Welcome to Boise, where the holiday season transforms the City of Trees into a winter wonderland! Whether you’re here to visit family, catch up with friends, or simply explore a new destination, Boise has something magical to offer everyone.
From cozy local eateries serving festive flavors to sparkling light displays and unique holiday shopping experiences, our city is full of charm and cheer this time of year. This guide will help you discover the best places to eat, drink, shop, stay, and play during your holiday visit to Boise.
Where to Eat and Drink:
–Wylder, Certified, Roosevelt Market, and Wyld Child (all sister restaurants) are without a doubt my top recommendations!
–Tavolata
–Lemon Tree
–In N Out
–Lulu’s Pizza and Sushi
–Bluffside Provisions + Butchery
–Blue Cow Frozen Yogurt
-“Coffee snob” approved coffee shops: Common Ground, Push + Pour, Form + Function, Broadcast, Slow by Slow
-Holiday cocktails: Press + Pony, Water Bear Bar and Gatsby’s Mistletoe Magic (if you can get a reservation)
What to See and Do:
–Downtown: Just wander the streets and admire the window decor and lights, grab a bite to eat or something cozy to drink, or shop til you drop and find something for everyone on your list! Check out “Holidays on the Grove” to see if there’s a fun event going on!
–Morrison Center: There are SO many great performances happening! Check the calendar and see if you can get tickets!
–Discovery Center of Idaho: Each exhibit is amazing and the STEM learning stations in the back keep kids (and adults) sucked in for hours!
-Visit Edwards Greenhouse “Holiday Shop”
-Blow off some energy at indoor playgrounds Leap Years, Planet Kid, Wahooz, Jabbers, or go climbing at Asana or spend a few hours at a trampoline park
–Take a hike!
-Walk on the Greenbelt or grab a coffee and walk to a park
Festive Fun:
–St. Alphonsus Festival of Trees – Click here to read about going with kids.
–Christmas in Color – use code boisewithkids15 for a discount
–Indian Creek Plaza‘s Winter Wonderland
–The Village at Meridian
–Winter Garden aGlow at the Idaho Botanical Garden
–TRICA Snow Globe
–Shindig Farms Lost in Christmas
–Scentsy Commons
–Boise Christmas Lights Map
-Go see Jolly Old St. Nick! Click here for a roundup of spots!
Where to Last Minute Gift Shop:
–Re-POP Gifts + Toy POP
–Rediscovered Books
–Baby Blues + Pink
–aTavola’s Secret Christmas Shop
-Hyde Park
-The Village
-Downtown Meridian
-Downtown Eagle
Where to Stay:
–The Riverside: We love the outdoor AND indoor pool options and awesome breakfast spread!
–The Sparrow: The CUTEST Idaho themed rooms in the heart of downtown!
–Home2Suites: My kids still ask to go back even though we only stayed once years ago!
Boise truly comes alive during the holiday season, offering endless opportunities to create magical memories with your loved ones. There’s no shortage of holiday cheer to go around! We hope this guide helps you make the most of your time in the City of Trees.
Have a favorite spot or festive tradition we didn’t mention? Let us know in the comments — we’d love to add even more holiday magic to this list! Happy holidays, Boise!