Best places for 8 popular indoor activities in Boise

When the sun is shining and temperatures are warm, it's not too difficult to get out of the house and find something to do, whether it's a simple walk around the block or a day trip to the beach. But when temperatures are lower or rain is trickling down your windows, you're probably more likely to stay inside—and that's true no matter your age.

A 2020 survey of about 1,000 people from the National Recreation and Park Association showed that 58% of U.S. adults are less active in the winter. Similarly, a 2016 study out of the University of Cambridge found that average activity levels among children dropped to their lowest levels in February at about 48 minutes per day compared to 65 minutes per day in April, the peak month for activity.

The good news is there are an increasing number of ways to get out and be active, no matter the season and no matter what level of activity you're looking for. There are the longtime staples to visit year-round, from an awe-inspiring and educational visit to an aquarium or planetarium to a culturally stimulating night at the theater to a trip down memory lane at the bowling alley. For the gamers among you—or for those nostalgic for the 1970s, '80s, and '90s—there's always laser tag or an afternoon at the arcade.

Those looking to exercise their minds a bit more than their muscles could try the more recent sensation: escape rooms, which started captivating Americans of all ages in the mid-2010s. Meanwhile, people who want to sweat it out a bit can try to get into the skyrocketing success of indoor rock climbing, the bouncing business of trampoline parks, and the more adult activity that is ax throwing.

To motivate you to try a new activity this weekend, weather notwithstanding, Stacker compiled a list of the best places for popular indoor activities in Boise using data from Yelp. Data is as of Feb. 21, 2024. Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself.

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1 / 8

Arcade: Spacebar Arcade

- Rating: 4.1/5 (94 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 620 Idaho St. Boise, Idaho
- Categories: Bars, Arcades
- Read more on Yelp

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2 / 8

Bowling: Liquid Lounge

- Rating: 3.5/5 (53 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 405 South 8th St. Boise, Idaho
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, Pool Halls, Bowling
- Read more on Yelp

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3 / 8

Rock climbing: The Commons Climbing Gym

- Rating: 5.0/5 (1 review)
- Address: 4795 West Emerald St. Boise, Idaho
- Categories: Rock Climbing
- Read more on Yelp

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4 / 8

Aquarium: Aquarium Of Boise

- Rating: 3.8/5 (95 reviews)
- Address: 64 North Cole Road Boise, Idaho
- Categories: Aquariums
- Read more on Yelp

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5 / 8

Ax throwing: Base Camp Pong + Axe

- Rating: 4.6/5 (69 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 815 Ann Morrison Park Drive Boise, Idaho
- Categories: American, Cocktail Bars, Ax Throwing
- Read more on Yelp

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6 / 8

Escape games: Escape This Live

- Rating: 4.7/5 (61 reviews)
- Address: 410 South Orchard St. Ste 108 Boise, Idaho
- Categories: Escape Games
- Read more on Yelp

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7 / 8

Theater: Boise Little Theater

- Rating: 4.8/5 (8 reviews)
- Address: 100 East Fort St. Boise, Idaho
- Categories: Performing Arts
- Read more on Yelp

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8 / 8

Trampoline park: Fly High

- Rating: 3.3/5 (29 reviews)
- Address: 7672 Fairview Ave. Boise, Idaho
- Categories: Trampoline Parks
- Read more on Yelp

This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 251 metros.

UPDATE March 8: The rock climbing and theater venues in this article have been updated to feature solely indoor establishments.