Grab your mountain bike and travel the trail from the Nordic Center parking lot area down through a loop in the Boise National Forest as well as the Shafer Butte Picnic Area up past he Mores Mountain interpretive trail.  It is an easy ride for beginners and yet beautiful for even those that are experienced riders.

You can also bike from the top of Bogus Basin all the way to the Boise foothills and eventually to the new Eagle Velodrome and Cycling Park.  The Shafer Butte Trail System is open mid-June (or when the snow melts and the trails aren’t muddy) through mid-October.  There is no trail fee required.  There are limited resources such as restrooms, water or food on this trail and you should practice good nature care by packing in and out any garbage.  There are approximately 80,000 acres of land for you to ride and enjoy but please stay off muddy trails and use common courtesy while riding.  Remember that this is the home of many animals so please don’t spook them.

For skiing in the area you need to check with the park to see if there has been enough snow to open.  When there is you will find some of the best skiing in Idaho.  208-342-2100 or toll-free 1-800-696-4511.

Bogus Basin Mountain Biking and Skiing – Boise, Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism

The Center was established in 1985 as a small museum in the historic Cyrus Jacobs-Uberuaga House at 607 Grove Street.   The Center affords people the opportunity to learn about the heritage of the Basque communities of Idaho and surrounding areas.  The Basques originate from an area around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.

The mission of the Basque Museum and Cultural Center is to perpetuate, to preserve, and to promote awareness of Basque history and culture through education, research, collections and social activities for present and future generations. The country’s first Basque preschool, Boiseko Ikastola, has been established as part of this mission.
Museum collections include oral history archives, a library, a records / tapes collection, manuscript materials, numerous artifacts and photographs.  There is the Joseph V. Eiguren Library that includes paper, books and manuscripts.   Joe was born in Nampa, Idaho in 1915 to Domingo and Maria Eiguren. He was barely a year old when his parents, who had met and married in Nampa, decided to move back to the Basque country. According to his mother, Joe took his first steps on the ship as the family crossed the Atlantic. He stayed in Lekeitio, where his family owned a house, until 1934, when he decided to emigrate back to the United States and Idaho.

Joe was a self taught student of Basque history, culture, and language, and became a renowned Basque historian, lecturer, teacher and scholar, as well as a pillar of the Basque community in Idaho. He would read even in his sheep camp until the early morning hours. Joe published the first Basque/English teaching method in the US, as well as an autobiography, “Kashpar”.

The Basque Museum & Cultural Center’s Juanita Uberuaga Hormachea collection provides a valuable snapshot into the many years of Basque influence in the Boise area during Jay’s lifetime. She collected and scrapbooked information regarding Basques, including newspaper articles, photos, wedding invitations, obituaries, festival programs, activities, and accomplishments.

You can take a tour of the museum on your own or with a group.  If you are planning a group visit please make a reservation for your visit. Reservations are necessary for all school and tour groups. Please reserve at least one week in advance by calling the Basque Museum and Cultural Center at 208-343-2671 or by e-mailing your request to nikkimg@basquemuseum.com. At the time of your reservation, please let them know if your group has any special needs. They can accommodate up to 30 group members, at one time, for a tour.

Location
611 Grove Street
Boise, Idaho 83702 USA
(208) 343-2671

Museum Hours
Tuesday – Friday: 10:00am to 4:00pm
Saturday: 11:00am to 3:00pm
Sunday, Monday and Holidays: Closed

Admission
Adults – $5
Seniors (65+) & Students – $4
Children 6-12 – $3
Children 5 and under – free
BMCC members – free w/ membership card

Membership
Adults – $35/year
Seniors (65+) – $25/year

The Basque Museum & Cultural Center – Boise, Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism

This vineyard practices hand pruning and individual training of each plant along with hand picked fruit at harvest to ensure that the grapes are developed to their greatest potential.  The utilize environmentally sustainable farming practices so they have organic wines that are not only delightful to taste but also are a great way to preserve the land for future generations.

