How to Spend a Long Weekend in Boise: 3 to 4 Day Winter Itinerary
Headed to Boise, Idaho, this winter? Y’all know how much I love my hometown! Because there are so many fun things to do in Boise in all seasons, it’s become a popular weekend getaway destination. Boise is the perfect place to spend a long weekend—and winter is one of best times to visit because it’s located near mountains and lots of fun winter activities! Whether you prefer city life or would rather enjoy the snowy wilderness adjacent to Boise (or maybe a bit of both?), there really is something for everyone no matter your interests.
If you’re headed to the City of Trees in the winter, this post will help you make the most out of your long weekend in Boise! Below, I shared my suggested itinerary for three or four days in Boise, places to eat, places to stay, and winter weather you can expect.
READ NEXT: How to Spend a Long Weekend in Boise: 3 to 4 Day Fall Itinerary
How To Spend A Long Weekend In Boise In Winter
-Day 1-
Grab a Coffee and Breakfast at A Café
It looks like I said to grab a coffee and bite to eat at any old café, which is fine if that’s the route you decide to go, but I highly recommend going to A Café for breakfast! It’s located at 10th and Main in downtown Boise, and they make the BEST breakfast burrito ever. Plus, their chai is delicious (and Korri is a fan of their mocha). Be sure to add lavender syrup, cinnamon, and honey to your drink! Yum. Can I come with? Lol.
Shop Local and Wander Freak Alley Gallery
Spend an afternoon in downtown stopping in all of the local shops and exploring the public art at the Freak Alley Gallery! Freak Alley is a popular place for high schoolers to take their senior photos (and for people like me to take outfit photos, haha). There’s always new sections of art to be found! Make sure to walk to Bannock Street to shop The Chocolate Bar and City Peanut (the latter is a MUST). I also recommend stopping in The Record Exchange, Rediscovered Books, Mixed Greens, and Re-POP Gifts.
Eat Dinner at Bittercreek Alehouse
There is no shortage of great local places to find a beer in Boise. One of those also happens to serve delicious food: Bittercreek Alehouse! Located on 8th Street the pedestrian-friendly center of downtown Boise, Bittercreek offers traditional pub fare (burgers, sandwiches, salads, tacos, fries, etc.) in addition to their craft brews made in-house and yummy cocktails. Pop over to Red Feather Lounge if you’re looking for an even more upscale dining experience.
Enjoy Drinks at a Speakeasy
Speakeasies are fun, “secret” bars that have hidden entrances and sometimes even a password to enter (a nod to the prohibition era). There are a number of speakeasies around downtown Boise! Some do require a reservation, so keep that in mind. The Gatsby is decorated for the holidays! Other speakeasies include Thick as Thieves, Suite 104, Press and Pony, Ampersand, and Bar40 inside The Lively.
-Day 2-
Ski or Snowboard at Bogus Basin
Wake up bright and early and head up the hill to Bogus Basin to ski (alpine or cross-country) or snowboard! You can also tube or snowshoe. Bogus is about a 45 minute drive from the city up a windy two-lane mountain road. You can rent equipment at the resort to ski or snowboard. Enjoy a plethora of runs (there’s a wide variety of runs for every skill level) and take hot cocoa, food, and rest breaks at the lodges.
Grab a Treat at Goody’s Soda Fountain
My favorite thing to do after a day spent on the mountain is to stop at Hyde Park in north Boise and pick up a hot cocoa! It’s one of the best hot cocoas you’ll ever drink. (They also offer other coffee drinks, candies, and ice cream!) If you have time, I also recommend wandering around the other shops at Hyde Park. It’s a popular part of Boise with a really fun small town vibe.
Eat Dinner at Fork
I’m pretty sure everyone eats at Fork when they visit Boise, and for good reason! It’s a staple of downtown (on 8th Street) offering locally-sourced cuisine that’s also approachable—you’ll recognize everything on the menu! The dinners I’ve eaten at Fork have been fantastic. It definitely has a slightly more upscale feel (for Boise standards). They’re also open for brunch on the weekends.
Experience Winter Garden aGlow
If you’re visiting Boise for a long weekend in December, you must check out the holiday lights at Winter Garden aGlow at the Idaho Botanical Garden! It’s is decked out in thousands of twinkling lights through the holiday season. Find more incredible displays at Scentsy Commons in nearby Meridian or Indian Creek Plaza in Caldwell! You can also take a quick drive through a Christmas light display timed to music at Christmas in Color (Western Idaho Fairgrounds in Garden City).
-Day 3-
Grab Breakfast from Certified Kitchen and Bakery
You can easily spend a day exploring Boise’s popular North End neighborhood! Kick off your morning with a delicious breakfast at Certified Kitchen and Bakery on 13th Street in Hyde Park. I highly recommend a breakfast sandwich on their English muffins made from a 52-year-old sourdough starter. They’re incredible! The breakfast burrito is also excellent. And don’t forget the chai, of course.
