3 Best Sights in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

Nestled in the densely wooded forest of Idaho’s northern panhandle, this scenic lake is a hot tourist attraction in the summer. The watery playground has 109 miles of shoreline, including a city beach, and offers boating, sailing, bird-watching, daily cruises, parasailing, rentable float planes, and a famous floating green on the 14th hole of the Coeur d’Alene Golf Course. Hike downtown Tub’s Hill or walk along the ¾-mile boardwalk for scenic landside views of early-morning fog on the water and bald eagle nests.

Drive about 20 minutes north of Coeur d’Alene on Highway 95 and you'll reach the Northwest’s largest theme park, with dozens of thrill rides, a wooden roller coaster that ducks underground, and the adjoining Boulder Beach Water Park. A steam locomotive choo-choo’s through Main Street daily, past life-size Garfield and Odie mascots and through the surrounding woods, which in October become a scene for a Halloween “Scarywood.” There are rides for younger kids, too, and various entertainments. In the summer, the water park is swarming with families and sunbathing college kids. For the brave, there is the Aftershock hanging coaster—a 65-mph drop that will peel your eyelids back.

Meandering for 73 miles through northern Idaho, from Plummer (63 miles south of Coeur d'Alenes via U.S. 95), to Mullen and along the shore of Lake Coeur d’Alene, this former Union Pacific “rail to trail” is popular among hikers, in-line skaters, joggers, and cyclists. In the winter, it attracts snowshoers and Nordic skiers.The paved pathway, with regular camping and rest areas, rolls by the chain lakes region and marshy wetlands that are perfect for fishing and canoeing. After passing through the mountains of the historic Silver Valley mining area and under the shadow of the Silver Mountain ski resort, the trail levels out on the Palouse prairie.