Idahothe state capital is increasingly seen as a booming trendy hotspot in the United Statesbut it is not generally among the top travel destinations in the world.
Today, National Geographic selected Boise as one of 25 must-see places on the bucket list for 2025.
The mountain which is home to 236,000 inhabitants rubs shoulders with much more exotic places – from South Africafrom the KwaZulu-Natal safari zone to the 200 cenobitic monasteries scattered across Italy.
Nathan Lump, the magazine's editor-in-chief, said the selection reflects travelers' desire to get off the beaten path and visit more unusual and unusual destinations.
“There’s still so much to be excited about,” Lump says.
Boise, the state capital of Idaho, may seem majestic with its mountainous backdrop, but it rarely makes it onto travel bucket lists.
Boise has one of the largest Basque populations in the world outside of Spain, which gives character to the downtown Basque district.
He urged travelers to “go out and explore for themselves the incredible diversity of places and experiences around the world.”
Boise can seem majestic, with the foothills of the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop.
But it rarely appears on the travel itineraries of those visiting only the Pacific Northwest.
National Geographic says that could change next year when visitors come to “party with the Basques.”
Boise is home to one of the largest populations of members of the Basque ethnic group outside of Spain, with up to 15,000 people living there.
A Basque neighborhood in downtown Boise features ethnic taverns, restaurants, bars and a heritage museum.
It is expected to come to life during the Jaialdi festival in July 2025, with street parties, dancing, wood cutting and cart lifting.
Boise is one of only three U.S. destinations on the list.
The others are the Ocala National Forest in north-central Florida and a much better-known American hub: Los Angeles, California.
The Mail presents here some highlights of the selection:
Ocala National Forest, Florida
Researchers have described Ocala as a “green oasis” home to manatees, black bears, rare plants and natural springs.
The National Forest Foundation is working hard to improve the 673-square-mile expanse of pine scrub, lakes and canoe trails.
That includes conserving its natural alkaline and crystalline springs at 72 degrees, says Clayton Coates, an aquatic ecologist.
“From native plants to catadromous fish species, our freshwater sources are part of the foundation of life here in Florida,” says Coates.
Conservationists have worked hard to protect the 673-square-mile expanse of pine brush, lakes and canoe trails.
Los Angeles, California
Destination Crenshaw has revived a deprived 1.3-mile stretch of Crenshaw Boulevard in Los Angeles with more than 100 works of art by Black artists.
Although Los Angeles already has a global reputation, it managed to make the list thanks to a “surge of new energy” in the form of new cultural projects, according to the researchers.
This includes Destination Crenshaw, a 1.3-mile landscaped stretch of Crenshaw Boulevard with more than 100 works of art by Black artists.
Other boxes to check on a cultural visit to Los Angeles include the renovated Los Angeles County Museum of Art and an upcoming art exhibit. collected by Star Wars creator George Lucas at the Exhibition Center.
Adam Burke, president of LA Tourism, recently spoke about “the vibrant, ever-changing nature of the city and its endless range of activities.”
Senegal
Visitors to Senegal should try ceebu jën, the national dish of fish, rice and vegetables.
Researchers recommend a culinary tour of French and local Wolof influences in this West African country.
They suggest trying ceebu jën, the national dish of fish, rice and vegetables, and kanja soup, a Senegalese okra.
Senegalese-American actress and producer Issa Rae is set to spotlight cooking in the upcoming National Geographic series No Taste Like Home.
She visited the country of some 17 million people with culinary star Antoni Porowski to do the show.
“It’s such a welcoming country, you know, I’m so proud of my family lineage,” Rae says.
Greenland
Overlooked Greenland will open its doors to tourists next year with its first direct flight to New York.
From June 2025, New Yorkers will be able to travel directly to Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, for the first time.
Once there, they will have access to the largest island in the world, with its colossal towns, unique indigenous Inuit culture and stunning ice fjords.
The twice-weekly flights will be operated by United Airlines and will last just over four hours.
On the one hand, the new route could double the number of visitors to Greenland of the United States.
Jens Lauridsen, CEO of Greenland Airports, says he does not want to increase the number of flights to the point that the island is overwhelmed by tourists.
“Like in Barcelona, we are fed up with tourists because it’s too much, and it scares away the locals,” explains Lauridsen.
“It’s about finding that balance between showing love for Greenland and showing its incredible possibilities, but without doing too much, too quickly.”
Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada
The “Galápagos of the North” are a great place to trek through remote rainforests and spot humpback whales and dolphins.
This archipelago of some 150 misty islands off the northern Pacific coast of British Columbia is also known as the Queen Charlotte Islands.
The ancestral home of the Haida people is developing its infrastructure for tourism, following a 2023 agreement with the government for local indigenous self-governance.
It's fast becoming a great place to trek through remote rainforests and spot humpback whales and dolphins on whale watching tours.
Its abundance of verdant beauty has led to comparisons with another island chain called the “Galápagos of the North.”
National Geographic also recommends meeting Haida artists who make traditional totem poles in the village of Old Massett.
Northland, New Zealand
Wildlife watchers will enjoy warm water diving and spotting unusual species at the Poor Knights Marine Reserve.
International travelers to New Zealand usually land in Auckland and head south for their adventures.
National Geographic suggests a change of route and a trip north to the little-visited Northland region.
Wildlife watchers will enjoy warm-water diving and spotting mosaic moray eels and other unusual species in the Poor Knights Marine Reserve, they add.
On land, sightings of the national bird are numerous, thanks to the Kiwi Coast, a conservation project for the flightless animal.
Ngaire Sullivan, project coordinator, promises visitors a “magnificent and wonderful” experience.
“The fact that you can come here and hear kiwi screams all night long… it’s just amazing,” she said.
To learn more about National Geographic's Best of the World 2025 list, visit Natgeo.com/MeilleurduMonde
