Tell me about Boise, ID

[jorian]

I have a place in N ID. I spend a couple of weeks there in the summer and love it. My place is on Lake Pend O'Reille, one of the prettiest lakes I've ever been on. Usually go in August, sometimes as early as the first week of July. Aside from the obvious attraction of the lake, there is a lot to do if you like the outdoors.

Sandpoint to the north is a great little town that is a little oasis of culture surrounded by a more redneck vibe. Great restaurants and micro-brews along with some galleries and antique places. Just outside of town is Schweitzer ski resort. Skiing a is good from what I hear and it has a great mountain biking/hiking scene in the summer. I never really venture further south than Hayden (20 mins) because the traffic can be brutal.

Spokane is about an hour and 15 minutes away and has some beautiful areas as well. My neighbour on the lake is a Dr in Spokane who commutes from the lake place to his office in the summer.

At the risk of sounding elitist, I haven't made too many North Idaho friends. A bit too much right wing flag waving for my tastes. It's a pretty homogenous community that welcomes opinions as long as they are the "right" ones. We usually bring friends along and keep to ourselves. The locals I do know are generous, kind and hardworking types. Values in the area have fluctuated wildly from the time I bought 16 years ago and I don't count on making a profit or even coming out flat on my investment there. It's always difficult to get there (8 hour drive) but I am always sorry to pack up and go home. The economy is depressed so it would be cheap to build

As others have said, it would be a good idea to try before you buy and keep a shack somewhere where the sun shines in the winter.

[Crowbob]

Grate budaydas!

[Tom '74 911]

I live in Hailey, Idaho (Sun Valley Area) and love it. If I had to move to "a Big City", Boise would be near the top of my list for sure... Happy to answer any questions & as someone mentioned in an earlier post, I think I remember another recent thread about Boise too...

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by Crowbob

Grate budaydas!

Famous Potatoes.

[Superman]

In the winter: single-digit "minus" temperatures. Summer: triple digit temps with humidity.

One year, around 1985, a temperature inversion settled in just before Thanksgiving. It kept temperatures VERY low and prevented all that wood smoke from dispersing. People had to drive slowly, with their headlights on, every hour of the daytime. My sinuses did NOT like that. The inversion did not lift and finally, in January, I threw in the towel and moved away. I will never live there again.

[Superman]

Originally Posted by jorian

I have a place in N ID.

I would live in N ID. I may retire there. Completely different animal from Boise. Mountains. Trees. Water. Boise: Reclaimed desert.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Superman

I would live in N ID. I may retire there. Completely different animal from Boise. Mountains. Trees. Water. Boise: Reclaimed desert.

Jim, shoot me a PM. I'll be in Washington for two weeks in early December.

[atcjorg]

Hugh just a couple of things to think about. As we get older our need for quality health care goes up(as does our need for timely access), being snow bound while having a significant event could be very dangerous.

[Charles Freeborn]

Originally Posted by aigel

Reading about Applebees, Sizzler and having a Ruth Chris as the attraction, that's all I need to know.

We think of ourselves as conservatives here in CA - but whenever I go to one of those states, I am an instant liberal. The worst for me is the inability to find a good restaurant and the fact that everyone asks "where are you from" in a way that has "you don't belong around here, do you?" undertone ...

Not sure if you are religious. It isn't a requirement, but sure helps.

G

This ∆∆ I have a customer in Hagerman ID, a bit down the river from Boise, so I've driven through. I'm a CA transplant too and can say that in the PNW Portland and Seattle are the most diverse towns, but not cheap. Boise is much less so. The landscape is flat and dry, except along the Snake River which is beautiful. Once you're outside the town it's very cowboy oriented with real cowboys - not the urban variety. Hunting and fishing are quite popular too. From Boise the drive up into the Cascades is not bad at all, and proximity to other attractions (Pendleton, Sun Valley, etc.) is an easy drive. There is a growing micro brew and food scene, so if you look, it's there.

Oh, and I've been told that Evel Knevel's ramps to jump the river are still there in Twin Falls. He's not real popular with the locals, even after all this time. I guess he really screwed them with that whole escapade.

[LakeCleElum]

Hugh, if you move there, whatever you do, DON'T ever tell the Locals you are from California.....You will be doomed forever......

Anymore; Napa, Caldwell, Meridian and Boise are all just one big town connected by freeway, malls and car dealerships........Kinda like California ......

[fintstone]

Been a while since I visited Boise, but it seemed pretty nice to me. People were nice. Reminded me of Denver back before all the liberal CA folks came and it got so big. The temperature was a bit cool for me as I was coming from Texas at the time.

[Rinty]

Originally Posted by jorian

I have a place...on Lake Pend O'Reille, one of the prettiest lakes I've ever been on....Values in the area have fluctuated wildly from the time I bought 16 years ago and I don't count on making a profit or even coming out flat on my investment there....

We usually ride down Highway 97 on the east side of the Lake, on our annual trip in September. It is very pretty in there, with beautiful homes, but I have noticed many for sale signs.

[Hugh R]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

Hugh, if you move there, whatever you do, DON'T ever tell the Locals you are from California.....You will be doomed forever......

So telling them that I work in Hollywood isn't going to impress them?

[motion]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

So telling them that I work in Hollywood isn't going to impress them?

Reminds me of the time I was in Albuquerque and decided to take a flying lesson there. I mentioned to the instructor that I was taking lessons at John Wayne airport. The guy was a full on dick for the next 2 hours. Even made me slobber all over the splattered bug covered stall warning on the wing, LOL.

I 2nd Idaho Falls. Boise... no thanks.

[Hugh R]

But, but, I'm here to bring money into the local economy (I mean drive housing prices up).

I'm here to enjoy your freedoms from excess taxation (I mean I'm a liberal and think you need to raise taxes to provide the social services that "I" think you need.)

I'm here to get away from excessive government regulation (You mean you actually allow people here to carry guns?????)

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

So telling them that I work in Hollywood isn't going to impress them?

Just tell them Mickey is your buddy.

[craigster59]

And remember to always wear socks with your sandals.

[Hugh R]

Craig, I saw you walking between Stage 5 and the Producer's Bldg at 9:00 AM yesterday as we were just pulling out in the Tech Scout Bus for "Blackish".

Let's do the Tallyrand for lunch soon!

[craigster59]

Yeah I was over at Code Black yesterday. The lot was busy! I'll get a hold of you for lunch.

[72doug2,2S]

While not as high as Denver, your skin will age quicker due to high dry air desert like climate. My classmates from highschool are only in their mid 40s, but the ones who didn't religiously use sunblock and moisturizer look like they're in their seventies.

Your wife might not like what it does to her skin.

Two words for you, snowbirds...oh shoot, that's one word.

Anyway, as I get older, I can't take the cold weather. I love swfl.