North End bungalow, this option has 2-bedrooms, 1-bath and is priced ~$150-$200/night. The bungalows are not pet friendly. These airbnb options beat out the local hotels in terms of the experience: cost ratio.
BREAKFAST
The Griddle
Really solid, standard breakfast spot that’s best for indoor dining. The French toast is very good. AD’s Review: 4.4.
Egg Man and Earl
Yikes, the “Walrus” dish is a gut bomb, though delicious and greasy, as breakfast should be (in my opinion). The complimentary “scone” is also GOOD. Cool, funky, old school diner atmosphere. Also is an indoor dining spot. AD’s Review: 4.65.
ACTIVITIES
Explore Downtown Boise's Shopping Scene
You can spend a full day walking around the downtown. There’s plenty of cute, artsy shops, book and record stores, etc. Check out the MAP.
Go to The Art Galleries
In particular The Art Source Gallery, where we know one of the incredible artists, Norma Penchansky-Glasser.
Venture onto The River for Whitewater Rafting
Book a rafting trip through The Boise River Outdoor Opportunities, Cascade Raft & Kayak, or Idaho Whitewater Unlimited. All of which offer excursions within a drive of Boise (think day-trip or half-day) and are top rated outdoor touring companies.
Go Hiking
The Quail-Harrison Hallows loop, a 4.1M, moderate hike, offers beautiful views of the city. Note that it doesn’t have great shade covering on hotter days. The Hulls Gulch Nature Trail is a 6.3M, moderate trek that is peaceful, not crowded and offers fantastic gulch views.
LUNCH
Lemon Tree
The spot’s making creative sandwiches, with fresh ingredients, in a trendy atmosphere. Has a fantastic lemonade selection. AD’s Review: 4.25.
Casa Blanca Cuban Grill 
This was one of the first meals that we had upon getting into Boise and it’s fantastic. Simple, delicious Cuban Food. Highly recommend for takeout. AD’s Review: 4.5.
Also check out Uncle Giuseppe’s for some old school, fantastic sandwiches, Neighborhood Tim’s BBQ if you’re in the mood for some Texas Style Brisket and Carolina Pork Shoulder, and The Basque Market if you’re feeling some Paella on a Wednesday (or if you’re just in the mood for Basque snacks in general).
DINNER
Some of these can also be eaten for lunch, though we had these spots either for dinner or as a late lunch/early dinner.
Txikiteo
Txikiteo has tasty Basque inspired snacks, delicious wine, and a nice outdoor patio space that is dog friendly. The menu is fairly limited and features only small plates. AD’s Review: 4.4.
SID'S Garage
I found SID’s months before our trip because I love elevated, glorified bar food. The milk shakes are reason alone to dine at SIDS, but the burgers are very solid (though a thicker patty than I personally prefer), with creative combos. SID’s has another location in Phoenix, AZ. AD’s Review: 4.4.
The Funky Taco
This is everything that I want in a restaurant, the dishes are creative and unique, though totally unpretentious. We started with the Papas and they were GOOD. BUT, months later, I still crave the Korean Pastor tacos and Chorizo Burritos. The drinks are also good. AD’s Review: 4.85.
DRINK
Boise homes many fantastic breweries. During our short time there, we were only able to explore two, but Lost Grove Brewing, White Dog Brewing Co, Highlands Hollow Brewhouse, etc. are all places that we have on our list for next trip.
Hops & Bottles
Nice outdoor seating, good drink selections (Nick said the beer was good) and super dog friendly. There are dog beds that the pups can barrow. Also has games that people can play while there. We liked that it’s a slightly out of the main downtown area. (No food). AD’s Review: 4.9.
10 Barrel Brewing - Boise
Nice happening spot with good drinks and tasty pretzel snacks (and other food). Good little outdoor section that’s dog friendly. AD’s Review: 4.4.
The STIL Ice Cream Company
Ice cream paired with beer and/or wine and pup treats on-demand. Good flavor selection. What’s not to love? AD’s Review: 4.5.
