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We make podcasts and newsletters that connect people with the cities they love.

City Cast Boise

We live in a desert, which means we have to work to see fall colors outside of residential areas. Luckily though, it doesn’t take too far of a drive to get to some autumn foliage.

Yesterday, City Cast Boise lead producer Frankie Barnhill joined host Emma Arnold (both self-proclaimed fall girlies) to 

give us their best fall day trip candidates

You can head to downtown Ketchum or Sun Valley for the mountain village fall feel, or get as remote as you like. Head further up canyons to reach higher altitudes, where leaves are well on their way to falling.

, although closed until late November, is a good home base for hikes or biking with plenty of aspens and cottonwoods in view.

To get a good hike but less of a drive, try the 

On the other side of Galena, the Sawtooths — a booked-and-busy summer destination — offers a quieter side of the mountains in the fall. 

 and other areas are great fall camping spots, but do keep an eye on the forecast, because snow might come sooner than you think.

Fall is peak hot springs season, and there are a few quaint springs around Hagerman to check out. Also travel the 

y, see the fossil beds, and stop at some of the orchards in the area.

Driving north from Boise to McCall, there are any 

. Getting a coffee in downtown McCall and then taking a crisp walk by the lake is about as fall as it gets.

The Best Day Trips Outside Boise for Fall Foliage

The Best Day Trips for Fall Foliage

Boise's Best

We’re spoiled when it comes to fall — from just about anywhere in our city, you can be on a farm picking produce within 30 minutes to an hour of walking out your door. That’s just one of the reasons Boise does fall so well, which we’ll be digging into this week here and on the City Cast Boise podcast with some seasonal getaway suggestions

As a preview to a future episode, we’ve got fall expert Marissa Lovell, the editor of 

 (a twice-weekly newsletter you need to subscribe to), to point you to some of the best u-pick farms in the valley.

This farm’s cherry and peach events are behind us, but they’re entering the full autumnal swing with a corn maze that started this weekend (which will be haunted toward the end of October), and their biggest event, Apple Days on Oct. 21.

Along with their berries, this family farm has a stand with flowers, honey, sweet corn, and meats. They keep their stock updated online, so check before going. Cash only and BYO container.

It’s peak plum and apple season at this farm that’s been operating since 1890. Plus, Marissa tells us that you can get your picked apples juiced at the ranch to bring home some apple juice.

If you’ve never gone the u-pick route, try it out this season and support local farmers!

Fall Getaway: The Best U-Pick Farms Near Boise

The official Boise Pride Festival is over and 

 this year. Now, it’s time to keep the momentum rolling. In a state suppressing its LGBTQ+ citizens — and a 

city becoming less safe for queer and trans people

 — it takes work, energy, time, and money to keep people safe. So let’s get to work!

 queer and trans people, it isn’t safe for queer and trans people.

Here are a few groups doing direct LGBTQ+ community work — and if you’re deciding between organizations, I’d suggest choosing the ones without existing corporate sponsorships.

Idaho Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence

Allies Linked for the Prevention of HIV and AIDS

City Cast Boise host Emma Arnold said recently

, one of the biggest ways that cisgender and straight folks can help their LGBTQ+ neighbors is by getting really good at conflict. 

, but especially for queer and trans people. 

 and de-escalation will pay off time and again.

The official Boise Pride Festival is over. Now, it’s time to keep the momentum rolling.

The Best Ways to Keep Boise Pride Going

Believe it or not, it’s almost September! It’s a busy month, with a major festival or two every weekend, so pencil these things in now.

 A hot air balloon fever dream. Folks from all over the country (and maybe beyond, I wouldn’t be surprised) come to Boise for the classic, which has distinct events each day.

 Free to get into, but with optional events you can pay for.

 The official Pride celebration will return to downtown Boise to honor and celebrate our LGBTQIA+ communities. There’ll be music, comedy, drinks, food, drag, burlesque, and a lot of fun.

