Boise

Many business travelers may feel that a long trip from international airports in Denver or Seattle is required before reaching Boise, Idaho. The state of Boise may have a limited number of large cities, but the savvy traveler will be able to find their way to Idaho through a number of airports. Boise’s Gowen Field offers direct access to the city from Canada, the United States, and Mexico through a number of air carriers. Gowen Field is a quaint airport with a number of taxis and shuttle services that head into various sections of Boise on a daily basis.

There are regional airports away from Boise that offer inexpensive travel opportunities from other airports in the Pacific Northwest. Idaho Falls Regional Airport in eastern Idaho offers services from Las Vegas, Alaska, and Minneapolis for business travelers. Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey, Idaho is close enough to Boise to make it a worthwhile entrance point for visitors from Salt Lake City and Seattle. You may need to rent a car to reach Boise from far-flung parts of the state, but there are plenty of airports available for newcomers to Idaho.

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You can get around Boise without a rental car, if you don’t mind waiting a little bit to reach your final destination. It is advisable to rent a car if you plan a trip outside of Boise to meetings in neighboring cities. If you are working entirely within Boise, you can rent a bicycle from a local company to get some exercise while you head in for an important meeting. The natural beauty of Boise, along with a commitment to healthy living, has led to a growing network of bike trails cutting in and out of downtown Boise.

Several taxi companies serve Gowen Field and downtown Boise on a daily basis. Boise is not New York City, and you may need to find the number of a taxi company in order to arrange for transportation from one meeting to another. Travelers who have appointments within a specific section of Boise, like the North End, can usually take a brisk walk due to the close proximity of commercial buildings.

The increasing size of Boise and western Idaho has meant a parallel increase in public transportation over the last 10 years. An 11 percent increase in population over the last seven years has forced Boise to finance two separate busing systems to cover downtown and suburban areas. The ValleyRide transit service is a combination of traditional bus and paratransit services that covers the counties surrounding Boise. You can transfer from the ValleyRide system to the Boise Urban Stages system, which covers all of downtown Boise.

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There are a number of corporations that are headquartered in Boise, much to the surprise of travelers from the East Coast. One of the hottest industries headquartered out of Boise is computing technology, including a leader in consumer printers and a major software developer that draws employees from the West Coast. The reason why software and computing technology companies have set up shop in Boise, Idaho is the livability of the city. You will notice why Money Magazine called Boise the eighth best city to live in as of 2006, and why Forbes listed Boise as the third best city for businesses and careers.

Boise can compete with Silicon Valley in terms of the number of dot com companies that have opened since the 1990s. Development companies, website design firms, and entrepreneurs looking for a nice place to set up their offices have chosen Boise over Los Angeles, Seattle, and Las Vegas due to reasonable housing prices. You should explore the thriving Internet industry in Boise to find a hidden gem of virtual resources.

The abundance of natural resources in the Pacific Northwest makes Boise a clear-cut choice for lumber and energy companies. The largest energy provider in the state is headquartered in Boise, as well as several prominent lumber companies who look to work with companies around the world. A major office supply company uses accessible sources of raw resources and manufacturing to corner the market in printing paper. Boise’s downtown sector, along with a few headquarters on the outskirts of the city, should be the focus of efforts to cultivate the city’s corporate environment.

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Before you journey into the downtown section of Boise, your business trip should include a brief trip through Southeast Boise. This section of the city features a standard range of accommodations for busy travelers who want an affordable stay close to the next day’s meetings. The reason why Southeast Boise is such an interesting draw for international travelers is the mixture of Idaho’s natural beauty and Boise’s urban environment. This section of the city features Boise State University, which has gained prominence as high tech firms have flooded into the city.

Outside of Boise State University, Southeast Boise features portions of the Boise River and Table Rock, which allow you to get some interesting photos. A number of architectural firms and homebuilders that are prominent in the city are headquartered in the suburban sections of Southeast Boise. You can examine open houses along Parkcenter Boulevard in Southeast Boise to see what competing firms are doing before you head into a meeting. Your experience in Southeast Boise may lead to new client leads as well as a desire to move out to Boise once your professional life is complete.