In 2003, Gary and Martha Cunningham broke ground and planted the historic Vitis Vinifera rootstock.  Some of this rootstock traces its heritage to the 17th century Côtes du Rhône wine region in the southern Rhone Valley of France.

In order to produce great wine, there has to be a Winemaker that has not only the passion for the process but also the knowledge and touch that is the quality of a great winemaker.  Greg Koerig has all of these traits.  He spent three years in his father’s hometown of Lustenau, Austria and a year in Italy learning the skills necessary to become the winemaker he is today.  Not only does he produce great wine but he has a passion to preserve the land which makes it a perfect match for this vineyard and it’s owners.

The Tasting Room at the vineyard is open Wednesday to Sunday from 12 pm to 6 pm.  There is a $5 tasting fee but it is applied to any purchase.  They will also open by appointment for those special needs.

This winery produces award winning wines that will make perfect gifts, personal pleasure drinking and more.  Be sure to visit while you are in Idaho.

3 Horse Ranch Vineyards – Eagle, Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism

AN IDAHO TRADITION Capturing the Unique Character of Every Vintage…our goal at Ste. Chapelle is to capture the unique character of every vintage.

The winery is situated on top of Winery Hill.  It overlooks thousands of acres of fertile orchards and farmlands in Southwestern Idaho known as Sunny Slope, the the Snake River winding through the valley below. 

It was named after the beautiful La Sainte Chapelle in Paris which was built by King Louis IX as the court chapel during the 13th century.  If you want a taste of history along with wonderful wines you will certainly want to visit this winery while traveling in Idaho.

Why is Idaho a great wine growing location?  It is due to the ideal growing conditions of southern Idaho due to its high-elevation vineyards, well-drained volcanic ash soils and northern latitude, which fosters a long growing season.  The region’s cold winters allow the vines to rest so when the warm days and cool nights arrive in the summer the vines will produce grapes with perfectly balanced sugars and acids.

Ste. Chapelle produces award-winning Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Riesling, and Syrah from the finest Idaho vineyards.

Fine wine production in Idaho began in the 1860s, spurred by French and German immigrants. Indeed, the Pacific Northwest’s first wineries were in Idaho. In 1919, Prohibition shut down the state’s nationally renowned wine industry, but it was revived in the 1970s when wine grapes were again planted in southern Idaho’s Snake River Valley.

The winery, founded in 1976, is open seven days a week.  You will have the opportunity to meet the winemaker, Maurine Johnson, while visiting the vineyard.  She has been with Ste. Chapelle more than 20 years moving from laboratory technician to Assistant Winemaker and then finally accepting the roll of Winemaker.

Experience the Excitement of the Grape Crush…during fall harvest, visitors can experience the excitement of the grape crush in full swing. At other times, guides take guests through the cellars for an up-close tour of the processes of fermentation, aging and bottling. Beautiful, Elegant Facility & Award Winning Wines…the Ste. Chapelle Winery is a collage of fun, knowledgeable staff, award-winning wines and a beautiful, elegant facility.

During the Christmas Holiday season you will have the opportunity to try some of  their wonderful wines which make fabulous Christmas gifts, for family and friends.  Perhaps you want to participate in the Tasting & Four Course Pairing Dinner, or any number of special events held throughout the year.  What a relaxing, beautiful way to spend a day.

Directions
Ste Chapelle Winery

19348 Lowell Rd.
Caldwell Idaho 83607
Daily Hours

Mon – Sat: 10am – 5pm
Sun: Noon – 5pm
Contact Information

Phone: 208-453-7843
Toll Free: 1-877-783-2427
Fax: 208-453-7831
tastingroom@stechapelle.com

Google Maps
From Boise:

* I-84 West
* Take exit 33A – towards Nampa/Marsing
* At stop light continue straight onto Karacher which turns into Hwy 55
* Go 12 miles to Lowell Road and turn left
* Continue 3/4 of a mile and turn left into the winery

