Looking for a way to pass the time? Try some spring cleaning! Every year, just when the weather starts to get nice, we get the itch to start cleaning from all of the time spent indoors over the winter months. Then, with the nice weather coming through, it is painful to spend the sunny days inside cleaning so we regret putting it off! So while the crumby weather persists, take the time to start your cleaning early this year.

Not sure where to start? We suggest starting with the organizing. Make places for things to go and sort items inside the house and work your way into the detail work such as dusting and scrubbing. We always like to work from inside out finishing with the garage where all of the summer toys are stored!
Good luck with your early spring cleaning!

Boise is full of great people, places and things but there is even more to our wonderful community! There are plenty of ways to enjoy the great place that we live but it is also a great place to enjoy with the furry friends in our lives too! Boise is full of places to run around with your dog including the 22 miles of Green Belt pathways, restaurants with pet friendly patios and a variety of dog parks throughout the city. There is no reason to leave your dog cooped up in the house or car with all the fun places to play in the city!

Pine Tree Village is especially excited about the Pine Grove Park just around the corner from the town homes! The park offers an acre of fenced area for your dog to run and play. From sunrise to sunset, the off-leash park is perfect for social dogs and pups in training!

Find out more about the park and its future developments on the City of Boise Parks and Recreation website: http://parks.cityofboise.org/parks-locations/parks/pine-grove-park/

Take these nice, bright days and spend some time outdoors while you can! However, as soon as our February sun comes out, it is on its way out quickly followed by Spring showers. When the rainy spring and the anticipation for summer set in, take the opportunity to enjoy the indoor hot-spots one more time before winter hits. Enjoy some of our local indoor hotspots while its gloomy because once the sun comes back to stay, you will be too busy enjoying the outdoors! For some new indoor entertainment, try Boise’s own Dave and Busters, Big Al’s of Meridian and Fast Lane GoKarts. All three promise fun for all.

As you know, we just love our wonderful City of Trees and that is why we think there is no better place to share your love this Valentine’s Day. Here are some fun ways to celebrate your Valentine in Boise this year:

Run for Love.
Looking for a fun and active way to spend some time with your Valentine? Celebrate the love early and join the Valentines Dash, a local 5K run that starts at Julia Davis Park on Saturday morning.

Try a local lunch spot!
Boise has a variety of great local places to bring your hunny for a bite to eat on Valentine’s Day. If you’re looking for something new, there is a new restaurant opening on Valentine’s Day in the Pine Tree Village neck of the woods. The Kabob House, featuring an authentic Mediterranean menu, is located in the complex on the corner of Maple Grove and Emerald.

For the love of flowers.
Don’t forget to visit one of Boise’s local flower shops this Valentine’s Day. From creative arrangements to practical bouquets, one of Boise’s local florists will have you covered this holiday. To name a few florists in town, you can visit Boise at its Best, Hillcrest Floral or Johnson Floral Co.

And of course, if you’re really looking to kick it up a notch, you can take your sweetie house shopping in Pine Tree Village. Nothing says “I love you” like an offer on a new town home… just a thought!

A few weeks ago we resolved to be active. Idaho offers so many ways to expend our energy outside during any season. From the rivers and lakes to the mountains and trails, we Idahoans never get bored! One of our favorite highlights, however, is the wonderful Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area. With mountain biking and hiking in the warm months and winter sports in the snow, Bogus has become a popular hot spot year round.

We encourage you all to make the 45 minute (depending on conditions) scenic ride up to Bogus Basin to enjoy all that it has to offer. From the mountain terrain for skiing and snowboarding to the nordic trails for cross country skiing and snow shoeing and even a tubing hill and sleigh rides, the resort offers endless fun this time of year. The mountain features 2 lodges serving food, drinks and entertainment daily. Unlike other local resorts, the mountain lights up when the sun goes down so visitors can enjoy the snow into the night. Grab a board, some skis or let the on-site outfitters set you up with some gear to make a weekend or an evening of fun.

For a little longer drive, other great resorts in the area include:

Brundage Mountain Resort
Tamarack Resort
Anthony Lakes
Sun Valley Resort