Everyone has that one favorite place where they love to go, and my little slice of heaven on earth is Coeur d’Alene Idaho. We have been going to Coeur d’Alene every July for about 10 years now, and never get tired of returning. In my opinion, its the most beautiful lake in the world, and there is an abundance of activities to please everyone.
For an RV park on the water, we stay at Blackwell Island RV Park. The park has plenty of spaces to accommodate big rigs, and is conveniently located just a few miles off the freeway and only a few minutes from downtown Coeur d’Alene. The RV park has its own boat slips, as well as pontoon boat, canoe and paddle boat rentals.
At the heart of downtown is The Coeur d’Alene Resort, home of the world’s longest floating boardwalk. The boardwalk is open daily to the public and rims the hotel’s 372 slip marina. There are plenty of opportunities to get out and enjoy the lake including boat rentals, jet ski rentals, sea plane excursions, and daily brunch and dinner cruises of the lake.
A walk through the town will reward you with plenty of shops, galleries, and restaurants. One of our favorite watering holes is the Coeur d’Alene Brewing Company, and the Coeur d’Alene Olive Oil Company is fun stop to sample and buy olive oils made from locally grown groves.
The galleries host the ArtWalk Downtown the second Friday of each month with receptions, live music, and opportunities to meet the artists and see their new works of art.
If you enjoy golfing, the Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course is a must do. Its famous floating green and million-dollar views made it Golf Digest’s selection for America’s most beautiful resort golf course.
For those of you interested in biking and hiking, you will not be disappointed. Tubbs Hill is an easy 2-mile loop walk that starts just off the marina parking lot, and features non-stop viewpoints of the lake and marinas. The North Idaho Centennial Trail is a 23 mile paved trail for both cyclists and strollers. The trail follows the Spokane River, and can be accessed from multiple locations, including downtown Coeur d’Alene. Trail amenities include restrooms, doggy bags, water fountains, benches, picnic tables and artwork.
If you are interested in learning more about things to do and places to stay in and around Coeur d’Alene, visit their Visitor’s Bureau website. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
