Spring Weekend in Boise, Idaho

After two previously canceled trips, we finally made it to Boise, Idaho!

We have been going back and forth as to whether this was a city we wanted to consider moving to, with the raising rental prices here in Orange County and my deep desire for a slower pace of life. Boise never seemed perfect for us, we have always found reasons not to consider it, but the city has been on our minds for the past year so we knew we needed to go visit!

It was Monday, May 28th, and we decided to book the tickets. We flew out 3 days later on Thursday, June 1st. We knew if we booked it close enough where no cancelations were allowed that we would have to stick with it! Everything lined up, the flights, the AirBnb, the weather, etc. It was a magical trip and Boise definitely surprised us in many ways.

I’m excited to document our first visit here. It was only from June 1st to the 4th (my 34th birthday!), a little weekend trip in late spring.

Will we be moving here? We don’t know. We still feel an even split of pros and cons! So stay tuned.

Our very kind landlord has let us know we need to be out around the end of July this summer, they need our space for their growing family — a wonderful but bittersweet reason to leave our home of seven years. So much has happened in this space and I will save my goodbyes for another time. Here is our weekend in Boise! It was really beautiful and fun.

x Jessie

June 1st

We flew out this afternoon, a quick 2 hour flight, after Riley’s nap (we had to wake her a tad early).

The flight was smooth, Riley loved it so much. Getting the rental car? So smooth. Driving to the AirBnb? Maybe 12 minutes! The rental? So dreamy and peaceful. We all felt at peace immediately arriving here and felt at home right away too.

I had the Boise Whole Foods deliver our grocery store order for the weekend just before we arrived. We popped the groceries and our bags inside. Scott set up the bedroom for Riley’s sleep while I helped her into a bath with her little animal toys.

We microwaved the freezer burritos I had in our grocery order and ate them on the bathroom floor. I will forever remember the peace and joy we all felt — and Riley sitting in her tub chewing on bites of burrito. We all had a good night sleep (Riley woke twice for feeds, like normal at home) and I couldn’t have asked for a smoother entry to Boise!

June 2nd

I woke and crept from the room at 5am our time, 6am Boise time. We decided not to adjust to the time difference, only being there a few days, and kept our watches and phones on California time. I brewed some coffee, ate my overnight oats I prepped the night before, and sat by the window with the big, beautiful trees swaying in a gentle breeze. The sun was already up, I slipped on my dress from the suitcase in the living room and headed out for my morning walk. A 45 minute exploration of the Winstead Park neighborhood while my little family slept till their normal time.

This morning was our favorite morning of the trip. It was still perfectly cool outside with some big billowy clouds. We went to the closest location of Push & Pour in Garden City, walking to the river’s greenbelt from there and exploring the whitewater park. It was surreal to see surfers jumping into the river to ride the wave — and Riley loved the little mountain rock slide we found at the park on the other side of the bridge.

Afterward we drove across town to one of the foothills’ hikes. There are so many, I think we chose one called Camelback. It was really beautiful and reminded me in ways of hikes we took near Denver. Which, although we didn't really love living inside the city of Denver, we did love the hikes in it’s foothills! So that is a big compliment.

June 2nd (Continued)

After Riley’s nap we left for the afternoon to explore the river near Veteran’s Park. The river was really high and too dangerous to swim in at this time, so we found a small creek offshoot (thank you Keslie for the tip!). Our beach feet weren’t really accustomed to the rocky and twiggy riverbanks. So we found a spot with some sand (then Scott found a discarded fly fishing hook on the ground and packed us up, ha!).

We headed to the park there at Veteran’s and Riley really enjoyed all the play equipment. I tried to make friendly eyes with some parents and kiddos like we do here at home and it was a swing and a miss, but hey, I tried! It was pretty warm this afternoon and we headed home sweaty and whooped from a short excursion (and probably all the morning activity catching up with us too).

We made an easy dinner and Riley went down for sleep like a dream. Scott and I hung out at watched some GBBO on the couch watching the sunset through the trees and my goodness did it really feel like vacation. We were so happy to be here.

June 3rd

This day we decided to explore a little of North End and Downtown. We headed to Certified Kitchen & Bakery in Hyde Park. It was very cute. The baked goods looked incredible! I got a bag of cookies for Scott and we all ordered something drink/food wise and no one was disappointed. We sat on a bench outside and saw a little more of the weekend Boise crowd and plenty of cute puppies.

After we drove down to the Julia Davis Park and walked around a bit, crossed the river, and found a little beach to walk to for Riley to dip her toes (the water was still very cold). We walked back to our car and found a playground, so naturally we stopped there for a bit! Then off to Whole Foods to get a few extra things for dinner. It was nice to see their grocery store, but a little bummed that this seemed to be the best option for fresh, organic food. There is a co-op there in town I wanted to see, and hopefully will get to next time if we visit again, but I’ve heard it is pricey.

June 3rd (Continued)

After Riley’s nap it was too hot for a walk to the park, so we headed to a pond by the house we were staying at that looked nice when we had visited the previous morning. (Quinn’s Pond) I will say the pond is very beautiful (even if that water was very cold still), but it attracted a crowd on a Friday night that I wouldn't consider going back to with Riley.

Lots of smoking and cursing and just a scene not meant for a two year old or where I find myself feeling at peace. But naturally Riley didn’t seem to notice anything but her toes in the water — and she was very excited about it! She even fell face first doing a belly flop by accident, cried, recovered, and spoke dearly of the moment soon after as the time she was “swimming like a fishy” haha. Oh I adore this girl. Traveling with her has been a dream this trip and it’s encouraging me to do it again and again.

June 4th

I woke up and did my normal routine, as per usual, it was lovely. Then I remembered it was my birthday! I was about to go into the bedroom to wake them up when I heard Scott whisper “Riley, do you remember what day it is?” she replied “yeah” he said “it is mama’s birthday” and she said, enthusiastically, “cupcakes!”. Haha. It was a sweet little convo to overhear. I then opened the door and Scott’s phone started playing the Beatles Birthday song — and we all got up and danced to it around the house.

We went back to Push & Pour and afterwards to see the river, like we did our first morning, because we had really enjoyed ourselves. Afterward we drove through a different Boise neighborhood we had wanted to scope out a bit (Depot Bench) and then headed to the airport.

Such an easy return of the car, drifting through security, boarding our plane, and traveling home. Riley’s nap was suppose to be during the plane ride and of course she skipped it — she was a champ and even got invited to walk up and sit in the pilot’s seat of the plane when boarding! It pays to be cute and curious! Haha. We unloaded everything at home pretty quick, I went on a walk to the bay to stretch my legs, we had a little dinner and Riley went to bed early. Easy peasy.

I immediately missed the peace I felt in Boise when we returned home. The nature surrounding the city and low population really brought my nervous system rest. I felt the unease pretty immediately upon landing and it’s been with me since. I love where we live dearly, even if I struggle with aspects of the area too. It will be hard to leave one day, but whenever we do (whether to Boise or another city), I know the peace it will being will be healing in many ways. There is still so much to see and experience back in Boise, and if we decide to really consider it, we will be back soon.

Forever grateful for this little trip. It was rest we needed and Boise was so kind to have us.