Retire to Idaho
 

My wife and I are seriously considering an opportunity we have to retire in Boise. There are a number of reasons we think Boise might fit the bill. We are outdoorsy people and like to fish, hike, ski but like the idea that Boise has a small city feel to it and we can go a short distance to the mountains.

Anyone who is familiar with Boise - what are your thoughts? What are the advantages, disadvantages, weather, home prices, community feel, university sports, etc.

My son and his wife live in Boise and love it there. And I very much enjoy visiting them. The town is very bike-friendly, has some nice neighborhoods (look into the north historic district), nice parks and a great community feel. Lots of cultural events like outdoor theater in the summer. Yes, it is hot in the summer, but with all those trees the town has natural air conditioning. It is also a great place to garden---I am always envious of their garden. Housing prices are very good. we would consider moving there for retirement ourselves if we weren't already so well established where we are.

And as far as university sports, Boise State isn't doing too badly.

We are planning on an extended trip this winter (4 weeks) and a trip this summer for about 6 weeks.
Thanks so much enzian.

I lived in Boise many years ago. Loved it then; haven't been back in many years. It has a state university, an airport, good hospitals; nearby its got skiing, camping, fishing--lots of outdoor activities; friendly people; laid back atmosphere. Winters weren't too bad; liked the 4 seasons. Left to move back "home"--wish I'd have stayed.

What you say about Boise could also be said about many towns in WA which have a more temperature climate and which are also not far from a great city--Seattle. Idaho has much to commend it, but there must be a reason it isn't a major retirement destination.

HTTY

Most likely the winters deter some people of retirement age---most people think of going somewhere without the snow in winter. But I find downtown Boise and the neighborhoods much more pleasant and friendly (especially to cyclists) than Seattle, where I live. If it weren't for the fact that all of our friends are here, we'd consider it ourselves.

I have a relative who bought a retirement home in Boise about 10 or 12 years ago. They rented it for a few years, then moved in maybe 8 years ago. I think they like Boise over all, but grumble about the unrestricted growth, traffic, and the Californians who move there and push up property tax values.

(Which is funny as they were from California, and this childless couple bought a very high priced 5 bdrm, 5 bath, triple-garage home!)

My uncle moved around the western US when he worked for the government but Boise was their favorite and he retired there. All of my cousins have come to Boise to live and love it. A friend of mine just moved to Nampa and got a real bargain on a small house in a senior development. Usually their winters and summers are milder than Salt Lake City, where I live. They haven't had much snow the past few years.

I've been thinking about Boise since I first saw this thread. The other things I liked about it were: its symphony, outdoor shakespeare festival, greenbelt, river tubing.

Icuy: I lived there 1982-90 and people complained even back then that the Californians were ruining the state.

I lived in Idaho in 1978 and it was getting Californicated then too....

As I remember the mountains around Boise, they are rather barren. When we retired in Pennsylvania, we were looking for much of the same things you are. We started looking for real estate near or in Bend, Oregon. With prices as they were 5 years ago we ended up with a nice place about 50 miles South of Bend. We like the Cascades and the High Desert and the Pacific Ocean is only 5 hours away. The old timers in Bend complain that the city has become "Californicated".
Mt. Bachelor has some of the best skiing in the PNW. I don't ski, but I have snowshoed around my home this week.