Bend OR VS Boise ID-comparable?

[Felt38]

[quote=delta07;6377592]Funny Steve, I also live in Bend and have relatives in Boise!

Back to OP, if the only consideration is recreational activities, I would choose Bend is a heatbeat! I've never spent much time in Boise, but it isn't nearly as nice of a town as Bend. It's pretty ugly, IMHO. Plus, it's a little further to get to all the outdoor activities. Bend is an outdoor lovers mecca, especially if a job isn't of importance to you and you are working from home.







Well, it is your opinion but Boise's downtown is pretty dang nice. You should spend some quality time there - I think you'd like it - especially the after hours scene, it's pretty vibrant.


I prefer Boise because it has all that Bend has and more, being a little larger. On the other hand, I like that Portland and the coast are not too far away from Bend.


I am a little confused by the comment about Bend having three seasons. How is the climate different than Boise?

[Nn2036]

You should also consider Reno which has similar weather to Bend and Boise. It is 30-40 minutes from Lake Tahoe and it has all the outdoor activities you ever need. The tax is much lower than Oregon and Idaho.

[tablemtn]

Boise is much, much bigger. The metro area is close to 700,000 people, and it functions as its own "hub," with a fair-sized airport and so on. The Bend area is closer to 150,000 or so, and people still end up in Portland (or Eugene) for various "big city" purposes. So if you're looking to live in a city, the Boise would make more sense.

Boise does have good outdoors options. Bend's location is interesting, though. It's close to the frontier of a mountain range that divides a very wet, temperate landscape from the high desert, and the collision between those two geographic zones makes for some interesting natural features.

[sunset 52]

Leaving Bend after 30 years...too expensive, too crowded, too pretentious. Beautiful views though!

[Jim Mac]

Originally Posted by sunset 52

Leaving Bend after 30 years...too expensive, too crowded, too pretentious. Beautiful views though!

Where are you going? My son lives in Redmond, and loves it.

[dirt _farmer]

Originally Posted by Fighting For Air

I lived in Boise for many years (grew up in the valley there). I now live in Salem, OR and spend a lot of time in Bend as I am also an outdoor enthusiast.

When I lived in Boise, I could drive 20 minutes from my house and be rock climbing at the Black Cliffs, could drive 15 minutes and be mountain biking or hiking in the foothills, 45 minutes and be snow skiing, 30 minutes and be water skiing, 5 minutes and be running or inline skating on the Boise River Greenbelt. One hour drive south and I was in the desert canyons hiking, backpacking, mountain biking (no trails), fly fishing. A little over an hour away and I could be climbing at City of Rocks, less than an hour and be kayaking on the Payette River.

Idaho has much more public land in close proximity to Boise than you will find in Bend ... and much more diversification of terrain. As well ... much easier to find camping without parking fees, campsite fees, etc.

Don't get me wrong ... Bend is cool and I like it a lot ... but it doesn't hold a candle to the opportunities in Boise.

I'd be back there in a second if my career would allow.

Wow, I know this is an ancient post, but you do realize, don't you, that world class climbing (Smith Rock), mountain biking (right out your very back door, see COTA), skiing (Mount Bachelor) and mountaineering (Three Sisters), are all much closer than what one would need to travel to in Boise? And you claim Boise is surrounded by "much more private land". Bend is an island awash in NF and BLM land.... look at any public land map!

Granted, you may have Bend beat in regards water skiing. We'll give you that much.