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The lifeblood of businesses in Boise runs through the downtown portion of the city. The threat of suburban flight and poor development that Boise encountered in the 1990s has been thwarted by responsible planning and an effort to keep the downtown sector vibrant. You can find dozens of hotels and inns in downtown Boise for easy access to business centers as well as public transit back to the airport. There is a concentration of coffee shops, restaurants, and cafes representing dozens of different cultures all within walking distance of bus stops in downtown Boise.

Your experience in downtown Boise will likely take you to the pedestrian-heavy stretch of 8th Street running through the city. This street features walkways, and the city encourages street vendors to complement the steady business of small shops. You can find almost any product or service you need on 8th Street including souvenirs, books, and materials for business presentations. There are a number of bus routes that pass 8th Street, and every taxi familiar with downtown Boise makes dozens of trips to 8th Street on a daily basis. It is advisable to find a hotel outside the immediate 8th Street area for easy access to the rest of the city by motorized vehicles.

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The media resources available to visitors in Boise leave little to be desired. The rapid growth of Boise’s population has led to a number of interesting developments including a commitment to public radio and alternative media outlets. Boise has television stations that cover the full gamut of network options for business travelers who need a fix of local news, sitcoms, and drama. A flip through the radio dial can give you any genre of music you are interested in due to a growth in commercial radio.

Voracious readers who want a bit of insight into the interests and values of Boise residents can look at the Idaho Statesman, which is owned by a national media company. The Idaho Press-Tribune is maintained and owned locally which provides better insight for first time visitors who want to learn about state news. You can also pick up a copy of the Boise Weekly for free at most retailers, as well as Boise State University’s student newspaper to read about underreported stories in Boise media.

Public radio figures prominently into the media offerings for business travelers like you. A locally run jazz station allows fans of this truly American form of music to hear their favorite musicians around the clock. There is also a National Public Radio station in Boise that is supported by local listeners and provides a comforting resource for business travelers in need of balanced news.

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Your trip to Boise does not need to be all work and no play. Boise offers vibrant nightlife and opportunities to enjoy live entertainment almost any night of the week. You can take in professional sports from the NBA Developmental League, Arena Football, and other minor leagues in major American sports. The Boise Town Square Mall is ideal if you need to go people watching and shop at dozens of chain stores available at malls in the United States.

A number of centers and facilities in Boise provide different types of entertainment for the discerning traveler. Zoo Boise, located in Julia Davis Park, provides examples of animal species all over the world for residents and visitors unable to reach major city zoos. You can also brave the cold and snow by hitting ski hills and mountains at Bogus Basin Mountain Resort just outside of Boise. Most travelers enjoy taking in these sights because they capture the natural beauty of Boise while providing family entertainment.

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Your business interests in Boise may include searching for new employees, as well as a base for future growth for your employer. The combination of a strong group of universities and a thriving corporate environment makes Boise attractive for your company. Boise State University is the state’s largest school and a great source for talented graduates looking to stay in the area. You can also draw on the talented and principled graduates of George Fox University, a prestigious private school with a Christian mission. These universities have a number of regular recruiters come in and out of their doors competing for top tier graduates.

These universities, along with a series of technical schools, offer you an opportunity to access valuable research tools. If you need to find information on a specific product or piece of legislation, the libraries of Boise State and George Fox University offer everything you need. Your company should consult with these libraries to arrange for special accommodations during your visit for specific research tools. World-class faculty work at these two universities, and you should take time out of your schedule to speak with experts in your field to build relationships for future projects.

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Boise has developed a reputation as an underappreciated haven for cultural events in the Pacific Northwest. You can spend an evening after a long day of business meetings taking in live jazz music at one of several clubs in the city. If your trip to Boise takes place in the spring, you can stop by the Gene Harris Jazz Festival to hear a collection of the best jazz musicians in the nation.

Your desire to see a play or musical in Boise can be fulfilled in a number of ways. There is a Shakespearean theater in downtown Boise that has an active subscription base and quality performers from around the country. You can also check out the Contemporary Theater in Boise, which provides modern plays that will make you think about something besides crunching numbers.

There are a number of museums in Boise that offer a quiet evening out before you head back home. The Boise Art Museum features a combination of traditional sculptures, local works, and offerings from the 20th century. You can learn about the achievements of the large Basque population, as well as the growing African American population in Idaho with museums devoted to these groups. You should look for special displays and presentations at these museums during your trip to Boise in order to maximize your cultural experience.

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