The stunning city of Meridian stands in Idaho’s famed Treasure Valley.
Many know the city as one of the fastest-growing ones in the country, with its population surging in the last three decades.
Likely because of the many families who visit or relocate here, many Meridian’s attractions can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
From lively malls, relaxing parks, and exciting recreational centers, there is something that everyone in your family or group will love.
Consider making this charming city your next family vacation spot.
Check out the best things to do in Meridian, Idaho.
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A popular attraction in the city of Meridian is the Village, an outdoor mall that also serves as a tourist hub.
You can find this place in the south and west areas of Kleiner Park, featuring fantastic and picturesque sceneries.
Many of the stores and establishments you can find here line up an arcing street lined with lush trees and flowerbeds.
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Most people say that it’s best visited near the holidays when the outdoor spaces are filled with lights and a skating rink is accessible by the public.
It’s a great hangout spot where you can find everything that you may need, along with other special items that may serve as your souvenir.
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Tourists and locals flock to Linder Farms for some incredible opportunities for fall activities with the entire family.
This place has been open for more than 30 years, and it provides fantastic seasonal entertainment to its visitors.
Here, you can go to a petting zoo, corn maze, and inflatable slides.
You can also go on hayrides for a fun time around the farm.
Additionally, as Halloween season nears, you can go to their pumpkin patch and pick one for your Jack-o-Lantern creation.
At Linder Farms, you can also enjoy many delicious sweet and salty treats, including caramel apples, doughnuts, corn dogs, and more.
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When coming to Meridian, many locals and visitors also head over to the Boise River Greenbelt.
You can find this river running on the north and east areas of Meridian, continuing through the city of Boise.
You can find that this river’s banks have pedestrian and bike paths spanning around 25 miles.
They also go through 850 acres worth of park areas.
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If you follow the paths, they will lead you to the neighboring city of Boise.
You will also always be surrounded by amazing greenery and wildlife.
One of the more popular activities that you can do here is birdwatching, as various species tend to fly by here.
Water-based activities are also available as you can rent rafts and paddleboards that you can use on the water.
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Another amazing park within the beautiful city of Meridian is Settler’s Park.
This solace is 57 acres big and features a lot of amenities people of all ages can enjoy.
If you have brought your kids with you on your trip, they can have a blast playing at the Adventure Island Playground Area and the park’s splash pad.
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Meanwhile, everyone can spend a lovely, relaxing afternoon at the shelters that you can rent for use.
There are also many recreational amenities like sports fields and courts that you can use.
Apart from this, on Friday evenings during summer, you can catch a film screening of some amazing movies while chilling outdoors.
Spend an amazing afternoon at Settler’s Park.
Spend some lovely time with your family at Wahooz Family Fun Zone in Meridian.
Here, you can find an abundant array of indoor recreational activities visitors of all ages can enjoy.
For a more relaxed activity, you can head over to this place’s 18-hole mini-golf courses.
Alternatively, you can also go head to head with others at the Laser Tag Arena or the Bowling Center.
You can also find excellent Go-Kart Tracks here, as well as an arcade featuring over 100 games.
When it comes to food options, you are spoilt for choice.
This place has an in-house restaurant where you can choose from an extensive menu of tasty pizzas, sandwiches, and more.
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Many tourists who visit Meridian visit the stunning Julius M. Kleiner Memorial Park.
This site spans more than 58 acres and has been open to the public since 2012.
The people who visit here tend to look for passive recreation, so you will find it the perfect site for relaxing strolls and bike rides.
It also features two big ponds at the park’s heart, with an amphitheater and bandshell standing near the North Pond.
The Kleiner Memorial Park also has a recreation complex and a picnic area for anyone who wants to hang out and relax.
Children can also entertain themselves by having fun at the playground and splash pad.
Meanwhile, adults who want to stay active can use the sports facilities in the park.
When you come here, don’t forget to check out the life-size monument of Julius M. Kleiner, the man this park is dedicated to.
Have you been itching to try a unique sport?
When you come to Meridian, make sure to keep your muscles active by visiting Vertical View.
This attraction is a wall-climbing center that’s four stories big.
It features climbing alls that can be as high as 65 feet.
Some areas for kids’ wall climbing activities are also available here.
You can also find a few yoga studios and a community area for more casual games at this climbing center.
