Boise, Idaho

Boise is the perfect combination of city life and outdoor adventure: whitewater rafting by day, swanky wine bars by night (new kid on the block Camel’s Crossing is one of the best). Bike the 40 kilometre riverside Greenbelt trail in the morning and catch a show by Idaho Dance Theatre, or at Ballet Idaho, in the evening; spend all day hiking in the foothills of the Boise Mountains and then sample some traditional culture at the Basque Block: the epicentre of the largest Basque community in North America, with fabulous restaurants including Bar Gernika, which does superb tapas and cocktails. But whatever you do, The Inn at 500 Capitol will make the perfect base: a plush boutique hotel in the heart of the cultural district with gorgeous rooms and balconies overlooking the city. Come during summer to enjoy one of the many outdoor festivals that line the streets, including the free Alive After Five concerts; or in winter for some big mountain skiing at Bogus Basin, just 25 kilometres northeast of the city.