Maybe that last field goal didn’t go the way you wanted, Cougar fans, but there’s no time to wallow in defeat. You're back on the national stage Thursday night: a road trip north of the border to the blue Smurf Turf at Boise State awaits in an ESPN game at 7 p.m. Here’s what to check out, what to try and where to sleep when you get there. ---

Check out: The Basque Museum and Cultural Center is the only museum in the United States devoted to Basque culture and history. The museum has regularly rotating exhibits, including a current one on Basque immigration throughout history. If you've brought the kids along, try the Discovery Center of Idaho. It's the state's only interactive science museum, with a wide variety of hands-on exhibits. Looking for something a bit more outdoorsy? The Boise River Greenbelt is a gorgeous 22-mile trail and park area that follows the path of the Boise River. In addition to its extensive walking and bicycling trails, it is also an excellent area for birdwatching.

Try this: Bittercreek Alehouse makes a special effort to obtain its ingredients from local sources. Try a Bittercreek Burger (made with grass-fed local beef) with homemade Idaho fries and follow it up with the marionberry galette, beignets with butterscotch sauce, or root beer float. Bittercreek also has a huge selection of drafts from brewers in Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Colorado and California, as well as an extensive bottle menu.

Sleep here: Hotel 43 is a boutique hotel located in the heart of downtown Boise. Your stay includes an Arts Passport, granting you free admission to the Boise Art Museum and discounted tickets to many other local arts venues. The Grove Hotel is also conveniently located downtown. Check out the hotel's bar, known for its sushi selection, or dine at one of its two on-site restaurants.

The Travel Tramps regularly write about their treks near and far in City Weekly and host the weekly Travel Brigade Radio Show.