The City of Boise

Idaho's state capital and center of business, Boise is the largest metropolitan area between Portland, Oregon, and Salt Lake City, Utah. Set against a backdrop of the Rocky Mountain foothills, Boise is one of the most attractive and enjoyable cities in the nation. As a growing city of more than 211,000 people, Boise enjoys a varied economy based on high technology, agricultural products, tourism, government agencies, and manufacturing.

Known as the City of Trees, Boise is located in a land of great variety. To the south are rich farmlands; a rugged, high-mountain desert; North America's tallest sand dunes; and the famous Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. To the north, forests, whitewater rivers, and mountain lakes provide opportunities for fishing, hiking, hunting, and kayaking. Bogus Basin ski resort is just 16 miles from the Boise State University campus, and world-famous Sun Valley is less than three hours away.

The Boise Greenbelt, a network of city parks and riverside paths, runs through the campus. Three city parks are within walking distance of Boise State University, and a footbridge spans the Boise River, linking the campus to Julia Davis Park, where the Boise Art Museum, Idaho State Historical Museum, and Zoo Boise are located. An array of outdoor activities - camping, fishing, golf, hiking, river rafting, skiing, and tennis - are available only a short distance from campus.

The city and campus offer many cultural opportunities, such as the American Festival Ballet, Boise Civic Opera, Boise Philharmonic, Gene Harris Jazz Festival, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Trey McIntyre Project, and a variety of other musical and theatrical productions. Touring artists frequently perform in the Morrison Center for the Performing Arts and Taco Bell Arena, both located on the Boise State University campus. In addition, Taco Bell Arena hosts a variety of national sporting events.