29 Fun Date Ideas in Boise, ID for 2024
What are some of the best date ideas Boise has to offer? Whether you’re seeking an adventurous activity, a relaxing retreat or a romantic dining experience with rooftop views of mountains, rivers and valleys, Idaho’s capital city has plenty to offer.
Date ideas in Boise, ID range from nature and outdoor activities to cultural attractions, and with so much variety to choose from, you're bound to find the perfect idea for your dating occasion or celebration. Check out our list to discover a variety of ways to spend quality time together.
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- Best Date Ideas in Boise for Foodies
- Fun Date Night Ideas in Boise
- First Date Ideas in Boise
- Free and Cheap Date Ideas in Boise
- Romantic Date Ideas in Boise
- Best Outdoor Date Ideas in Boise
Best Date Ideas in Boise for Foodies
1. Book a Cooking Class
If you’re scratching your head for culinary date ideas in Boise, why not join a Boise cooking class and learn how to make your favorite foods together? You and your date will join a gourmet chef who is more than willing to share their love of culture and cuisine while teaching you how to slice, dice and sear like a pro. You just might find a shared interest in a particular ingredient or meal. Plus, you'll get to enjoy your delicious creations and rate each other's foods.
2. Take an Online Mixology Class
If you and your date are alcohol connoisseurs, online mixology classes are ideal for exploring that shared interest. Led by esteemed bartenders, you’ll practice stirring, mixing and shaking a variety of cocktails. Learn how to combine liquors and mixers into delicious concoctions using rum, vodka, tequila and more, all from the comfort of your own kitchen or bar.
3. Shop and Dine at Chow Public Market and Eatery
Whether you want to share a day of dining, shopping or strolling, Chow Public Market and Eatery is an excellent all-in-one choice for gourmands in search of new date ideas in Boise. Located at the Boise Spectrum Center, the multi-vendor venue features restaurants, cafés and stores such as Bar 76, Tamales Nelly, Teal Magnolia Gifts and Coffee Bar. Enjoy outdoor dining and shopping for local gifts and cuisine, or head to events like trivia nights and live music sessions.
4. Relax at a Rooftop Restaurant
What could be more romantic for foodies than a rooftop dining experience? Check out rooftop restaurants in Boise such as the Tavern at Bown Crossing, Zee’s Rooftop Café and the island-themed Reef Boise to enjoy a candlelit setting and beautiful Treasure Valley views. This is one of the best date night ideas in Boise to sit back and enjoy each other’s company.
Fun Date Night Ideas in Boise
5. Watch a Broadway Musical
Watching a live theater performance is an excellent date idea in Boise, ID for couples who enjoy song and dance numbers. The Morrison Center for the Performing Arts, located at Boise State University, features shows like “Hamilton,” “Wicked,” “Frozen” and “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
6. Visit Water Bear Bar
The chic and swanky Water Bear Bar features a casual neighborhood bar ambiance where you can relax, sip cocktails and share a bite to eat while relishing each other's company. This cocktail lounge and oyster bar serves regionally sourced and sustainable oysters, alongside classic cocktails like martinis and whiskey flights. The perfect casual date idea in Boise, enjoy happy hours, vinyl nights and non-alcoholic beverages, too, if you and your date are non-drinkers.
7. Attend a Comedy Show
Explore the funny side of life for your next date idea in Boise. Laughing is a great way to spend time together and, as they say, it’s also the best medicine. Head to one of Boise's many comedy venues like Liquid Lounge, Extra Mile Arena, the Morrison Center, and the Idaho Central Arena where local, national and up-and-coming comedy acts can be enjoyed.
8. Take a Boise Art Glass
Take a glassblowing class to tap into your creative spirit. At Boise Art Glass, you’ll join skilled artisans to learn safety techniques and practice making vases, sculptures, wine toppers, suncatchers and exquisite glass jewelry. For those seeking date ideas in Boise that allow for some retail therapy, you can also shop for gifts and home décor.
