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For those familiar with the Rocky mtn cities- How does Boise compare for having outdoor exercise oportunities compared to other large metro areas? I live in PA and everyone on the east coast knows Salt Lake City offers great skiing 30 min away, Boulder is surrounded by mt bike trails, CO Springs has Pike's Peak...but Boise seems to fly under the radar.
I'm hoping to spend a couple years out West in a big enough city to offer good job variety and outdoor recreation (ski, bike, hike, kayak) and was wondering if I should give Boise more thought.
I thought it was just an isolated city surrounded by brown hills but I'm starting to think I'm way off!
If you end up in Boise, go to McCall. It's about 90 or so miles North. Beautiful drive up there. Great place for all type of outdoor activities! Skiing, biking, boating, hiking, etc....
I just moved my girlfriend from McCall to Northern Va. but plan on going back to Boise/McCall often as her family is still in the area.
For those familiar with the Rocky mtn cities- How does Boise compare for having outdoor exercise oportunities compared to other large metro areas? I live in PA and everyone on the east coast knows Salt Lake City offers great skiing 30 min away, Boulder is surrounded by mt bike trails, CO Springs has Pike's Peak...but Boise seems to fly under the radar.
I'm hoping to spend a couple years out West in a big enough city to offer good job variety and outdoor recreation (ski, bike, hike, kayak) and was wondering if I should give Boise more thought.
I thought it was just an isolated city surrounded by brown hills but I'm starting to think I'm way off!
Actually Boise offers a lot more of the types of outdoor recreation you listed compared to the two cities you used as an example. For instance you can kayak right in town and there is a new whitewater park.
It's not because Boise is situated perfectly between Idaho's Rocky Mountains and the vast Great Basin deserts that stretch northward from Nevada. Nor is it that three rivers converge near here: the Boise, the Payette, and the Snake. It's not that the Boise area includes some of the country's best mountain biking trails, or that deep powder and steeply pitched rock are less than 20 minutes from downtown restaurants and coffeehouses. These things alone would beckon pilgrims, like me, in search of urban-outdoor nirvana.
Have to agree with everyone else. I've lived all over the country and Boise can't be beat for all the things that you can do around here.
The other thing that flies under the radar here as well are the great microbreweries. They are so busy filling kegs and serving from their own locations that nobody has time to bottle or can. We have microbreweries that are as good if not better than a lot of national microbreweries like Stone, Ninkasi, Deschutes and others.
Nothing better than a long day outside followed by a pint of Sockeye.
Everything sounds great...I'm just surprised Boise is so humble about its easy access to the outdoors compared to other cities in the Rockies. I was worried I'd miss the greenery of the Appalachain Mts but it looks like Idaho has some nice pine forests. Can I make the assumption most people in Boise like fitness and taking advantage of their city's outdoor offerings? I'm trying to build a new career on massage therapy and sports medicine so I gotta be around good active people.
Everything sounds great...I'm just surprised Boise is so humble about its easy access to the outdoors compared to other cities in the Rockies. I was worried I'd miss the greenery of the Appalachain Mts but it looks like Idaho has some nice pine forests. Can I make the assumption most people in Boise like fitness and taking advantage of their city's outdoor offerings? I'm trying to build a new career on massage therapy and sports medicine so I gotta be around good active people.
You will be in good company, this is a fit crazy town and spandex is a fashion statement here. A quick google search will give you much more info.
CDC recently ranked Boise as one of the 15 most fit/healthy cities in the country.
One thing that is missing in Boise (unless I have just not seen one yet) is a workout facility like Gym Jones or Mountain Athlete. For lack of a better definition, both have roots in Crossfit but then decided to focus on the particular needs of endurance athletes, climbers, skiers and other outdoor athletes. Could be a way for you to offer something a little different. I'm a big fan of Mountain Athlete and go there every time I am in Jackson WY. Send me a PM if you want more info.
For those familiar with the Rocky mtn cities- How does Boise compare for having outdoor exercise oportunities compared to other large metro areas? I live in PA and everyone on the east coast knows Salt Lake City offers great skiing 30 min away, Boulder is surrounded by mt bike trails, CO Springs has Pike's Peak...but Boise seems to fly under the radar.
I'm hoping to spend a couple years out West in a big enough city to offer good job variety and outdoor recreation (ski, bike, hike, kayak) and was wondering if I should give Boise more thought.
I thought it was just an isolated city surrounded by brown hills but I'm starting to think I'm way off!
There's all kinds of outdoor activities in and around Boise. You can climb, mountain bike, ski, and boat all about 15 mins to an hour from town. And generally north of there there's even more the further you drive. Lots of camping and trails!
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