What a wonderful find! Sadly none of the buildings on site were open but we enjoyed walking the…read moretrails. The beautiful peacocks that were everywhere were a wonderful surprise. We saw many deer and a variety of birds. We loved all the positive signs and many birdhouses. There are many trails to explore. If you climb the hill to the three crosses you will have a beautiful view of the Snake River and the Owyhee mountains. There is a guest book to sign in on when you arrive and they take donations which I guess is for upkeep. You can tour the grounds for free. It would have been great to have a docent or someone around to ask questions to and it would be nice to be able to share about the history of this place. We will be definitely be back now that we know what to expect.

This will probably be one of the most personal reviews I write on yelp. Cleo is my grandmother and…read morethis was her nature trail, her passion project, her sanctuary. (She passed in 2008 and is actually buried on-site in a little family cemetery, a long with a few other family members). Growing up I watched this space turn into what it is today. Cleo took a simple path along the snake river and turned it into a very unique place people would find delightful, a place people would come and find peace and smile because of a surprise or two a long the way. As a kid it was the best. Exploring all the new with fake animals and statues I didn't quite understand. As an adult I now appreciate all the thought that went into trying to create a space to preserve all the history of what went on here. And then of course you had to know Cleo, she had flare and was full of sayings that she then put on bird houses...hoping to encourage and inspire others. There are a lot of birdhouses. There is a lot of things to see and it's definitely different and that is the point. To me this is more of a nature trail you can walk any day. The trail is paved 90% and is 75% flat. 10% that's not paved takes you through an enchanted forest which loops you back to the starting point. The ground is still flat but depending which direction you start on the trail there will be a bit of hill to climb (very reasonable). And if you're feeling adventurous climb up to the prayer house or at the far end of the trail before it loops back there is another trail that shoots up to a bench that over looks the snake river and the views are breathtaking. I added a picture of that and details on how to access below: To get there it is just right as you come out of the enchanted forest or just before to drop down into it. Go to the end of the trail just passed the seven cardinal sins display and look for a " white trail" marker arrow. Follow it up to the top .25 miles there is a bench at the top and that is when you know you have arrived. Don't go any further to persevere the area. The views are breathtaking! Gate closes at 5pm, when you enter look for parking on the left-nice big lot. The museums are open on select Saturdays through out the summer but check the website for official times and dates. Since I don't live in the area I make sure I come out here at least 2 times a year and during the Christmas season with the lights up it's truly magical. Add it to your list for the next year.

If you are a veteran, or just love airplanes, military gear uniforms, rifles, and you name it, this…read moreis literally a Biden gem. I have been to dozens of military museums, this is top five for sure. Amazing displayed and lots of flight ready aircraft. The staff is amazing and the atmosphere is very respectful and honors veterans young and old, alive or passed. Go here, it is hard to explain the scope of how amazing this place is. Jamie Northam USMC 1990 to 1996

Warhawk Air museum Today we used one of our Idaho Adventure…read moreBucket List cards. https://reachinternationaloutfitters.com/products/idaho-adventure-bucket-list This is one of 50 of the sites these cards take you to. This one took us on a trip to Nampa, ID at the Warhawk Air Museum. The card says its a 1-2 hour event. But we weee there for two hours and could gave easily spent two more. This is a great place to take kids to learn about history. When we arrived the staff was very friendly and fave us all information. They offer daily pass, yearly and lifetime. Throughout the facility there were volunteer there to answer questions and tell you more about the exhibits. All exhibits are all donated I mean everything. The museum is divided up into areas and has a self guided tour. Space, moon landing, 911, world war II, all branches are represented. Many of the items are from local Idaho veterans that their families have donated. If you get time check it out. We did leave with another ornament for the tree a mini plane. This is something we collect as we visit different.

The Nampa Train Depot Museum sits somewhere at the end of Downtown Nampa. It's like any museum in…read moreIdaho, but I think it deserves more of our attention. That is what the problem is with all of the museums in Canyon County. You know they are there, but you have to depend on one website about Canyon County for hours and hopefully the admission. When you first enter it is a little bit awkward because it is like you are entering someone's property. If you continue to journey inside you can see a train set and touristy things to buy that is Idaho related. This area is impressive because they have a wider variety of books about the history of Idaho than Barnes and Noble. I bought a book there by Brigham Madsen who was well known for writing books about Southern Idaho and the Bear River Massacre. They have this cool display of old dresses from I believe the 1800s and the early 1900s. I even saw some tea cups made especially for men with mustaches. I will have to post pictures; I thought it was pretty funny. They have plenty of the same things as everyone else like cameras, typewriters, and old kitchen essentials, but I like looking at these kind of items. I realize how far we have came since many of the inventions were created. This museum is probably one of the tiniest in Idaho and Canyon County. There is there area where people used to purchase their tickets to ride the train then you go outside where there are a few sheds and you can look inside and see that they have more old items.They have some interesting items in what I call the garage. Inside there are old ovens, farming equiment, signs, and old medical equipment. More people should check out the Nampa Train Depot. There is a little bit of history about trains here and Idaho. I think this is a good place for those who are obsessed with trains like my dad is. The admission is only a couple bucks and an interesting building to tour in Nampa.

