Trip to Boise – The Greenbelt, Boise Zoo, & Knock ’em Dead Theater

Mike and I have been taking a lot of trips since relocating to Idaho Falls. This city is located within easy driving range to many cities and natural attractions. On our first trip, we were just getting used to the city and we found this gorgeous biking path called the Greenbelt. It runs along the river for 20 miles, so it is the perfect distance for a long, scenic weekend ride.

We were a bit limited on time on our first trip, so we decided to plan another trip to take a longer ride. We stayed in the Shilo Inn Boise for convenient access to this path. We could literally enjoy the free breakfast and then walk right out the door to enjoy this amazing recreation path.

Some notable attractions along the path include: Julia Davis Park, the Boise Zoo, and Boise State University. This isn’t just your ordinary sidewalk along a park as there are numerous attractions you can check out along the route.

Unfortunately, the weather was really rainy and cold for our entire trip so we did not get to do the hiking we originally had planned. The Boise National Forest is home to hundreds of miles of gorgeous trails – maybe next time! I have a friend who lives here and they said the hiking is awesome.

Here are a few highlights of our trip:

The beautiful tree-lined Greenbelt

Our favorite attraction in this city is the gorgeous Greenbelt – it’s an amazing place to run or bike. I would say it is the city’s natural oasis. The most scenic points along the path are located around Julia Davis Park and Boise State University. This park is where most city events take place throughout the year. It’s the city’s oldest park and you will find numerous sites of interesting including: an Abraham Lincoln statue, a short solar system trail where you can learn more about the planets, and a seasonal rose garden.

Even though it runs for 20 miles, you can simply bike your preferred distance and turn around. We liked parking at Julia Davis because it was super easy to find a free spot. Beautiful trees line most of the path. There is a nature center along the path, however, with the rain we were unable to go.

Update: This park is a popular destination for art related events. In September, you can look forward toa large, multi day Art in the Park festival with over 200 vendors on-site. Also, they often hosts a free movies in the park event. There is also a new Windows to the River memorial which pays tribute to 2 pilots who died in helicopter crashes in 2014 and 2021.

Another interesting stopping point along the path is the Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial. Update: In 2024, the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights opened right next door to the memorial. You can learn more on their website.

Fortunately, we also enjoyed great views of the river and path from our hotel, the Shilo Inn Boise Riverside, a great hotel with reasonable rates and direct access to The Greenbelt. Update: This hotel closed in 2020. An apartment complex has taken its’ place. I imagine the lucky residents are enjoying their fabulous views and convenient access to one of the best urban paths I’ve come across.

 Knock ‘Em Dead Dinner Theater

Knock ‘Em Dead is a small dinner theater which runs several unique productions each year. Dinner shows are offered on the weekends. Thursday night tickets were only $18 per person ($10 for students). Because the theater is so small, everyone had a great view.

We saw a production entitled Xanadu, a musical spoof of a bad 1980’s film. It was surprisingly funny and included a few great musical numbers. I was not familiar with the movie beforehand (surprisingly as I’ve seen everything from the 80’s), but I did watch it afterwards. The whole cast was available for meet and greet after the show. Check the website for upcoming shows and up to date pricing info.

Update: As of early 2026, ticket prices are $25 in advance, $30 at the door, and $20 for kids. The most recent production was “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” Be sure to check the theater website to see if anything interesting is playing while you are in town.

Zoo Boise

We rode our bikes to Zoo Boise (located in Julia Davis Park) from our hotel as it is conveniently can be accessed from the Greenbelt path. It’s no Brookfield Zoo but a cute place to stroll around for an hour and super convenient to get to from the path. I’ve never lived anywhere that is bikeble to a zoo so this is pretty cool. The zoo is not huge, but offers several neat indoor exhibits including a Tropical Rainforest and penguin area. I enjoyed how up close you could view the lions and tigers. 

I was surprised that there were no bears at the zoo, especially being located in the West. A small gift shop and a few restaurants are also available. I was pleasantly surprised with this small zoo; it is easy to navigate, well maintained, and offers an interesting variety of exhibits. Please check the website for special events and up to date pricing!

Update: As of 2026, ticket prices are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, and $12 for kids, so not too bad compared to major zoos (San Diego zoo tickets for instance are now over 70 bucks per person). I recommend visiting on discount Thursdays where admission is just $12 for adults and $11 for kids and seniors.

Overall, this was still a fun trip despite the rainy, cold weather. We are planning to take another trip this spring as the weather warms up. On the itinerary for the next trip: hot springs and hiking!

Update: We never got around to soaking in those hot springs (although we did soak in other springs out West) but we did do a lot of fun things during our time living in southern Idaho. Living in Idaho Falls, we had easy access to many wonderful national and state parks, scenic drives, and hikes. Check out my southern Idaho attraction tourist guide for further details.