MERIDIAN
Gem of the Treasure Valley and Idaho’s second-largest city
Welcome to Meridian
Meridian is a gem of the Treasure Valley and the second-largest city in Idaho. Located just 15 minutes northwest of Downtown Boise, Meridian has seen lots of development in the 21st century, and recent years have seen it ranked as Idaho’s fastest-growing community. Meridian has blossomed into a vibrant hub of business and technology while retaining a welcoming small-town feel. Key developments fueling Meridian’s growth include the upscale shopping and dining hub of the Village at Meridian and cutting-edge healthcare industry sites in the Meridian Medical Core. Meridian is also home to top attractions such as the Roaring Swings Waterpark, Wahooz Family Fun Zone, and the NASCAR racetrack at the Meridian Speedway.
What to Love
- Second-largest city in Idaho
- Village at Meridian shopping and dining
- Several top attractions
- Booming healthcare industry
People & Lifestyle
Meridian provides an enticing mix of family-friendly neighborhoods, high-performing public schools, abundant employment opportunities, and beautiful mountain views. There is plenty to enjoy within Meridian, while the city is also conveniently located for accessing Downtown Boise and other Treasure Valley communities such as Nampa and Eagle. Meridian’s Medical Core offers world-class facilities and excellent employment opportunities at sites such as Idaho State University’s Meridian Health Science Center and Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
The Village at Meridian is an open-air shopping and dining destination featuring upscale retailers and a variety of entertainment options. This beautifully designed commercial hub offers several fine restaurants with outdoor seating overlooking an elaborate series of fountains. These include the authentic Brooklyn-style Grimaldi’s Pizzeria and lively elevated sports bar Yard House. Kona Grill serves flavorful Polynesian fusion cuisine and sushi alongside masterfully crafted cocktails. Retailers include brands such as Anthropologie, Athleta, Chico’s, H&M, LOFT, Lululemon, Sephora, Sur la Table, and Victoria’s Secret. Big Al’s is a fun destination featuring a bowling alley, arcade games, and billiards. The luxurious Village Cinema screens the latest releases in a comfortable space with stadium seating. Stop by the upstairs Backstage Bistro before or after the movie to enjoy refined regional cuisine and drinks in an elegant setting. During the holiday season, The Village features an outdoor ice rink, a giant Christmas tree, and Santa’s workshop. There are many more shopping and dining options in Meridian’s historic downtown area and other commercial districts dotted around the city. Highlights include inventive seafood dishes at Lucky Fins, traditional Basque cuisine at Epi’s A Basque Restaurant, and mouthwatering Southern-style meats at Goodwood BBQ.
Things to Do
Meridian offers lots of outdoor recreation with 21 public parks and two sports parks. Sprawling 57-acre Settlers Park has an Adventure Island playground area with a splash pad, tennis and horseshoe courts, and eight fields for baseball and softball. Settlers Park also hosts summertime events, including outdoor concerts and movie nights. Other Meridian events include the Meridian Main Street Market. Held every Saturday between June and September, the market features vendors selling locally grown produce and specialty handicrafts. Roaring Springs Waterpark is a popular year-round destination with a wave pool, lazy river rafting, and lots of thrilling rides and slides. Wahooz Family Fun Zone is an indoor adventure park featuring go-karts, miniature golf, laser tag, arcade games, climbing walls, giant play structures, and a 16-lane bowling alley. The nearby Meridian Speedway is a top motorsport racetrack hosting many NASCAR races.
Schools
Meridian is served by Joint School District No. 2.
- Discovery Elementary School, Public, PK-5.
- Paramount Elementary School, Public, PK-5.
- Heritage Middle School, Public, 6-8.
- Victory Middle School, Public, 6-8.
- Rocky Mountain High School, Public, 9-12.
