by Courtney Ritchey, Class of 2022
As the leaves change and the evenings get cooler, fall is officially here and the cities of Nampa and Boise have plenty of fall activities to fill your free time. Here’s a few of my favorite things that are fun, close to campus and won’t break the bank.
Get your pumpkin spice fix at local coffee shops
Ask any NNU student where they like to study or have a cup of coffee, and you’ll probably hear about Flying M. The Flying M Coffee Garage is a local favorite because of their wide selection of house-made pastries and Trivia Nights. Their fall specialties include pumpkin whoopie pies and hot maple lattes. If you’re in a hurry, grab a cup to go when you drive through my personal favorite, Hot Shots Brew Crew. In addition to sipping on a yummy pumpkin spice latte, you can join a text message notification club and receive messages for all kinds of deals and free coffee on your birthday! (And hello, student discounts!)
Bowl it up at Big Al’s in The Village on Two Buck Tuesday
The Village at Meridian offers a variety of shopping and dining that attracts students year-round. Students like to meander through the stores, enjoy a fountain show, catch a movie or simply hang out in the nice fall weather. Even if shopping isn’t quite your style, you’ll want to check out Big Al’s. Big Al’s is an entertainment center equipped with bowling lanes, arcade games, sports TV and food. They’re open late and offer weekly deals such as Two Buck Tuesdays, where all bowling and arcade games are only $2. Yes, please!
Enjoy an old fashioned cocoa in Boise Historic District
Downtown Boise is home to an array of culture and diversity, and my absolute favorite thing about Boise culture is its Historic Districts. With the bright autumn colors through the trees, eclectic old fashioned homes and quiet streets paving the way, taking a bike ride through one of the nine Historic Districts is the perfect way to wind down after a long week of classes. As you make your way through the Historic Districts, you’ll definitely want to stop by Goody’s Soda Fountain in Hyde Park where you can enjoy an old fashioned caramel apple sundae, homemade hot chocolate or chai tea.
Catch a flick at the Nampa Reel Theatre
Going to the movies with a group of friends is a popular weekend treat among students. Those ticket prices can stack up pretty quick, but don’t let that stop you. The Nampa Reel Theatre offers extremely low ticket prices 7 days a week. General admission is just $3, and every Tuesday is dollar day, where tickets are only one dollar all day long. To top it off, the Reel Theatre is only 10 minutes from campus.
Pick a pumpkin on your way out of a corn maze
Something that sets Nampa apart from other towns is its mix of city and farm life, and when you put a bunch of fields and fall together, you get my favorite part of the season: corn mazes. Getting a group of friends together and heading out to The Farmstead or Linder Farms is a fun fall experience that can only be found in the Boise Valley. Take a hayride, pick out the perfect pumpkin for your dorm room and try to find your way through a corn maze, all while enjoying some hot apple cider and salt water taffy. From petting zoos and carnival games to the infamous haunted maze, there’s a little bit of fall fun for everyone.
As you start off the school year, don’t forget to take some time to rejuvenate outside the dorm. Nampa in the fall is the prettiest place to be, so when you find yourself in need of a study break, grab a couple of friends and hit the town (or the pumpkin patch)!