 The main stage will be at Cecil Andrus Park in front of the Capitol, but expect to see events all over downtown. The best place to stay up to date is 

The main stage is free to enter, but other venues will charge (plus tips). Festival staff are looking for volunteers, too!

 The Boise Art Museum’s biggest annual event, with hundreds of artists of all varieties.

The North End and Hyde Park hit their peak at this festival. Expect a lineup of musicians, food trucks, and a tent maze of art vendors big enough to get lost in.

A three-day music festival with headliners The Regrettes, Magic Sword, The Shivas, with dozens of other traveling and local musicians.

Garden City, baby! The main stage is outside the Visual Arts Collective, and there will be multiple stages at breweries, coffee shops, and more in the surrounding blocks.

 You can get a single day ticket for $49, or general admission for all three days for $89. That price goes up to $99 Sept. 1.

Harvest festivals will be coming on in late September and early October, so I’ll share those later. See you out there!

The Best Ways to Spend Your September

Our dogs aren’t the only ones who need reprieve from the heat this week.

But look on the bright side — even with summer winding down, there’s still plenty of swimming to be done in the next few weeks.

If you don’t have your own, there’s still time to make it to an outdoor city pool — but hurry.

The Natatorium and Fairmont Pools are closed for the season.

 is only open on weekends now, and closes Sept. 3.

 is open daily, but now only from 3 - 6 p.m., through closing day on Sept. 1.

What to Know Before You Hit the Pool

Before you head out to find a river swimming hole, just know that it’s for stronger swimmers. You’ve got to keep an eye out for currents, rapids, rafters, and who-knows-what you might find underwater.

⚠️ On Float the Boise’s map, you’ll notice there aren’t any flagged safety hazards outside the commonly floated six-mile stretch. That doesn’t mean it’s free game everywhere else on the river — in fact, it means the opposite, which is that crews have cleared the worst hazards and monitor remaining ones in the float area, but don’t do so on any other parts of the river.

That said, here are some of the best places to swim (off the top of my head) in the floatable section of the river:

North shore, by Parkcenter Bridge. The pool between the bank and the bridge supports is safe from all but the most distracted floaters, and you can’t get swept away with the water as low as it is right now. The area before the rapid is also pretty good, just don’t get out too far.

Along the western end of the Warm Springs golf course. There’s a lengthy stretch below the red bridge that is slow enough for safe swimming, just keep on alert when the river is busy.

Before and after Friendship Bridge. However, make sure to know where the rapids begin as the river gets lower in the coming weeks, because it’ll be changing quickly.

For an all-around safer (and warmer) bet than river swimming, there are several ponds safe for swimming. The most important thing to 

 — but once those have begun, they’ll be shut down.

Sandy Point Beach, just below the Lucky Peak dam.

, Quinn’s, and Veterans Memorial are the ponds to go to. But keep your dog away, or 

they could be the cause of a bacteria outbreak

Summer’s winding down, but there’s still plenty of time to go swimming in the next few weeks. Here’s where to go.

The Best Places to Go Swimming in Boise

The Best Swimming in Boise

Grocery store produce just can’t compare to fresh fruit you’ve picked. So make a morning or afternoon out of getting some from the berry and stone fruit-growing areas within a couple of hours of Boise.

A lot of these orchards and farms are family-run, so especially if you’re going the U-pick route, be respectful and patient! Harvest season is no joke, and they might not always be able to update their websites or Facebook pages.

This is all about fruit, but if you want to get fruit 

. They’ve got berries and some early apples at their farm stand, open Thursday - Sunday.

Most of the apricots have come and gone, but peaches and plums should be ready soon — keep an eye on their 

You can pick your own fruit, pre-order, or go to the 

 Wednesday through Saturday. Plus, they have a 

This orchard in Emmett is now appointment-only

 for the rest of the season, with U-pick apricots, pluots, and picked cherries available.

 with peaches and berries going. It seems like it’s a banner year for blackberries!

This is one of the fruit-growing havens tucked into the Snake River Canyon in the Magic Valley. They’re sold out of cherries, but 

, Aug. 10. A drive to Hagerman or into the canyon near Filer or Wendell will get you close to a few options for fruit.