From Caldwell:

* Take 10th Avenue going South
* Go to Hwy 55 and turn right going West
* Go 7 miles to Lowell Road and turn left
* Continue 3/4 of a mile and turn left into the winery

From Ontario:

* Take Interstate 84 East
* Go to exit 28, which is 10th Avenue
* Turn right
* Go 5 miles to Hwy 55 and turn right
* Go 7.5 miles at Ste. Chapelle’s 2nd road sign turn left on Lowell Road
* Proceed 3/4 miles turn left into the Winery

Ste. Chapelle Winery – Caldwell, Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism

Zip On with Zip Idaho, a unique eco-adventure that combines tree based canopy tour style zip lines with Idaho’s longest zip line. Soak up the scenery as your guides lead you through a series of 7 lines ranging from 175 to 1800 feet! These zip lines were built by EBL, the premier builder of zip line courses in the United States, with courses in Hawaii, Alaska, North Carolina and others.  

The Idaho zip line is located in Horseshoe Bend, just one half hour north of Boise on Highway 55.  This location is a nature lovers dream; whitewater rafting, swimming from sandy beaches, mountain biking, fishing, and train rides are a few other activities that you can enjoy while you are in the area.
 
A zip line is a cable traverse that allows participants to safely soar through the air at speeds of up to 40 mph.   The course you will go to in Idaho sits high over the Payette River valley at 5,000 feet elevation.  Remember that the temperature that high will be about 10 degrees cooler than it is on the valley floor.   

You will be soaring through majestic Ponderosa Pines to platforms high in the trees.  Just look around and see the beauty that is there for you to enjoy.  Maybe you will see Deer, Elk, Bears or Turkeys while you are in this area of the forest.

When you are ready to move on get ready for a 1,700 foot long ride that will have your thirst for adrenaline satisfied for quite some time.  But wait, you aren’t done yet.  Now you will go to the 1,800 foot long dual line that will have you and a friend racing over 100 feet off the ground.  That should just about take care of your desire to do something different!

The tour should take about 3 hours which includes the shuttle time from the office.

There are a couple of things that you should keep in mind when planning to take the Zip Tour.  You must be between 80 and 280 pounds.  Closed-toe shoes are a must.  You need to be at the office 15 minutes prior to the shuttle departure to check in and meet your guides.  You will need to sign a waiver in order to participate with the Zip Tour.  Dress comfortably.  If you want to wear shorts make sure they are long enough so that the harness won’t rub you.  If you have long hair you will need to pull it back into a pony tail or braid.  You can bring your camera but don’t try to bring along one of the big ones, it just doesn’t work well.  A small one with a wrist-strap works well.

The tours will not run in storms, high winds or thunder and lightening.  Since the weather is unpredictable you will not be charged if Mother Nature doesn’t want the tour to take place that day.  Just remember that foul weather at your place doesn’t necessarily mean foul weather at Horseshoe Bend.  Call if you have concerns about the weather.

Of course there is a cost for the tour but it is reasonable, just $75 per person plus tax.  Come and enjoy the ride!!

For reservations and information for fun family or group getaways call Idaho Excursions now 208-462-3333

Zip On Tour – Horseshoe Bend, Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism

The museum is filled with frontier memorabilia such as artifacts large and small from the Gold Rush; Pon Yam House and Chinese artifacts from when the immigrant workers came to the area and lived here.  There is "One of the Northwest’s finest Bottle Collections", which of course, were found in the area.  There are also general Pioneer Life artifacts and memorabilia showcasing the lifestyle required to live in the west in the frontier days.

You will be able to see videos of the history, restoration, and preservation of the "Queen of the Gold Camps", which is narrated by non other than the wonderful Tennessee Ernie Ford and former Idaho Governor Cecil Andruss.

The Pon Yam House still remains in Idaho City and represents the Chinese population that made of more than 45% of the total population of Idaho City in 1870.  It is the only remaining building from that time that was part of the Chinese populations’ history.  Nearly all the Chinese in Idaho City were from the Canton vicinity of China.

