Who goes to Boise, Idaho and run a marathon (or half marathon)? Apparently I did that, along with…read moreseveral hundred people. I never learn, do i? My 50 states marathon journey - 2nd round & my goal of running 100 marathons/ultras before age 40 (currently 38) has brought me to Idaho and the city of Boise. Home of the Boise State university broncos, which is a nemesis for my University of Hawaii Warriors, so I just needed to remind myself I just was there for the marathon and get out lol. With that said, the City of Trees marathon and half marathon is one of Idaho's premiere racing events. They do attract a smaller crowd though, but if you like smaller crowds and a (mostly) lush course through the city's green belt park system, then this race is for you. I myself all right three days before race morning, just to get myself acclimated and enjoy the beginning of a three week long vacation on the mainland. For the most part though, I can say that the City of Trees marathon is a well run event, even though it can seem very minimal when you are clicking off the miles. The overall experience here at the City of Trees marathon in Boise, Idaho is good, fun, and transformative. This was my 96th marathon/ultra and grateful to have put this one first in my itinerary. The nicest end to the race seconds after crossing the finish line was that the race announcer said, over the PA system, was that I was a 50 state finisher and knocked off my 96th marathon today. It was nice. Naturally, I acknowledged that and put my right fist in the air. It was a nice feeling to be done with that course. Although the course is a double out and back butterfly loop, I found myself not really having fun- especially at mile 17 when it started to become a grind. But I promised myself that I would have some treats after I finish so I pressed on. The city of trees marathon started and finished a block away from the Springhill suites by Marriott Hotel on Park Center, Drive. Springhill suites was 2017 host hotel. Parking here is very plentiful, as I chose to park about a quarter-mile away and the neighboring residential areas. Like most marathon races out there these days, online registration is usually a must and earlier the better so you can secure the cheapest race fee possible. And with online registration, Credit cards are accepted. If you procrastinate at the last possible second, registration can be done at packet pick up, but you will need to check with them first. Race fees for the marathon can typically be $60 and up. As mentioned before, most of the marathon course runs through the Boise Greenbelt Park system, is basically bike trails and concrete pathways. The scenery was quite nice but usually not as interesting as it should be. Being that it is an out and back course, you get to see the faster people returning. The city of trees marathon is this chip timing, but however, the chip actually is a wearable item that goes on your wrist, versus attached to the race bib or on your shoes. This method of timing is uncommon, but it is used at some places. The mile marker signs were basically on white signs and the only directional markers you need to look at where on the ground with white arrows. Yes, this is a small and intimate race in Boise Idaho. Race day is typically on the first Sunday in October, although they can move it around whenever. For myself, it was enjoyable for the first half, but it became a mental challenge after mile 18, as marathons go. Thankful that I can still do it. Course support was minimal, only the aid stations. Thanks to the wonderful volunteers! If you like a small intimate marathon or half marathon, consider the City of Trees marathon or half marathon in Boise Idaho. It can be a destination race or a state you can make up for your 50 states marathon or half marathon quest. I'd recommend it. Run more! Support local! A+ #Yelpmarathons

I just ran the Sawtooth Relay for the second time, and I think I'm totally and completely hooked on…read moreit! This race is a beautiful combination of camaraderie, competition, fun, and a good challenge. **This race takes place the first or second Saturday of June each year. It begins in Stanley and ends in Ketchum.** There are a few brave souls who run this race all by themselves (61.9 miles), but the majority of participants rally together a group of 6 brave souls to tackle this beast with. The race is split up into twelve legs, and each team member runs 2 of those legs. You get to choose this in advance so each team member can train accordingly. I'm not one for uphill or downhill runs, so I took the long and flat legs that had almost no elevation change (4 and 10). After registering, the Sawtooth Relay will contact you with your teams start time. My group of friends and I went up with two teams (both with similar paces), one of our teams began at 5:45am and the other at 7:45 am. It would have been nice to start closer together so we could have cheered each other's teams on, but the race committee doesn't accommodate those kind of requests. Now, to paint a picture of what race day looks like: You wake up at the crack of dawn (well, our team did), break down your camp-sight (you have to book this separately - you can also stay in an airbnb or hotel, but when in Stanley, why not rough it a little?!), pile all 6 racers into your car with your driver, send your volunteer to their check point (each team must swindle a friend who doesn't want to run into tagging along to serve as a volunteer - no exceptions or way to get around it), get to the start line, and send off your first runner for the first leg of the race! Once they start running, you'll want to drive up the road a little, park on the side and wait for them to pass you so you can cheer them on, make them laugh, and give them all the mojo necessary to keep moving. Our team was extremely encouraging - so we stopped about every mile to get out and cheer - but I think this was the secret sauce that helped our team place in the top 20 #HumbleBrag. You repeat this process over the next twelve legs for the next 7-10 hours, and then end the race at a Park in Sun Valley where you are served a delicious meal, brews, ciders, and dessert. A Few Pro Tips: - It would behoove you to do some elevation training prior to the race. You can do it without, but your lungs will certainly feel it. - Also, recruit a few team members who a) enjoy running downhill and b) love the challenge of a summit run. They come in very handy. - Last, bring oodles and oodles of H2O and snacks with you - you're in your car/are running/have someone running for 8 hours and there is no water at the exchange zones - so you'll need to make sure you are stocked up on the precious commodities!

