Friday, August 18, 2017

18. Boise, Idaho

            I love Idaho with all its majestic scenery and variety of people, so it’s no surprise that, in spite of all the grumbling I may say about its growth and constant oblivion to the rest of the state, I also love Boise, the capital city. Boise is rich in history, specifically the history of Idaho. This is where all the repositories of the state are accessed, even while the many resources are scattered throughout the state. It is Idaho’s largest city and center of wealth. It rests on the edge of the Rocky Mountains where they meet the western edge of the Snake River Plain just before the Snake River descends into Hell’s Canyon.  Access to a variety of outdoor activities are right there from hunting, hiking, fishing, skiing, white water rafting and a zillion other possibilities. Since I am from the mountains of northern Idaho and used to the comfortable enclosures of trees and canyons, the open plain takes some getting used to.  But exploring the vast open spaces around Boise has gradually taught me a new beauty of sunsets, approaching storms, and the big sky.

            The Boise River flows through the city and the founders of the city had great foresight in encompassing those river banks with beautiful parks and a green belt for running, biking, or just moseying through the city without noticing city. I love the museums and the library and fish (both real and artistically rendered) in this Boise River Greenbelt space. The foothills are a pleasant place to rise above the crowds and traffic and look over the city. At night it sparkles like a jewel in the desert. Boise State University campus blends from the busy buildings and traffic into athletic fields and stadium just above the beautiful riverbank parks. The capital area is at the center of downtown and historical buildings from the city center to the geo-thermal wonders of Warm Springs Avenue seem to flow from the steps of the capital itself. It’s a wonderful place to explore and the sun shines there most of the time. I love it.

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