Most Charming Treasure Valley Neighborhoods in Fall

Photo courtesy of Unsplash The changing leaves create a marvelous backdrop for neighborhoods in Boise. Since Boise is densely covered in trees, some areas are just bursting with color in autumn. These are our picks for the most charming Treasure Valley neighborhoods in the fall.   Photo courtesy of Shutterstock North End - Hyde Park Hyde Park, nestled in Boise’s North End, comes alive with the oranges and reds of fall colors each year. Whether you're sipping coffee at one of the local cafés (we love Lucky Perk and Java) or shopping at boutique shops, the mature trees full of fall colors create a cozy fall atmosphere. This is the perfect spot for a fall morning of leisurely strolling, enjoying a warm drink, and taking in the sights.   Photo courtesy of Unsplash North End - Harrison Boulevard Harrison Boulevard in Boise’s North End transforms into a stunning autumn spectacle each fall. This historic street is filled with towering maples and oaks, creating a canopy of vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows. Leaves blanket the sidewalks and lawns of the stately homes that define this iconic neighborhood. Halloween is taken very seriously in this neighborhood, and creative lawn decorations lead to an exciting fall walk.   Photo courtesy of Lysi Bishop Real Estate SE Boise - River Run River Run in Southeast Boise is full of vibrant trees lining the Boise River that come alive with stunning shades of orange, red, and gold. This neighborhood has pathways that wind through the trees and along the river, offering a perfect setting for a leisurely walk or morning jog in the crisp fall air. Fall in River Run provides a tranquil escape and the ideal place to enjoy the beauty of the season.   Photo courtesy of Lysi Bishop Real Estate Garden City - Riverside Village Riverside Village in Garden City is the pinnacle of autumn with its tree-lined streets and scenic paths along the Boise River alive with rich autumn colors. The peaceful neighborhood, known for its abundant greenery and water features, becomes aglow with golden leaves that blanket the ground. Enjoy the magic of this season by strolling along the river or taking in the quiet ambiance from a backyard deck.    

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Fall Festivals in the Treasure Valley 2024

Photo courtesy of  Getty Images Autumn in Boise means leaves changing color everywhere you look, and countless fun activities for you to enjoy with family and friends. From corn mazes to apple picking, make this fall in the Treasure Valley a memorable one with these fall festivals!   Boise Fall Festival Get ready for a day of fun, food, and festivities at the Boise Fall Festival, an event perfect for families and the local community. With live music, delicious cuisine from a variety of food stalls, and pumpkin photo ops, there's plenty to enjoy. You can also browse arts and crafts booths to support local artisans or participate in family-friendly activities like face painting and games. The festival occurs on Saturday, October 4, from 10 AM to 4 PM at Expo Idaho. You can find more info here and admission is free!  Photo courtesy of  Getty Images   Middleton Harvest Festival On Saturday, September 28th, from noon to 5 pm, Middleton is hosting their 13th annual Harvest Festival. This event features live music, over 100 local vendors, food trucks, raffles, and more. Taking place in Foote Park, this event is perfect for the whole family with a free kids area, pumpkin patch hayride, apple bobbing, and even a kids pie eating contest! Entry is free and you can find more information here. Photo courtesy of  Getty Images   Star Fall Fest Taking place on Saturday, September 14th, at the Star River House, the Star Fall Fest is sure to entertain the whole family and get you in the fall mood. It will start with a charity car show and vendor market, then a Queso contest, a pie contest, afternoon music by Good Time Charlie, and a tribute to our military and veterans. ADA Community Library will be providing games and activities for the younger ones. Starting at 6 pm, the Tribute Kings will be playing live, covering the music of Neil Diamond, Bad Company, and Bob Seger. Find out more here. Photo courtesy of Unsplash   Meridian Fall Fest Meridian is hosting its 9th annual Fall Festival on October 12th on the City Hall Lawn. This fun fall event will have a burger-cooking competition, live entertainment, an Oktoberfest Beer Garden, football on the big screen, and a cornhole tournament. Stop by and join the community in getting in the fall spirit! Proceeds go to LOVE’s Kitchen of Meridian, and you can find out more details here. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock   Apple Picking in Emmett Apple picking is the perfect activity to get you in the fall mood and support some local orchards! Williams Fruit Ranch in Emmett offers U-pick fruit with multiple varieties of apples as well as plums and prunes. Tylers Rocky Point Orchard and Candy Apple Orchard both also offer U-Pick apples. Bring the whole family or come with friends for a fun activity with the added benefit of going home with a haul of apples! Photo courtesy of Unsplash   The Farmstead The Lowe Family Farmstead is located in Kuna, Idaho, and has a wide variety of activities for the whole family. It is home to a big corn maze with a fun new design each year and a mini corn maze for young kids. There is also a pumpkin patch where you can search for the perfect pumpkin for your jack-o-lantern. The Farmstead also offers fun activities including hayrides, a U-pick flower field, gemstone mining, corn boxes, a potato sack slide, farm animals, and countless other things to keep you and your family entertained and in the fall spirit! Photo courtesy of Lowe Family Farmstead   Local Pumpkin Patches Idaho has deep roots in agriculture and plenty of locally-owned family farms that host their own version of a fall festival. From smaller pop-ups like Jordan’s Pumpkin Patch to big operations like Lowes Family Farmstead, there is a place to enjoy harvest season by picking your own pumpkins, hay-barrel rides, corn mazes, petting zoos, and more.  Smaller/Less Crowded: Jordan’s Pumpkin Patch & Christmas Tree Lot (Boise) Cabalo’s Orchard and Gardens (Kuna) (also great for apple picking!) Larger/More Activities: Lowes Family Farmstead (Boise) Cherry Hill Farms (Caldwell) Photo curtesy of Getty Images   Boise Farmers Market The Boise Farmers Market is open every Saturday through October from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1500 Shoreline Drive and is the perfect place to find locally grown fall produce. The Capitol City Public Market focuses more on pre-made food, art, and produce and remains open through December. Stop by from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at The Grove Plaza for some cinnamon sugar mini donuts or locally made apple cider to get cozied up in the crisp air. Photo courtesy of  Unsplash    