Experience the thrill of wall climbing when you visit Vertical View.
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A great way to know a place you’re visiting is by exploring its heart.
When you come to Meridian, take the opportunity to explore the Downtown area.
This lively part of the city features many restaurants, local stores, and charming outdoor spaces.
For those looking for something to do at night, you can also find bars in this part of the city.
After hours of exploring, you can also stay at the stunning Generations Plaza and rest a bit under the shade near the majestic fountain.
Arguably the most well-known attraction in Meridian, Idaho, is Roaring Springs.
Many know this place for being the biggest waterpark in the North West.
The site itself houses over 20 water attractions that your entire travel party can enjoy.
For those who love exciting experiences, they can head over to Roaring Springs’ Snake River Run and Corkscrew Cavern – two challenging waterslides.
However, for the bravest of people, they can head over the Cliffhanger, a high-speed waterslide that has a six-story drop.
Meanwhile, kids can head over to Bearfoot Bay, where you can find a wading pool and easier slides.
When you spend a day here and become hungry, you don’t have to worry about getting food as it has in-house restaurants where you can dine.
Additionally, you can also rent a cabana for your stay.
Don’t miss out on the exciting and incredible attractions that you can only find at Roaring Springs.
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The Meridian Speedway has been attracting tourists from all over the country since 1951.
This attraction is a part of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly series, and you can catch weekly races during the spring and summer seasons.
Apart from the races, you can also witness all sorts of special events here, like a fireworks show and an exciting event called Eve of Destruction.
Many also say that a big part of experiencing the races here at Meridian Speedway is the food.
When you’re here, don’t forget to order some tasty snacks and drinks, like huge buckets of beer paired with anything from elotes to burgers.
If you have the chance, don’t hesitate to check an event at the Meridian Speedway.
Bond with your kids, and let them learn and have fun at the Children’s Museum of Idaho.
Found at the heart of Meridian, this place provides children with the means to learn through play and exploration.
It features exhibits and experiences tailor-made for this purpose.
Here, you can find several interactive exhibits that kids can discover.
Of course, you can guide them through it.
It’s a great attraction to check out that also helps your children stay curious and learn.
In the heart of Meridian, only two blocks from Main Street, sits the Idaho Art Gallery, a well-liked gathering place for the local arts community.
The Idaho Art Gallery aspires to show that art truly matters and achieves this objective by collecting works of landscape artwork that are rooted in Idaho.
They do this to enhance the culture of their great neighborhood.
This amazing asset to the Idaho art community is home to just Idaho artists and functions as a gallery, studio, and event space.
In addition to their beautifully chosen array of multi-medium featured artists, Bill Garibyan’s landscape paintings serve as its cornerstone collection.
As the artists’ skills and methods unveil the beauty they have produced, their work will captivate you.
Come by and take in Meridian’s latest addition to the art scene.
The Club at SpurWing provides a variety of amenities, including golf courses engineered to be difficult, competitive tennis courts, newly refurbished exercise centers, a five-lane pool, fine restaurants, and great services.
The 18-hole title course, which measures 7,300 yards from the edges, is the longest exclusive golf course in the region.
It’s also the sole private club in the region featuring a putting green and a nine-hole par-three course.
The Club at SpurWing is one of few clubs with a diving ledge and includes a 5-lane pool ideal for swimming laps.
Fully outfitted, the club’s fitness center features the newest machines, including stair climbers, elliptical machines, and treadmills.
Host any unique social or business-related occasion at The Club at Spurwing.
Meridian Bowling Lanes provides all you need for a fantastic day, whether you remember a special occasion or simply want to have a good time with the family.
Visit Meridian Bowling Lanes to have some delicious cuisine, play pool, or quickly grab a lane and have some fun!
Full-service bowling alley Meridian Bowling Lanes provides full bowling every day, bumper bowling, opportunities for people with special needs, leagues for all ages and seasons, intense tournaments, event packages, darts, and billiards.
A Pro-Shop is available with bowling balls, footwear, bags, and bowling equipment.
Full-service food and drink choices are available from their snack bar and Strikers Lounge, which has a full bar if you’re starving.
Most modern and used Harley-Davidson bikes in the Northwest are sold through the High Desert.
