Looking for a date night? Fun weekend plans? This new book by Boise author has you covered
People who are not from the Gem State may hear of Boise and think of potatoes, Boise State’s blue football field or perhaps even the city’s proximity to ski resorts.
But the City of Trees is so much more than that, and about 18 months ago, Boise author Amanda Turner embarked on a mission to show people that.
Turner, a New York Times best-selling author and Boise resident of almost 20 years, recently published “100 Things to Do in Boise Before You Die.” The book is as advertised — it highlights 100 of the best things to do in Boise.
Turner, who recently interviewed with the Idaho Statesman, reiterated that this book was her take on Boise and that other people obviously may have different favorite haunts around the city.
“It just seemed like a really fun way to reintroduce myself to what I love about the city,” Turner said. “Boise is such a pocket of culture.”
“100 Things to Do in Boise Before You Die” is Turner’s ninth solo book. Last year, she published “How to Be Awkward,” a book that celebrates the eccentricities in all humans.
Flipping to the first two pages provides a perfect example of what you can expect from the book. On the left is a 150-word description of Chandlers Steakhouse — complete with recommendations on what to order— while the page offers three other options for people looking to wine and dine in style.
That’s not how every page looks — some have complete reviews on both pages — but the quick and easy-to-read style is something that Turner aimed for.
“I wanted the reader to be able to quickly leaf through the book and be like, ‘Oh, we’ve never tried this place. Why don’t we check that out?’” Turner said.
The book has five main categories, with over a dozen reviews and recommendations within each one: food and drink, music and entertainment, sports and recreation, culture and history, and shopping and fashion.
At the back of the book, there is also a breakdown of activities by season or an itinerary for people looking for specific ideas, such as Boise icons or date night ideas.
Despite there being so many recommendations, Turner said she still had trouble deciding which Boise attractions to highlight.
“I had to really focus on which I thought was the most representative of Boise,” Turner said.
“That was really difficult when it came to, like, community theater, because I love the Stage Coach Theatre, which is really close to my house,” she continued. “But Boise Little Theater is Boise’s longest-running community theater, so I had to sometimes take into account the history behind the place and give it top billing based on that.”
“100 Things to Do in Boise Before You Die” is available online on Amazon, and Turner said it is also available in Rediscovered Books in downtown Boise.
‘100 Things to Do in Boise Before You Die’ local book signings
Turner will be available for several book signings and presentations about her book:
Oct. 15 - Walking and hiking tour
Where: Old Idaho Penitentiary
Time: 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Admission: Ticketed; contact Amanda@Amandaturner.com for prices and to purchase tickets
Oct. 19 - Book signing
Where: Dragonfly
Time: 4 - 6 p.m.
Admission: Free and open to the public
Nov. 16 - Presentation and book signing
Where: Chandlers Prime Steak & Fine Seafood
Time: 4 - 6 p.m.
Admission: Ticketed, contact Amanda@Amandaturner.com for prices and to purchase tickets.
This story was originally published October 4, 2023 at 12:36 PM.