This is the worst managed race ever . Horribly handled and absolutely mismanaged. There were…read morereasons staff was looking to trouble folks around and management were finding ways to belittle the racers. They delayed our T-shirts for 2-3 hours after we finished the race they couldn't find them it seems when we already had registered at least 2 months back for the race but we finally did get the t-shirts after waiting for 2-3 hours and then if that was not enough after facing this embarrassment they deliberately disqualified us even after we volunteered for more than 4 hours . We requested the staff if we could leave a hour early than the timing which was given earlier in the form from 4-8 pm as we had started volunteering early around 2:30 pm . Because of prior commitments where we had to reach back Boise around 10 pm as we had already volunteered and all the work was completed until 7 pm . Lady Penne understood or maybe pretended to understand then and agreed, she even signed us off but days later and miles away we are notified that they disqualified us from the race saying there was No Volunteer which is up absolutely wrong .If there were issues we should have been told then and there we might have done something about it as no one travels prepares for days and travels for miles to be wanting to disqualified. To top our distress and disappointment when I called the management they said we pressurized the lady and thus she signed us of against the rule..Cmon ? Are you saying that someone could also pester you and bag the winner prize? Is this how you are running the race? Firstly , there was no pressure , I am sure if there was the lady would have raised an alarm instantly. All this is just a proof of absolute mismanagement and misalignment which is costing us our efforts , energy and patience. . Never faced such rudeness or absolute disregard for others time . Don't waste your time with this race . Treating others with respect & a little consideration could go a long way especially when there was so many great people who ran with us . I agree it was enjoyable but only until the finish line and then the series of troubles started.Is there a hint that management is trying to give ? Do you intend to have only selective participation in future? Xenophobia? .To top all this we paid 510 USD for all this ...We just request them to put our name and not consider us as DQ our volunteer did volunteering for more than 4.5 hours with hard labour carrying all heavy lugagge into a truck ...Not sure who can help us with this request or if they want to DQ us pls return our money and we will never participate in this so called elite race again .Help!

The Hyde Street Park Fair is a must-go if you're looking for something fun to do in Boise. There…read moreare so many vendors of all different kinds including clothing, pet products, crafts, and food. They really have it all. On top of that, they feature three different bands which makes the atmosphere even better. It is located at Camel's Back Park, so if you're up for it you can also hike to the top of the hill for amazing views of the city and the fair. We had such a great time here, and I highly recommend checking it out.

Probably the best free event in Boise. Unlike Art in the Park, which has turned into a neighborhood…read morecraft sale, the Hyde Park Street Fair isn't just about selling people's art and craft projects. Instead, it really feels like a community event that brings together everyone who lives in the north end, and sometimes our neighbors to the west. The focus here is on connecting with people while perusing booths, eating food, listening to local social groups, and watching performances on the main stage. THey have a great variety of talent here, from kids playing marimbas to hackey sack competitions to cultural dancers to music groups. Check the schedule before you come if you're interested in any particular topic, and you're likely to find it--and for free. If you peer beyond the stage, you'll find slackliners, aerial yogis, and mountain bikers all practicing their sports in the park around you, and that itself is worth watching. There are usually some good food trucks, with tacos, Pronto Pups, Hawaiian and Greek food, and the usual fried....everything. Luckily, everything tastes better deep fried on a September night. Parking is a nightmare, but parking in Hyde Park always is, so plan to walk, carpool, or bike if you can. The fun is about being close to the people in the neighborhood, so enjoy the crush of humanity, grab a kombucha and sit back and listen to the latest bluegrass jam band while the sun sets.

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)

Came here for a game last weekend and really enjoyed our time...my only shaving of one star was for…read morethe inside stadium concessions. The wait times were a little ridiculous 30-45 mins for a beer or some food. Luckily for us we tailgated before hand so we weren't dependent on the food but I did wait 30 mins for a beer and missed an entire quarter. Outside of that great venue and super friendly employees that were working there. Had a great time tailgating and was super easy to get in and out. Had great seats and had the opportunity to watch a great game. Love the student enthusiasm and cheer section was fun to watch. Over great experience and hoping they get the concession part fixed.