The 54,000-square-foot High Desert Harley Davidson is all about an exciting adventure.
Riders come from all corners of the county for their extensive inventory and shopping experience.
It will be the most satisfying purchase you’ve ever made, from their weekly activities that range from complimentary mimosas to bike excursions.
No matter how far into North America you are traveling from—Oregon, Washington, Montana, California, etc.—you’ll pass through some of the most picturesque roads in the nation.
You’ll cherish the memory of your first drive on your brand-new Harley-Davidson.
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The Village, situated in Idaho’s Treasure Valley at Meridian, is a distinctive and interesting spot that you must see.
The Village at Meridian offers upmarket fashion and specialty shops, excellent dining and cafés, Village Cinemas, and abundant office space, making it the ideal meeting spot for friends and family.
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A park setting is surrounded by buildings with European-inspired designs and pathways lined with trees.
A children’s playground and a world-class display fountain with hourly performances coordinated with lighting and music are included.
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The Village at Meridian offers a variety of activities to draw families and friends going back time and time again, including films, performances, arcades, neighborhood entertainment, and more.
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If you venture 20 minutes from Idaho towards Boise, you can find the Old Idaho State Penitentiary.
For many, this place is a unique attraction to check out.
This site formerly served as a prison that operated from 1872 to 1973.
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They incarcerated some of the most notorious prisoners from the west right at this site.
Apart from its gruesome past, this historic complex features a Romanesque Revival style that has been perfectly preserved.
You can stroll through the prison’s halls and look into the cells and gallows found here.
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The complex contains 30 historic buildings, all of which showcases important collections ranging from historic weaponry to visiting exhibits.
When you’re in the region, don’t hesitate to learn more about the area by visiting this unique museum complex.
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If you drive 14 minutes to the city of Nampa, you can find the fascinating Warhawk Air Museum.
Located right by the Nampa Municipal Airport, this museum features exhibits teaching the public about air combat during the two World Wars, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and even the Cold War.
While this museum’s collection is not too extensive, they have a substantial number of preserved aircraft on display.
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One of the most famous aircraft they showcase is one of the last few Curtiss P-40 Warhawks that can still fly, appearing in the 2001 film Pearl harbor.
Apart from preserved aircraft, you can also find their informative collection of artifacts, memorabilia, and information connected to combat aviation.
Care for some exciting stories?
Some of the guides who volunteer here may share with you some.
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If you love marine life, you can check out the Aquarium of Boise, located just 23 minutes away from Meridian.
This aquarium serves as the home to more than 250 animal species, primarily marine life.
Here, you can find many water-based exhibits, including a pool for rays, a shark nursery, and an interactive tide pool where you can encounter different marine animals.
There is also an octopus display, a reptile exhibit, and an aviary.
Be awed by the wonders of marine life at this outstanding attraction.
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Do you want to have a dose of nature exploration while in this part of Idaho?
Then, consider heading over to Eagle Island State Park, just 10 minutes away from Meridian.
Here, you and your travel companions can participate in a myriad of outdoor activities.
The park has amenities for horseback riding and picnicking.
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You can also find opportunities for water-based activities here, including kayaking, fishing, and canoeing.
People who want to stay active and dry on land can also explore the hiking trails within this attraction.
If you happen to come here during winter, don’t miss out on doing snow-based sports at Snow Hill.
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Located 23 minutes away from Meridian, in the city of Boise is the Idaho Botanical Garden.
You can find this place right next to a historic jail that you can also explore.
The botanical garden now stands where the prison had its farm and nursery.
Today, when coming here, you can discover and stroll through 13 unique sub-gardens.
One of the must-visit sub-gardens you can find here is the English garden, which features 1,300 perennial plants, using the stunning Summer House as its focal point.
The Botanical Gardens also has a Rose Garden, where you can experience an explosion of color during summer.
For your younger travel companions, they can have a pleasant time playing at the Children’s Adventure Garden.
Apart from the breathtaking beauty of the plants here, you can also catch seasonal events at the gardens.
Consider visiting this place when you’re in the area.
With the many exciting and fun attractions catering to all ages, your entire family can spend a lovely and memorable time at Meridian.
Its charm, along with its proximity to cities where you can learn and explore more about the region, is enough for many to keep coming back.
Check out Meridian, Idaho, on your next family holiday.
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