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Best Tacos & Margaritas in the Treasure Valley

With Cinco de Mayo around the corner, we're sharing our favorite tacos around the Treasure Valley. There is something for every taco lover on this list that breaks down Boise’s best.   Most Unique: Funky Taco Photo credit to HappyCow. This downtown Boise restaurant offers tacos with a unique emphasis on Asian, Indian, Mexican, and Americana ethnicities and styles of food. It prides itself on locally sourced, farm-to-table ingredients and has a selection of seasonal tacos to highlight the current harvest. Menu highlights include the Thaico, a Thai curry chicken taco with Asian slaw and toasted sesame aioli, and Piggy Stardust, a slow-roasted Yucatan-style pork taco with lime crema and shaved cabbage. They offer delicious options for vegans and vegetarians as well. In terms of drinks, the Funky Taco offers multiple signature “Funktails” and beer options.   Best Street Taco: Calle 75 Photo credit to Calle 75. Calle 75 offers authentic Mexican street food created using locally sourced ingredients. Previously a taco truck, Calle 75 has opened up two locations in the last few years, one in the Village in Meridian and one in downtown Boise. They make authentic corn tortillas daily in-house, making a noticeable difference in the taste of their tacos. The menu features classic street tacos including Carne Asada, Pollo Asado, and Carnitas. They offer a variety of unique margaritas including hibiscus flower, tamarind, and habanero margaritas.   Overall Favorite: Amano Photo credit to the Boise Dev. Located in Caldwell, Amano has a unique menu influenced by SoCal, Michoacan, and Oaxacan style Mexican food. Owner and Chef Salvador Alamilla was born and raised in Mexico, where he grew up learning his culinary skills from traditional Mexican cuisine. Using ancestral cooking methods, Amano prepares food with authentic ingredients for an immersive cultural experience. Served alongside this flavorful food is a beverage list featuring over 40 different Mezcals and Tequilas, craft and Mexican beer, and Sunnyslope region wines. This year, Amano made the New York Times America’s Best Restaurants list, an extremely competitive list featuring only 50 restaurants across the United States!    Best Deal: Parilla on Taco Tuesday Photo credit to the Idaho Statesman. Parilla Grill is a unique Restaurant-Cantina dedicated to quality food at a great value. With locations in Hyde Park and Downtown, Parilla is the perfect lunch or to-go spot. On Tuesdays, they offer an amazing deal on tacos, with $1 classic chicken and beef tacos. Parilla has a fun and energetic atmosphere with a wide selection of margaritas (try the Jalapeno one for a little spice!) and plenty of TVs with sports games playing.   Best Fish Taco: Reef Photo credit to Reef. With an atmosphere inspired by a tropical vacation, Reef offers island-inspired eats, tropical drinks, and live music. The restaurant has a rooftop deck and a tiki-themed full service bar, perfect for an escape from reality without leaving town. This restaurant offers a variety of dishes, from Jerk chicken, sushi, and Polynesian food. Reef’s fish taco is a delicious combination of grilled Mahi Mahi, queso fresco, crisp cabbage, and mango cumin vinaigrette that is sure to hit the spot!   Best for Vegetarian: Coa de Jima Photo credit to Coa de Jima. Coa De Jima, located in downtown Boise, offers innovative Latin cuisine, one-of-a-kind hand-crafted cocktails, and art-filled walls to celebrate Latin culture like never before. Head Chef Enrique Martinez and owner Nikolai Castro created Coa de Jima with the mission to serve upscale authentic Mexican food with an exotic twist. There is a variety of vegetarian options available here, from roasted mushroom tacos to chilaquiles and burritos. Coa de Jima has a delicious margarita and a wide selection of tequila and mezcal.   Honorable Mentions: Tin Roof Tacos. A classic Boise staple, Tin Roof Taco serves up Texas street-style tacos. This locally owned restaurant is beloved by Boiseans, and you will often find a line out the door on a summer evening (don’t worry, their service is super fast!). They offer a variety of tacos at super affordable prices and all ingredients, including the tortillas, are made from scratch. We recommend the fried chicken taco and the Baja shrimp taco!    The Matador. Situated on historic 8th St in energetic downtown Boise, the Matador has been a part of the city's restaurant and happy hour scene since 2010. Matador offers Mexican-inspired food and tequila with an energetic and vibrant atmosphere. There is also plenty of outdoor seating for the summer months. Currently, Matador has a must-try strawberry basil seasonal margarita.

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