Boise Idaho Travel Guide

Boise is the capital of the US state Idaho. The city is located in southwest Idaho, about 65 km east of the Oregon state line and 175 km north of the Nevada state line. Boise has a population of 185,787.

Idaho’s capital, which used to be known primarily as a convention destination, is increasingly attracting the attention of tourists. Boise is known for its wide range of recreational and sporting options such as the Boise Greenbelt , an extensive recreational area that stretches along the Boise River, and the Rock Climbing Center , considered one of the best in the western United States by rock climbers.

Old Idaho Penitentiary

Idaho’s Jack the Ripper is still haunted by the state prison:
execution sites always make visitors shudder, but in the old Idaho state prison you can even hear the steps and voices of the convicts on their way to the gallows. Some visitors even report that they were pushed by the unfriendly ghosts. Tourists on Death Row? Yes, the Old Idaho Penitentiary has been closed since 1973, is now a museum and can even be visited at night on certain days.

The old Boise Correctional Facility is often referred to as the spookiest place in Idaho . Opened in 1872, the prison once held some of the Wild West’s worst criminals. Its notorious reputation stems from its gloomy past, which was marked by riots, outbreaks and executions – today the site is an exhibition site for around 100 years of prison history and offers visitors 30 historical buildings and special exhibitions.

Allegedly the area is haunted by former prisoners. Visitors report touching invisible people, strong feelings of fear and despair, and eerie whispers in the hallways.

A total of ten criminals have been executed here in the hundred years since 1870, of which Idaho’s Jack the Ripper – Raymond Allen Snowden – is sure to be haunted. When he was executed in 1957, the gallows failed and instead of breaking his neck, he fought for a quarter of an hour with death before slowly suffocating.

The prison was also otherwise known for its brutality – the sandstone turned it into an oven in summer and an icebox in winter. After several prisoner riots and 110 deaths, it was closed. If you don’t mind, you can come to the annual Halloween costume party in the cell block.

Egyptian Theater – The Egyptian Theater

Ancient Egypt is full of myths. Last but not least, the ancient Egyptians were already afraid of ghosts, monumental tombs were created for their mummified pharaohs. The Egyptian Theater in Boise opened its doors for the first time in 1927 . Across the Treasure Valley, the theater is known as a historic building and a ghost place.

The old soul of the former projectionist Joe is said to still be in the theater. He worked in the theater from the late 1920s until he suffered a heart attack on the way to the projection chamber in the 1950s. Visitors report strange noises, doors opening and closing, and lights flickering.

Hotels and restaurants

New as well as renovated hotels, up-and-coming restaurants for culinary delights and a flourishing wine industry are available for visitors to discover.

In Boise’s lively city center, for example, the Hotel Inn at 500 Capitol awaits its guests. This boutique hotel is home to Richard’s Restaurant, run by Richard Langston. The chef was nominated for the James Beard Award for Best Chef. The Grove and Hotel 43 are also some of the most popular hotels in town.

Boise for beer connoisseurs

In 2017, White Dog Brewing opened its doors to Boise with its long, rustic taproom (705 W Fulton St). The special feature here is the chilled counter , which is over seven meters long and keeps the beer cold. Idaho is among the top 10 per capita breweries in the United States. The state is also the second largest producer of barley and the third largest hop producer in the United States. This gives the breweries the ability to brew a wide variety of beers.

8th Street in Downtown Boise

A flourishing wine culture

In addition to the breweries, Idaho’s wine industry has also grown significantly – from eleven in 2002 to more than 50 wineries in 2017. As a result, Boise, with its many vineyards in the area, has become one of the most important places to go for wine connoisseurs. A wine tasting at Coiled Wines is recommended . Owner Leslie Preston, who learned the skills of winemaking at the famous Clos du Bois and Stags’ Leap in California, serves an excellent dry Riesling (3408 West Chinden Blvd).

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