Hotel accommodations was provided by Grove Hotel Boise.
Hello Bloggineers, we're in Boise, Idaho, and we are going to show you the fun things you can do here.
And our first stop is the Idaho Botanical Garden.
This is one of the first and oldest botanical gardens in Idaho.
There are many pieces of art here and we got to see an artist working on his installation.
Now brother is going to take us on the tour.
He is blowing on a giant dandelion.
C'mon, let's keep going.
[Brother] Look at all the koi fish.
Next we're looking at the Kitchen Garden where you can pick and eat.
All of a sudden brother spotted a bunny rabbit.
[Brother] Time tunnel. Time tunnel approaching.
Now we're checking out the treehouse.
[Brother] Mama, follow me!
Lastly, we played with some instruments.
We had so much fun at the Idaho Botanical Garden.
Our next stop is the Old Idaho Penitentiary.
The "Old Pen" opened as a territorial prison from 1872 to 1973.
It is now open year-round for self-guided and guided tours.
First, we're checking out this little museum.
Brother's entering a replica cage that was used here.
If he were a prisoner, he could easily escape.
Next, we are playing with the turnkey.
And now it's time for the tour.
Today Ms. Skye will be our docent.
[Ms. Skye] The very first building I'm going to talk about is this one behind me. This is the territorial prison.
[Ms. Skye] It was called that because it was built when Idaho was a territory and not a state yet.
[Ms. Skye] Construction began in 1871. It was finished in 1872.
The building was damaged in a fire by a riot started by the prisoners.
This building here is interesting because it was designed by an inmate.
Our tour continues to the prison wall.
[Ms. Skye] That is called the dead line and also known as No Man's Land and no inmate was ever allowed in the deadline without very very specific permission.
[Ms. Skye] Now if you're in the dead line and you weren't supposed to be, you had two warnings to get out.
[Ms. Skye] They first give you a warning shout. If you still don't move he'll shoot a warning shot up into the air.
[Ms. Skye] And if you still don't move that he has permission to shoot to kill.
Next we're visiting The Cooler, punishments cells that held up to five men in each of the six room.
[Brother] Can the bad guys climb out of there?
Ms. Skye is taking us for the next building.
[Ms. Skye] All right guys, so welcome to Siberia.
[Ms. Skye] You can see it's not called Siberia because it's any colder than anywhere else.
[Ms. Skye] One inmate described this as "just the end of the world."
[Ms. Skye] So this is single solitary confinement. Each of the grey blocks we see on the wall is two cells. These are three by eight cells.
We're passing by the rose garden. Six of ten executions happen on these grounds.
Our next stop is 2 House, a large cell block that was completed in 1911.
As you can see, these bars are not the typical jail bars that you have think of. They were installed as an experiment.
I'm going in to see what it's like inside.
This doesn't look very comfortable.
Bloggineers, let's go check out another cellblock.
This cell is nicer than the previous one.
Now we're visiting 4 House, the largest cell block in the penitentiary that can accommodate 320 inmates.
These are all the weapons that were confiscated by the guards.
Up next are the maximum security cells.
These are reserved for the worst criminals.
The following section is death row.
This area houses inmates sentenced to death.
Ms. Skye is showing us the gallows where the execution takes place.
And Brother is peeping in from the witness room.
Next were visiting the barber shop, which now holds an exhibit on prison tattoos.
Lastly, we're visiting a room with profiles of the inmates and we got a chance to take a "cell"fie.
Before we go, Ms. Skye asks us to step inside a cell.
[Ms. Skye] I'm going to lock you in.
[Mom] I'll pick you up tomorrow.
Help! Let us out! You can't leave us here!
Now we're getting ice cream at The STIL.
This locally owned, source, and produced artisanal ice cream shop offers unique flavors with optional beer, wine, and expresso pairings.
First we're going to do some samplings.
[Brother] Mmm, I know what I want.
And I know what I'm picking.
I'm having the Idaho Wilderness, which is lavender and a bunch berries, including huckleberry.
And Brother gives it his signature thumbs up.
[Brother] Too sticky.
We have a sweet time here.
We're at the Discovery Center of Idaho.
Founded in 1988, this place features over 150 hands-on exhibits for all to explore.
I'm going to lift Brother up.
[Brother] Woah!!!
[Brother] I'm creating a tornado in the water.
I'm really thirsty.
And this water is making me thirsty.
I am putting the wire and the disk to make it spin.
Time took the downhill race.
Brother is betting the he'll win.
And he beat me.
Next, I'm reflecting light with these mirrors.
I'm gonna make Brother appear behind the glass.
Then we're looking at a kaleidoscope full of me and Brother.
Now we're going to levitate off the ground.
Brothers lying down on the bed of needles.
Lastly, we're playing with bubbles.
We had too much fun at the Discovery Center of Idaho.
Now let's go check out the Boise Depot.
This is a beautiful historic Spanish style structure opened in 1925 to elaborate fanfare in the capital city.
The space is now used for weddings and public gatherings.
We're riding the elevator to the top of the tower.
I hope that bell doesn't ring when we're up here.
You can get a great view of the Capitol Building from this tower, but my dad forgot to record it.
We had so much fun here.
Now it said to eat at Westside Drive-In, home of the famous Idaho ice cream potato.
This is a 50's era restaurant that has been featured on "Diners Drive-ins and Dives."
[Brother] Bigfoot eats here. Aaarrgh!!
Come on brother, let's go order something yummy.
I'm gonna try their famous finger steaks and Brother's having the kid's chicken strip meal.
My parents ordered a prime rib and some clam chowder.
First, I'm trying the finger steak.
The steak is fried in tempura batter,
and it's really juicy.
Brother is taking the bite of the chicken strip and gives it his signature thumbs up.
My mom is cutting up a piece of the prime rib and feeding it to Brother.
When you're in Idaho, you've got to try some baked potatoes. That's what they're known for.
That was the best baked potato I've ever had.
Finally for dessert is the potato ice cream.
At first I thought it was a baked potato, but it's actually all ice cream. and the outside is like cocoa powder.
We added delicious time at Westside Drive-In.
Im gonna try some real potato with the ice cream potato. See how that tastes.
Okay, that's why it's not a real potato. It's not a good combination.