Idaho: A Travel Guide to Coeur d’ Alene

Coeur d’ Alene is a beautiful resort town located in the banana belt of North Idaho. We had some friends move there, so we have gotten to visit and explore this area quite a bit. 

Impressively it is a clean, safe, quaint city even though it has grown quite a bit over the past few years. Many people have moved to Coeur d’ Alene from Southern California, in fact while there I met 3 people who graduated from the same high school as I did. 

To me, Coeur d’Alene reminds me of a small Orange County. It boasts a beautiful lake, green trees, wildlife, along with a cute downtown, but it also gives off a “keeping up with the Jones’' vibe and lacks diversity. Otherwise, it is a very family oriented community, ideal in many ways,  and it is easy to see why so many people are flocking there. 

Where to Stay in Coeur d’Alene

The first time we visited we stayed at our friend’s family’s house, the second time we stayed at Liberty Lake, and the last time we stayed at Fairchild AFB. Although there are plenty of RV Parks in Coeur d’Alene, we chose to stay outside the city to keep costs down. 

What to do in Coeur d’Alene

Our awesome friends got us a night at The Coeur d'Alene Resort. This is a nice resort that consists of a day spa, a pool, dining, and the world famous Floating Green. The resort is within walking distance from shops, dining, the lake, and hiking trails. Even if you don’t stay there it is worth visiting. 

While in Coeur d’Alene we were lucky enough to explore the lake in our friend’s boat. Our kids (and Scott) had a fun day tubing and swinging off the rope swing into the lake. You can always rent a boat here, or rent Kayak’s, SUP’s, or a Float Tube here. If a swim beach is more up your alley, check out Coeur d'Alene City Park.

While in CDA, don’t forget to check out all the cute shops downtown. We especially liked Figpickels Toy Emporium, and Olive and Arrow Boutique. My friend who opened this boutique also offers socials. I was able to take a macrame class while visiting and it was so much fun!

Don’t forget to hike while in Coeur d’ Alene. We enjoyed the easy hike around Tubbs Hill, and the moderate hike up Mineral Ridge. If you choose to hike Mineral Ridge. When you get to the top, connect to Wilson Trail for the best views. Thankfully we ran into a ranger on the hike who gave us this little tip. 

If visiting in late spring, don’t pass up the opportunity to hunt for Morel Mushrooms. We foraged for them in Fernan Lake Natural Area.

Where to Eat in Coeur d’Alene

While on our date night, we ate out at Beverly's. This is an upscale restaurant located inside the CDA Resort. The food was delicious and the views were even better. 

Our favorite coffee shop in Coeur d’Alene is Woops! Not only do they have great coffee, they have yummy macaroons and baked goods along with a cute open air shop.

If you love crepes, make sure to stop at Bear Paw Cookies Bakery and Crepes. Their crepes and cookies are delicious!

While in Coeur d'Alene, our friends pulled off a bold move by organizing an out-of-the-blue graduation bash for Scott, attended by a bunch of total strangers complete with pizza and the best sourdough chocolate chip cookies. 

We're beyond grateful for friends who are this incredibly generous, impulsive, fun. And don't even get us started on the remarkable folks who turned up at a party for a guy they'd never even met – talk about amazing!

Bible Verse of the Day

Ecclesiastes 8:15 NLT

So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun.

Reflection

God desires for us to have fun and fellowship, especially knowing how hard this life is through Jesus. Jesus chose to celebrate with food, drink, and fellowship in the midst of His profound mission on this earth. With Jesus as our savior, we can genuinely appreciate and enjoy life, free of vices, one day at a time. 

• I recommend reading Have More Fun, by Mandy Arioto.

I pray that we will stop taking ourselves too seriously and that God will show us one thing to appreciate each day. I pray that God will reveal to each of us His fun side, bring fun people into our lives, and let our fun rub off on our family and friends.I praise God for loving me so much that He desires for me to have fun.

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