12 Things to do in Boise with Kids

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Boise, Idaho is a great place to visit or to live if you have kids.

The city is family-friendly and features mountains, cultural activities, and a thriving downtown area.

The city is well known for its 850-acre greenbelt that borders the downtown area.

It’s a peaceful place to bring your kids, and the cost of living is relatively low.  

12 Things to Do in Boise with Kids

If you live in Boise or you are planning a Boise vacation, you’ll want to know the top things to do with kids in Boise.  

The 12 best things to do with kids include: 

1. Zoo Boise 
2. Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area 
3. Planet Kids 
4. Eagle Island State Park 
5. Discovery Center of Idaho 
6. Roaring Springs Water Park 
7. Aquarium of Boise 
8. World Center For Birds of Prey 
9. Idaho museum  
10. Pojos Family Fun Center Amusement Center  
11. Boise Greenbelt 
12. Old Idaho Penitentiary  

1. Zoo Boise

Zoo Boise is a great place to bring your kids.

It combines recreation, education, and conservation.

The zoo features a wide variety of animals, including African lions, tigers, giraffes, and penguins.

You can see a Nile crocodile, a tortoise, and spider monkeys.  

For an even better time, consider adding on a special encounter.

Feed a sloth bear or giraffe.

You can also go on a conservation cruise around the lagoon, or see butterflies in bloom.  

Each time you visit the zoo, part of the proceeds go to animal conservation.

This means you can make a difference while enjoying yourself.

While you are there, you can get a meal at the Expedition Grill, and ride the carousel.

Don’t forget to stop by the gift shop during your visit as well.  

2. Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area

Bogus Basin also allows you to make a positive impact while treating yourself.

It’s a non-profit mountain with activities all year round.

In the winter, you and your family can ski or climb the mountain. 

Older children will love the Mineshaft Challenge Course, which is a high-altitude obstacle course.

The course has 3 levels, so you can go as high as you like.  

The Glade Runner is the only mountain coaster in the state and offers a unique way to experience the mountain.   

The Morning Star Chair Lift gives you a beautiful view of the mountain.

At the top of the mountain, you can take the Basin Gravity Park mountain bike trails down the mountain.

Trails range from beginner to technical expert trails.  

Other outdoor activities include rock climbing, tubing on the water, and the bungee trampoline.  

3. Planet Kids

Planet Kids is a part of the Wings Center.

It’s designed to be a safe indoor playground for kids 12 and under.

Toddlers have their own area with tot-sized equipment.  

Kids can play in tunnels, slides, cargo nets, rope climbs, and ball pits.

Swing, jump, climb, and zip your way through the playground.

Parents can relax at the Coffee and Nose bar, knowing their kids are playing safely.  

4. Eagle Island State Park

Eagle Island State Park is located in Eagle, just west of Boise.

Its northern and southern borders are the Boise River.  

You can swim at the beach, enjoy the grassy picnic area, and take the waterslide.

Unwind with the 19-hole disc golf course.

You should also check out the 5 miles of trails in the park.

You can explore the trails by hiking, horseback riding, or walking your dog.  

Younger children will enjoy the playgrounds.

Non-motorized boats, including canoes and kayaks, are allowed in the river.  

5. Discovery Center of Idaho

The Discovery Center of Idaho is a great place to bring your kids to Boise.

Some exhibits, like the Fans Strike Back Star Wars exhibit, are ending soon.

The Impressionist Immersive features more than 1,000 famous works of art that you can see via floor-to-ceiling projections paired with music and audio.  

Tinker the T Rex exhibit allows you to learn about fossils, and prehistory, and see Tinker, a model for a juvenile T-rex skeleton.  

The Sun Moon and Earth exhibit focuses on earth and space science.

You’ll learn about the latest NASA research, and learn about the planet, the solar system, and the universe.  

The Bricks exhibit is a great STEM exhibit.

You’ll find building block stations to make your own creations.

You can also view the intricate builds of local artists to spark your imagination.  

6. Roaring Springs Water Park

Roaring Springs Water Park is a great place to visit in the summer months.

