Fall leaves, crisp air and (I swear) the scent of cider were the welcoming crew when we landed for a long October weekend in the hidden town of Coeur d’Alene. Although I normally make it my business to know the ins and outs of a location before we arrive, I knew very little about this northern Idaho hamlet in the lake country. Whenever I mentioned my trip to Coeur d’Alene, I was met with one of two responses: the vast majority of people who had no idea where I was going, or people who had been there and vowed it to be the most beautiful place on earth. Relative anonymity and ringing endorsements aside, we had three days to spend in a city that was known as the “Playground of the Pacific Northwest”

Day One

4 pm: Pages of a Storybook

After traveling all day to a city whose name sounds mythical, we snake through the outskirts of town and find our way to the lake. Lake Coeur d’Alene is the heart and soul of the quaint northern Idaho city and its pristine beauty is what gives this area a storybook quality worthy of its name. There are over 55 lakes left from the Ice Age, but none more scenic and full of activities as the queen of lakes at the center of town. As any good story setting, our picture postcard backdrop sets the stage for an ideal weekend in idyllic surroundings.

We are best able to view the panorama of activities from the balcony of our room in the Coeur d’Alene resort. Checking into the resort, we pass by the giant fish tank and sweet shop in the lobby, so there is already the promise of something special from this resort.  That promise is fulfilled when we enter our room and soak up the luxury accommodations. A split level suite with a fireplace just begs for cozying up with a cup of hot chocolate at the end of the day and enjoying the view. From the wall to wall picture windows, the view of the sparkling lake with mountains jutting out in the background is breathtaking. Stepping out into the crisp October air, we can look as far to one side of the town as to the other and see nothing but natural beauty.  This is why Coeur d’Alene is called The Playground of the Pacific Northwest.

5 pm: A long, long (board)walk

From up above, the most obvious manmade feature is the floating boardwalk that encircles the marina. This boardwalk has the distinction of being the world’s longest floating boardwalk. It's privately owned by the nearby Coeur d'Alene Resort and is an ideal way to see the beauty of the area. The waters of the lake lap the shores of the Bitterroot Mountain foothills, making our boardwalk saunter an event highlighted by a landscape of gorgeous blue water set against green hills and a dazzling blue sky.

6 pm: A Sweet End

Hiking (okay, strolling) the ¾ mile boardwalk works up an appetite so we head to the convenient Dockside Restaurant. Located inside the Coeur d’Alene Resort, this family friendly restaurant has a lot to brag about. It is perched on the edge of Lake Coeur d’Alene with views of the marina and the world’s longest boardwalk. Sunsets over the lake as seen from the wall of windows are nothing short of breathtaking. The restaurant also boasts an 18 foot salad bar and the Northwest’s premiere Sunday brunch. But all of that will be completely forgotten when you get a glimpse of the marvel that is Gooey’s Dessert Bar. Signature sundaes that are big enough for 2 or 3 include flavors like Chocolate Obsession and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. Wild Huckleberry Cobbler, with fresh picked huckleberries from the hills of Northern Idaho is also a favorite.

With the sun setting over the mountains and lake, we snuggled in for a cup of hot chocolate (as promised) and a few more bites of our take out dessert from dockside before we hit the sack for an early bedtime. Playtime in the playground would begin in earnest in the morning.

Day Two

8 am Thrills and Giggles

As the largest theme park in the Pacific Northwest, Silverwood has something for every age group. Over 70 slides, rides, shows and attractions, including four roller coasters, Boulder Beach Water Park, a steam engine train, live entertainment, restaurants, and more are available inside the gates. A special park just for little kids, and award winning roller coasters are just some of the features that are great families.

Not only does Silverwood have thrilling rides, but it is also steeped in amusement park history. The steam engine train was intended to be bought by Walt Disney, but his representative couldn’t reach him to increase the bid. In the lull, Silverwood snatched it up and it has been a park staple since. Many of the roller coasters in the park are also history makers, including the corkscrew, which was the first to take visitors upside down. The history of the park gives it layers of interest that elevate it to more than just a theme park.

12 pm: Say Cheese

At Meltz Extreme Grilled Cheese, a kid-food favorite gets a grownup upgrade that satisfies both kids and adults alike. Gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches are made to order, and the options are limited only by your imagination. Caramelized onions. Bacon, turkey, or peppers are just a few of the many options to add to your grilled cheese meal.

1 pm: Digging into the Past

Crystal Gold Mine tours offers a peak at an 1880’s gold mine that was mysteriously hidden and rediscovered over 100 years later, giving visitors a unique look at the gold mining boom that was kept frozen inside. During the tour, we traveled the same path lit by candle carrying miners in the 1880s. Throughout the tour, a guide explains the techniques and tools used, including how they traced the quartz vein and tested the vein for gold. Beautiful stalactite crystals of smithsonite in an array of colors coat the walls. Gold and wire silver can still be seen in the quartz vein.

