Just Moved to Boise? Here’s What You Should Do on Day 1

As a lifetime Twin Falls resident, I recently moved to Boise. Before my move, I spent plenty of time here. My family used to visit on day trips, weekends, and quick holidays. But visiting and living here are two different animals.

If you’re new to the area, I hope you find this list handy. It’s a few quick things I learned that I wish I’d known on Day 1. And if you're a long-time Boise resident, feel free to comment and let me know if there's anything else I should add.

Parking in Boise: Download Your Parking Tools

If you’re coming from a smaller metro, downtown parking will smack you upside the head. Back home, you drive up, park, and walk in. Not. In. Boise. You need to know your parking zones, nearby garages, and the cost. There are two apps that help navigate downtown parking that I wish I had known about on day 1.

ParkMobile handles on-street parking downtown. Boise meters still take coins and debit, which is a nice option. But it’s way easier to pay and extend in the app.

ParkBOI. This app points you to the main downtown garages. I try to avoid parking garages because they typically cost more. But on weekends and evenings, sometimes it's unavoidable. Such is life in the city.

Also, bookmark the City of Boise parking map. It shows zoes and rates at a glance and keeps you from doing the endless loop.

READ MORE: Five Epic Pizza Stops New Boise Residents Should Try First

Public Transportation

Idaho’s a driver's state; I still drive most places myself. But on BSU game days, concerts, airport runs, or when you don’t want to mess with parking, the bus can be the smarter play. It helps to at least have a basic understanding of Boise's public transportation system.

Ada County Alert and Notification System

Sign up once and you’re covered. You’ll get alerts tied to your address and the wider area. Notifications will alert you to things like wildfires, severe weather, floods, active shooter notifications, and other major incidents.

Trash Days and What Services You Get

Smaller towns like Twin usually handle trash and recycling. Boise adds curbside composting to the mix. Look up your pickup schedule by address. Check what goes in each cart, how to handle large items and overflow, and how holidays shift service days.

Animal Licensing

Rural areas in Idaho often don't require licencing, and when they do, it's usually ignored. Boise requires dog licensing. The good news is you can do it online in a few minutes.

Get a Boise Library Card (Seriously)

Coworkers told me to do this, and I didn’t fully get it until I walked in. The Boise Public Library gives you digital media, study rooms, meeting spaces, and quiet corners when you need to work away from the office. If not Day 1, make it Day 2. You won’t regret it.