VISITING Boise · The City of Trees
Visiting Boise with toddlers and little kids: the plan.
Boise is compact. Julia Davis Park holds the Zoo and the State Museum, the Discovery Center is a few blocks away and the Greenbelt ties it together. Here’s how we’d spend one or two days with nap in the middle.
Top 5 can’t-miss spots
#1Downtown, 131 W. Myrtle St.
Discovery Center of Idaho
Start your first morning here. Sensory kits are available if you ask.
Kids $18Adults $27Under 2 freeIndoor
See it in the guide→
#2Julia Davis Park
Zoo Boise
Small enough for an after-nap visit, and the State Museum is a short walk away.
See it in the guide→
On Laura the wolverine
“it was just amazing to see her in the flesh because you look at this animal and you think, it's pretty cute and it's pretty cuddly, but then you see her scale a tree in her habitat”
#3South Boise, off Cole Road
World Center for Birds of Prey
Up close with falcons and eagles. Kids under 4 are free, and it’s open Tuesday through Sunday most of the year.
Kids $9Adults $14Under 4 freeIndoor
See it in the guide→
#4Downtown, along the river
Julia Davis Park
Walk the Solar System Trail or the rose garden between the Zoo and the museum.
Free
See it in the guide→
#5East of downtown, 600 S. Walnut St.
MK Nature Center
Little kids love peering through the underwater windows at the fish. The paths are open dawn to dusk.
See it in the guide→
Nap breaks built in
One day or two in Boise
A couple of big stops, a real lunch and a nap in the middle. Tap a stop for the full listing.
If you have one day
MORNINGDiscovery Center of IdahoGo at opening · Downtown, 131 W. Myrtle St. · $18 kids, $27 adults
LUNCHBoise Fry CompanyFries front and center · Boise, Meridian, Nampa and CaldwellNAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPZoo BoiseJulia Davis Park · Julia Davis ParkIf you have two days
Day 1 is the one-day plan above. Day 2:
MORNINGWorld Center for Birds of PreyTuesday to Sunday · South Boise, off Cole Road · $9 kids, $14 adultsLUNCHFlying Pie PizzariaBuild your own pie · Several Boise-area locationsNAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPMK Nature CenterUnderwater windows · East of downtown, 600 S. Walnut St.Where to stay
Kid-friendly areas near the big attractions
Pick the area by the stops you’ll make most, then plan around nap.
BEST FOR FIRST-TIMERSDowntownWalk to the Discovery Center, the library and Julia Davis Park.Near Discovery Center of Idaho, Julia Davis Park, Zoo Boise and Idaho State Museum
FOR NATUREEast EndNear the Botanical Garden and the MK Nature Center.Near Idaho Botanical Garden and MK Nature Center
FOR EASY PARKINGWest BoiseClose to The WaterShed, with a straight drive into downtown.Near The WaterShed
Eat
Easy restaurants near the big stops
Kids’ menus, quick service and a short drive from the attractions. Prices come from each restaurant’s own menu.
Plan B
Rainy-day backup plan
If the forecast turns, swap the outdoor stop for one of these. More options: indoor play places in Boise.
Downtown, 131 W. Myrtle St.Discovery Center of IdahoHands-on science downtown.Kids $18Adults $27Under 2 freeIndoorJulia Davis ParkIdaho State MuseumIndoor exhibits in Julia Davis Park.Kids $5Adults $10Ages 5 and under freeIndoorWest Boise, 6411 N. Ancell Ave.The WaterShedMore than 25 indoor exhibits.Indoor
715 S. Capitol Blvd.Downtown LibraryA free indoor stop.FreeIndoorBefore you go
Practical tips
Parking, strollers, changing tables and the best times to go.
Parking
Discovery Center of Idaho: Free in the lot right next to the building, with street parking nearby.
Zoo Boise: Park lots have a two-hour limit. If you’ll stay longer, get an extended visitor pass when you buy your ticket.
World Center for Birds of Prey: The lot is at the top of Flying Hawk Lane, off South Cole Road.
Zoo Boise: Park lots have a two-hour limit. If you’ll stay longer, get an extended visitor pass when you buy your ticket.
World Center for Birds of Prey: The lot is at the top of Flying Hawk Lane, off South Cole Road.
Pair the Zoo and the museum
Zoo Boise and the Idaho State Museum are both in Julia Davis Park.
Watch the two-hour limit
Julia Davis Park lots are two hours unless you get an extended pass with your ticket.
Visiting in November or December?
Santa and Christmas lights in Boise
If your trip lands in the holiday season, these two pages have the dates, prices and booking links.
On a budget
Free and cheap wins for visitors
Spend less without skipping the good stuff.
This week
Happening while you’re here
This week’s top events in Boise. The full list, with hours and the forecast, is on the this-week page.
#1Sat 10am–1pm
Great Pumpkin Giveaway at the Children’s Museum of Idaho
Hunt the museum for a hidden pumpkin: every child 12 and under gets one with paid admission, until they’re all claimed.
Included with admission: $13 ages 2–64Indoor
Hours, food & parking→
#2Daily 9am–5pm
Scarecrow Stroll at Idaho Botanical Garden
Community-built scarecrows along the garden paths through Nov. 2. Last admission at 4; park at the Table Rock Trailhead while the lot is closed.