After the tour, a gold panning session was in order. Our guide took us out to the tubs full of sand and rocks and taught us the proper way to sift through the sand, letting the heavy sediment fall out of the pan and (hopefully) leaving only the gold bits. Getting the technique down was easy after practice. The hardest part was plunging into the icy cold water each time. The thrill of the chase always won out over the cold, and although we didn’t find any gold, we walked away with some beautiful and interesting rocks.

5 pm. A Kid’s Paradise

Rated as one of the top family fun centers in the world, Triple Play has just about anything you could imagine doing with kids, and more. For a daily fee activities include bowling, climbing wall, laser tag, indoor glow golf, go-karts, bumper boats and outdoor miniature golf. Sluice mining, video games, and restaurants are also available for a small additional fee. If you tire of all of that, Raptor Reef Indoor Waterpark is adjoining and can also be added to your daily ticket for a nominal fee. You can easily spend a day playing here, and it is an especially good option if the weather turns sour during your trip.

While the sun was still shining, we enjoyed a game of mini-golf and then ducked inside for dinner and bowling. Glow golf and laser tag were next, as well as rock climbing. We ended the day with a swim in Raptor Reef, where the highlight of our trip was racing to the top of the waterslides until our legs were jelly and we couldn’t climb the steps again.

Day Three

9 am: A Storybook Within a Storybook

Mudgy and Millie are a moose and a mouse who call the shores of Coeur d’Alene home. These two lovable characters were created by acclaimed author Susan Nipp, who is best known for her Wee Sing collection. While hiking in the beautiful scenery of Coeur d’Alene, Nipp was inspired to create a storybook that would introduce children to the highlights of her hometown.  Along with the beautifully illustrated storybook, sculptor Terry Lee created five life sized bronze sculptures that echo the story and invite visitors to hike along the Mudgy Moose Trail. As you follow the book and the trail, you take a 2 ¼ mile walk through the heart of town and around the landmarks of the city. It is an ideal way to delve into the beautiful landscape and features of Coeur d’Alene.

Following the Mudgy and Millie trail takes us on a Hike of Tubbs Hill, a local landmark that consists of 120 acres and is surrounded on three sides by sparkling Lake Coeur d’Alene. There are several miles of trails that offer fantastic views and secluded areas of forest and beaches. The 2.2 mile perimeter hike is ideal for families and can even be enhanced by a Junior Friends of Tubbs Hill Activity Book that is available to print from the city park website.

The trail leads to the downtown area of Coeur d’Alene where a mini-tour through the quaint shops and restaurants of the area. Kids will certainly notice, and beg for a stop at Mrs. Honeypeeps Sweet Shop and Figpickles Toy Emporium on the way to see the third statue on the main strip. Candy of every kind, including vintage candies of childhoods past is ready to be enjoyed. We grab a few of our favorites to enjoy as we finish out the trail.

The last two stops on the trail take us along the familiar boardwalk and into a park that culminates at Inspiration Point. Here we enjoy the views and decide that to really see the our lake host, we need to get out on the water.

12 pm: A quick bite

For convenience we duck into Tito’s Italian Grill and Wine Shop. Located adjacent to Coeur d’Alene Resort, this homestyle restaurant offers a Mediterranean-inspired menu with fire-grilled pizzas and Italian comfort food.  While we plan for an afternoon on the lake, the kids keep occupied making their own pizzas with ingredients brought to the table. It is a signature Tito’s dish that kids love.

2 pm Lakeside Loving

Scenic lake tours set out from Coeur d’Alene Marina every two hours beginning at 12:30. The 90 minute tours. The boat cruise is a mix of scenery, local history and wildlife watching. The narration points out the interests on Lake Coeur d’Alene, including a close-up view of the world’s only floating golf green, another claim to fame for the Coeur d’Alene resort.

As we set out on the double decker charter, we chose a seat in the open air. Even though the temperatures were crisp, the sun made up the difference and made for a comfortable ride. As we motored out of the harbor, we learned that Couer d’Alene was a name given by French fur trappers to the natives of the area. Translated it means heart of the awl or sharp hearted. This referenced the unwillingness to trade for simple baubles and trinkets and their insistence on getting a fair price.

The highlight of the trip other than the constant stunning scenery was a bald eagle sighting. Bald eagles are common along the lake, but are more often seen in the winter. Fortunately, a lone bald eagle searching for some lunch swooped down just near the boat and entertained us with his diving and fish catching.

Pulling into the dock, we knew that our time in our storybook setting was coming to an end. It only seemed proper to say goodbye from the center of the floating boardwalk. We climbed to the top of the tower bridge and did a 360 degree turn to see all the natural beauty. From that point, we could see the final Mudgy and Millie statue staring out wistfully at the lake from Inspiration Point. We decided that they were the luckiest residents of Coeur d’Alene.

~The Coeur d'Alene Resort hosted our stay in Coeur d'Alene. They did not require that I express a particular viewpoint and all opinions are my own. ~