YMCA

First time visiting. I had a guest pass and took my kids to the pool. I was surprised there weren’t that many people on a Saturday. I thought the pool was great with a little separate for the infants/​toddlers, but still prefer the Caldwell or West Y better.
The family/​special need bathroom/​changing room was a bit smaller for a family, I thought. And it was quite far from the actual pool, but certainly not a deal breaker for me. I think it may be for someone with special needs though.

Great facilities. Clean and properly staffed.

Wow! How very impressed I am with this facility! The one in CA, where I came from, looked old & dirty due to lack of upgrades. In downtown Boise, this Y was clean, updated & fully staffed with enthusiadtic people ready to help. I had a great tour & was talked into being excited about participating in a Great Potato Race lol. Mike told me, «for nothing else, do it for the shirt! lol
Because I am disabled, I have a free Silver Sneakers membership, with no restrictions, like i’d find at another gym I toured.
Im looking forward to starting my water aerobics class!

What a wonderful place full of fun! Swimming, running, lifting… The atmosphere here breaths health and happiness! No matter your sport of choice, the YMCA has something for you. I really love the spin classes but it offers every class you may need. This place is always busy but I see that as a great sign. Locker rooms are clean and facilities are nice. I don’t have kids but there seems to be a great kids program in place. They know me by name! I love!

There is a lot packed into this gym. The pool is great for laps or play dates for little ones. They have a good weight room, let’s of cardio, many classes and a basketball court. Always something to do!

This is more than a gym. It’s a community. And, like any good community, it has a little something for everyone.
Firstly, they have everything one would expect from a gym: cardio room (packed with elliptical trainers, treadmills, stairmasters – including one which has actual steps rotating so you really feel like you’re climbing stairs – it’s brutal), weight room with all the free weights to satisfy even the most discerning meathead (and weight machines for those who prefer them), a plethora of classes (from Yoga to Zumba to Body Pump to indoor cycling to water aerobics), and personal trainers who seem friendly and motivated and never the least bit overbearing.
What they have that maybe other gyms do not: A child watch to care for your little one while you get your sweat on. A youth activity center to keep your 6 – 12 year old occupied (craft tables, foosball, books, and there’s usually a game of four square underway). A teen and family center where teens can hang out and watch TV and do teenish stuff (not really sure all they have in there). A large basketball court where there is usually a few games underway (the teens seem to gravitate toward this as well although there are times when teens aren’t allowed – ie: during «noonball» which is reserved for adults on their lunch hour who want to play some hoops). A lap pool for you swimmers. A kiddie pool for the wee ones. A drop slide into the deep end for the daring. A slow twisty slide into more shallow water for the less daring fun seekers. And, finally, just for me, a full espresso/​juice bar (ok…it’s not JUST for me… they’ll probably brew you an incredible cuppa joy as well…).
I love the completely welcoming – and not the least bit intimidating – vibe of this place. I don’t love the parking which is limited and tight (a note to fellow drivers: your Lincoln Navigator – though beautiful and so very impressive in it’s compensating magnitude – does NOT fit in a compact spot) but it IS located downtown – parking frustrations are sort of par for the course.

I’ve attended many gyms as I’ve moved around the country and this YMCA is the best of all of them. The pros are almost endless…
1. It’s really brightly lit with lots of natural light.
2. All of the machines are in good repair, and everything is clean.
3. There’s a service where you can leave your gym clothes in your locker and they wash them for you!
4. The room upstairs has ellipticals with individual monitors that allow for watching trashy tv, a weight room that isn’t at all intimidating, and often in the yoga area one can find an awesome older guy that does headstands during his routine.
5. The lap pool has salt water instead of chlorine, which is great because it’s much less harsh for my skin, although it does leave me feeling pretty thirsty.
6. One of the best features (which might be universal at YMCAs) is the Wellness Coaching program. It’s like having fifteen free sessions with a personal trainer and that’s a HUGE value.
7. For those of us who are broke, the monthly membership can be discounted based on your ability to pay. Along the same lines, the majority of the classes are free!
8. The locker rooms have seats in front of mirrors with side lighting for applying make up. The tables also have curling irons and real hair dryers instead of those inconvenient ones that most gyms have mounted on the walls.
…and the only con is that everyone can watch while you suck at racquetball.
I wish all gyms were exactly like this one.

I love the downtown YMCA. I love the class varieties and options they have to offer. I like the aerobic teachers. I love the machines, especially the elliptical with the t.v.‘s!
My recommendations for classes would be Body Pump with Connie. If you want to feel the burn hours/​days after your workout, she can provide. I also like her kickboxing class. Deep Dance is a nice way to burn 600 cals an hour without ever looking at the clock. There are plenty of other classes to check out too. All the classes are included in your membership fee, so it’s like a one stop shop.
They also have a really nice swimming pool with slides and a kiddo area.
My only compliant would be the parking situation outside. Not a lot of spots and they are kinda tight to get into.