Today I re-kindled the travel bug within me. I am visiting my boyfriends sister (also a dear friend to me) in Boise, Idaho and preparing to do some bridal hair and make up here this weekend.

The last time I was this far east of the Washington border (the state, not D.C.) was when I was in Colorado. That was the first time I had experienced weather that was any drier than what I had grown up with in southwest Washington.

It is defintely dryer here in Boise, but I have to say that, when combined with the almost-always-present moderate breeze, the dry 90 degree weather is much more pleasant. For instance, this afternoon I walked about a mile and a half to get to downtown Boise. It was 90 degrees outside but I didn’t find myself to be sweaty at all once I got to my destination because of the moderately dry and breezy climate. Had I made a walk like this in 90 degree southwest WA I would have been all sorts of sticky and sweaty.

My first stop downtown was Bluebird at the corner of N. 10th St and Bannock St.

Everything on their menu sounded delicious. I went with their vegetarian sandwich which consisted of tomato, balsamic, arugula, and mozzarella cheese on on baguette.

Hours later I am still thinking of how delicious and hearty this sandwich was. So much that I am considering going back tomorrow for the same meal for lunch. I’m also considering splurging for the basil lemonade that was on the menu.

When it comes to cafes, good and wholesome food is, of course, a priority. Bluebird cafe got definite bonus points in my book though because of its adorable blue and outdoorsy decor with hints of bird silhouettes. My favorite detail about Bluebird Cafe was that one of the owners (the owners are a husband and wife team) was working the cash register and making drinks while the other was running the kitchen.

Practically right next door was a used bookshop where the owner of the shop was also front and center working and running the establishment. The bookshop was called Trip Taylor Bookseller. There had to have been over a thousand used books. There was also a bin full of books in front of the store that were a dollar each. I got four different books for seventeen dollars and change.

My last stop of the day is right where I am now, right across the street from Bluebird Cafe, The District Coffee House. I was drawn to this coffee shop not only for the convenience of it being right across the street from where I had lunch and its open use of wifi, but becuase it is a non profit coffee house that supports Send Hope which is a network that financially supports twelve orphanages in India.

The District Coffee house has a spacious, quiet, and airy feel to and plays lovely and relaxing music.

I have been sitting here slowly enjoying a dirty chai tea latte for a couple of hours now and got a start on one of the books I picked up at Trip Taylor Bookseller, The Fourth World by Sam Hall – a book about the history and the changing culture of the arctic and environmental damages caused by modernization (*ahem* global warming).

The District Coffee House also helped me discover the artist Joshua Radin who now has a permanent home on my spotify.

I am looking forward to the lovely walk back through a neighborhood full of beautiful and older bungalow-like and postage stamp style houses. I love walking through neighborhoods like this at home and love finding them whenever I visit a different city. Oh how I wish that it wasn’t weird to take pictures of the outside of peoples houses, if it weren’t I would insert some below for any one who decides to read this blog post to enjoy.

Although I am enjoying Boise, there happens to be a black german shepherd sitting with its owner right outside of the the coffee house that looks just like Bitty girl which is making me excited to return home on Sunday.

Of course, I will still make the most of wandering around downtown Boise tomorrow, dinner with my boyfriends sister tomorrow, and doing hair and make up for a beautiful bride this weekend.

Thanks for stopping by Paige’s Page!