Boise’s riverside urban location set near the Foothills provides pleasurable end-of-summer family fun. Add the following to your family’s to-do-list before heading back to school this autumn.

1.    Bob on the Boise River

Rent a tube or raft and cool off in the Boise River. Pick up your rental at Barber Park, the launching spot for your adventure. Exit six miles downstream at Ann Morrison Park. Park your vehicle at either park or catch a ride on the frequent shuttle buses. Try the mornings and early afternoons for a quieter experience or late afternoon and early evenings for the hotter part of the day. Receive a 20 percent discount on rentals on Tuesdays.  

2.    Get Out of the Heat at Idaho Ice World 

In addition to indoor skating, visitors can glide on the ice in colorful bumper cars on Mondays from 10am to 1pm through the end of August. The large inflatable bumper cars soften the contact as riders slip and slide across the ice rink.

3.    Go Wild at Zoo Boise in Julia Davis Park

Interesting and educational, the zoo serves as home for more than 200 animals. New exhibits opened this spring and summer. From 10:15–11am daily, feed giraffes Julius and Joseph their special biscuits (the cost is $3 per person). At the Wallaby Walkabout, get a close view of the wallabies, small marsupials related to kangaroos.

4.    Eat and Walk at a City Park

Combine a picnic on the green grass at the 200-acre Veterans Memorial Park with a stroll on trails south of the park, located between Boise Cascade Lake, the canals off the Boise River, and the Boise Greenbelt. The tree-shaded trails along the small lake offer pleasant relief from the summer heat.

5.    Tour Boise with Great Explorations

Kick back in comfort as knowledgeable local guide Mario Delisio describes the highlights of Boise and the Treasure Valley. Join Mario in his vehicle with seats for three riders, or bring your own vehicle and listen to his narrative via radio contact. Table Rock, Old China Town, the Oregon Trail, and the Boise Depot are but a few of the areas visited during the four- to five-hour tour.  

6.    Re-hydrate at Roaring Springs Waterpark

Maximize summer fun with sun and refreshing water rides. Ride the water flumes, surf float tubes in the wave pool, and raft artificial rivers at this large aquatic park. Rent a luxury cabana for the day with food wait staff, chaise lounges, and free Wi-Fi.

Natalie Bartley is a Boise-based author of the newly released Best Easy Day Hikes Boise guidebook and the Best Rail Trails Pacific Northwest guidebook, available at outdoor retail shops and bookstores.