SperlingViews - Boise_City, Idaho

Boise has it all. At certain times of the year, you can ski, mountain bike, kayak, and rock climb in THE SAME DAY! All with in 20 miles of the city. [read more...]

I love boise, idaho. I have lived in boise, nampa for many years. I raised my kids in the area. I love everything about boise. The weather is wonderful. The people are friendly and nice. Parks are beautful. Close to so much nature and beauty of the outdoors. The only thing I am sad about is I do not live there anymore. I got married and moved to oregon. And I am stuck here for 12 more years until my husbond can retire. So all you folks that have the chance to move to boise go for it. And for now I will be dreaming of that sunshine and clean fresh air and sunsets with bright orange and pink. [read more...]

Here's what you need to know. Boise is a great city and there is something here for everyone. People are very friendly and will always stop to help a neighbor (or a stranger) in need. We're not too big that we've lost that folksy Western vibe. The city is incredibly clean and the downtown core is vibrant. Boise's mayor and most Boise legislators are politically progressive. If you consider yourself to be a liberal, this part of town can feel like a bit of a safe haven, especially since most of the state (outside of pockets like Sun Valley) is very red. We have lots of good local restaurants, pubs, shops, galleries and cafes. Our weather includes minimal precipitation as evidenced by the fact that nearly every restaurant has patio seating. Historic buildings are well-preserved. Wonderful (and huge!) outdoor market on weekends; lots of crusier bike baskets filled with flowers and produce and live music performances on the street corners. The north and east end of town are kitchy and filled with charming period homes and tree-lined streets. Many people describe it as being similar to Boulder, CO. During the fall, Boise really feels like the large college town it is... Boise State Bronco fans are everywhere! The city is urban with a vast appreciation for the outdoors. Lots of parks, foothills for hiking and biking, a Greenbelt, fishing, skiing, rafting, etc. It's not unusual to see fox, deer or quail running through a neighborhood. And man, do we love our festivals! Every weekend from May through October there is Shakespeare, a music festival, Art in the Park, hot air balloons...you name it! During the holidays, we still gather like the Who's in Whoville to light the tree and sing carols. :) The southern and western sides of Boise are of a little different flair. A much more suburban feel with more of the big box stores and chain restaurants mixed in with a few local shops. Big everything... big movie theaters, big homes on big lots, big cars, big churches and big families. The people are generally more conservative and the lawmakers are overwhelmingly Republican. This part of town has much more in common with the outlying communities of Eagle, Meridian and Star than it does with downtown Boise. Homes are a little more cookie-cutter (but larger and newer), school sports are king, and some areas are still very rural feeling with horses and wheat or corn fields. So like I said, there's something here for everyone. City-wide, schools are good and crime is low. Housing is much more affordable than the U.S. average. 250-300K will buy a nice, 2000 sq ft home. Definitely a great place to raise a family. If you've ever lived in a big-ish city, traffic will not be an issue. A VERY long commute would be 30 minutes- most people travel 15-20 minutes (mine is less than 10, even at 5pm.) Drivers are generally polite. One negative, at least to me, is that we are very racially homogenous. Not a lot of diversity here and therefore a lack of cultural opportunities compared to larger cities. Because the state legislature is VERY Republican -over 80%- they pass a lot of socially conservative laws that do little to draw a progressive base of young professionals with fresh ideas. Of course, that's the way many Idahoans like it (but not all!) So, there you have it. Hope that helps you get a clear picture of our beautiful city. Boiseans LOVE Boise. I think you'll see why when you visit.[read more...]

Having lived in Boise most of my life, I've made one observation that is widely unknown (to those outside this region), and rarely talked openly about by those who do live here. It is the influence of religion in this state, and specifically, the LDS/Mormon religion. My eyes weren't opened to this until Dan Popkey, a reporter for the Idaho Statesman (our news daily), reported in the early nineties that despite the U.S. Census indicated that while 13% of the state in Mormon, almost exactly 40% of the state legislature is Mormon, and that 40% tends to vote as a block on almost all issues. That means that members of the LDS faith have over three times greater representation in the state legislature than non-Mormons. The effects of this are profound in terms of the laws that are written in this state, as well as the political and social culture of the state. Idaho is often referred to as "the reddest of the red states". That is often not so much due to the influence of the Republican Party, but the LDS religion. If you're LDS, you can move from Utah to Idaho and not see a cultural difference between the states. If you move to Idaho from neighboring Oregon, on the other hand, the difference is profound. If you're not interested in living in something of a theocracy, you should probably think twice (or three times) before moving to Idaho. If, on the other hand, you're Mormon, you'll probably love it here.[read more...]

