The Thrifty Traveler: Whitewater, wineries add to Boise vacation value

With easy access to multiple national forests and recreation areas, an extensive Basque community with food and cultural offerings and an impressive urban green space, the city of Boise, Idaho, has a surprising number of experiences to offer the high-energy traveler. And with direct flights from cities such as Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles and Denver, it’s easier to get to than many people might realize. It’s also particularly affordable, allowing you to make the most of your vacation dollars.

Activities: Believe it or not, greater Boise has a wine scene. One of several wine regions in the state, it provides a scenic circuit starting with the downtown Snake River Winery. Just a short stroll from Trader Joe’s, this urban venue offers sipping and sampling in a street-side spot with gifts, wine accessories and a friendly staff. Tasting fees are only $5, and are waived with purchase if you find a bottle you like. I found their 2009 Barbera of note, but they also make a decent port.

Having so many stops just outside of town allows visitors to the area a chance to check out the surrounding countryside while selecting what they want to sip back in their hotel room later in the evening. One particular winery worth the stop is Koenig Vineyards, which also distills a variety of flavored spirits. Another fun stop is Bitner Vineyards, which produces award-winning wines in a Mediterranean atmosphere. The viewing deck offers sweeping views, and their Menopause Merlot is worth throwing down for a bottle if you happen to be partial to reds. If you’re still in the mood to keep sipping after you complete the trail, another urban option is Cinder Wines, which boasts a hip loft decor in a downtown warehouse with a chic urban vibe.

River rafting is a popular activity in Idaho, with the state boasting an impressive amount of whitewater access for those with an adventurous spirit. One guide company of note is located roughly one hour out of the city. Cascade Raft and Kayak offers tours for visitors starting in Horseshoe Bend. Priced at $45 per person, rafting adventures last for roughly three hours. Their staff is friendly, and the float is a fun one, taking you past stunning mountain scenery with your fair share of splashing rapids tempered by lazy stretches where you can relax and enjoy the view.

Nature: The World Center for Birds of Prey offers up-close viewing experiences with condors, falcons and other birds. Entrance fees are $7 and include access to the interactive exhibits, raptor presentations and more. Depending on the time of year, you can also drive out to the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area, which offers bird watching opportunities for eagles, owls, falcons and hawks.

If you’d rather drive up into the mountains, take a short road trip to Idaho City. A living ghost town and recreation area with a Western mountain feel, the tiny town boasts period style buildings and fun treats for those out for a day trip. Sarsaparilla’s sells gourmet milk shakes for $4.50 in flavors such as huckleberry cheesecake and salted caramel, for those who have a sweet tooth to satisfy. Traveling with a pooch? They also sell homemade waffle cones stuffed with vanilla ice cream and miniature dog biscuits for a buck fifty.

Is a desert environment more your speed? Take the time to drive out to Bruneau Dunes State Park, which features sand dunes and a publicly accessible observatory with both solar and night sky viewing programs. The entry fee per vehicle is just $5.

If you’d rather just sip and stroll in the city, Boise has an extensive 25-mile riverfront greenbelt for people to enjoy what the city has to offer in a more relaxed setting. Biking and walking are popular cost-free choices for enjoying this extensive urban green space. Big City Coffee sells java and baked goods affordable to the average traveler, if grabbing a hot beverage and a snack before hitting the city trails is your preferred morning routine. Feel like a little decadence on your getaway? Swing by the Idaho Candy Company. More than 100 years old, the confection venue sells nifty boxed noshables with a retro feel. They are the perfect snack for enjoying with a book, or while strolling along the water.

Museums: Boise has a number of museums offering affordable exhibit access to travelers. One of note is the Old Idaho Penitentiary. Built in 1870, it was still being used as a prison in the early 1970s, and now stands open to visitors interested in learning about the lives of the criminals who formerly made their homes there. Photographs are allowed, and the atmosphere is definitely authentic, with the outside grounds offering a break from the bleak cells with landscaped lawns and flower plantings. Admission is only $5, and comes with access to a small private museum on the grounds, which boasts a large collection of antique weaponry.

Perhaps the most unexpected exhibit offering is the Basque Museum and Cultural Center, which houses information about the mountain arborglyphs carved generations ago by shepherds and provides a peek into the history behind what is arguably one of the largest concentrations of Basque individuals in North America. The $5 entry ticket also comes with access to the restored Basque boarding house next door, complete with period furnishings and archaeological findings.

The center is located on what is known in the city of Boise as the Basque Block, which is marked by cultural flags and flanked by Basque restaurants and a Basque market. Of note are the inscriptions in the sidewalks in front of the cultural center, which represent sheet music and lyrics of popular cultural ditties as well as spiral-shaped listings of important families from the homeland. Various gatherings and festivals are held on this block throughout the year.

If free is how you roll, there are a number of venues which offer cost-free access including the Idaho Black History Museum, the Morrison Knudsen Nature Center and the Idaho Museum of Mining and Geology.

(Myscha Theriault is a best-selling author and avid traveler. She is currently traveling through North America with her husband and Labrador retriever. Readers can follow their adventures on trekhound.com and on Twitter at @MyschaTheriault.)

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