When people think of Idaho, they probably are not thinking about great cities with massive populations and lots of traffic problems. That is something that New York and California have going for them, though people associate Idaho with wide-open spaces and a lot of nature, plus the potato. While this is probably one of the biggest draws for Idaho, it is not the only thing going on in the state. There may have been a time where Idaho was just one big empty space with a few towns sprinkled around, but that has not been the case for a while and the state is quickly moving faster and faster towards something else. Boise, Idaho, the capital of the state, is a flourishing and continually growing metropolis with a relatively large population and a lot of

The Pacific Northwest, or the Northwest for short, is arguably one of the most scenic regions of the United States of America. WIth mountainous vistas, verdant forestry, bountiful rivers and, in fine, just about any piece of wilderness you could imagine or want, the Northwestern United States just about has it all. Idaho, the Gem State of the Northwest, is no exception, but one thing that sets Idaho apart from a good chunk of the Northwest is that, for the most part, the entire state of Idaho experiences all four seasons. This might seem like a no-brainer to most, but for Idahoans, such a fact is, in fact, quite the boon.

With that fact comes a host of possibilities for year-round enjoyment, whether it be something as simple as watching the seasons

Winter in the Treasure Valley is somewhat like one out of a fairytale. The snow-capped mountains visible in the distance as the towns grow sleepy in the cold. There are great coffee shops and stores to find refuge in if you are wanting to stay near home and just spend a day of spending time indoors and out of the cold. There are great places to go that are indoors and outdoors for you in the winter. There are museums, theaters and more all over Boise. In the Treasure Valley, however, it is not as popular to stay indoors when there is snow on the ground. People like to find little ponds to go ice fishing at or go somewhere to ski, snowboard, and sled. There is a ski resort in Boise called Bogus Basin that is a great place to spend the day skiing or

There are a lot of ways to get around when you need to be somewhere. Sometimes in a city (Say for an example, the city of Boise) the best and most economical way of getting around is by riding a bike. For most of the state of Idaho, a bicycle is not going to get you far. There is a lot of space between things that you might want to get to and it is far enough that you are only going to try and make that on a bike if you are a cross-country cyclist betting ready for a major tournament. That is probably not most people, though I suppose there is always a chance. This is not the case for a city like Boise. The area is more spread out than other cities, but things are still pretty close together and you can consider getting from place to place on a bike

The vividly colorful landscapes of the fall season make for a spectacular time of year to take advantage of getting outdoors and to explore or perhaps enjoy past time favorites and some seasonally preferred activities of choice. The Fall Season weather is mild and the seasonal colors create a lovely presentation throughout the city of Boise and flow generously up into the Boise Foothills and Boise Mountain Range. Autumn in Boise has a way of inspiring seasonally unique specialty dishes and fall food favorites, create the backdrop for cooler weather adventures, and is an excellent time for discovering a cozy fireside retreat and taking to Idaho's backcountry for exploring before winter arrives. These are simply a few of Idaho's Fall activities in and

Aside from the Boise River and the Boise River Greenbelt, there is a treasure that the Ridge to Rivers Partnership bestows area residents and visitors alike. The Ridge to Rivers Partnership consists of the City of Boise, Ada County, and the Bureau of Land Management Four Rivers Field Office, Boise National Forest, and the Department of Idaho Fish and Game collectively with the goal of preserving and necessary maintenance of the trails. The Ridge to River Trail System could easily be described as the epitome of opportunity for area exploration within the Boise Foothills region. As adventurers tour the trails, it becomes valuable to reserve time to pause and marvel at the gorgeous mountain views and truly stunning scenery as the trails meander across

Idaho winters may be a bit cold for some. Despite a season of wintry white snow, one of the many reasons why Boise is such a great place to call home is the four seasons it experiences. These distinct four seasons delightfully complement an array of year-round outdoor activity opportunities from snowy slopes to summer splashes; the Gem State has a splendid way of balancing the vast myriad of open-air recreational possibilities that arise from all four seasons. So the snow has past and its warming up outside and now is a great time to start considering how you want to enjoy your summer months. You may consider planning ahead and be prepared for the hot summer days in the Boise area, as there are so many different fun and relaxing things to do to help

         The city of Boise tops the charts when it comes to desirability with strengths ranging from affordable housing, cost of living, quality of life, as well as a balanced array of recreational activity opportunities. One local attraction, in particular, begs the attention of all Boise residents and visitors alike. The Boise River Greenbelt is an ideal destination for all to enjoy, with over 25 miles of a pathway that meanders graciously through the heart of the city and is nestled alongside the beautiful Boise River waters. Stretching from the city of Boise across to portions of the neighboring Garden City and then making its way over to the city of Eagle, the Boise River Greenbelt sits as the center attraction to several cities. The

There are a few features that define Idaho’s capital of Boise. First, it is the seat of government and a lot of the state’s politics go on in the city. Second, it is the largest city in Idaho when it comes to population by a large margin and two of the other largest cities in the state are right next door to Boise and, to an outside observer, might look they are even part of the city of Boise (Though the residents of Boise, Meridian, or Nampa would set you right immediately if you told them this). But really, this is not enough to get a good picture of what Boise is or what the city is good for. You would need to spend a lot of time in Boise to really figure the city out and come to actually know it. I would like to set you on the path to

Every celebrity seems to have their own spot that they love to go in order to take a break from the world. It can often be pretty surprising just what a particular celebrity’s vacation place of choice is. For those who are familiar with the area, it's not hard to see why a celebrity who has enough money to spend their time anywhere in the world would want to spend such a large amount of time in an Idaho city like Boise. That's the thing, this is just where famous actor Matt Damon surprisingly decides to visit and fairly often.

What is it that brings this Academy Award Winner to this area of the United States? He could go anywhere, so what is it that is so special about Boise? Well, his frequent trips to the city began back in 2002 when a special