I realize that it's hard to get good water quality in any city, but 30 out of 100? Something needs to be done in Boise.[read more...]

Truly shocking grocery bill in contrast to Charlotte Metro. And it seems like the quality produce and meat all gets shipped somewhere else, but not to my local store.[read more...]

I've only lived in Boise for 4 years, but I feel so at home. Even though it's not a huge city, it offers so much for individuals and families alike. From walking/biking on the Greenbelt to museums and the zoo to concerts and plays... there's a little something for everyone! And all of this is nestled in one of the prettiest cities I've lived in (and that says a lot since ID is the 10th state I've lived in!).[read more...]

I just moved to Idaho. I have found that there is, at least two levels of cost for water in the 83709 area code. It seems that some properties sold by CBH Homes have "water rights" and their water costs is about $35.00 per 2 months and others have no rights and water costs is about $200.00 per two months except my most recent billing, for example was $265. 00. Can someone explain to me why "water rights" transfer with some property and not with others and, perhaps, why the lack of "water rights" is not disclosed as part of the sales transaction. I was a resident of Calif and purchased my house prior to movig to Idaho and had no knowledge of the "water rights" [read more...]

I have been in Boise for about 3 years and I love it here. I have not witnessed any racist or sexist people in Boise, so I think Mary (who previously posted) must have had bad experiences with certain people or is severely exaggerating. I have lived in over 5 different metro areas (prob close to 10 cities) and have to say Boise has the nicest group of people I have met so far. As far as the night life goes, there is always something going on downtown. I can understand that if you are an older person who likes culture then it may not be as fun for you here as the active night life is full of local college students as this is a college town. My only complaint is the fact that is a college town actually. While I support the idea of people supporting local schools and groups, the local BSU football support drives me completely insane. I think the idea of following sports that closely and acting as if one may drop dread if their favorite team doesn't win is utterly ridiculous, so the whole sports scene drives me a little bonkers. I may move out of state at some point to go to school because I'd rather not go to BSU, but if not for that and the fact that most of my family isn't here, I would stay here forever. The weather is great (though I wish we had real thunderstorms every now and then), the people are nice, the cost of living is low, people here are very active and promote a healthy lifestyle, the town is well taken care of with many parks, trails, and inner city walking/biking paths, and the crime rate is below the national average, which is very rare for cities of Boise's size. And to all the previous posters complaining about traffic, you have never lived in a place bigger than Boise, obviously, or you would know that the traffic here is not bad at all. It doesn't take more than 20 minutes to get anywhere IN town and no more than 45 to the surrounding cities/counties. Morning/afternoon traffic may add a bit to that, but it is nothing compared to other cities. [read more...]

Great weather, great trails[read more...]

Wow, Look at how long Mary has been complaining about Boise. Why haven't you moved yet? If I hated a place that bad I would be gone. Or is it just who you are? Would you like some cheese with that whine? Multiculturism is just another BS word for letting illegal's move in and ruin an area with the free ride mentality and the gang violence. I seriously doubt the average person in Boise cares if you are a woman or a different race than them. They just don't want to see their city ruined like so many have been. Using words like Undocumented and Multiculturism is just another way of taking advantage of our politically correct leaning society. I now see people afraid to call someone a Mexican, like that is a bad word. Hooray to Dr Laura for having the guts to state the obvious. All people, women, blacks, Mexicans, whatever, have found our weak spot; our fear of not wanting to offend anyone. So guess what? They can use 'Special' words, but we can't. They can ruin our heath care and welfare system and get special treatment in every way because they play the race card. As far as I am concerned that train has left the station a long time ago. [read more...]

stop the hate messages. I am an American and my husband is an American. I am Irish and my husband is Hispanic and French. Just because my husband is Hispanic does not mean he is no good. He served his country in the cold war and worked for 30 years as an Ironworker until he became disabled. He has contributed to his country. What have you done other than insighting hate into the hearts of others. Things change and we all need to get alone and cope with it.[read more...]

