Talk of the Town: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

Enjoy the beauty of the Pacific Northwest in Idaho’s Coeur d’Alene.

Drive 100 miles straight down from the Canadian border into the little panhandle of Idaho, and you’ll come across a charming all-American town with an intriguing European name. In fact, the town was originally named after the Coeur d’Alene tribe indigenous to the region — a name that was given to them by French traders meaning that they were tough business people. Today, the town of 44,000 that most people in the Pacific Northwest simply call CDA is less tough and more dedicated to rest and relaxation.

In fact, the main focal point of the region is beautiful Coeur d’Alene Lake, a 25-mile-long body of fresh water that is a source of recreation and tranquility throughout the year, and a delightful destination for vacationers and homeowners. There are also another 50 or so lakes within a 50 mile radius of the town. As a result, if it floats or splashes, you can enjoy it in northern Idaho. If you’d rather experience the great outdoors with your feet on the ground, hiking and running trails are abundant in the area. The beach and activities at Indian Point Park are extremely popular in the warm summer months when temperatures hit the low 90s, but the lake water rarely gets above 70 degrees.

Downtown CDA is equally remarkable for a community of its size. In just a six block area, you’ll find more than 100 independently-owned restaurants and stores providing exciting shopping and dining opportunities that are often limited to much larger communities. Wood-fired pizza, craft breweries, gallery walks and hand-crafted furniture and art are among the selection.

Coeur d’Alene is home to three colleges, creating an energetic, youthful vibe and providing numerous cultural activities for the community. About 20 minutes from downtown, Old Mission State Park is a great source of history and learning about the region. The park is home to the oldest building in Idaho, built between 1850 and 1853 by Jesuit missionaries and members of the Coeur d’Alene tribe. Check the calendar of events as the park is frequently used for ceremonies and powwows by the tribe. Plus, the park is adjacent to the 72-mile Coeur d’Alene biking trail, so bring your bikes along and get some great exercise along the banks of the Kahnderosa River.

Two small, but lovely ski mountains near CDA keep the community busy throughout the year, along with snowmobiling and hunting, but it’s really summer when northern Idaho comes alive.