What to Do in Sandpoint &
Bonner County, North Idaho
Wow! What a run we have had here in the North Idaho
Panhandle. Schweitzer has spent millions on improvements and finally made
Skiing Mag's Top 25. Spring 2008 had AskMen.com naming Sandpoint and
Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort one of the nation's Top 10 Resort Towns.
There's always something going one. Winter events like Holly Eve, Winter
Carnival, and Mardi Gras added to some great downhill runs. Spring brought
Lost in the 50s, Spring Festivals, and marathons, and the fun continued
through summer, with art and festivals, fishing derbys, Summer Sampler,
4th of July, the Wooden Boat Festival, the Festival at Sandpoint two week
concert series, and great lake fun.
Now
coming up is Lakedance Film Fest and the turning of the leaves. Can't wait
for Oktoberfest!
We have seen some cool new
restaurants, the Bonner Mall getting a makeover, and more things to do
in our
Calendar of Events than we have ever had before. Sports and doing
things outdoors here ain't so bad either. From the CdA Ironman, to the
NORBA Nationals, to the Long Bridge Swim, we have the national events.
But with dozens of bike trails at every level, hiking, and boating,
you can find what you like to do. Choose one of the activities on
either side, or surf the rest of the website. You are surely going to
find something cool to do in Sandpoint and North Idaho.
As for Sandpoint, you might
have seen the sign, and yes, Sandpoint is a walking town. That is one of the
most popular things to do in Sandpoint and up on Schweitzer Mountain in the
village when coming to visit. In a half day, we can walk either village, seeing
cool shops, visiting galleries, and dining in good restaurants. But there is
much more to do in the outlying areas.
Here are a couple other things
to consider.
First, Lake Pend Oreille is the
second largest freshwater lake and the deepest in the West with 111 miles of
shoreline. Watersports, sailing, and racing are common and several boat cruises
are offered. Next is Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort, a top winter destination
rated in the Top 25 in Skiing Magazine and Top 10 in Sunset Magazine, with the
finest skiing and snowboarding with unbelievable panoramic views overlooking
Lake Pend Oreille. With over 2,900 acres, 2,400 feet of vertical, 67 named runs
and seven chairlifts, Schweitzer Mountain is a dream for downhill enthusiasts.
There's also 32k of cross country trails, beautiful snowshoe trails, and a
brand-new tubing center plus shopping galore. Winter Sports feature snowmobiling
and ice skating, and during the summer we host the NORBA Nationals and biking of
every sort. We are home to Coldwater Creek with their HQ and biggest store.
There are three golf courses, among them award-winning Hidden Lakes, now the
Jack Nicklaus Idaho Club. Just a few miles away is Silverwood Theme Park, the
Northwest’s largest theme park.
Sandpoint is a great, historic
railroading town, with fantastic scenery on short or long trips within the
Pacific Northwest. The Burlington Northern, Montana Rail Link, and Spokane
International rail systems all converge to create "The Funnel," an amazingly
active rail crossroads with more than 40 trains a day traveling through. Rail
buffs come from around the world to see the many trains traveling through. We
are home to the award-winning Pend d’Oreille Winery, and North Idaho and Eastern
Washington have many wineries, and Coeur d'Alene and Sandpoint have no fewer
than twelve wine bars. The area is filled with world-famous artists, galleries,
antique stores, and shopping. We have great restaurants, including Sushi, Tapas,
and eclectic as well as traditional fare that satisfies every taste. As
the saying goes, "Where do you find the best restaurants in Spokane? Sandpoint!"
There are several wildlife refuges, national parks, nature preserves, and state
parks within short driving distance. We also have some of the finest hunting and
fishing in the nation. There are dams, horseback riding, sleigh rides, camping
and hiking. We have the International Selkirk Loop, a 280-mile driving loop
through two countries (U.S. and Canada) and two states (Idaho and Washington)
considered to be one of the best drives in the country. Finally there are so
many events that they are too many to mention. The historic Panida Theater has
many of them, but others are city or county-wide such as our Madcap Mardi Gras
during our Winter Carnival celebration and two Oktoberfests. To see a full
Calendar of Events, click
the link on the left. In short, North Idaho is a jewel, with Sandpoint and Coeur
d'Alene sparkling bright. Come visit us and see why so many that do never leave.
So, if you are
like many others, when the word 'amusements' comes up, we think of amusement
parks. Maybe arcades, miniature golf, water parks, and the like also tickle the
imagination. Sandpoint and North Idaho have all of that and more. Maybe we don't
have a Disney or Universal Studios, or even a Six Flags for that matter, but we
do have the Pacific Northwest's largest theme park: Silverwood. We have water
parks galore, and lots of other family and dating fun.
But expand
horizons a bit, and think about the skiing, hiking, biking, and all the rest
that goes along with great mountains, lakes, and rivers in one of natures truly
spectacular areas: North Idaho. Since we have covered those other areas in this
What to do in North Idaho section, this web page covers the rest of family fun
and adventures. Listed below are many things to do, and links to them. Get some
ideas here to cover your next great adventurous day out in our little slice of
paradise. Plus, all summer long, you can listen to North Idaho Arts and
Adventure hosted by Gary Lirette on KSPT and KBFI, 1400 in Kootenai and
Bonner Counties covering Coeur d'Alene and Sandpoint, and 1450 on the AM dial
covering Bonners Ferry and Creston.
Parks and Recreation
Guide
– SandpointID.net's Directory to all public campgrounds in area national
forests.
Amusements and Attractions
The
Mullan Road
was the first first wagon road to cross the Rocky Mountains to the Inland of
the Pacific Northwest. It was built by US Army Lieut. John Mullan between
the spring of 1859 and summer 1860. It led from Fort Benton, Montana to Fort
Walla Walla, Washington Territory, roughly following the path of modern-day
Interstate 90 through the Rockies.
Parts of the Mullan Road can still be traveled. One such section is near
Washtucna, Washington. This link provided is the section in Silver Valley,
Idaho
Amusement Parks VisitIdaho.com's Page devoted to amusement
parks for the state of Idaho
Tomlinson Sandpoint
Sotheby's International Realty
200 Main Street
Sandpoint, Idaho
208-610-1384
800-282-6880
Gary
Lirette,
REALTOR®
& host of the radio shows North Idaho Business
as well as North Idaho Arts on KSPT & KBFI in
Sandpoint & Bonners Ferry. When you need your real estate questions
answered...
Gary Lirette & Jed Sigman, your 24/7 N Idaho REALTORS®
for real estate in Sandpoint, Hope, Sagle, Schweitzer Mountain
Ski Resort, Naples, Careywood, Athol, Cocolalla, Ponderay,
Kootenai, and all parts of North Idaho.
