Boise vs. Idaho Falls

[pinkpalace]

Originally Posted by cleosmom

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree to your respectful disagreement, can I even do that?

Fremont County (St. Anthony) sees far more snow than IF could ever dream of as does, Driggs, Tetonia, Sun Valley and even Salmon.

I don't even find it dreary often at all, then again I like winter and snow so perhaps it seems minimal to me?

Now the wind, that is quite real and when the temps are down the winds are beyond bone chilling

I think you've earned the right to respectfully disagree all you want!

I agree - St. Anthony and Salmon have worse weather than IF. However... I still hold that IF & Pocatello have worse weather than Boise, Coeur d'Alene, Twin Falls, and even Burley.

I don't mind winter either. In fact, winter here in Georgia has been a no-show. I admit that it's been warmer than normal (for Georgia), but it was still a little weird putting up the Christmas tree last week while wearing shorts... did I mention the AC is running right now?

[FLTOID]

Going To Jump In And Give An Opinion On Idaho Falls..... We Have Been Here A Year And All Is Well. We Moved Here After 15 Years In Tampa Florida. We Enjoy The Outdoors (winter And Summer)
I Am Not Lds... (however I Fooled A Few By Having 5 Kids)
My Kids Attend The Public School System And We Have No Issues Whatsoever.. I Have A Highschooler Down To A Kindergartner. In Fact, 3 Out Of The 6 Teachers In The Public School For My Son Attend Our Churchcalvary Chapel Christian) Which Is Great And Is Well Attended At Every Service. My Kids Have A Mix Of Lds And Non Lds Friends. I Work Out Of My Home And Could Live Anywhere We Desire And We Chose Idaho Falls. Will I Live And Die In Idaho Falls? Who Knows... Life Continues To Have A Sense Of Humor.... We Have Not Been Bored In This Town... Have Found Some Great Local Restaurants As Well As Chains (tgi Fridays, Texas Roadhouse, Outback, Applebees, Chilis, Olive Garden, Johnny Carinos,) I.f. Has Two Super Walmart And A Nice Theatre (edwards)and They Are Near Completion On A New Kohls Near The Theatre.
We Enjoy Snowboarding In The Winter (targhee) Boating And Hiking In The Summer (tetons, Yellowstone, Palisades Resevoir)
It Can Be Breezy Here But Remember I Came From Hurricane Alley (fl)

In Synopsis, We Have Adjusted Well And Are In Our Second Winter Here....... Has Been Good For Our Kids To Experience Change And Have Adapted Well.... Who Could Blame Them... They Would Not Even Go Outside In Tampa During Summer Vacation... Too Hot And Humid... And (i Have Active Kids) They Dirtbike, Boat / Wakeboard, Snowboard Ect.....

My Wife And I Rest Well At Night Knowing The Kids Are In A Safe Enviroment....

Note On Boise.... Been There A Few Times.... Nice City... Traffic A Little Thick.. (one Of The Reasons We Moved Out Of Tampa - Traffic Congestion)

Love The Blue Field.... Go Boise State Broncos... Good Luck In The Fiesta Bowl!!

Hope This Rambling Not Has Helpful To Someone.....

[Grumbler]

Originally Posted by FLTOID

Note On Boise.... Been There A Few Times.... Nice City... Traffic A Little Thick.. (one Of The Reasons We Moved Out Of Tampa - Traffic Congestion)

That's why we relocated to Southeast Boise where traffic congestion isn't much of an issue. Our backyard opens out to Cypress Park, and am just 5 minutes away from Hwy 21 where I ride my motorcycle to Idaho City, Lowman, and Stanley.

Might as well visit my website (no spam) http://www.tvrides.com for maps, images and blather on several of those road trips.

The population center of the Treasure Valley is centered right at the intersection of Eagle Rd (Hwy 55) and Fairview Ave. However, most of the housing and traffic is spreading west rather than east.

The stretch on I-84 btw Gowen Rd/Hwy 21 and Mountain Home is virtually deserted. Growth is all but inevitable wherever one moves.

Have never been to Idaho Falls so any comments on my part would be baseless speculation although I'd suggest going to weather.com and getting the averages for IF then comparing them with Boise.

There's a huge difference visiting IF and/or Boise in Winter, Spring, Fall, and Summer. In addition, both locations have their good and bad areas within the city limits.