Don’t let the similar names fool you — this orchard is in the opposite direction. 

, is stocked up right now, with peaches and massive blackberries ready to go.

A lot of these Treasure Valley orchards and farms are family-run, so especially if you’re going the U-pick route, be respectful and patient! Harvest season is no joke, and they might not always be able to update their websites or Facebook pages.

Where to Pick Fruit Near Boise

The Best Fruit Picking Near Boise

This one feels random, but hear me out: In the summer heat, sometimes you’re just not feeling a big burger. But that doesn’t mean you’re doomed to a watery, bland salad, so here are some of the best salads I’ve come across that stand up as a dish on their own.

Note: This is NOT TikTok’s “girl dinner.” This is about eating what feels and tastes good in the heat, and enjoying the bounty of fresh produce.

These restaurants have different cuisines, but since they’re owned by the same folks and right around the corner from each other, I threw them together. 

 has one of the best Caesar salads, and I recommend the Grilled Beet and Halloumi salad at 

This is great for more of a to-go feel, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be substantial — their salads are served in mounds on half-sheet pans. 

 is going to be great, especially right now, so it’s a one-stop shop for all veggies.

Similar to Fork and ÁLAVITA, I’ve grouped these together because they have the same owners, and their salads have similar vibes. At 

🥗 Where’s Your Favorite Salad? 🥗

The Best Salads in Boise

It isn’t dry January, but the pressure to get outside and 

 can involve a lot of alcohol. If you want to pull back or just don’t drink alcohol, here are some of the best summery non-alcoholic drinks and bars around town.

The only completely non-alcoholic lounge I know of is 

. You can find their iOne Bitters around town, but they have their own lounge on Orchard on the Bench, which is open Wednesday - Saturday.

 rotates their menu frequently, but their staff is incredibly knowledgeable and helpful — if you can’t find something on the menu, they’ll be able to point you to something gorgeous and non-alcoholic.

 is another good spot if you want something crafted with thought and expertise instead of a soda that costs seven dollars.

Luckily, it seems that everyone has at least a few non-alcoholic drink options on their menus these days, and we love to see it! Cheers!

The Best Non-Alcoholic Drinking in Boise

If you don’t know where to go on your lunch break, or just need to spend some time surrounded by plants, here are a few places you can get to quickly within Boise that will provide a nature reprieve.

The City Cast Boise team are fans of the 

 off of Warm Springs Avenue and near the Parkcenter Bridge. There are sturgeons and all sorts of other water creatures, but it’s perfect because the space is designed to just make you slow down for a while.

Perfect for a meditative walk and discovering new plants, the gardens are a classic, and a special space for events in Boise.

This is a 41-acre green oasis just west of Ann Morrison Park. It’s one of few places you can consistently see turtles, herons, deer, and other animals in public areas in Boise. Here’s a 

This feels obvious, but just the other day I found a section of the 

Where Did I Miss?

Where to Find Nature Close to Boise

The Best Nature Walks in Boise

it’s still the most geographically isolated major U.S. city

, and that means we’re surrounded by places with incredible opportunities to behold the night sky.

To feel like a speck of dust (but in a good way), the 

 in the Sawtooths, about two hours from Boise

, is the place to be. It’s the only Dark Sky Reserve in the U.S. as designated by the 

The two next-darkest skies in Idaho can be found at the 

Even nearer by, try the backroads (pack it in, pack it out, etc.) in the 

Galactic Center of the Milky Way is best seen

 between March and September, with the peak in July and August. A bright moon can also limit visibility — luckily for us, 

, so it won’t put off any distracting light. You’ll have the best luck between midnight and 5 a.m.

 Remember to use binoculars if you’re trying to identify planets or specific stars. And even if you’re not on official wilderness land, respectful outdoor etiquette still applies.

As much as Boise is growing, it’s still the most geographically isolated major U.S. city, and that means we’re surrounded by places with incredible opportunities to behold the night sky and Milky Way galaxy.