$15 adults
Hours, food & parking→
#3Mon–Thu 4–9pm; Fri–Sun 9am–9pm
Pumpkin Palooza in Meridian
An in-town pumpkin patch with a petting zoo, hay maze, corn pit, pumpkin pillow and inflatables. Rides and games use tickets ($1.50 each, or a $20 Fun Zone pass); sign the waiver before you go.
$5 entry
Hours, food & parking→
#4Mon–Thu 4–9pm; Fri–Sat 10am–9pm
Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch at Lowe Family Farmstead
Idaho’s original corn maze, plus hayrides, jumping pillows, pig races, farm animals and the pumpkin patch. Closed Sundays.
$12 Tue
Hours, food & parking→
#5Sat 11am–1pm
Harvest Festival (Library! at Cole & Ustick)
A fall celebration with crafts, outdoor games, drinks and snacks for all ages.
Free
Hours, food & parking→
Good questions
Visiting Boise with toddlers: the FAQ
Is Boise kid-friendly?
For a family with kids under 6, yes. Our Boise guide lists 13 places we checked for little kids, plus 3 free places and 4 picks for babies and toddlers. This page adds 2 easy restaurants near the big stops and free storytimes at 2 library systems. This week’s list has 29 dated outings for ages 0–6. See free things to do in Boise and this weekend’s list.
Where should we stay in Boise with little kids?
Downtown. The Discovery Center, Julia Davis Park, the Zoo and the State Museum are all close.
How many days do you need in Boise with a toddler?
Two days: downtown and Julia Davis Park on one, and the Birds of Prey center and the MK Nature Center on the other.
Where can we park in Julia Davis Park?
The park lots have a two-hour limit. Get an extended pass when you buy Zoo or museum tickets if you’ll stay longer.
More Littles Weekly
Other cities
Indy LittlesThings to do with little ones in Indianapolis
LiveColumbus LittlesThings to do with little ones in Columbus
LiveCincy LittlesThings to do with little ones in Cincinnati
LiveLouisville LittlesThings to do with little ones in Louisville
LiveKC LittlesThings to do with little ones in Kansas City
LiveCharlotte LittlesThings to do with little ones in Charlotte
LiveRaleigh LittlesThings to do with little ones in Raleigh
LiveNashville LittlesThings to do with little ones in Nashville
LiveTwin Cities LittlesThings to do with little ones in Minneapolis–St. Paul
LiveSTL LittlesThings to do with little ones in St. Louis
LiveGR LittlesThings to do with little ones in Grand Rapids
LiveMilwaukee LittlesThings to do with little ones in Milwaukee
LivePittsburgh LittlesThings to do with little ones in Pittsburgh
LiveCleveland LittlesThings to do with little ones in Cleveland
LiveDetroit LittlesThings to do with little ones in Detroit
LiveOmaha LittlesThings to do with little ones in Omaha
LiveDes Moines LittlesThings to do with little ones in Des Moines
LiveRVA LittlesThings to do with little ones in Richmond
LiveGreenville LittlesThings to do with little ones in Greenville
LiveKnoxville LittlesThings to do with little ones in Knoxville
LiveOKC LittlesThings to do with little ones in Oklahoma City
LiveLexington LittlesThings to do with little ones in Lexington
LiveDayton LittlesThings to do with little ones in Dayton
LiveChattanooga LittlesThings to do with little ones in Chattanooga
LiveBirmingham LittlesThings to do with little ones in Birmingham
LiveTulsa LittlesThings to do with little ones in Tulsa
LiveMadison LittlesThings to do with little ones in Madison
LiveBuffalo LittlesThings to do with little ones in Buffalo
LiveSLC LittlesThings to do with little ones in Salt Lake City
LiveSan Antonio LittlesThings to do with little ones in San Antonio
LiveNOLA LittlesThings to do with little ones in New Orleans
LiveMemphis LittlesThings to do with little ones in Memphis
LiveBaton Rouge LittlesThings to do with little ones in Baton Rouge
LiveLittle Rock LittlesThings to do with little ones in Little Rock
LiveHuntsville LittlesThings to do with little ones in Huntsville
LiveCharleston LittlesThings to do with little ones in Charleston
LiveJax LittlesThings to do with little ones in Jacksonville
LiveOrlando LittlesThings to do with little ones in Orlando
LiveTampa LittlesThings to do with little ones in Tampa
LiveCOS LittlesThings to do with little ones in Colorado Springs
LiveWichita LittlesThings to do with little ones in Wichita
LiveFort Wayne LittlesThings to do with little ones in Fort Wayne
LiveRochester LittlesThings to do with little ones in Rochester
LiveSpokane LittlesThings to do with little ones in Spokane
LiveSavannah LittlesThings to do with little ones in Savannah
LiveAustin LittlesThings to do with little ones in Austin
LiveABQ LittlesThings to do with little ones in Albuquerque
LiveTucson LittlesThings to do with little ones in Tucson
LiveColumbia LittlesThings to do with little ones in Columbia
LiveToledo LittlesThings to do with little ones in Toledo
LiveAll citiesThe Littles Weekly home page
Your weekend, planned by Friday.
One short email every Friday morning: the five things worth leaving the house for in Boise, plus what to skip.