The Nampa Canyon County Historical Museum has a great team. We sponsored an event at the Nampa…read moretrain depot and had a great time. Wonderful facility and staff I would recommend checking it out!

Fun Place, The kids love it! Lots of stuff that's interesting, and educational for kids to do and…read morelearn. One of the more popular features is a miniature Trader Joe's store with shelves stocked with goods. There are shopping baskets to fill, and when they are through shopping, there's a checkout spot. The people who worked there were all friendly and informative, and they have a few live little beasties like hissing cockroaches too. Almost as much fun for a two year old as Disneyland, and for a whole lot less money, and no long lines.

Great museum for play and learning, we enjoy coming here. We got the yearly membership and it's…read moredefinitely worth it. They have many different areas to play, explore and learn, a designated 3 and under child area, a breeding area for chicks where you can watch them hatch and be in the incubator, and mini films to watch at the planetarium. There's so much more but definitely recommend!

A fun and educational time for folks of all ages. The Discovery Center of Idaho has many…read moreinteractive experiences and is always hosting new limited time exhibits, making it worth returning to when a topic of interest is featured. The dinosaur exhibits such as Tinker the T-Rex and The World's Largest Dinosaurs have garnered quite a bit of excitement in the past. Check their website for the most up to date inormation on their rotating exhibits. The Discovery Center is located near many Boise favorites such as Julia Davis Park, the Boise River, Boise Rose Garden, and the Boise Zoo. This makes it easy to turn a trip to The Discovery Center into a full day of good times. If there's a feature of interest, I would recommend making the time to visit!

What a fun place. I got a grandparent membership so I'll be taking the g-kids there as often as…read morethey like!

I like to check out the historical museums any time I visit a new city to learn the history of said…read morecity. The Boise one was fascinating and covered everything from the geography of Idaho to the great fires to winter sports. Definitely worth your time.

This museum has a good mixture of exhibits that people of all ages and interests can appreciate. As…read moreI first walked in, I was greeted by John, a volunteer, who was almost giddy with excitement when he learned that this was my first visit. He then gave me a warm welcome, along with an orientation of the different levels of the museum and his recommendation on what order to take things in. There are regular exhibits as well as temporary ones that are on loan from other locations. The one that was on display when I visited was the Bob Hope exhibit. It was very well done and I enjoyed learning more about how he and his team of entertainers brought moments of joy to the soldiers. If you've got yourself a little time and want to learn more about Idaho, this is a good place to come and do just that. It's also entertaining for kids, since they have several hands-on exhibits and the lower level is geared toward the youngsters.

This was an unexpected surprise! I had just finished touring the Old Penitentiary, and was told…read moreabout the Museum of Mining & Geology next door. I was told it was free, so definitely had to check it out while waiting for my friends to finish up at the penitentiary. I enjoyed checking out all the rocks on display. I enjoyed the large 3D printer dinosaur. The guy working there was nice and gave interesting facts. Definitely check out this little gem after visiting the penitentiary! (See what I did here! Tee hee!)

Free! I highly encourage joining via membership though... to support & get discounts on their many…read moreevents thru the yr. This has a very diverse selection of rocks, educational tools as well as volunteer staff to answer the many questions that can spring from the displays. Accessibility is fairly good though there'd be tight spaces in some books for wheelchairs... though I have no doubt staff would accommodate. Nice big clean public bathrooms are around corner,

Very excellent museum! This property has MANY buildings and Lots of antiques! It is so entertaining…read moreand the hosts/owners are delightful! It takes about 2 hours to see the whole thing. We will be back to see it again! Amazing! Thanks for the tour Jessica!

Five Stars -- A Must‑See Hidden Gem in Southwest Idaho!…read more Looking for family‑friendly attractions near Boise, an Idaho history museum, or roadside Americana along Highway 78? Lawson's Emu‑Z‑Um checks every box. With guided tours, photo‑worthy sets, and genuine Idaho heritage, it's a perfect day‑trip destination for history buffs, homeschool groups, church groups, RV travelers, and curious kids alike. Just 60 miles southeast of Boise, right along the Snake River outside Grand View, this family‑friendly history museum packs more pioneer artifacts, vintage farm machinery, mining memorabilia, and Silver City treasures than many big‑city institutions -- spread out over 50‑plus themed rooms and an 1860s replica frontier town. My family spent an entire afternoon here and still didn't see every corner. From antique automobiles to hands‑on sheep camps, every exhibit sparks stories, thanks to the warm, guided narration from owners Jessica and Eddy. Their hospitality is second‑to‑none; you'll leave feeling like longtime friends rather than first‑time guests. The museum's What to Bring page recommends weather‑appropriate clothing, sturdy shoes, and sunscreen, since several collections sit in unheated barns or outdoors. Until Jessica and Eddy finish their on‑site café, grab a sack lunch and take advantage of the shaded picnic tables and drinks for sale on the grounds. Bottom line: If you're searching for truly unique things to do near Boise or in Owyhee County, pencil Lawson's Emu‑Z‑Um (now officially "Lawson's Legacy Museum") onto your itinerary. Lawson's is the definition of a hidden gem -- affordable, welcoming, and overflowing with Old‑West charm. Bring your curiosity (and your lunch), and give yourself plenty of time; you'll be talking about this place long after you leave. Post‑visit tip: Say hi to the last resident emu on your way out!