Sled (or Hike) at Camel’s Back Park
If there’s a layer of snow on the ground, head over the Camel’s Back Park to partake in some sledding! Camel’s Back is a GIANT hill, so you can really get going quite quickly on a sled. If there’s no snow and the trails aren’t muddy, it’s a fun place to hike around with gorgeous views of the city. Also wander around the backside through Hulls Gulch! (Some trails are open to snowshoeing or cross-country skiing.)
Take a Glass Blowing Lesson
I’ve taken a glass blowing class twice and it’s so much fun! (And a great option if you want to be REALLY WARM, haha!) Boise Art Glass is a local glass blowing studio located downtown, and they offer lessons to learn the art of glass blowing—plus make your own piece(s)! I’ve made Christmas ornaments as well as glass pumpkins. Note that items can’t be picked up until the next day.
Grab Drinks at Western Collective
Western Collective is not technically in Boise (even though it feels like you’re still in Boise because it’s not far from downtown), but I had to include it because it’s such a fun spot to enjoy a drink! Drive the few minutes to Garden City to sip locally-brewed beers, seasonal wine slushes, and more fun drinks. They also have a few food options, like pizza! Be sure to cozy up with Comet the orange cat if you can find him! He lives there and is so sweet.
-Day 4-
Have an extra day to explore Boise? Here are some bonus activities to consider!
Check Out the Many Museums or the Discovery Center
Downtown Boise is home to a number of museums worth checking out in case of inclement weather! The Boise Art Museum features rotating art exhibits, the Idaho State Museum is recently renovated and highlights Idaho history with interactive permanent and rotating exhibits, and the Idaho Black History Museum is a small museum that shares even more important history that’s often left out. The Basque Museum is located at the corner of 6th and Grove in Old Boise and shares the heritage of the Basque people, and the Discovery Center is a fun hands-on science center for both kids and adults alike!
Go Ice Skating
Downtown Boise has a brand NEW and entirely FREE ice skating rink called Glide on the Grove! It’s located on the Grove Plaza and is open limited hours through the end of January 2024 (every day except Mondays and Tuesdays). Be sure to check it out if you have time! If the rink is closed or if you want to skate indoors, head to Idaho Ice World (a bit of a drive from downtown). If you don’t mind venturing outside of Boise, head to The Village (Meridian) or Indian Creek Plaza (Nampa).
Soak in a Natural Hot Spring
Idaho is kind of known for our natural hot springs! The closest one to Boise is now a resort called The Springs. Check their website for last-minute reservation cancellations and head on up towards Idaho City to soak in their large natural hot spring pool! They also offer private pools that fit just a handful of people.
Attend a Boise State Basketball Game and/or Gymnastics Meet
Love winter sports but want to stay indoors? Check the Boise State men’s and women’s basketball or women’s gymnastics schedules and head to a game or meet on campus! (I’m personally a HUGE fan of college gymnastics, so I highly recommend going to one of those meets if you can.) They’re the perfect inexpensive, high-energy family-friendly event. If you’re in Boise in late November/early December, you might be able to catch a Boise State football game. The Idaho Potato Bowl usually happens a few days before Christmas in December.
READ NEXT: 20 Things to Do in Boise in the Winter
Best Places To Eat In Boise
Besides the places I highlighted in my suggested itinerary, there are SO many other great places to eat in Boise! Check out these blog posts to find a full selection of places to enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN BOISE, IDAHO
If you’re planning a long weekend to Boise, you might also be wondering about the best places to stay. Personally, I’m big a fan of hotels when I travel, and there are a plethora of hotels in Boise to choose from. If you prefer staying in fun boutique hotels, these options in and around downtown are worth checking to see if they have availability during your trip:
There are also a variety of chain hotel options to choose from in downtown Boise:
Winter WEATHER IN BOISE, IDAHO
Boise is fortunate to get all four seasons, and if you’re a fan of winter, you’ll probably like it here. Winter definitely feels like it overstays its welcome by the time March rolls around! That said, winters in Boise are milder than in other parts of the state. We don’t get that much snow; we average about 17” total for the whole season. Some winters are definitely snowier than others! Boise is known to get temperature inversions, which is when cold air is trapped near the surface. This results in really cold and dreary conditions with a layer of stratus clouds. It’s a good time to escape to the mountains!
Expect winter max temperatures in Boise to range from around 20-40°F (with the occasional day around 50°F and potentially a day with a high below 20°F). It sounds strange, but it tends to be slightly warmer (30s) when it’s snowing and colder (20s) when we get the dreaded temperature inversions (which occur under high pressure). If there’s snow on the ground, the temperature inversions are even worse than usual! Boise does not get freezing rain that often but it can happen on occasion. Be sure to check the local NWS weather forecast before your trip, and don’t hike or mountain bike if the trails are muddy!