Meridian

 

Located just west of Boise, to the north of I-84, Meridian offers accessibility to Idaho's capital city in a more suburban environment. As Idaho's second-largest city behind Boise, Meridian was founded in 1891 and named for its location on the Boise Meridian. Today it shares borders with Nampa to the north and Boise to the east giving residents access to not only its own parks, recreation, and arts opportunities but those of its neighboring cities.

 

Outdoor enthusiasts are never short of opportunities for recreation with the city's 17 public parks, but Eagle State Park lies just 2.5 miles north giving residents an opportunity to play at its man-made beach along a fresh-water lake, or enjoy equestrian and hiking trails. With Meridian Speedway, an outdoor racing venue, Roaring Springs water park, and the Lakeview Golf Club, there are always places to enjoy the warm summer months.

 

Between May and September, residents of Meridian enjoy the Meridian Urban Market, or MUM, and its artisan food stands, farmer's market, and local music scene. The Village at Meridian offers shoppers a chance to browse high-end retail stores in a beautiful open-air environment while nearby Meridian Crossroads boasts big-box retailers in a convenient location.

 

While few historic homes remain, the majority of Meridian homes were built after 2000, giving Meridian as a whole a clean, fresh, new construction appearance. Planned communities offering a variety of amenities dot the cityscape with an overarching emphasis on outdoor recreation and local accessibility. Meridian is literally in the heart of everything in central Idaho, but more importantly, the city itself has a lot of heart.