I like living where there is a river or lake right in the city (Boise: condo)

[Topo]

Do any cities in ID have a riverwalk? or really nice waterfront to it? I love that about cities. What about eclectic book/coffee shops to just hang out in....Not talking about Borders/Starbucks, talking about privately owned shops with character.

[cleosmom]

Idaho Falls on the eastern side of the state and Boise on the western side of the state both have greenbelts around the Snake River.

[Syringaloid]

Originally Posted by Topo

Do any cities in ID have a riverwalk? or really nice waterfront to it? I love that about cities. What about eclectic book/coffee shops to just hang out in....Not talking about Borders/Starbucks, talking about privately owned shops with character.

Boise has the greenbelt along the Boise River through the city. It is almost 30 miles long and is revered as being one of the best.
There are also lakes and ponds right in the central area of Boise along this greenbelt.
Boise is also eclectic coffee shop heaven.

[cleosmom]

Originally Posted by Syringaloid

Boise has the greenbelt along the Boise River through the city. It is almost 30 miles long and is revered as being one of the best.
There are also lakes and ponds right in the central area of Boise along this greenbelt.
Boise is also eclectic coffee shop heaven.

Thanks for correcting me on that one.... it'd been a long day.

[Mtn. States Resident]

Topo,

A very interesting question. Of course CDA in northern Idaho is on Lake CDA. If you haven't researched it further, it may interest you.

Boise has a nice greenbelt with established businesses along the way.

Idaho Falls also has a great greenbelt that is undergoing a drastic expansion, with two major development projects. I don't know the exact mileage - someone else may of what the greenbelt is today in Idaho Falls vs. what it will be by the time Snake River Landing (SRL) Phase I has the bike and walking paths of other Greenbelt activities extending down to Gem Lake. For some reason I can't remember how much farther north the greenbelt will expand in Idaho Falls. The Chamber of Commerce or Convention Bureau probably would know. This link may be useful: Idaho Falls CVB - Idaho Falls, Idaho United States - Idaho Falls ID Hotel Reservations.

Yes, Idaho Falls has a small lake in the middle of a land locked area. The developers of Snake River Landing, Ball Ventures, are developing 400 acres into mixed use. Only Phase I has been started and will contain obviously the usual office buildings, commercial, restaurants, two hotels etc. But, Phase I also contains an event center, a convention center and a gymansium type of facility for various activites.

Additionally, it was just announced today that a local company donated 9.5 acres by the river, to be in the SRL Development, for a public park.

Unfortunately, there isn't much that has been released about SRL yet. However, you might want to check Taylor's Crossing on the River, the across the road northern neighbor of SRL. Taylor's Crossing started development in Idaho Falls a few years ago, and continues development in various stages in their hundreds of acres of redevelopment project. Their website has some spectacular photos of the area. Many have recommended to McNeil that mom and pop coffee shops or other gathering facilities be built in T.C. One of the prinicpals, Mr. Lorin Walker, has recenty reassured the public they will be developing "non-chain" gathering places for folks enjoying the greenbelt.

Currently, the new construction of a 13 story condo tower appears to FINALLY have started (or the new Marriott Residence Inn). Taylor's Crossing, like Phase I of SRL, are on the west banks of the Snake River. You might want to check websites like Idaho Falls Magazine at (www.IdahoFalllsMagazine (broken link)) and Taylor's Crossing (McNeil Development) directly at: Taylor Crossing on the River.

Oh, the city of Idaho Falls keeps a webcam on the river and Idaho Falls Greenbelt. You can check it out at: Green Belt Web Cam. If for some reason you are directly linked with the camera, select the section for "visiting" and you can link to the Green Belt Webcam from there.

Lewiston has a seaport, but I don't know about what type of environment is around the seaport for recreational activity.

And then there is Twin Falls, but the river isn't exactly a somewhat quiet attraction in middle of town. Twin Falls has a unique setting and access to TF from the Interstate usually requires passage over a bridge that shows a major river. I'm sure there are links for Twin Falls and the canyon/river entrance to Twin Falls, I just don't know them. Base Jumping (I think that's the correct name) has become a very, very popular sport at the entrance to Twin Falls.

Idaho has a lot to offer when it comes to how various cities have used water. Let us know what you think.

[alaska1]

We live in Couer d Alene , ID right now. The lake here was rated one of the 5 most beautiful lakes in the world.The weather is nice and there are a lot of hills and trees.
We also have a nice town with streetside cafe's and a lot of stores.

[Syringaloid]

Sun Valley has a long greenbelt trail along the Wood River. Expensive place, but fun to visit.