First Date Ideas in Boise
9. Try Pottery Painting
Learning how to choose colors to paint your chosen item of pottery can be a fun and interactive way to share a first date. Book a class at a Boise pottery studio like Clay Collective, Ceramica Arthouse or the Potter’s Center to master the art of forming, throwing and shaping clay into fun shapes and useful items like bowls, vases, mugs and more.
10. Go Bowling
Find out who's more competitive with this date idea in Boise. Don bowling shoes at your chosen Boise bowling alley and show off your best techniques at Emerald Lanes, Westy’s Garden Lanes or Big Al’s, which offers TVs to take in the game while you’re knocking down pins.
11. Enjoy a Paint and Sip Class
Are you looking for a first date idea in Boise to express your creative side? Check out the best paint and sip venues in Boise where you can learn painting techniques while enjoying your favorite craft brews and ciders, or reds, whites and pinks.
12. Attempt an Escape Room
Put your problem-solving skills to the test with this exciting date idea in Boise. Find clues and solve riddles to work your way out of rooms themed with jailbreaks, spy agencies, bank heists, time warps, gem mines and the Mad Hatter. Escape rooms in Boise includeTreasure Valley Escape Rooms, Escape This Boise and Escape the Room Boise are wonderful places to head to for a first date idea in Boise.
13. Attend a Sporting Event
If your interests lie in the spectator side of the sports world, score a ticket to a game of hockey or football. Sports-centric date ideas in Boise include going to an Idaho Steelheads hockey game, cheering the Boise Hawks baseball team or catching a Boise State University football matchup.
Free and Cheap Date Ideas in Boise
14. Take a Stroll Through Idaho Botanical Garden
Nature enthusiasts, this date idea in Boise is for you. The Idaho Botanical Garden offers 15 acres of beautifully manicured gardens, art and water features, including vegetable, meditation, herb, rose, English and native plant gardens. Free tours are offered for this date idea in Boise. There are also opportunities to take classes and workshops to help bloom your own gardening talents.
15. Visit the Animals at Zoo Boise
Date ideas in Boise involving cute animals? Yes, please! Zoo Boise is home to Magellanic penguins, lions, Himalayan red pandas, servals, meerkats and many more birds, amphibians, mammals and insects. You can even go behind the scenes with animal meet-and-greets and special tours.
16. Enjoy Nature at MK Nature Center — Idaho Fish and Game
For the perfect date idea in Boise immersed in nature, head to the 4.6-acre MK Nature Center. Located along the Boise River Greenbelt, it’s a terrific spot to check out Idaho’s diverse wildlife. Visit bee hives, learn about birds and pollinators, and check out taxidermy installations, artwork and exhibits. There’s a StreamWalk and Visitor Center, which has underwater viewing opportunities.
17. Visit the Idaho Museum of Mining and Geology
Science and nature lovers will find lots to talk about and connect with at the Idaho Museum of Mining and Geology. Focused on Idaho’s rich mining history, you'll find exhibits on rocks, gems, fossils and more. Explore the grounds to learn about minerals, meteorites and crystals, Chinese mining history and heritage, different types of mining and earthquake tracking. The museum is next to the Old Penitentiary entrance, another historic site to visit for a date idea in Boise.
18. Soak Up Some Culture at Freak Alley Gallery
Lace up your walking shoes and get ready to explore the artistic side of Boise. Freak Alley Gallery is an outdoor art gallery with colorful murals situated on several blocks between 8th and 9th Street, and Bannock and Idaho in Downtown Boise. Started by local artists in 2002, it’s the largest outdoor mural gallery in the Northwest. New works are always being added to this ever-changing exhibit space cared for by volunteers, artists and community leaders.
Romantic Date Ideas in Boise
19. Book Tickets at Ballet Idaho
Are you perhaps an art and culture enthusiast looking for romantic date ideas in Boise? Ballet Idaho is a wonderful choice for fans of classical music and ballet. Enjoy productions such as “The Nutcracker,” “Sleeping Beauty” or “Sound in Motion.”
