OK, confession time: When telling people about this trip, I would rattle off our locations, and the travelogue script went like this: “… and then we’ll go to Boise (Don’t ASK!!)” [inevitable chuckles]; or ” …and after Salt Lake City we’re going to Boise … because it’s ON THE WAY!”
Well, I’m here to COMPLETELY give Boise its’ due props! Boise held many treats and unexpected surprises, and sort of really deserves to have people sit up and take notice!
I had many things on the itinerary for our one full day in Boise, but I was hesitant to jump in with two feet to the outdoor activities, with the prediction of 104 degrees in the shade. I actually asked for the opinions of my Facebook followers … Should we stick to the itinerary, and tough it out in the heat, or bag the outdoor stuff and do outlet mall instead, or just relax & swim & nap in between the Peregrine Fund and the baseball game in the evening. Thanks to 35 or so friends who played along, the “Swim & nap” choice won, by a LANDSLIDE (LOL — my favorite response was from my sweet gal, Sis, who hilariously suggested “to heck with the birds, and the game, too … swim and nap all day long!”), but we completed a combination of things:
We visited the Peregrine Fund, World Center for Birds of Prey. It was smaller than I expected, and the Live Bird Presentation — which I imagined would be an outdoor flight demo — was a guy in a room, with 6-oz owl. LOL Nonetheless, I found it FASCINATING.
(From the top of the hill, with the entrance to the center behind me.)
Once inside, we saw several live birds on display:
Bald eagle
This isn’t the best photo in the world (below), but it was pretty impressive to see a California condor!
The interactive center was not only fully air conditioned, but was a field day for Lulu!
Thanks for playing our little game, there, Gerry! Tell him what he’s won, Johnny! 😉
The Live Bird presentation … not sure who looks more excited. 🙂
We then proceeded to the archives (housed across the parking lot in another building.) FYI, some Sheik donated a boatload of cash, and basically paid for the construction of the archives building, hence the Arabian display of falconry!
As we exited the building, Lulu spotted one more photo op …
(FYI, this is a bronze statue)
We hopped in the car, and proceeded to the Boise Old Penetentiary. It’s got some historical significance, but I cannot explain to you what that might be, as we only took photos from the outside, and decided to forgo the indoor (NOT air conditioned) tour.
Next, it was off to the Boise Factory Outlet Mall. (Anyone who knows me, knows I’d rather stick myself in the eye with a red hot poker than go to an outlet mall BY CHOICE, but anyone who also knows Gerry, knows HE’D like to shop for bargains ALMOST as much as watching the 7th Game of the World Series between the Mets vs. Yankees, so ….. I acquiesced.) 🙂
Not sure when this Factory Outlet Mall opened, but there are several buildings which could house 80 – 100 different stores. There were _6_ open — all the rest completely empty of merchandise, or even signs or names.
No waiting! Free Parking!
The only store we ventured into was the Wrangler / Lee outlet … I considered bowling a few strings, but I thought I might accidentally hit Gerry in the foot. BEST NEWS: He got to see the outlet mall, and have his curiosity quelled, and the mall was a stone’s throw from our hotel, so very soon afterward I got to have my quite luxuriously long nap!
We skipped the Zoo in the heat of the day (and, yes, it DID get up to 104, … and don’t give me any of that sh*t about “a dry heat” … dry or wet, 104 is gross!!), and I also skipped the pool. Heated, crowded indoor pool, kidney shaped, so no lap lanes … I was ALL SET!
Apres sleep, we were ready to travel to the baseball game … a thrilling nail biter between the Vancouver Canadians and the Boise Hawks!
As this post has run a little long, I will devote my NEXT post to the game experience!