Pon Yam was a respected leader in the Chinese community and a successful businessman.  It is reported that he owned the largest diamond in the mining camp.  He was often called upon to settle disputes among the Chinese tongs.  From this building he sold herbs and other Chinese products. 
When the building was entered to consider restoring it to a museum there were floor boards lifted and under them they found firecrackers, seeds for some of the plants he had used to heal the sick and other treasures that will be on display when the museum opens.

When gold was discovered in Idaho in 1862 the community of Idaho City became the largest town in the territory.  There were more than 250 businesses keeping the city alive (many of them were saloons.)

Fires ravaged the community in 1885 and wiped out 80% of the buildings in town.  There were other fires that were equally destructive in 1867, 1868, and 181 but because of the extraordinary wealth of the gold strike the town was speedily rebuilt each time there had been a fire. 

The community has many structures that were erected in the 1860′s made of early brick work as well as wooded architecture which represent some of Idaho’s most important historical buildings.

When you visit the museum you will be able to take a walking tour of the town if you want to go.

Museum Hours

 
Monday-Saturday  11am – 4pm
Sunday  1pm – 4pm
Tours by Reservation  

Admissions

General Admission $2.00, Seniors & Students $1.50 (Under 6 Free), Family (2 adults & 3 children) $5.00,
–or By Donation–

Location: Boise Basin Museum
503 Montgomery Street
Idaho City, ID 83631

Phone: 208-392-9766

Email: museum@surfbest.net  
 

Boise Basin Museum – Idaho City, Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism

The Starlight Mountain Theatre performs in several different venues depending on the season. In the summertime, they perform under the stars at the Starlight Amphitheatre, which holds 300 patrons.

In the winter, there are several different locations where the theater troupe performs, including The Star, the Capital High Auditorium, and Nampa Civic Center’s Brandt Auditorium.

Some of the shows in the Starlight Mountain Theatre’s winter season include Wonderful Town, Beauty and the Beast, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Always… Patsy Cline, Death by Chocolate, and The Sound of Music. The shows are fun and feature great casts and presentation.

Each season, the theatre chooses new shows to feature. This means that every single time you come to Garden Valley, you will get to see a whole host of wonderful new shows. With all of the different shows, everyone will find something to enjoy.

Thursday through Saturday evenings, you can even have dinner at the theatre. The dinners are themed to different Broadway shows, and are reasonably priced. The dinners are $17 for adults and $13 for children. Those who want to have dinner need to make reservations by 5PM the day before the event. It might be a good idea to try to make reservations even earlier to ensure that you have a place.

The theatre is located in a beautiful park that offers RV hookups and camping. You can watch a show and then head back to your campsite. This is certainly an interesting and unique way to go camping.

Visitors to the area will find plenty of great places to stay and things to do. You can find places to golf, or go rafting and kayaking, hiking, and a whole lot more. In addition, you will get to see some great performances of beloved Broadway shows. It is a great place to soak up a bit of culture while still getting back to nature – you can’t ask for much more.

Starlight Mountain Theatre
1851 Century Way
Boise ID 83709
(208) 342-2187

Starlight Mountain Theatre – Garden Valley, Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism

This scenic park offers many things to see and do all year round.   It covers 4,450 acres and is nestled in majestic Salmon River Mountains in Central Idaho at an elevation of 4,825 feet.  Boating and fishing are popular activities with an abundance of  Rainbow trout, Coho salmon, and small mouth bass.  These fish can be caught from the shore or by boat in the summer or through the ice in the winter.  The lake provides docks and ramps for boaters who also enjoy sailing and windsurfing in mild weather.  

