Page 569 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

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Here a dozen late-Victorian
commercial buildings have
been restored and house a
lively set of coffee houses, bars,
restaurants, and boutiques.
Boise’s oldest building,
completed in 1864, now
houses the Basque Museum
and Cultural Center, which
traces the presence of Basque
sheep-herders in Boise and
across western US, and is also
known for celebrating Basque
The impressive Sawtooth Mountains, as seen from the shores of Redfish Lake culture. A cluster of museums
and cultural centers lie in Julia
4 Sawtooth relaxed city presents a picture- Davis Park, a 40-acre (16-ha)
National Recreation postcard image of America. green area that straddles the
Area Locals and visitors walk, Boise River at the heart of
ride bicycles, or enjoy an
the Greenbelt.
Hwy 75, 8 miles (13 km) N of Ketchum. afternoon picnic on the grass A 15-minute drive by car
n (208) 737-3200. Campground: in the vast Greenbelt parkland from the city is the Peregrine
Open year-round. 7 8 that adjoins the Boise River in Fund World Center for Birds
the heart of downtown. of Prey. One of the most
This superb destination for hiking Boise is also the state capital successful organizations for
and camping encompasses and the largest city in rural breeding as well as studying
1,195 sq miles (3,096 sq km) Idaho. Its focal point is the raptors, the world center has
of rivers, mountain meadows, domed State Capitol, which been instrumental in recovering
forests, and jagged peaks of the was completed in 1920 after endangered populations of
Sawtooth Range. For visitors 15 years of construction. The peregrine falcons in the US, a
driving up Hwy 75 from Sun building’s main distinction is species that was nearly wiped
Valley (see p568), the best that it is the only US capitol to out by lethal pesticides in the
introduction to the area is at be heated by naturally 1970s. Visitors also have the rare
the 8,701-ft- (2,652-m-) high occurring geothermal water. opportunity to see a variety of
Galena Summit, where a It was built of sandstone blocks birds including eagles, condors,
spectacular panorama looks quarried by inmates at the Old and falcons while enjoying a
north over the Salmon River. Idaho Penitentiary, 2 miles hilltop view of the surrounding
At an elevation of 6,200 ft (3 km) east of the capitol. sagebrush plains.
(1,890 m), surrounded by the Now open to visitors, the
Sawtooth Mountains, the tiny state penitentiary was in use O Peregrine Fund World Center
hamlet of Stanley (population from 1870 to 1973. Apart from for Birds of Prey
67), has one of the most beautiful the prison, the grounds also 5668 West Flying Hawk Lane.
settings of any town in the US. house a series of galleries Tel (208) 362-3716. Open Mar–Oct:
The unpaved streets and wood- dedicated to subjects such as 10am–5pm Tue–Sun; Nov–Feb:
fronted frontier-style buildings antique weapons and mining. 10am–4pm Tue–Sun. Closed Jan 1,
make visitors feel like they have, The city’s historic center is three Easter, Thanksgiving, Dec 24,
at last, arrived in the Wild West, blocks south of the capitol. Dec 25. &
despite the fact that the glitzy
resort of Sun Valley is barely
an hour away to the south.
Another attraction is Redfish
Lake, 10 miles (16 km) south of
Stanley, where rustic Redfish
Lake Lodge is found near the
foot of Mount Heyburn.

5 Boise
* 214,300. ~ @ n 250 S 5th St,
(800) 635-5240. ∑ boise.org
French trappers in the
19th-century named this out-
post “Boise,” meaning wooded.
Even today, this homespun, The beautiful exterior of the Idaho State Capitol in Boise

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