I would like to start by saying that this was easily, hands-down, the best beer festival I've ever…read morebeen to (and this ain't my first rodeo). For me, personally, it was amazing for a few different reasons. There was the game element (yeah, nobody knew what they were drinking until after 7 p.m.; the event started at 4), the fact that beer is, indeed, a social lubricant (leading to so much good conversation with strangers), great food, music, games, proximity to 10 Barrel and some of the best beer-appreciating folks in Boise. To begin with, the tastings were divided into four (or was it five?) states, but were only identified as "State 1," "State 2," etc. Each tap was assigned a number, so you had a lot of folks running around and asking each other, "Did you like 19?" "No, but 17 was incredible!" At first glance, I thought this was a lame gimmick. Boy, oh, boy, I couldn't have been more wrong. It kept us interested and forced us to really taste each beer thoughtfully. Not to brag, but wifey and I guessed #1 (Ballast Point's Grapefruit Sculpin), which meant we knew State 1 was California. We also totally called the fact that State 3 was Oregon, with its piney, citrusy, almost juicy hops. This was an IPA-lover's dream-come-true. It was so epic and beautiful, and I'm really just talking about the beer itself. Next, the company we found ourselves in was seriously epic. As we entered, a gentleman (purveyor of Sandpoint's own Pour Authority) approached me and asked if I was from Portland, since he saw my Rogue t-shirt with the silhouette of OR state on it. This led to a lively conversation about beer across the PAC NW and an invitation to sample at his establishment. I really appreciated how he continued to check in with us, provide recommendations and feedback, and generally share in the friendly company of he and his wife. We also met Nick, a beer enthusiast who'd already been to the Oktoberfest that day (it was a little lame, apparently) and who spoke to us about the tribulations of being a seriously-beer-loving parent and also Star Wars films, new and old. My wife and I, who met at Whittier College, met a gentleman who attended during two of the years we were actually there. I met a fellow Caldwell School District employee that I'd never met before, and in that way got to "network" a little bit (nice to meet you, Ms. K). I cannot overemphasize how friendly and genuine these people were. Of course, there were the obligatory "grown ass" adults (yes, men and women) who were fine with cutting in line. Remember fourth grade, guys? "No cuts, no butts, no coconuts." However, you have these people at any beer festival and I'm sure they're already aware that there is a special circle in hell for people who cut in line. Overall, it was an outstanding experience and the single best-organized event I've ever attended in the state of Idaho, which includes the gigantic Barley Bros. beer fests that used to take place at Anne Morrison and Kleiner Park. The food looked great (sorry, we'd eaten beforehand, but there were finger steaks, pulled pork sammies and pizza by the slice); the staff was incredibly friendly, helpful and funny; the event was just seriously well-coordinated. The beer was amazing; we didn't dislike a single thing we tried and pretty much loved most of the brews. Maybe the most underrated part of this event was the cost: $5 for a glass (not the crappy, plastic ones we've received at other festivals, but a legit tulip glass with the odd Beer Wars guy logo) and $1 per 4 oz. taste! That equates to a $4 pint, a good deal anywhere for craft deliciousness, and you don't have to drink like a fiend. My wife and I actually split all of our tastes, so we could try everything and still make it home. I wish this was a regular event, so I could say, "Check it out!" I can only hope this happens again next year, but at that time, I won't be recommending you go (more beer and open space for me). Ten Barrel, I salute you and your crafty ways.

Treefort is a music festival, but it's so much MORE than just music. At first glance, you may think…read morethat it's just a bunch of music lovers hanging out in a park, listening to up-and-coming bands as well as a few better known groups. But then you start to hear about all the "forts" around town that draw in other interests. Yoga fort. Alefort. Comedyfort. Hackerfort. And some of those don't require a wristband at all-they are free and open to the public. If you're here to listen to the music, you definitely need the wristband-that's what gets you access to the park with the stages. However, since some of the ancillary activities are pubic, do a little research ahead and find out which events you can attend for free and which require a pass. I found myself spending the majority of time at Hackerfort (public) and the Yogafort (pass required). You can buy passes to individual forts, but the a la cart option will add up if you do several of those. Many of the local businesses partner with Treefort and host smaller events or performers-I love that! It gives me a chance to get outside the park and see what Boise really has to offer. And there's lots. The branding for Treefort is very hipster/creative and is all over town. I love that there's something for everyone here-whether you're a die hard music fan, a yoga enthusiast or LGBTQ+ you'll find something of interest at Treefort. I just wish the weather would have cooperated this year. Perhaps in years past, it was not so bad-but 2023 was COLD.