Boise Is a great place for those who want to raise a family and live peacefully. You have the mountains right at the foot of the city, And its very functional for a small cute little city. They have some beautiful older houses in the north-end of town that is nice older tree lined streets. If you like the suburban modern life look toward meridian,Eagle,Nampa, Caldwell. They have some nice newer subdivisions out that way. The city of Boise also has great collage features University wise but if you want community based collages there is one in Caldwell, and one in Ontario,Or about 40 miles from Boise.[read more...]

Preprepared for sexist, demeaning treatment from everyone: clergy, doctors, co-workers/employers, and everyone else (often by both men and women). This is by far the most sexist, degrading place I have ever lived. The mormon culture is a big part of it, but a lot of people here exude a bigoted sexist and racist vibe here. Women are expected to act and behave a certain way at all times are are treated like trash most of the time. You can't fight it because it's so ubiquitous here. Your only option is to avoid the place. The more mild stories include being asked repeatedly why you work if your husband has a job and being laughed at if you have a degree and have it called an "MRS degree." Believe me, that's mild. It gets far worse than I'm willing to get into, such as sexual bullying and descrimination. The town is also too far from any place relevant, interesting, or progressive, so there's little respite from the insanity.[read more...]

Lots to do if you like the outdoors. There are hiking and bikeing trails everywhere in the foothills as well as a green belt that stretches for miles throughout the city. Other near by attractions are sking, boating, camping and snowmobileing.[read more...]

To judge the rest of the state of Idaho to Boise is not a fair comparison. I have lived in different parts of the state through out my life (born here in Idaho) and I can tell you the rest of the state is nothing like Boise but after being in places like Sacramento, salt lake and Seattle Boise is nothing like them. Still Boise is not like it used to be, traffic has become a big issue, people tailgate, cut you off, and will run into you before they give you the right away. People are not as friendly as they are in the rest of the state; crime rates are much higher in the valley then the rest of the state. Housing prices are high and wages are low. But if you are looking for that big city life with low crime rate, friendlier people and good schools compared to the rest of the nation Boise is for you. If you are looking for that slow pace of live with an Idaho spirit, stay the hell away from Boise[read more...]

Boise is one of the most affordable western cities left on the map. It is a beautiful town with plenty to do if you love the outdoors. Bogus basin is a drive up the mountain, and their is plenty to do downtown: several museums, wonderful parks, a farmers market, great restaurant establishments and a great nightlife seen. And lets not forget the BSU Broncos![read more...]

Hi Roxy, I lived in SLO for almost 20 yrs and there is just no other place like it in the US. We moved to Las Vegas because of a business we had but dearly missed SLO. We found Eagle, Id (which is a suburb right outside of Boise) while looking at a business out here. We fell in love with the area and bought a house here a year later. We still miss SLO but if you look at the cost of homes it is so incredibly inflated. We still have a ranch there and were lucky to buy that several years ago before the area became so popular. It is hard for a new family to start there because of the inflated home prices. But as far as the weather, people and attitude it is the best place in the US that we have found, although it is smaller town living you have the beaches and the moutains and average temps around 70 degrees. In Eagle/Boise because of the economy home prices have fallen drastically you can easily buy a fantastic home on a decent piece of property (1/2 acre) for about 300,000. I don't know what your price range is but there are foreclosures everywhere. If you can find a decent job here you would be in good shape. On the other hand there is not a large multicultural population here, but I for one would welcome it!! I hope this helps.[read more...]

Boise is a growing city, that has just enough of the large-city fare with all the innocence of a small city: friendly, afe, peaceful, and great recreational activities in and around the city.[read more...]

My first husband and I moved here from Southern California in 1990, to give our children the kind of idyllic childhood that we had growing up in California. Boise really is a beautiful place to raise a family; the community is very family-oriented and there is always something going on in the city. Boise has many beautiful parks and a really lovely climate -- in fact, no season has ever been the same from year to year, in the past 18 years! The two most negative points, in my opinion, are that your vote will NOT count in Idaho, as it is a very Republican state (although Boise is slightly more Democrat than Republican) .... and it's very hard to be a single parent in this community (especially when it feels like everyone is married). And don't be fooled by the "low cost of living" for Boise either -- that point comes right along with REALLY LOW SALARIES ... Office jobs that pay $10 an hour -- who can live on that??? Women in Idaho are the third lowest paid in the entire United States. Other than all that, for people who know how to make ends meet living on a shoestring, and you love outdoor activities (including river rafting, skiing, snowmobiling, camping, rollerblading, biking, hiking) ... and you don't mind living in a 15% LDS population here in Boise, Idaho is the perfect place for you![read more...]