Located along the Boise River and nestled against foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Boise offers many outdoor activities to local residents, from skiing at Bogus Basin Ski Resort to biking on the Boise River Greenbelt to boating at nearby reservoirs.   The Boise area has it all - desert, rivers, mountains and lakes for hiking, camping, kayaking, river rafting, hunting and fishing.

Many large regional, national and international companies are headquartered here, including Simplot Corporation, Boise Cascade, Washington Group, Micron Technology and Hewlett-Packard.

Boise is home to Boise State University, the state's largest university with an enrollment of over 18,600 students, as well as 34 grade schools, 9 junior high schools, and 5 high schools.