Idaho’s capital was born amidst the frenzy of the Gold Rush, and Boise residents still know that while money can’t buy happiness, it can buy plenty of other things. With outdoor markets, massive malls, the familiar chains and quaint boutiques, Boise has just about everything a shopper could want and more.

Downtown, check out 8th Street, a shady thoroughfare with an emphasis on pedestrian travel and quaint cafés and shops. Every Saturday, starting in April and running well into October, 8th Street also plays host to the Capital City Public Market . The market, a combination farmers’ market and crafts fair, is a fantastic place to sample fresh regional produce (Idaho has more to offer than just potatoes, after all) and meet local growers and artisans. Among those setting up shop in the market are producers of pottery, jewelry and glassware—and the prices are generally reasonable, since the products come straight from the artisans themselves into the hands of consumers.

For more of the standard shopping experience, stop by Boise Towne Square Mall on the Boise bench. A major shopping and entertainment complex with all the national chain stores and a few regional specialties, the Towne Square has been so successful since its construction that it has many of the smaller shops downtown worried for survival. Still, the mall offers just about everything shoppers could be looking for.