Culture

Culture is at the heart and soul of the Boise Metro and is one of the elements that makes this region so unique. We have access to unparalleled outdoor recreation, a growing and spirited arts and music community, a bubbling craft beer, wine and cider scene and an abundance of festivals and cultural celebrations throughout the region. We embrace a community that is diverse, welcoming and kind. We call it ‘Not just nice, Boise nice’ and we invite you to experience it.

Resort Town Access with Big-City amenities:

The Boise Valley has unapparelled access to outdoor recreation.

Within a 45-minute drive of downtown Boise, you can float tough rapids or flatwater on the Payette and Boise River systems; ski at Bogus Basin, the local, non-profit ski hill; climb over 500 sport and traditional routes at two different climbing areas; mountain bike on hundreds of miles of single-track trails across 4 different trail systems; water ski, jet ski, power boat, sail, or fish on Lucky Peak or Arrow Rock Reservoirs; go fly-fishing; go hunting; go backpacking; or run an ultramarathon. There is truly something for everyone. And you won't get stuck in traffic on the way out of town.

There are certainly other places in the US where those types of recreational amenities can be found. Take Aspen, CO, for example. But what makes the metro unique is its recreational access combined with amenities that you don't typically find in rural resort communities. For example, the cities in the Valley offer amenities like good schools, two nationally recognized hospital systems, several professional sports teams, and robust culinary, music, arts, and nonprofit scenes. Boise is home to the largest concentration of Basque Americans in the United States and holds the largest Basque festival in the world - Jaialdi - every 5 years. Finally, Boise is an active refugee resettlement community. In essence, the Boise is a thriving metropolitan hub that also has recreational assets comparable to a resort town.