Boise San Inazio (Basque) Festival 2023 - This Weekend

Boise San Inazio (Basque) Festival 2023 - This Weekend    It’s that time of the year again for the annual 2023 San Inanzio Basque Festival (also known as the Basque Festival) and we’re all here for it! From July 28th until Sunday, July 30th, the block of 6th Street and Grove Street will flood with live music, basque dancing, tasty food, drinks, and the vibrant colors of red, white, and green!   History of the Basque community in Boise: The large migration of the Basque community to Idaho started in the late 1800’s, during the era of Fransisco Franco’s reign in Spain. Due to their unwillingness to unify with Spain, the resulting issues and restrictions drove a large wave of Basque people to migrate from the western Pyrenees region of northern Spain and southern France to the western United States in search of better opportunities.    During this time period, the western areas of the United States were well-known for mining for gold, which drew a large population of the Basque community to Idaho in hopes of becoming miners. However, once many arrived in the state, many saw the opportunity and money that came from ranching and sheepherding.    Due to the landscaping and underdevelopment of Boise at the time, this location was perfect for the Basque people to thrive. Over the last few decades, the Basque community and culture have become a huge part of the Boise community.    Click here for more information on this event: https://www.thebasqueblock.com/#:~:text=Numbering%20about%2016%2C000%2C%20Boise's%20Basque,their%20own%20%2D%20The%20Basque%20Block! Basque Restaurants in Boise:   The Basque market 608 W Grove Street Link: https://www.thebasquemarket.com/   Ansots Basque Chorizos  560 W Main Street Link: https://ansots.com/   Leku Ona 117 S 6th Street Link: https://boisebasquefood.com/   Bar Gernika 202 S Capitol Boulevard Link: https://www.bargernika.com/   Epi’s A Basque Restaurant 1115 N Main Street Link: https://www.episabasquerestaurant.com/

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5 Events in Boise and Beyond - July 28th - 30th

Credit: alesia-kozik on Pexels 5 Events in Boise & Beyond 1. Art Under the Eaves Where: Art Source Gallery When: Saturday, July 29 Time: 11:00 am - 2:00 pm EVENT DETAILS HERE   2. Hops & Flip Flops Summer Shindig Where:  Payette Brewing Co When: Saturday, July 29 Time: 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm EVENT DETAILS HERE   3. Nampa Farmers Market Where: 1 14th Ave S, Nampa, ID When: Saturday, July 29 Time: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm EVENT DETAILS HERE   4. Stargazing at Lucky Peak Where: Lucky Peak State Park Spring Shores Unit When: Saturday, July 29 Time: 9:00 pm - 11:30 pm EVENT DETAILS HERE   5. Donation Support - Boise Bicycle Project Where: 1027 S Lusk Street When: Saturday, July 29 Time: 10:45 am - 2:00 pm EVENT DETAILS HERE

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Summer in Idaho: Sawtooth Wilderness Spotlight

  Photo Credit: Pxfuel.com Summer is here, bringing with it those long sunny days. There is no better time to get outside and explore the nature Idaho has to offer, and there is no better place to do it than the Sawtooth Wilderness. The Sawtooths are a mountain range in Central Idaho and are legendary for rugged, sharp peaks, crystal clear alpine lakes, and spectacular vistas. Start planning your Sawtooth trip this summer using this guide! Redfish Lake: Redfish Lake is a stunning alpine lake that sits right outside of Stanley, Idaho. It has been a popular destination to relax and unwind since the 1800s, and was inhabited by the Sheepeaters tribe much earlier than that. Redfish gets its name from the bright red Sockeye Salmon which swim upstream to spawn at the lake each summer. It is said that back before dams and overfishing reduced the Sockeye numbers dramatically, there used to be so many spawning fish returning to Redfish that you could walk on their backs across the lake. Nowadays, visitors flock to enjoy the camping, hiking, boating, and fishing that surround this remarkable lake. Whether it be a day trip or a weekend getaway, Redfish Lake is a staple of the Sawtooths and a must-see! Photo Credit: Unsplash Hiking: Hiking in the Sawtooths can include some serious elevation gain, but the views at the top make the trek very rewarding. Since the sheer number of trails can seem overwhelming, here are our top 3 choices that are worth the effort: Goat Lake:  This trail is an ~8 mile out-and-back hike that leads to a breathtaking alpine lake surrounded by impressive mountains. This trail is challenging with a lot of elevation gain, but jumping in the cold lake at the top helps to refresh and cool off for the hike down. Fishhook Creek Trail: A family-friendly option, this 5 mile out-and-back trail has minimal elevation gain and ends up with views of the Sawtooth mountains sprawl beyond a gorgeous meadow. Bench Lakes: A nice intermediate-advanced option is the Bench Lakes trail, which starts near Redfish Lake and goes 8 miles out and back to five different alpine lakes. From the tranquil lakes, you can see craggy peaks of the Sawtooths and even spend the night in one of the countless campgrounds at the 5 Bench lakes. Photo Credit: Kaija Zoller Camping: The Sawtooths are a part of the Central Idaho Dark Sky reserve and once the sun sets on the sharp peaks and vast wilderness of this mountain range, the real show begins. When it comes to camping in the Sawtooths, there are two main options: campgrounds and dispersed camping. Campgrounds will typically have much more amenities such as bathrooms, picnic tables, and trash; reservations are recommended and can be tricky to secure. Dispersed camping is camping anywhere in the Sawtooth National Forest outside of designated campgrounds, meaning you could sleep right next to alpine lake and under the tall peaks of the Sawtooths. This is very popular among backpackers and although it can require more gear, it is useful in splitting long hikes into multi-day trips. Remember when camping to Leave No Trace, and pack out or throw away everything you bring in. Whether you're driving up to a campsite for a night or backpacking into an alpine lake, camping is an amazing way to experience the Sawtooths both at day and night!  Photo Credit: Kaija Zoller Wildlife:  The Sawtooths are home to countless species of birds, mammals, reptiles and insects and it is almost impossible to enter this National Forest without seeing wildlife. At lower elevations, you might see elk and mule deer, coyotes, snowshoe hares, chipmunks, pine martens, and even the rare black bear. At high elevations, you may be able to spot a mountain goat or a bighorn sheep, which are more common than you would think. Birds you might see include golden and bald eagles, a variety of sparrows, meadowlarks, and red winged blackbirds among many others. Photo Credit: Kaija Zoller        

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