Airmen and Adventures: Boise Cultural Scene

Published July 3, 2013
By Nicole Blanchard
366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- For some incoming Airmen, an assignment at Mountain Home Air Force Base can seem like an indefinite sentence in the Sahara desert. Without an obvious nightlife or fun hangouts, the area can appear dull until discovering what the base, the town of Mountain Home and especially nearby Boise have to offer.

This installment of "Airmen and Adventures" explores the latter, detailing the always-interesting aspects of downtown Boise.

Just a short drive from base, Idaho's capital city is teeming with activities. Like most other cities, Boise's downtown scene is a condensed area in which it's simple to find entertainment for just about any age or interest.

"There is definitely enough entertainment in the Boise area for Airmen of all ages," said lifelong Boisean Joe Newman, a fan of the music, food and cycling scenes downtown. "Downtown offers activities to satisfy interests across the board."

Between 6th and 15th Streets, from Myrtle down to Heron Street, Boise is littered with coffee shops (10th and Main is a great place to start), restaurants and other culinary delights.

According to Boise native Hailey Youngling, the Eighth Street area is an easy starting point for newcomers trying to discover local hotspots.

"I would start by going to any of the smaller, locally-owned businesses," Youngling said. "A lot of people in Idaho are really nice and will talk to you and give you suggestions about where to go."

While much of the downtown area includes local eateries, breweries and coffee shops, it's also full of movie theaters, boutique-style shops, minor-league sporting events and more.

"I like to go to hockey games at the CenturyLink arena," said Youngling, referring to downtown's centrally-located major event center.

Downtown is also home to a myriad of smaller-scale venues where all genres and atmospheres of Boise's music scene are represented.

"I spend a lot of time going to see music," said local musician Catherine Merrick. "There are actually a lot of good touring bands that come through town."

In addition to urban interest, the downtown area also offers outdoor serenity in the form of local parks like Julia Davis and Camel's Back, which are a short distance from the bustle of the Eighth Street hub.

The Hyde Park area surrounding Camel's Back Park includes a multitude of unique businesses, from restaurants and coffee shops to antiques and book stores.

"A lot of people consider this a cool part of town," said James Jensen, an employee in one of Hyde Park's many restaurants. "In the summer this place is a lot busier. A lot of the restaurants have patio space and open seating."

It's easy to navigate all downtown has to offer by using Boise's 20-mile paved Greenbelt.
Exploring the Greenbelt is likely to lead Airmen past other downtown attractions, such as Quinn's Pond. The man-made body of water, which hugs the Greenbelt and a newly-installed rapids simulation on the Boise River, is a popular spot for locals to swim, canoe, paddleboard and partake in other water activities.

Despite being just a five-minute drive along downtown State Street, Quinn's Pond is secluded enough Airmen will almost forget they're in Boise's center of activity.

Whether they are looking for a quiet place to sip coffee or an adventure oasis, Boise's downtown scene can offer it.

"If you're new to the city, there's plenty to do," added Youngling. "You just have to be imaginative and get out here."

Airmen and Adventures: Boise Cultural Scene

Airmen and Adventures: Boise Cultural Scene

Gunfighter Videos

ACC News

Air Force News