Boise is Feeling Grateful

Why You Should Visit Boise in November

Boise State football game on the blue turf — Boise State football vs OSU, photo Patrick Sweeney

Fall is when the meaning behind Boise’s name really shines. The name Boise comes from the French word bois, meaning “wood.”

If you’re headed to Boise to visit family and friends for Thanksgiving or just want a weekend getaway, there’s no shortage of activities and foods to enjoy while you’re here. Some ideas to start your adventures:

Gather for a family feast – An array of restaurants and caterers offer locally-sourced Thanksgiving meals, from greenhouse farm-to-table experiences to elegant restaurant settings, like Chandler’s prix fixe dinner. All the traditional dishes, including slow roasted turkey, butternut squash soup and bourbon pecan pie plus modern favorites, like veal picatta and cauliflower steak are on the menu.
Experience an Idaho Winery – From winemaker dinners to barrel tastings, visit a local winery to discover new wines or enjoy old favorites. Take, for example, Telaya Wine Co.’s beautiful tasting room after hours (Nov. 8-9) where the winemaker and chef share their knowledge of food and wine pairings and offer pours and bites from Kismet Kitchen. Check out individual winery websites or the Idaho Wine Commission’s events calendar for additional ideas.
Start the day at the Thanksgiving Turkey Trot – Burn some calories before your Thanksgiving feast for a friendly race through downtown Boise. The event starts at 9 a.m. in front of City Hall and the Idaho State Capitol building on the corner of Idaho and Capitol Streets.
Cheer on the home team with Boise State Football – Bundle up and head to Albertsons Stadium to catch some football action on BSU’s famed blue turf. The Broncos meet western rivals BYU on Nov. 5 and Utah State University on Nov. 25.

Winter Garden aGlow Opens Thanksgiving Day

Kick off your Christmas festivities at the Idaho Botanical Garden as Winter Garden aGlow celebrates its 26th year of holiday cheer. Stroll through the twinkling wonderland to the backdrop of festive music and experience over 600,000 lights and decorations hung artfully throughout the Garden’s landscape.

Guests can enjoy free snacks and warm drinks from local vendors and warm up by fire pits placed along the paths. Visitors can write a letter to Santa, visit the stocking stuffer station, catch a glimpse of Santa and his living room, and even send the big guy a postcard!

Winter Garden aGlow opens Thanksgiving Day, Nov 24th, and runs Wednesday – Sunday through December 31. Like last year, this event will use timed ticketing. One-hour timed ticketing blocks are available every thirty minutes. Tickets must be purchased in advance.