The state capital of Idaho is increasingly seen as a hotspot in the U.S., but it’s not often ranked among the world’s top tourist destinations.
Now, National Geographic has selected Boise as one of the cities on the planet. 25 Must-See Bucket List Places by 2025.
The mountain, home to 236,000 people, sits alongside much more exotic places, from South Africa’s Kwazulu-Natal safari area to the 200 cenobitic monasteries scattered across Italy.
Nathan Lump, the magazine’s editor-in-chief, said the selection reflects a yearning among travelers to get off the beaten path and visit more extravagant and unusual destinations.
“There’s still a lot to be excited about,” Lump says.
Idaho’s state capital, Boise, may look majestic with its mountainous backdrop, but it rarely appears on travel bucket lists.
Boise has one of the largest Basque populations in the world outside of Spain, which adds character to the downtown Basque block.
He urged travelers to “go out and explore for yourself the incredible diversity of places and experiences around the world.”
Boise may seem majestic, against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountain foothills.
But it rarely appears on the travel itineraries of those traveling solely through 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 living there.
A Basque block in downtown Boise features ethnic taverns, restaurants, bars and a heritage museum.
It is set to come to life during the Jaialdi festival in July 2025, with street parties, dances, firewood cutting and cart-raising.
Boise is one of only three US destinations to make 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 some highlights of the selection here:
Ocala National Forest, Florida
Researchers described Ocala as a “green oasis” that is 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 preserving its natural 72-degree alkaline and crystalline springs, says Clayton Coates, an aquatic ecologist.
“From native plants to catadromous fish species, our freshwater springs are part of the foundation of life itself here in Florida,” says Coates.
Conservationists have worked hard to protect the 673-square-mile expanse of pine scrub, lakes and canoe trails.
Los Angeles, California
Destination Crenshaw has revived a downtrodden 1.3-mile stretch of Los Angeles’ Crenshaw Boulevard with more than 100 works of art by Black artists.
Although Los Angeles already has a global reputation, it made the list thanks to a “jolt of new energy” in the form of new cultural projects, the researchers said.
This includes Destination Crenshaw, a 1.3-mile landscaped stretch of Crenshaw Boulevard featuring more than 100 works of art by Black artists.
Other boxes to check on a cultural tour of Los Angeles include the renovated Los Angeles County Museum of Art and an upcoming exhibit of collected works by Star Wars creator George Lucas at Exposition Park.
Adam Burke, president of LA Tourism, recently spoke of the city’s “vibrant, ever-evolving nature and its endless variety 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 gumbo.
Senegalese-American actress and producer Issa Rae will spotlight cooking in the upcoming National Geographic series, No Taste Like Home.
He visited the country of about 17 million people with culinary star Antoni Porowski to put on the show.
“This is such a beautifully welcoming country, you know I’m so proud of my family lineage,” Rae says.
Green Earth
Overlooked Greenland will open to tourists next year with its first direct flight to New York City.
Starting in June 2025, New Yorkers will be able to fly 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 cities, a unique indigenous Inuit culture and impressive ice fjords.
The twice-weekly flights will be operated by United Airlines and will last just over four hours.
According to one estimate, the new route could double the number of visitors to Greenland from the United States.
Jens Lauridsen, chief executive of Greenland Airports, says he doesn’t want to increase numbers so much that the island is overwhelmed by tourists.
“Like in Barcelona, you get tired of tourists because there are too many of them, and that displaces the locals,” says Lauridsen.
“It’s about finding the balance between showing the love for Greenland and showing the incredible possibilities, but without going too fast.”
Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada
The ‘Galapagos of the North’ are an ideal place to tour remote tropical forests and observe humpback whales and dolphins.
This archipelago of about 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 autonomy.
It will become an ideal place to tour remote rainforests and spot humpback whales and dolphins on whale watching excursions.
Its abundance of green beauty has led to comparisons with another island chain such as the ‘Galapagos of the North’.
National Geographic also recommends meeting the 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 Poor Knights Marine Reserve.
International travelers to New Zealand typically land in Auckland and head south in search of adventure.
National Geographic suggests a change of itinerary and a trip north, to the little-visited Northland region.
Wildlife watchers will enjoy warm water diving and sightings of mosaic moray eels and other unusual species at Poor Knights Marine Reserve, they add.
On land, sightings of the national bird are abundant, thanks to Kiwi Coast, a conservation project for the flightless animal.
Ngaire Sullivan, project coordinator, promises visitors a “beautiful and wonderful” experience.
“The fact that you can come up here and hear the kiwi chirping at night… it’s just amazing,” he said.
For more information on National Geographic’s Best of the World 2025 list, visit Natgeo.com/BestoftheWorld