A music festival is more than the music acts performing. It's really a little community that forms…read morefor a few days, each with a unique culture. Treefort is a surprisingly friendly and eclectic sea of lumberjack hipsters, Patagonia jacketed folk, and rainbow glittered festiv-elles mixing to make a super unusual festival that somehow really works? The ratio of gorgeous drag queens to long bearded and plaid flannel sporting crowd is low, but bizarrely delightful. I really noticed how kind this festival's culture was! The music was really all over the spectrum. Really enjoyed Liz Phair, one of the headliners. However, it was a joy to listen to a lot of the smaller names before attending to try to schedule which I wanted to hear. My absolute favorite discovery was the hilarious punk/pop Caroline Rose. She and her band seemed to draw a bigger crowd then even the headliners... IN THE RAIN! I think there were about 500 bands/DJ's performing this year. The Main Stage had the headliners and big hitters, including some stand up comics. This area requires a wristband to enter, while most of them do (except Kidsfort). A lot of the performances are in bars, outdoor smaller stages, and other community buildings scattered downtown. Across from the Main Stage, there is a great Kidsfort area on Saturday and Sunday that has all sorts of fun stuff for small tots all the way up to preteens. Crafts, free snacks, cardboard box fort cities being built lovingly by little guys. Even tot friendly bands. A block up from that, there is the Alefort. Most everyone has an aluminum mug carabiner clipped to theirselves. This is required in the Alefort Tent, and you buy tokens for $3.50 a piece to use at the 20+ beer/cider vendors. There are beer/cider vendors in the Main Stage area too. This festival is extremely vegan friendly. I'd say probably 70% of the food trucks had vegan options. Also, lots of friendly pups out and about in the streets between the different forts. Spring in Boise means wearing layers. There was a fair amount of rain, but the Main Stage had lots of cover for anyone bothered by it. Wear some really comfy shoes too, because you are going to put in miles trekking between one stage to the next over the course of the day through the evening. For serious music fans, you may be slightly overwhelmed to try to schedule all the artists you want to catch. Luckily the Treefort App makes this easy, and bonus for it letting you share your plans with all your friends. Tip: For any artist you have on your schedule that will be performing in a bar, be sure to get there at least an hour to 90 minutes early to get yourself in the door. We saw many long lines of people just trying to get into the doors of these bars. Lastly, there is amazing community support for this festival in Boise. You will see signs up in businesses and window art left and right downtown. A great community event with tons of sponsorship. Can't wait to attend again!

You get what you pay for - baseball experience in Boise. Good people watching and a fun outing with…read morefriends or for a sports-loving couple for date night. General admission is CHEAP, but the seats are in the sun the majority of the game. And are bleacher seats. Walk around the entire stadium to check out all of the food options. Seems to be something slightly different at each place. Some of the concession workers were nice, others were not. Ushers in the stands were great!

My wife and I have only been in the Treasure Valley for a little over a year. Our neighbor and…read morefriend invited us to a Hawk game and now we've been to two with them. PROS: It's a small, I believe 3500 seat stadium, so you're up close and personal to the players and game. Only seats down first and third, and behind the plate. Concessions are nice, with places to get food, apparel, and beer. I'm partial to IPA beer, so I go to the artificial grassy area near right field, where the bartenders always seem nice. Prices are reasonable. The seats are reasonably comfortable. Tickets are very affordable. Family oriented, and we've seen little league teams and young folks having a good time. Parking is free. CONS: The parking lot is not paved or marked. I highly advise you to park far enough away from the park so as not to have your car damaged by a foul ball. Pavement inside the park is uneven. Restrooms are not nice or particularly clean. In summary, I've enjoyed my time at Memorial Stadium for the two Hawk games I've attended.

Kiddo's to the Meridian Speedway security staff for keeping the Family Friendly section- Family…read moreFriendly! We had a really wonderful 1st time brining grandchildren to these exciting events! It brought back a lot of memories from my own childhood!!

What a fun and thrilling experience. This was my first time here and I had so much fun watching the…read moreraces. I enjoyed the indoor bar and loves the different seating options. I felt very safe with law-enforcement there and look forward to attending more events.

The Culinary Walkabout is a veritable celebration of food…read more It's casual, creative, and most of all delectable. And, hey, proceeds go benefit area seniors who rely on Meals on Wheels for their daily nutrition--I am always and forever a fan of eating amazing food while supporting a cause! This year, there were over 20 chefs in attendance showing off some of their best cuisine. Some of my favorites were The Brick Yard's melt-in-your-mouth steak, Bacon's (you guessed it) bacon sampler, Big Daddy's BBQ brisket, Brown Shuga's jambalaya, and Zee's Rooftop Cafe's Korean chicken. Kona Grill was there with California rolls and some savory baked chicken, Highlands Hollow brought a flavorful smothered polenta, Sa-Wa-Dee Thai Restaurant served a flavorfully sweet dressed green salad with chicken, and Ruth's Chris served up sliders. Heck, even the Boise Co-op was on hand to serve up some of their flavorful beet tabouli. Lilly Jane's brought out some amazing mini-cupcakes to sample for dessert. And, Goody's was on hand to provide little ice cream sundaes (coconut ice cream topped with hot fudge, almonds, and a cherry? Yes, please!). And, as if that weren't enough--there was an amazing silent auction with amazing baskets from businesses all over town (standout was a chocolate-centric basket featuring deliciousness from local chocolatier, The Chocolate Bar). There's a jazz band that plays (albeit, in the entry, not in the actual walkabout space) throughout the evening and this year Funbox was on hand with a fun photo booth! Pro tip: Wear comfortable shoes. You're going to want to walk around. Pro tip #2: Get plenty of physical activity that day, in order to ensure guilt free feasting! And, finally--get to it! (next year...it only comes around once a year)

