A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Boise vs. Vernon for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Boise or Vernon?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Boise or Vernon? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Boise

Boise is a authentic, friendly, and welcoming city. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and shopping. See Boise travel costs.

Vernon

Vernon is a quiet, peaceful, and relaxing town. It's also popular because of the hiking, shopping, and museums. See Vernon travel costs.

Boise and Vernon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Boise or Vernon?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Vernon. Although Boise and Vernon are popular destinations, Vernon has more sights and attractions for tourists. Vernon is very popular for its food and hiking, while Boise attracts visitors for its nightlife. Vernon is more touristy than Boise and is popular for its surrounding valley with lakes and hiking trails. It is also well known for Davison Orchards Country Village. Boise is famous for its many outdoor and recreational activities.

How is Boise different from Vernon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Vernon and Boise. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Boise or Vernon?

You'll find a number of nice museums and attractions in both Vernon and Boise.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Boise. As the state capital, there's a nice selection of local museums around town. Favorites include the Boise Art Museum, the Basque Museum & Cultural Center, the Idaho Black History Museum, and Discovery Center.

Vernon is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are local galleries and museums that offer information on the region's history and culture. You can visit the Canadian Wildlife Museum, the Caetani Center, the Museum and Archives of Vernon, the Paddlewheel Park Stationhouse Museum, and the Vernon Public Art Gallery.

Is the Food Better in Boise or Vernon? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Vernon is a popular place for its restaurants. However, Boise is lacking in options for its restaurant scene.

Vernon is becoming an appealing option for foodies. The region is known for its vineyards and wineries and many of the local restaurants have been around for generations. The food is often locally produced and prepared with traditional recipes.

Boise offers some easy restaurants to choose from. While Idaho has long been associated with the potato, the locals usually think of "finger steaks" when describing local food. These are deep-friend beef strips that are as good as they sound.

Is Boise or Vernon Better for Nightlife?

Boise is a nice place to visit for its evening party scene. However, Vernon is not a good town for nightlife.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Boise. In downtown Boise you'll find a selection of bars, lounges, and breweries. There's enough around town to keep the nightlife scene interesting.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Vernon. The town gets very quiet in the evenings, so you won't find much of a nightlife scene.

Is Boise or Vernon Better for Hiking?

Vernon is an excellent place to visit for its hiking trails. However, Boise is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Vernon. The surrounding valley has more than 300 kilometers of hiking trails. They run along pristine lakes, pass by granite rock formations, and take you to impressive viewpoints.

Boise is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Boise or Vernon?

Shoppers can find a variety of nice stores in both Boise and Vernon.

Boise has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. You'll find a mix of local boutiques, independent vendors, and suburban shopping centers where you'll find anything that you might need.

Vernon is a great destination for shopping. There are a number of boutique shops that are fun to explore in the downtown area.

Is Boise or Vernon Better for Families?

Vernon is a popular place for its kid-friendly activities. However, Boise is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

Vernon is a family-friendly town. There are biking and hiking trails as well as other outdoor activities. You can also visit the Allan Brooks Nature Center or the Rock Garden Climbing Center.

Boise doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. You'll find parks, playgrounds, and the Discovery Center which will help keep kids entertained.

Is Boise or Vernon Better for Couples?

Vernon is a popular place for couples. However, Boise is lacking in options for romance.

Vernon is a good town for couples to visit. It offers a peaceful getaway for couples. You can visit the Okanagan wineries or enjoy one of the many hiking trails. There are also nice restaurants to try.

Boise is not the best destination for a couple to visit. Date night activities include dining at a nice restaurants and seeing a show at the theater.

Is Boise or Vernon Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find reasonable public transit in both Boise and Vernon.

Public transit is mostly limited in Boise. There are infrequent buses around town, but visitors usually have a car to get around town efficiently.

Public transit is generally limited in Vernon. There is a bus system, but it's better not to rely on it.

Is Boise or Vernon a more walkable city?

Boise and Vernon are reasonable when it comes to walkability.

Boise is generally not a very walkable city. There are a couple of walkable neighborhoods but, in general, the town isn't very walkable.

Vernon is generally not very walkable. You'll really want to have a car to make the most of your time here.

For even more information, also check out Is Boise Worth Visiting? and Is Vernon Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Vernon or Boise?

How long in Boise or Vernon?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Boise and Vernon. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Vernon than in Boise. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Boise, and 1-3 days is enough time in Vernon.

Families should spend more time in Vernon than Boise. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Vernon, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Vernon than Boise. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Vernon that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Vernon than Boise if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Vernon.

One day in Boise or Vernon?

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the destination of Boise. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

In Vernon, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this relaxing destination offers. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

A weekend in Boise or Vernon?

Boise is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Vernon. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Boise or Vernon?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Boise. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Vernon is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the museums and food when visiting the destination of Vernon. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Boise or Vernon?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the friendly destination of Boise. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

You'll find food and shopping around the relaxing destination of Vernon. Hikers are also drawn to this area. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Canada, and The Best Adventure Tours to Canada.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Boise and Vernon, we can see that Boise is more expensive. And not only is Vernon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Vernon would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vernon and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Boise would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Boise than you might in Vernon.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Boise Expensive? and Is Vernon Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Boise or Vernon?

Boise has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Vernon. When comparing the sizes of Boise and Vernon, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.