20. Visit Hyde Park
Explore the early 20th-century architecture of the Hyde Park historic district, which features boutiques, bars, a bakery, a coffee shop and well-known restaurants. Located in north Boise, it’s on the National Register of Historic Places. The park also functions as the main entrance point to the mountains and valleys of the Treasure Valley, offering access to the foothills for families and bicyclists. This popular gathering place is an excellent spot to stop for music, coffee or a bite to eat.
21. Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride
Soar high above the Boise landscape with your sweetheart by your side. A trip with one of Boise's hot air balloon operators is perfect for proposals or anniversary date ideas. This is one date idea in Boise that you’ll both remember for the rest of your lives.
22. Enjoy the Idaho Shakespeare Festival
Pack a blanket to sit beneath the stars and listen to the words of your favorite written or spoken pieces at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival. Summer sessions run from May through October at this outdoor amphitheater. The small and intimate venue has a café, or you can bring your own picnic basket to enjoy while watching “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “The Merry Wives of Windsor.” Other shows include “Into the Woods,” “Always…Patsy Cline” and “Murder on the Orient Express.”
Best Outdoor Date Ideas in Boise
23. Visit a Farmers Market
Visiting a farmers market is a great date idea in Boise, allowing you to walk around, connect and explore the local organic farm scene. There a few farmers markets in Boise, including Boise Farmers Market, which has more than 90 vendors where you can pick up fruits, vegetables, meat, fish and specialty items like organic honey and goat soap. The Capital City Public Market is another to consider for an enjoyable outdoor date idea in Boise.
24. Get Active at Bogus Basin
Searching for a date idea in Boise perfect for outdoor enthusiasts? If the thrills and adrenaline of downhill skiing are on your radar, the all-season adventure of Bogus Basin is the place to be. Activities include downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding and tubing. Besides being a must-visit on your list of winter date ideas, Bogus Basin offers mountain biking, mountain coasters, a rock climbing wall and a ropes course.
25. Explore Parks Along the Boise River Greenbelt
The 25-mile Boise River Greenbelt trail offers walking and biking trails with access to several parks, including the Alta Harris Park, the Julia Davis Park and the Bernardine Quinn Riverside Park. These small parks are decorated with fountains, ponds, playgrounds, fishing docks, picnic areas, tennis courts and other sports facilities.
26. Visit the World Center for Birds of Prey
If you and your date share a fondness for winged creatures, the World Center for Birds of Prey is right up your alley. Visit and learn about the life and habits of peregrine falcons, California condors and other raptors through educational seminars and tours.
27. Go Golfing
There are a number of golf courses near Boise to choose from. Head to the Warm Springs Golf Course for a fun and relaxed outdoor date. It sits along the Boise River and makes for a wonderful date idea in Boise for couples who share a love of golf. Another option is Boise Ranch — an 18-hole course with ponds, lakes and gorgeous greens. Finally, Quail Hollow offers 18 holes and a par 70 course with beautiful mountain views.
28. Explore Basque Block
Spend the morning, afternoon or entire day strolling through the Basque Block neighborhood. Boise’s Basque culture dates back to the immigrants of the late 1800s who came from the Basque Country in northern Spain and southwestern France. Dine at traditional Basque restaurants, shop for authentic wine and food at the Market, attend events at the Basque Center and learn about local culture. The Basque Museum and Cultural Center, along with the Cyrus Jacobs-Uberuaga House, date to 1864 and are open for tours.
29. Partake in Water Sports
Nothing screams "summer date ideas" more than water sports. Adventurous couples will want to check out whitewater rafting excursions or kayaking adventures — both exciting water sports in Boise. Whitewater Park at Quinn’s Pond is a popular spot for rafting. If you're into fishing, canoeing and paddleboarding, head to Eagle Island State Park.
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Now that you're spoiled for choice with date ideas in Boise, ID, you’ll be able to plan a memorable day or night out, whether it’s your first date, your second or your 10th! Consider each other’s interests, shared hobbies and bucket list items when planning your date ideas in Boise, and don't forget to snap a few pics along the way for memories to hold onto forever.
For even more ways to explore Boise and beyond, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.
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