Campsites are available and facilities such as yurts, cabins, houses and cottages can be reserved.  Reservations can be made by calling 1-866-634-3246 between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm Mountain Time (MT) seven days a week with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day.  
Reservations may be made up to 9-months, but no sooner than 2-days, prior to arrival. While we encourage you to plan as far ahead as possible to get the best selection of sites, it is possible to make a reservation, pending availability, up to 48-hours prior to your arrival.
There are a number of available campsites which include Standard and Companion Standard types with central water and vault toilets.  Fee for Standard Campsites is $12 per night and Companion Standard Campsites is $22 per night plus Idaho State Sales Tax.
There are numerous trails in Lake Cascade State Park for vacationers who enjoy hiking or biking as well as horseshoe pits for mild weather and  playgrounds for the children.  In the winter, cross country skiing is a popular activity.  

In the month of January, the park experiences a great deal of snow while the month of July has very little precipitation.  High temperatures during the summer at Lake Cascade State Park are in the 80s during the day but the nighttime temperatures are in the 40s.  Winter temperatures reach a high in the 30s during the day while winter nights are only in the 10s.  

Idaho will be celebrating one hundred years of the first state park  in 2008 – Heyburn State Park which is located in Plummer, Idaho.  To commemorate the  centennial, two years of events will be planned throughout the state.  On Saturday, July 12, 2008, a special celebration  will take place at every state park in Idaho.

On this day, visitors will be able to access all state parks free.  Birthday cake will be served and a number of special activities will be available for all.  Lake Cascade State Park will provide a Scavenger Hunt for families with children and a Junior Rangers Program.  From 8 pm to 9 pm on July 12th, a Blue Grass Music Festival is planned.

Lake Cascade State Park – Cascade, Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism

Fourteen beautiful gardens delight the senses.  They include the Herb Garden which contains fragrant and tasty plants which are rich in legend and folklore, the Jane Falk Oppenheimer Rose Garden, featuring  old style roses in a traditional perennial setting and the Muriel and Diana Kirk English Garden, created by well-known landscape architect John Brooke, which features plants typical to English Gardens adapted to plants which flourish in a Boise, Idaho setting.  

Idaho Botanical Gardens are located at 2355 Old Penitentiary Road in Boise, phone numbers 208-343-8649 and 877-527-8233.  Admission fees are $4.00 for Adults, $3.00 for Seniors, $2.00 for Children ages 6 thru 12 and free to Members.  
Hours:  April thru October, Monday thru Thursday, 9 am to 5 pm, Friday 9 am to 8 pm.  Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm.

Hours:  November thru March, Monday thru Friday 9 am to 5 pm.  Saturday and Sunday, noon to 4 pm.  December and January:  closed on Saturday and Sunday.  
One of the special activities held at the Boise Botanical Gardens is the Great Garden Escape, a series of fine musical events each Thursday evening from June 5th thru August 28th.  Hours are from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm June 5th to July 31st and 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm from August 7th to August 31st.

Admission fees are $10.00 for Nonmembers, $8.00 for Members and $6.00 for Children ages 4 thru 12.  
 

Idaho Botanical Garden – Boise, Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism

The Peregrine Fund World Center for Birds of Prey is dedicated  to save endangered species of hawks, eagles, falcons, and tropical birds of prey. Established in 1970,  A non-political organization, the Peregrine Fund works nationally and internationally, to protect birds of prey in nature. They conserve nature by  restoring species in jeopardy, protecting habitat, educating students, training conservationists, and by providing factual information to the public. 

One of the many important reasons for studying birds of prey (raptors) is because they are sensitive to a number of forms of environmental change – including chemical pollution – and these birds can provide an early warning for humans.  Additionally, the larger predators help maintain the balance of nature

The Center is located at 5668 West Flying Hawk Lane, Boise 83709, phone 208-362-3716.   Admission fees:  Adults and teens 16 years and up:  $5.00, Scouting, daycare, adult and other groups are $3.00 per person, including children ages 4 thru 16.  School groups are FREE which includes one adult chaperone for every five students.  Phone the Center for hours of operation.

World Center for Birds of Prey – Boise, Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism