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Hello! We currently live in Michigan and we're looking to transfer to a different area in the next 1-2 years. Boise is possibly a good fit for my husband and me, but we have one concern. Do people in Boise feel landlocked? In other words, we're used to just hitting the freeway and going for a day trip to Detroit, Traverse City or Grand Rapids to do something different. With Boise being somewhat secluded, do the residents of Boise ever feel that way? Boise is on our short list of possible places to go and other than the winter inversions, we have few concerns about keeping Boise on this list. Any information can be helpful! Thanks!
We hop in the car and take day trips to whitewater rafting, hiking, boating, fishing and skiing. There are lots of great destinations within a few hours of Boise that provide some of the best recreation anywhere.
Because we are so geographically isolated, we have a lot of amenities that other cities our size don't have. We've got a great urban university, thriving arts scene and vibrant downtown. We often have great regional and national bands stop over at our many concert venues as we're a logical stop between Portland and Salt Lake. We've got incredible city parks and opportunities for kids--this is a beautiful place to live.
To me, landlocked just means that we've been able to preserve our sense of independence the West is known for. Hope you love it, too.
Was born in Michigan and grew up in northwestern Ohio right on the border. Other than not being able to go to Tigers games, there is nothing I miss about Michigan. The weather is a lot better and the outdoor amenities are fantastic. I travel 3-4 times a year for work, so it's just enough to get my fix of bigger cities.
If you can hack a Michigan winter, the inversions are nothing. Plus 20 degree temps in Boise mean that you can still go outside with a sweater and a windbreaker.
Oh yes, we can hack a Michigan winter! My hubby and I both went to college in the U.P. and currently live in the northern L.P. snowbelt. Last winter, we braved below zero temps for some time and several snow days that kept the kids from going to school. Low temps in the 20's in January sound good to me! And yes, I'll miss the Tigers as well.
In Michigan you may go to another city for a trip.
In Idaho, you just go to some sort of natural area. It's a different mindset. Just keep in mind that the entire state of Idaho has fewer people than Metro Detroit, and 10 years ago it had less than Detroit proper.
Boise offers a lot of metropolitan options for a city of this size because it is the big city for hundreds of miles around. People will drive hours to come to Boise to spend time in the big city. If you want to take a trip from Boise it is more like Sun Valley, McCall, up to North Idaho, or over to Portland. It would be the same if you lived in say, Salt Lake because in SLC you are hundreds of miles from the next large city too, this is the way the Intermountain West is, the large cities are isolated and far away from each other. If you live in Boise and want to trip to another large city then Seattle or Portland are the best options.
SLC is the next largest city and it is a 5-6 hour drive. I wouldn't really waste driving that direction, take an extra couple hours and drive to Portland for a more distinct city feel. If you can afford it, most major West Coast cities have flights to/from Boise.
Personally (I live here), I feel this way. I don't really think of Boise as a city, because of how small it is. I like actual cities, I have siblings that live in San Francisco and Seattle, and I may be moving to Austin soon, and the thing I like about those cities is that there is a lot really close by to them. In Idaho, all you have is Boise, and then all the tiny small towns. Also this year we have had some terrible weather! It didn't get warm until like June! I remember a few years back when I graduated from high school in early May and it was SUPER hot, and now it takes forever to warm up! Not cool.
Hello! We currently live in Michigan and we're looking to transfer to a different area in the next 1-2 years. Boise is possibly a good fit for my husband and me, but we have one concern. Do people in Boise feel landlocked? In other words, we're used to just hitting the freeway and going for a day trip to Detroit, Traverse City or Grand Rapids to do something different. With Boise being somewhat secluded, do the residents of Boise ever feel that way? Boise is on our short list of possible places to go and other than the winter inversions, we have few concerns about keeping Boise on this list. Any information can be helpful! Thanks!
YES! The nearest metro is Salt Lake City which is a 6 hour drive from Boise. We do feel very landlocked and I have heard the same complaint from others.
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