Boise with the Boyz

For Fall break we decided to take a trip to Boise. We had so much fun last year with our little trip to Logan and Franklin, Idaho that we thought we'd take another trip. This time it was to Boise. Our Clark Planetarium membership gives us discounts to other science centers around the world. We chose the Discovery Center of Idaho in Boise because it was the closest. It was still a five hour drive though, but the kids did great.

We left Thursday afternoon and stopped in Twin Falls for dinner.


We stopped to see the Twin Falls temple before we went to dinner. We ate at Golden Corral which was not a pleasant experience. There was nothing that Jonathan would eat, and honestly nothing that I was super excited about either. I don't want to sound snooty but I felt a little out of place. With few exceptions, I think Jaaromy and I might have been one of the skinny ones there. We probably won't be going back.

We got to Boise shortly after ten. We brought our telescope with the expectation of taking it out about a half hour out of the city. The sky is much darker in Idaho and I really wanted to see the Milky Way. Unfortunately, it was too late to stop. We hoped we would get a chance the next night, but by then it was cloudy. I'm so sad that part of the trip didn't work out. I guess we'll have to take out the telescope somewhere around here, but we'll have to drive farther to get away from the lights.

The next morning was the activity that everyone had been waiting for, and the whole reason for our trip. The Discovery Center! So, after a quick breakfast at IHOP(so tasty!)and a short stop to Shopko(Nathaniel forgot to pack shirts and Brigham had already gotten his pants dirty) we were off.


Jonathan got right to work with the remote control robot cars.


Nathaniel told the robot arm to spell his name with blocks.


Brigham loved this exhibit. I'm not sure if it was because it looked like Neptune or because of the cute girls.


Nathaniel and Jonathan were both excited to try the Air Brake Chair. They pulled themselves up with the rope and when they got to the top they let go and the air brakes brought them slowly back down.


They also tried the Centripetal Wheel. We could never get it going fast enough to keep the stuffed animals from falling off though. But I love how it looks like that bear is running up the side of the wheel.


Brigham got a kick out of this magnetic induction exhibit.


And when Brigham saw this computer he got right to work.


Jonathan and Brigham both loved this planet sphere. You can't tell in the picture but there is a projector on the inside that projects the surfaces of planets, their moons and several of Earth. They, especially Brigham, pretty much camped out here for the rest of the visit.

After the Discovery Center we walked across the bridge that's behind the Center to a park.

While we were there we saw this squirrel. It didn't seem to concerned about the people around, but just in case, I didn't get any closer.

Then we went back to the hotel to go swimming. We were the only ones in the pool and it was so cold that Jonathan and Brigham's lips started turning blue. It wasn't too bad as long as you were moving, but Jonathan didn't want to move, but he also didn't want to get out of the pool. In the end I decided to have everyone get in the hot tub. Brigham and I technically shouldn't be getting in but it was so cold, so we sat on the steps. It worked, Brigham warmed right up and even Jonathan said that it felt nice. After everyone warmed up, we went back to our room to get dressed for dinner.

I feel silly mentioning where we went for dinner and such, but planning meals was a big part of the trip. We went to Chuck-A-Rama that night and it was so much better than our experience with Golden Corral. The food was so much better and the people were normal looking. Plus, it cost the same. I love Chuck-A-Rama.

Jonathan and Nathaniel both started getting colds while we gone and Nathaniel even woke up the second night with the croup. I thought he was too old for it, but at least it was easier to talk him through it.

Another small note: In researching our hotel I learned that it had a great breakfast buffet. We never got the chance to find out if that was true since they closed it down at 9:30. That's just too early for us. So, our last morning there we had a quick breakfast at Denny's(didn't go so well) and then we stopped at the Boise Temple before we headed home.


This was so funny to watch. Brigham's backpack was really heavy but everyone's hands were full so he had to carry it. He couldn't walk straight, but if I held his hand, he could do it.


The boys have never seen a temple with this design before so it was kind of a novelty for them. We walked around for a while, it was good to get in some walking before the long drive home.


The kids did great on the drive. Nathaniel got a little onery when he realized that he wouldn't have much time to play on the computer when we got home. Jaaromy and I were getting a little grumpy too. But over all, the trip went well and I can't wait for next year. I think we're going to Flagstaff to see the Lowell Observatory and Meteor Crater. So exciting!