It has more than 20 water attractions, including thrilling water slides, a wave pool, and an endless river.

Kids will love Camp IdaH20, which features 7 kids slides, a water bucket, and a large water playground.

There’s also a large kiddie pool.  

Kids can also enjoy the Critter Crossing Adventure pool, which lets kids tackle obstacles on the water.  

Adventure seekers can enjoy the Class 5 wave pool.

You can ride the waves on a tube or a kickboard.  

7. Aquarium of Boise

The Aquarium of Boise is a non-profit aquarium dedicated to education and conservation for aquatic and terrestrial life.

The aquarium has 35,000 gallons of salt water and is home to more than 250 species of wildlife.

You can currently see 38 exhibits.  

The Shark and Puffer exhibit is popular.

It features Grouper, Stingrays, White-spotted bamboo sharks, and puffer fish.

The Ray pool lets you get close to rays, sharks, and grouper.  

The Amazon exhibit features freshwater fish native to the Amazon, including catfish, cichlids, and turtles.

The Amazing Angels exhibit allows you to feed and pet more than 35 species of tropical marine life.  

You can also see terrestrial animals in the Rainforest Exhibit.

You’ll see geckos, frogs, and a tailless whip scorpion.

The Reptile exhibit is also popular.

You’ll see ball pythons, red tail boas, chameleons, poison dart frogs, and blue iguanas.  

8. World Center for Birds of Prey

The World Center for Birds of Prey is a wildlife center for Raptors or birds of prey.

Along with educating visitors, they focus on the conservation of at-risk species.  

At the center, you can meet eagles, hawks, falcons, owls, and vultures.

Daily shows allow you to get close to the birds, see them in action, and learn more about these majestic predators.  

Their conservation goals include preventing extinction, protecting their natural habitat, and addressing threats.

They also believe that educating and engaging people is essential to helping these birds survive long term.  

9. Idaho Museum

The Idaho Museum offers an educational and informative experience for the entire family.

The entire family will love the Dino of the Deep Exhibit, which features aquatic dinosaurs and sharks from the Cretaceous period. 

The Way Out West Exhibit provides a history of Idaho.

Learn about the first inhabitants of the state, and see fossils from that time period.

Learn about the geological development of the area, including the Snake River, and what makes Idaho the “gem state”.

You’ll also learn about the wildlife and plants native to Idaho.  

The Museum also offers programs for children.

Discovery Day provides hands-on experiments for kids ages 6-12.

Teens can be part of the Docent program, which allows them to volunteer during the summer months.  

Night at the Museum allows families to have a sleepover in the museum, and Little Learners provides STEM activities for young children 2-5.  

10. Pojos Family Fun Center Amusement Center

Pojos Family Fun Center Amusement Center is a great place for kids.

The facility has 22,000 square feet of indoor space full of fun.  

Everyone can enjoy the bumper cars.

It’s a wonderful way to have some friendly competition.

The carousel provides nostalgia and is entertaining for kids.

Young children have their own play area, so you don’t have to worry about keeping them entertained.  

Older children can enjoy the arcade.

There’s also a cafe with classic snacks and foods, including burgers, hot wings, pretzels, corn dogs, and cotton candy.

Don’t forget to grab an ice cream cone while you are there.  

11. Boise River Greenbelt

The Boise Greenbelt is the pride of Boise.

It features a 25-mile pathway that winds through the north and south sides of the Boise River.

You’ll stroll through the city and encounter several riverside parks and scenic wildlife habitats. 

The Idaho Birding Trail (IBT) offers the best way to see birds in the state with a network of trails that focuses on bird watching.

You can also fish the Boise River, or ride the Greenway on a bike.  

12. Old Idaho Penitentiary

History lovers of all ages will enjoy the Old Idaho Penitentiary.

As the name suggests, it was once a penitentiary.

Today, it functions as a museum.

It’s one of only 4 territorial prisons currently open to the public. 

It’s not ideal for those who are very sensitive.

However, if you are adventurous, there’s a lot to learn about the history of Idaho and America within the prison walls.

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