A Dreamy Boise Winter Weekend Getaway

Post Topic: Boise Winter Weekend Getaway Itinerary

The Pacific Northwest is my favorite region in all of the U.S, but did you know that Idaho is also considered part of the Pacific Northwest? Idaho is the forgotten state of the Pacific Northwest.

Idaho is home to many natural wonders, volcanic hot springs, snow capped mountains, trendy & hip cities, and delicious food! And this state is best experienced during the magical winter season.

If you’re a mountain lover who enjoys the benefits and amenities of being near a large city, then look no further than Boise, Idaho.

Is your trip to Idaho a part of a larger trip to the Pacific Northwest? You may also like these articles:

Crater Lake: A Bucket List National Park

10 Can’t Miss Stops on the Oregon Coast

The Ultimate Guide to Glacier National Park

Where to Stay

Stay in Boise! Boise is located right at the base of the Idaho Rocky Mountains and offers great accommodations & food with accessibility to many mountain activities only 30-45 minutes away from downtown.

Boise has many great and affordable Airbnb options & super cute boutique hotels.

How to Get Around

To make the most of your visit to Idaho, you’ll want to rent a car. Fortunately, renting a car in Idaho is very affordable and will be much cheaper per day than depending on Uber or other ride share apps.

What to Do on Your Boise Winter Weekend Getaway

Idaho is home to so many outdoor activities, so when you visit you have to get outside! Whether it’s snowy or sunny, there is plenty to do outside. Make sure you check out these recommendations:

Bogus Basin

You cannot visit Boise in the winter and skip Bogus Basin. Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area is located only 45 minutes from downtown Boise and is one of the best places to ski in Idaho.

Bogus Basin is actually run by a non-profit organization on borrowed land from the Boise National Forest. While day-passes are still a little pricey, it’s still one of the cheapest option for ski day passes in the state.

Bogus Basin is a great place to try your hand at skiing for the first time. They offer a wide-variety of classes and “magic-carpets” to get you started.

Whether you’re a newbie, like me, or know what you’re doing, Bogus Basin has 11 chair lifts with ski runs of all difficulties. Not only does Bogus Basin offer a wide-range of ski runs, but it also offers snow-tubing and a downhill mountain coaster if skiing isn’t your thing.

This was my first time skiing and let’s just say that it was ROUGH. I’ve never fallen so many times in my life. I’m hoping that my next time on the slopes will be a little bit more smooth.

Kirkham Hot Springs

Located only an hour and 45 minutes from Boise, Kirkham Hot Springs make the perfect day trip. These hot springs are conveniently located right off of the highway in the small town of Lowman, Idaho.

Idaho is starting to become known for its wide range of hot springs across the state. Kirkham Hot Springs is probably one of the most-photographed hot spring locations. Fortunately, this place hasn’t become too crowded yet, so make sure you visit before it does.

Kirkham Hot Springs is comprised of a few natural pools on the side of a mountain that are fueled by volcanic hot springs. The water is very warm and a great way to warm up from a day in the snow.

We were lucky enough to find an empty pool that was isolated from all other visitors and had some of the best views of the mountains and river below. What a relaxing way to spend an evening. Kirkham Hot Springs were my #1 favorite thing to do during our visit to Idaho.

The Springs

I would have LOVED to spend a day at The Springs. I’ve seen several pictures of this place on the internet and it looks so lovely! Unfortunately, we did not have the required reservations so we are saving this one for our next visit to Idaho.

The Springs offer day passes to their pools, steam room, and lounge for $20/day. You can also book a private hot spring pool for yourself (+3 people) for $45/hour. Be aware that weekend reservations can book up several weeks in advance.

For more information, and pictures, visit their website here. Since I haven’t been, I can’t give you an honest opinion of whether or not you should give it a try. But give it some research and let me know if you found The Springs worth it!

Go for a Hike near Boise

Boise National Forest is full of so many great hiking & snowshoe trails that are accessible on warm winter days. The terrain here is so outstanding and very different from other areas of the Rocky Mountains that I’ve visited. Here are a few hikes to consider:

Table Rock Trail – Only 3.7 miles round trip with great views of Boise from the summit.

Stack Rock Trail – Higher in elevation, so may be a good option for snowshoeing during snowy months.

Crestline Sidewinder Loop Trail – Great views in the foothills! This trail is known for having beautiful wild flowers during the spring/summer months.

Explore Downtown Boise

Downtown Boise is SO charming with so many old buildings. If weather permits, spend an afternoon strolling the streets of Idaho’s capital.

There are so many cute shops and delicious restaurants to try. Keep reading below for some downtown Boise food recommendations.

Check out the Views from the Boise Depot

A couple miles from downtown, you will find the Boise Depot. This historic building was built by Union Pacific in the 1920’s and was used as a train station.

One of the former train engines, “Big Mike” is still on display at the depot. So if you’re traveling with kids, this is a must.

In addition to its history, the depot also has some of the best views in all of Boise. The grounds are beautiful for taking photos and you can get a lovely view of the capital with the mountains in the backdrop.

Where to Eat

Apparently Boise has been upping its food game the last few years and it’s obvious! We ate so many delicious meals during our visit to Boise.

Food in Boise isn’t any more expensive than you would find in Dallas or other major cities in Texas. So eat up!

Boise Fry Company

An obvious choice when visiting Idaho, but you have to eat potatoes! Boise Fry Company serves up over 6 types of Idaho potatoes in the form of french fries. Not only can you choose which type of spud suits you, you can also choose the cut of fry (curly, home-style, etc.) and choose from a variety of different dipping sauces. We went with the red potatoes served home-style. SO GOOD.

Don’t forget to order a burger on the side! The burgers are delicious and definitely worth an eat as well.

Bacon

This next restaurant on the list is named after bacon because that’s the #1 thing that they do! Perfect for breakfast or brunch, all of their menu items come with their delicious homemade bacon.

Bacon offers at least 5 types of bacon. You can even order “Bacon flights” and try them all!

Even the atmosphere here is great. And you won’t get bored while waiting for your food because they have trivia/card games at every table.

If you’re a bacon lover, like me, you can’t skip this one.

BBQ4LIFE

BBQ4LIFE is ironically the best place in Boise for both barbecue AND vegan food. Not quite sure how that came about. But if you’re looking for some delicious meats or vegan alternatives, give this one a try!

Also, this is the only recommendation on the list with its own parking lot. So if you’re looking for a break from city parking, give BBQ4LIFE a try.

Guru Donuts

Mmm, donuts. Need I say more? These donuts remind me a lot of donuts that I ate in Portland, Maine. They’re super artisan and provide a lot of different flavors than your typical donut shop. I tried the Hipster Berry flavor and it was delicious!

Java Coffee & Cafe

Another great breakfast stop, Java Coffee and Cafe has delicious food & coffee. Java has two locations, one in Downtown Boise and the other in Hyde Park (a couple miles north of downtown). If you’re looking to either grab a coffee to go or sit down for breakfast, give Java Coffee and Cafe a try.

I’m not sure why Idaho isn’t on the bucket list of every traveler. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and felt so welcomed by every local that we encountered. I can’t wait to go back! Have you been to Idaho before? Leave a comment below.

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