I mean, how do you give a review for a f'n stadium? Hahahaha!…read more Um, this stadium is cool. This stadium is big. This stadium has blue turf...what the? This stadium looks like many others. This stadium...is well, a stadium. Hahaha! Ok seriously now. I went for the Garth Brooks concert, the ONE....on Friday evening with Blake Shelton. I was part of 43000 people who took part in the official.....first big concert on the famous....blue turf! I was supposed to go with a friend....who incredibly BAILED ON ME....THREEEEE HOURS BEFORE THE SHOW! Did she pay me for the ticket? Nope! I got hustled like a m'fer. I had section 26. I ended up trading the ticket for row 4, on da flo, right by the stage. I could literally see the sweat on Garth lol. Am I still bitter that this friend bailed on me with no time to find someone else? Am I bitter that she will never pay me for the ticket when I was promised she would go AND pay? I'm BITTER AF! hahahaha! Does that take away from the amazing experience I had at this stadium? At this concert? Now why would I wanna waste energy being bitter especially while at the show...even tho I sat there, by my lonesome lol. To give you an idea how amazing this concert was....ima tell you a "short story" ....we all know, I can never say "this gon be short" and have it be that way lol. Yurrs ago, I worked/ran a music store in Phx. We got concert tickets to anything and everything basically. Growing up, I told myself I would go to as many concerts as I could. I wanted that life experience and I wanted to see my favorite bands (ima 90s kid) from when I was a youngin and I wanted to see classic bands/artists....as many as I could. I also wanted bragging rights if ima be honest lol. Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, LIVE, Bush, Tori Amos, Madonna, Barbra Streisand, Simon and Garfunkel, DMB, U2, Nsync, Backstreet Boys, Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks, Janet Jackson, Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young, Tina Turner, and many many others, I have seen. Am I bragging? Maybe a lil bit, haha! Simon and Garfunkel, I have been a fan since I was 3 yrs old. No lie. Mama told me I was instantly obsessed with them at that young age. When I saw them, I literally cried when the light came on and there they were. NEVER thought I'd ever see these LEGENDSSS! Garth rose up from the stage. I couldn't believe it; couldn't believe I was FINALLY seeing him after almost 30 yrs of wanting to see him. Am I comparing the greatness of S&G with Garth? Hell no! Both have their own special magic. I have a list of artists I've seen, a special list. Meaning, they can't be put in a regular list of great concerts I've seen because they were too amazing to do that. Like, no words can TRULY describe the unbelievable experience I had at these particular shows. S&G is right there on that special list and now, so is Garth. Crazy Babs, she's up there as well. Oddly, so is Gaga, Madonna, and a few others. Gaga and Madonna shows from years ago. Currently, I wouldn't go to Madonna. Too political and her new music is boo. Albertsons Stadium, did a great job at bringing this unbelievable experience for all who went. I've never experienced a show like the Garth Brooks show. Afterwards, I get home, roommate says "how was it" I was so overwhelmed with emotions, I couldn't speak. For real. I'm that pathetic hahaha! I feel music, concerts in a special way and Garth had that effect on me. I will NEVER forget this concert. I am still thinking about it and it was 2 weeks ago. The show started 2 hours late, not sure why. The power went out briefly, no idea why. Garth had the crowd in the palm of his hand. That's another thing. I've been to some pretty huge shows. Most crowds would be PISSED about the power outage. Not this crowd. Stayed happy and fun the entire time. Seeing 43000 people get along for 5 hours was truly a sight. Seeing them all sing his classics...again, got me all emotional. I'm telling you, this was beyond special! Ima run out of room, I better end this lol. Thank you, BSU for making a long time dream of mine...finally come true.

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!

Visiting from eastern Idaho. Called on Saturday to see if valentine special would be honored for…read moreSunday. Jim said yes. Arrived and told no!

When my girlfriend and I first walked in, we were enthusiastically greeted by Vela. His excitement…read moreand quirkiness made the entire experience awesome. In-between races he was always happy to chat, give us a tour, and joke around. The two men who were in charge the track were awesome as well (Jim and John). They were very encouraging and did an amazing job at helping us learn the ropes without letting us feel silly. Neither my girlfriend or I had been go karting in several years so we were definitely nervous about not knowing what to do. But they did their best to keep us informed, give us tips, and to do what they could to hype us up. Overall this trip was fantastic and we are very much looking forward to coming back. Thank you Vela, Jim, and John, for making this a memorable experience.