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BoiseBoise is nestled on a high desert plain in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, and visitors will be hard-pressed to forget its proximity to the glories of Mother Nature. The Boise River flows directly through the center of town, enhancing the 25-mile (40km) Greenbelt path system, which connects five major parks throughout Boise, providing runners, walkers, bikers and skaters with endless space for exercise. Boise's location makes it a gateway to the great outdoors. Towering mountains lie to the north, including the Bogus Basin Mountain Resort, just a few minutes' drive from the city.
Also easily accessible are natural sand dunes, hot springs and crystal clear mountain lakes.
Downtown Boise, however, is not without cosmopolitan flair. Shops, galleries, restaurants and clubs radiate from the central Grove Plaza, where free concerts are staged throughout the summer and holiday celebrations, including the lighting of an enormous Christmas tree, take place during the winter. Renovated historic buildings like 8th Street Marketplace and Union Block offer unique shopping and dining experiences. Boise has an active downtown association, which promotes initiatives like First Thursdays, when city businesses stay open late and offer various promotions.
This is the perfect time to sample Boise's Basque cuisine-yes, Basque. In the 1930s, a group of Basques left Europe and settled in Boise, joining the sheep-herding industry, which was quite strong at the time. Today, Boise has the largest concentration of Basques in the world outside the Pyrenees. In Boise's Basque neighborhood, visitors can enjoy the Basque market, the traditional Gernika restaurant and various cultural events.
Getting Around: Boise's Greenbelt path system makes walking, jogging and biking highly enjoyable. ValleyRide bus service is available, as are various taxi companies. For those with rental cars, Boise offers many convenient and inexpensive parking options. On First Thursdays, the Downtown Boise Association operates a free trolley service, complete with an event map for the evening.
KetchumIn 1935, a Union Pacific Railway chairman set out in search of the perfect spot for a grand American resort, modeled after the magnificent ski destinations of Europe. His quest ended just outside the tiny mining community of Ketchum, Idaho, population 100. One year later, Sun Valley, a place to 'rough it in style', was opened to the public. It immediately gained glamorous regulars like Clark Gable, Gary Cooper and Ernest Hemingway, who eventually settled in Ketchum.
Today, the area continues to attract high-profile guests, and it certainly offers its fair share of sophistication and urban chic. But the impression left on visitors is rather different; it is perhaps what keeps them coming back year after year, or even what motivates them to make the area their permanent home. Sun Valley and Ketchum have retained their small-town charm. Residents, whether millionaires or ski bums, are first and foremost lovers of the outdoors. The emphasis here is on attitude rather than appearance. Standing at the edge of the pristine wilderness of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, with the jagged peaks of the Smoky and Pioneer Mountains in the distance, certainly puts pomp into perspective.
And, of course, with Bald Mountain, considered by many to be the single best ski mountain in the country, beckoning, time spent on showiness is slope time wasted. 'Baldy' is equipped with 13 lifts sending skiers up 3,400 vertical feet (1,036m) to a summit altitude of 9,150 feet (2,788m). Known for its incredibly light and fast snow, the mountain boasts varying terrain, from glades and bowls to bumps and groomers.
Getting Around: Downtown Ketchum and the village of Sun Valley exude small-town charm, and walking around is a joy. However, a rental car is not a bad idea, especially for visitors who wish to have the freedom to explore the scenic areas outside town. The Ketchum Area Rapid Transit (KART) also offers free, year-round, fixed-route bus service throughout Ketchum and Sun Valley. The schedule changes according to the season.
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