A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Sarasota vs. Boise for Families, Attractions, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Sarasota or Boise?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Sarasota and Boise. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Sarasota

Sarasota is a entertaining, underrated, and relaxing city. It's also popular because of the beaches, shopping, and museums.

Boise

Boise is a welcoming, authentic, and friendly city. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Sarasota and Boise: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Sarasota or Boise?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Sarasota than Boise. While Boise is larger than Sarasota, Sarasota has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Sarasota is more touristy than Boise and is known for its sandy beaches and its fun activities. It is also home to the John and Mable Ringling Museum. Boise is popular for its many outdoor and recreational activities.

How is Sarasota different from Boise?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Sarasota is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. Also, Boise is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

Sarasota offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. There are some decent museums in town such as the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, the Sarasota Classic Car Museum, and the Ca' da'Zan. Another highlight is the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium.

Boise is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. 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.

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

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

Sarasota is becoming an appealing option for foodies. You'll find plenty of seafood around town, but there are also international restaurants and quirky local joints.

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 Sarasota or Boise Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is good in both Sarasota and Boise.

If you're looking for night time activities Sarasota has a few options to choose from. You'll find beach clubs, live entertainment such as drum circles, and plenty of bars around town. There are also evening cruises and late night parties.

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.

Is Sarasota or Boise Better for Resorts?

Sarasota is a popular place for its luxury resorts. However, Boise is not a resort destination.

Sarasota has a few great resort options. You'll find beachfront resorts with pools and nice views.

Boise is not a resort destination.

Is Sarasota or Boise Better for Beaches?

Sarasota is a popular place for the beach. However, Boise is not a beach destination.

Sarasota is a good option for a beach vacation. There's no shortage of beaches in the area where you can spend a relaxing day playing the water and lounging in the sun. Siesta Key, Sarasota Gay Beach, Crescent Beach, and Coquina Beach are some of the favorites.

Boise is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Sarasota or Boise?

If you're looking to go shopping, Sarasota and Boise both offer plenty of good spots.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Sarasota. Upscale shopping can be found at St. Armand's Circle. There's also Sarasota Square Mall and the Mall at University Town Center. If you want to pick up some local items you can check out Sarasota Farmers Market.

Many visitors go to Boise to go shopping. You'll find a mix of local boutiques, independent vendors, and suburban shopping centers where you'll find anything that you might need.

Is Sarasota or Boise Better for Families?

Sarasota is a must-visit destination for its kid-friendly activities. However, Boise is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Sarasota is a very family-friendly destination. There's a huge number of hands on activities for kids and families in the area. Many families enjoy a visit to Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium. There are also botanical gardens, science museums, and outdoor adventure centers. Animal lovers will appreciate a visit to Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary. The city also has many performing arts and entertainment options for kids. And make sure you check out the museum dedicated to the Ringling Brothers Circus.

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 Sarasota or Boise Better for Couples?

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

Sarasota is a good city for couples to visit. A night out at St. Armands Circle is a fun way to spend the evening. There are also sunset cruises, nice restaurants, comedy clubs, and more.

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

Sarasota and Boise both offer decent public transit to get you around.

Public transit is mostly limited in Sarasota. There's a bus system around town but most visitors depend on their own car for transportation.

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

Is Sarasota or Boise a more walkable city?

Sarasota and Boise are decent when it comes to walkability.

Sarasota is generally not a very walkable city. While the downtown has some walkable parts, you'll need a car to access most things around town.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Boise or Sarasota?

How long in Sarasota or Boise?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Sarasota or Boise to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Sarasota than Boise because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Sarasota, and 1-2 days is enough time in Boise.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Sarasota 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 Sarasota.

One day in Sarasota or Boise?

In Sarasota, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this relaxing destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

The city of Boise offers nightlife and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Sarasota or Boise?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Sarasota. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. 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.

Boise is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Boise, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Sarasota or Boise?

Sarasota is a fun place to experience. In Sarasota, many people enjoy the nightlife and food that this destination offers. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Boise is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Sarasota or Boise?

You'll find food and shopping around the underrated destination of Sarasota. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Boise is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sarasota and Boise, we can see that Sarasota is more expensive. And not only is Boise much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Boise would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Boise 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 Sarasota would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sarasota than you might in Boise.

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

Which is Bigger, Sarasota or Boise?

Boise has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Sarasota. When comparing the sizes of Sarasota and Boise, 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.