Most folks wouldn't be impressed with Boise while on I-84, but once they get off I-84 and drive on Warm Springs Ave from Hwy 21 to Broadway, and hang a right on Fort Street towards Hyde Park and Harrison Blvd in addition to visiting downtown Boise, one's viewpoint undergoes a dramatic change. Then there's the Greenbelt alongside the Boise River.

Cheers,
-=G

[izzy]

Grumbler,

Thanks for the the website link. The pics were great and different from the ones I've seen in the past. Adding the maps makes it easy to see where the pics are taken. Idaho, Boise area is greener than I pictured. I also when to one of the links on your page.

Your site is a great informational site. Thanks.

Izzy

[sultresweetie]

Originally Posted by izzy

Grumbler,

Thanks for the the website link. The pics were great and different from the ones I've seen in the past. Adding the maps makes it easy to see where the pics are taken. Idaho, Boise area is greener than I pictured. I also when to one of the links on your page.

Your site is a great informational site. Thanks.

Izzy

I concur! Makes me wish I was on the road.

[sultresweetie]

Fourteen years ago or so, I would say that IF weather was worse than Boise with more snow fall and lower temp. Boise was always considered the greenbelt of the state, from what I recall. My parents say that the climate has changed quite a bit, and they don't get the snow pack they used to in Blackfoot. I believe they were getting more precip from rain in the Spring and early summer. When I was there for Thanksgiving a few years ago, it snowed briefly and melted off. I recall winters as a child where there would be 2 to 3 ft of snow by December, and we prayed for snowy days, so the temp would warm up a bit and make it bearable to go outside and enjoy it! It snowed from Nov to March, and I remember one year, it snowed on the last day of school in June!
I hear the SE ID folks are getting a lot more bitter cold than snow fall and more rain.

On the other hand, my parent's garden and fruit trees look better than ever!

[Mtn. States Resident]

Originally Posted by IDDQD

The people who talk about the "horrible" winters in Idaho Falls are massively exaggerating. All you have to do is look at the precipitation stats. Even in the middle of the winter, the streets are clear of snow vastly more often than they are covered.

I have lived in Helena, MT; Billings, MT; Chicago; Los Angeles; Tokyo; Phoenix; as well as Idaho Falls. And I plan on moving back to Idaho Falls within the next few years.

As for housing prices, Idaho Falls is probably the best deal in Idaho. It's clearly cheaper than Boise and the cities in northern Idaho.

It's true that Idaho Falls doesn't look so hot from the I-15 exits. That's unfortunate, but anyone who would make a major life decision based on the aesthetics near interstate exists is a fool. Nevertheless, the new Sunnyside exit on the south side of Idaho Falls will help fix that problem as Sunnyside Rd. runs near the newest, fastest developing sections of the city.

If your concerns are a slower pace of life and cheap housing, Idaho Falls is probably a better choice. If you're looking for the amenities of a larger city, Boise is probably a better choice.

IDDQD,

I appreciate your opinions. It's hard to know if the factors were the same for any two people posting information about weather of a former residence, when they haven't lived there recently.

Some comment from the weather from 20 years ago. While that is certainly their right to do so, I'd also ask, Did School District #93 add an average of at least 1 elementary school/yearly (to be already too full) to keep up with the growth when you lived in Idaho Falls?

The inversion situation in Ada-Canyon County can be as difficult to live with as any in the country. But, I really can't say how it is in 2007, as it's been several years since I lived in Boise and I don't feel I would have the most accurate information.

I think national, regional and local sources of factual information (for any city - anywhere are always good to check). I was just reading about a state in the southeast and what seem to me like excessive covenants in neighborhoods. So I do believe subjective opinions are just that including my own. But facts, based from a database, are facts.

You're in for some sweet treats when you return to Idaho Falls. Many people agreed the entrance to Idaho Falls was "lacking" and as a result, major redevelopment near the Broadway Exit has resulted in Renaissance Building first the Super WalMart, the Marriott Fairfield, and now they are FINALLY finishing up one section of the project with the new Starbucks, Ruby River (a personal favorite of mine) and some specialty shops that will meet the needs of the many new residents of condos and rowhouse living in the major redeveloped areas west of the Snake River.