This was a great event. We really enjoyed the venue. It was very hot and the availability of food…read moreand beverages was excellent. An unexpected event was the visit by BOISE STATE BRONCOS Shea McClellin (Chicago) and Doug Martin (Tampa Bay). This was a chance to see our own BSU players mingle with their fans. The car show was really great. I loved the Blue Chevelle!!!!

I went and camped at the racetrack and it was very easy to find a spot there. the actual racing was…read moreawesome from peoples own cars to junior dragsters. also I didn't expect this at all but they had the best biscuits and gravy I've ever had. all in all one of the funnest experiences I've had.

Always a great time, great racing, good prices and nice staff. The Treasure Valley is lucky to have…read moreFirebird Raceway!

Located on Lucky Peak, the dicey drive up on pretty treacherous road was so worth it when we got to…read morethe top to observe and talk with the BSU students as they caught and tagged small migratory birds and raptors for this non profit, school of graduate studies effort. This area has one of the largest fall raptor migrations in the West and the students do raptor catch, banding and release. They also do net catch, banding and release of songbirds. And the same at night for owls. It is remarkable to have the opportunity to observe all this. Fitting for Review 1000. OPEN: To the public roughly mid July through end October. GETTING THERE: The trickiest part. Be sure to look at directions page on the web site. Your GPS won't get the job done for you. http://ibo.boisestate.edu/visit/#directions DICEY DRIVE: The road was repaired some last fall. Our visit was before those repairs were made. It was a treacherous drive along deep ruts in some parts. One of the guys in the car is the most expert driver I know and even he was concerned. Hopefully the repairs have helped. But plan on a four wheel drive vehicle and slow going! I understand the program offers rides at some times to a few people. Contact them for details. No H2O or LOO: There is no water. You'll need to bring your own. You'll also want to know that there is no Loo but for one pit toilet downhill of the site. IT'S COLDER AT ELEVATION: Lucky Peak elevation is high and you'll want to hang out for a while (be sure to stay for the raptor catch and release) so a jacket is a good idea. MORE OR FEWER PEOPLE: The four adults in our party thought a September Sunday early morning would be a good time to go to avoid crowds. HA! There was a grade school group with parents and teacher in tow that had camped there overnight (a brave lot, remember no water or bathrooms in the mix) and so there were a lot of people present to enjoy the setting, the birds and the grad students as they answered eager questions. If you want to plan a daytime field trip for a group or an overnight stay, you'll need to use the contact info on this Yelp page or at their web page to schedule with them. DATA COLLECTION: While we might advise a weekday excursion when the kids are in school if you're looking for connecting with the quiet Zen of the location, the kids were part of the fun as they were eager to hold and release the birds after the grad students took the ones they caught to weigh them, tag them and record them in the paper record keeping book. That was fun in itself, in this day of automated everything, to see scientists like these grad students keeping uber-detailed paper records. They use the data to identify migration routes, wintering areas, breeding areas, and mortality factors. HANDS-ON: I took the opportunity to release some of the smaller songbirds from my palm when offered the chance to do that. I passed on the chance to hold and release a raptor given absence of raptor gloves to wear to handle him or her. (Those talons are sharp!) But my friend was brave enough to do this and she described the experience of releasing that magnificent bird truly awe inspiring. ACCESSIBILITY: This location is more accessible to people with limited mobility than one might expect it to be. The surfaces at the site are relatively hard packed and the slopes between accessible entry parking and the bird activity site are doable with help. I have MS so had first hand experience with using same. I think wheelchair users might find it doable too. However, the Loo is not accessible. The raptor catch and release site was not walkable for me up a steep slope. They suggested I drive up, although vehicles are not typically allowed at the raptor ridge, to be able to participate like everyone else. Lovely! PARKING: Parking is outside a locked gate near the Loo. Park there and walk up. For people needing accessible parking or for those in pre-approved overnight groups, contact them in advance and they'll tell you the protocol to have the gate unlocked so you can drive up and park closer.