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This is Sandpoint Central, so
you might wonder if we cover all of the good things to do in all of North Idaho.
Check out all of the sections and you will find much that is worthwhile, and
lots of good things to do in all of North Idaho and beyond. While this page may
not cover all things to do, where to go, and what to see in Sandpoint and North
Idaho, it is a good start.
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.
Consider this.
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.
Here is a little more about
what the Sandpoint Area Offers
One of America's truly unique
places, sheltered
by the Selkirk and Cabinet Mountains, the climate
is further tempered by prodigious Lake Pend Oreille, offering amenities normally
found only in much larger and so-called more sophisticated towns.
The sheltering didn't end
there. First the artists and hippies came, such as Ed Kienholz, and the few knew
the beauty and outstanding lifestyle, they kept the secret close to the vest.
However, Sandpoint's charms have recently been discovered by the outside world.
Outside Magazine recently named Sandpoint one of America's Top Dream Towns,
calling us “The
cool northwest's hot property”,
while Sunset Magazine calls it “The Best Small Town in the West”. Read on and
learn grasshoppers. Oh, did I mention we have awful big grasshoppers?
Skiing and Winter Sports
While
many resort towns have great summers, or fantastic ski seasons, we have a true
four-season climate, and
Schweitzer Mountain
Ski Resort is minutes from downtown. So
it is small wonder Sandpoint is a fantastic place for the winter sports
enthusiast. But the spring and fall brings mountain biking, hiking, hunting, and
festivals. The summer has boaters, fishing, sailing, waterskiing, jet boating,
etc., etc., etc. There are too many things to mention without losing your
attention, so if you would like to learn more about what's happening here, check
out our
Calendar of Events.
Food and Drink
Where can you find a town of
this size with two wine bars, two Starbucks, and a Sushi Restaurant? We have
several health food stores and cafes, and many, many good restaurants. In fact,
according to the article in Outside Magazine, a standing joke in Spokane — a
city of almost 200,000 about 75 miles to the southwest — goes something like
this: “Where’s the best place to eat in Spokane? In Sandpoint”. While this might
have started as a marketing ad we put out some twenty years ago, it may well be
true. To learn more about our restaurants and eateries, click this link for
RESTAURANTS. As the host of the
radio show - Gourmet to Go, and a former local restaurant owner, I have a little
insight on the subject. I worked with Emeril Legasse at Commander's Palace in
New Orleans for three years, and I guarantee that we have some good fixin's
here.
The Festival at Sandpoint
 Harking
back to a more relaxed era, the
Festival at Sandpoint
has been providing an unequaled out door concert experience since
1983. The individual acts are quite varied, so there’s something for any taste,
and the atmosphere is friendly and relaxed. Seating is “on-the-grass” and
concert goers are welcome to bring their own picnic baskets, blankets, and
chairs. For out-of-town visitors for whom preparing a gourmet picnic might be
difficult, local restaurants provide a fantastic array of food, beer, and wine.
The Arts
This is one area where we
truly excel. We now have almost five hundred artists in our midst. Over the
years, the Sandpoint area’s tranquil beauty has attracted these hundreds of
artists. Beginning with the now-iconic regional photographer
Ross Hall in the 1930's, the tradition
continues with the
Pend Oreille Arts Council
and the
Artist’s Studio Tour,
as well as a healthy number of Art Galleries. To learn more go to the
Art Movement in North Idaho.
Golf
The Sandpoint area has no fewer than six golf courses. The Elks Club Golf Course
is right on the outskirts of town, while the famous
Hidden Lakes course, which was one of the best
courses in the Pacific Northwest,
is just a few scenic miles
to the east. It has now been bought by Jack Nicklaus and renamed
The Idaho Club, and while their company
has dozens of courses, Jack himself has designed only a handful. This is one of
'em. Of course, rumors continue that the Ruen property will be bought by Arnold
Palmer, but don't hold your breath. Still, golfin' is good in the neighborhood.
Fishing
Lake Pend Oreille is the
nation’s fifth deepest lake (1,158 feet at its deepest), and boasts over 100
miles of scenic shoreline. Its also a world class fishery, with the world record
for a rainbow trout, a 37 pound giant caught by Wes Hamlet in 1947. For a real
treat, try a
fishing charter on the lake where 25# rainbow trout are a regular occurrence. Of course,
on a lake this fantastic, there has to be more than one good
charter service!
The Literary Scene
Sandpoint has been the home
of a diverse collection of writers over the years — ranging from Marilynne
Robinson, who recently won the Pulitzer Prize for her book Gilead, and
Sandy Compton, who writes local color stories, to Peter Fenton, who writes about
subjects such as Tibetan Medicine. A recent addition to the scene is the “Open
Mic” at one of Sandpoint’s newer restaurants, The Downtown Crossing. If
literature is your thing, you’ll definitely be interested in
this article
from Sandpoint Magazine.
Click here
to learn more about the Skinny on Sandpoint
Here
is a great North Idaho Recreation Guide |