If you haven't looked at the Idaho Falls threads, please do. In short, McNeil Development started the process with Taylor's Crossing on the River. (Taylor Crossing on the River). The latest buidings in T.C. for the west side of the river are starting to be built, including the 13 story Condo Tower and a new Marriott Residence Inn.

Literally, across the Broadway to the north on Lindsay Blvd., Ball Ventures, has redeveloped that old Stardust AKA more names than I can remember hotel, by leveling it and builidng a new Hilton Gardens Inn.

Additionally, Taylor's Crossing as we know it today is from Broadway south to Pancheri (but keep your eyes and ears open on this one, as T.C. has already acquired other property to redevelop close by). Taylor's Crossing is about 300 acres of Riverfront Property redeveloped.

Just like on the north side of T.C. with a Ball Ventures development north of Broadway, there is another Ball Ventures Development on the south end of Taylor's Crossing. It's south of Pancheri. It is named Snake River Landing. There are 4 Phases Planned currently for SRL and it is about 400 acres of redeveloped riverfront property for a total urbanized living experience.

A new Events Center for performances, along with a gymansium facility are close to each other, as is a Convention Center. All are in the Phase I Development. A man made lack will have a couple of 3-4 story hotels and a parking terrace in the area, because all of these buildings are clustered in one relatively small section of SRL. Their website isn't up totally up yet, but will be soon, as the first tenants of the first two buildings will be moving in by Aug., 2007. We jokingly call this the "pre-SRL website" so if you find something different later, I won't be surprised. Snake River Landing

Rumor has it a new combined Idaho Falls Police Department Headquarters and another fire station (and IFFD Headquarters) will go in SRL, although I believe that building is suppose to be be built closer to some of the first buildings already built or almost finished.

Then just to confuse you a bit more, other development ventures are occuring in the Renaissance area by different groups. And west off of the new Sunnyside Exit, a new outlet mall and shopping center, Sunnyside Crossroads Regional Center Untitled Document will add some badly needed additional movie theaters and other entertainment, along with other medical facilities and of course more offices and commerical businesses.

I don't know when you last drove into Idaho Falls from the south, but I guarantee you it looks so different now compared to even a year ago and in another year or two when SRL really has started to take off, and Renaissance has probably completed the redevelopment they started, who knows, maybe McNeil will announce where they have quitely been buying property as an extension of Taylor's Crossing.

I guarantee the old entrance way on Broadway, with the old J.B.'s and city junk/work yards, have been redeveloped into far more profitable and appealing businesses.

There are two good links to just see pictures of Idaho Falls and how much has changed. One is a live, local web site full of detailed information about the Idaho Falls area, with a live chatbox, and posted articles (and moderators), along with an amazing collection or URLs for Idaho, as well as Idaho Falls. I'm referring to is Idaho Fallz.Com (The Idaho Falls Community Discussion Site at IdahoFallz.com). Be sure to look at the pictures, which I believe were on the upper left hand side and follow the instructions of how to see what I believe are now close to a several hundred to perhaps a thousand pics of the Idaho Falls area.

The second site isn't a Internet chat site, nor has all the other goodies of IdahoFallz.Com. It is mostly photos, with a few links or local resources. However, it is starting to get newer pictures to capture some of the growth in Bonneville County, that is currently estimated at 103K (Service area 350K). The link is Idaho Falls Photographs and Panoramic Pictures.

I hope you enjoy getting to see and read in advance some of how Idaho Falls has changed, since you lived in the area previously. Some people speculate the Idaho Falls winters aren't as cold as many who use to live in the area portray them to be, because Ammon is 20K and warming all of 8B County up:

Enjoy and please post on the Idaho Falls and/or eastern ID threads as any questions or ideas you have will probably be addressed quicker by residents either living in the area, those who have decided to relocate to the area, or those who have financial interests in the area. There is a reason the Idaho Falls Regional Airport has 5 airlines (with commericial direct flights not only to Boise, but to Portland, San Jose, Seattle, Bozeman, Salt Lake City, Denver, Minneapolis and Las Vegas) and had to build quite an addition last summer for private aircraft hangars, given how many corporations now have their own aircraft and even business offices where their aircraft are located on at the IFRA.

So many different business venture groups who have invested in Idaho Falls want their own private hangar at the airport. I can't say that I blame them.

Hope to chat with you in the future.