Kids Korner

Boise, ID Downtown Boise Skiing in Sun Valley Idaho Shakespeare Festival Go white water rafting or float down a river. Fly down a mountain on a snowboard or across the forest on a zip line. Whenever you visit Idaho -- summer, fall, winter, or spring -- you’ll find plenty to do, especially if you like to play outdoors!

Did You Know?

• “Boise” means “woods” in French (“Bois”) and was named by French Canadian fur trappers. So many species of trees have been planted that today Boise is known as “The City of Trees.”

• The Greenbelt, a 25-mile riverfront path, runs through the city and follows the Boise River.  Kids like to bike and skate there.  Look for Bald Eagles!

• You can see California Condors, falcons and eagles at the Velma Morrison Interpretive Center of the World Center for Birds of Prey. It’s the headquarters for an organization to raptor conservation (www.peregrinefund.org).

• Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area has the largest concentration of nesting raptors in North America. You can also hike, mountain bike and kayak and canoe here along the river (http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/fo/four_rivers/special_areas/snake_river_birds.html).

• There is a memorial to a teen from Holland in Boise. Anne Frank, forced into hiding with her family for 25 months during the Holocaust, was eventually arrested and died in a concentration camp in 1945. Her diary, saved during the war and published in 1947, is one of the world's most widely read books. Visit the Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial where there is a life-size sculpture of Anne (www.idaho-humanrights.org).

• You can fly through the forest, though the tops of Ponderosa Pines, in Idaho -- on a zip line tour. Zip Idaho began offering zip line tours out of Horseshoe Bend, 23 miles north of Boise, just this past summer. There are seven zip lines (www.zipidaho.com)!

• Idaho stretches from the top of Nevada all the way to the Canadian border and includes every kind of landscape from forests to desert, rugged mountains to farmlands.

• A lot of kids who live in Idaho like to go camping. Do you have a tent?

• Potatoes have more vitamin C than oranges. Idaho potatoes are world-famous. Visit www.idahopotato.com and download recipes and join the Spuddy Buddy fan club.

• You can take a float trip right on the Boise River (www.cityofboise.org/BoiseRiver/).

What Other Kids Say You Should Do While In Boise . . .

Meet Brandon (age 11) who lives in Boise. He is the son of Southwest Airlines Boise Ramp Supervisor, Donn, and Station Administrator, Jennifer. He says, “Boise is really fun and a place you should definitely visit!” Don't Miss: A game on the blue turf… it’s amazing!  Roaring Springs Water Park and Boondocks Fun Center are also fun places to visit if you’re here during the summer. Don't Go Home Without: Something made with huckleberries.  They're really unique and delicious! Best Places to Eat: If you're looking for fine dining, go to Emilio's at the Grove Hotel.  For a casual place, try Dickie's or Bad Boy Burgers. Best Places to Visit Outside of Boise (but still within Idaho): Garden Valley Silver Creek Plunge (a huge natural hot springs pool) Starlight Mountain Theatre (an outdoor theatre where you can watch a play under the stars)

Kids, Tell Your Parents . . .

Boise is a great place to visit in summer as well as winter when you aren’t far from ski resorts like Sun Valley (www.sunvalley.com). Go white water rafting, hiking, and camping in summer. Visit www.boise.org and www.visitidaho.org for ideas. Consider one of the 50+ cabins or lookouts available for rent on federally managed land throughout Idaho. (Some are available year round www.recreation.gov.)

More places for fun and learning:

• World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame was established to honor sports figures who are not only great athletic champions, but who use their prominence to do well for the human race. Myron Finkbeiner originated the idea of the Hall of Fame during his 25-year coaching career (www.sportshumanitarian.com).

• Old Idaho Territorial Penitentiary was built in 1870 and used as a prison until 1973, housing many Wild West desperadoes in its time. A visit includes a video presentation recalling prison history, notorious inmates and daily prison life. Take a walk on the Quarry Trail! Check out (http://www.idahohistory.net/oldpen.html) for more information.

• Plenty of pro sports including: the Idaho Steelheads ECHL hockey (www.idahosteeleads.com), Idaho Stampede NBA D-League Basketball (www.nba.com/dleague/idaho), Boise Burn ArenaFootball2 (www.boiseburn.com), and Boise Hawks baseball (www.boisehawks.com).

• Discovery Center of Idaho has more than 160 interactive, hands-on science exhibits to explore, imagine and discover. Hoist yourself up and float back down cushioned by air resistance on the Air Brake! (http://www.scidaho.org/)

• Idaho Black History Museum with exhibitions, educational programs and events throughout the year. The most popular events include the Annual Gospel Workshop and Concert, Juneteenth: ‘National Freedom Day,’ and youth programs (www.ibhm.org/).

• The Idaho Shakespeare Festival in summer is Idaho's premier professional, repertory theater company with annual audiences of more than 50,000 with performances held at an outdoor amphitheatre on the banks of the Boise River (www.idahoshakespeare.org).

• The Basque Museum and Cultural Center has become one of Idaho's finest cultural institutions, interpreting the unique Basque Heritage (http://www.basquemuseum.com), (http://www.jaialdi.com)

• M.K. Nature Center offers a one-of-a-kind fish and wildlife experience on a 4.6-acre site along the Boise River Greenbelt near downtown Boise. Underwater viewing windows along the stream walk give visitors a fish-eye view of the world. Habitat viewing areas demonstrate how people can attract and enjoy wildlife in their own backyards by providing adequate habitat. (http://www2.state.id.us/fishgame/info/education/mknc)

• Kathryn Albertson Park incorporates three major landscape features: vegetation, ponds and open space with over 400 trees, 2,000 shrubs and a myriad of flowers and grasses.

See Past Editions of Kids Korner.

By: Eileen Ogintz, Author of Taking the Kids™