Coeur d'Alene is a lakeside community that has made great use of the nature surrounding it.
Coeur d'Alene, located in the area of northern Idaho known as the panhandle, is a place Barbara Walters called "a little slice of heaven" and that CNN Travel voted one of the "Best 100 Places to Live and Launch." Such rave reviews are no doubt in response to the beautiful scenery and abundance of activities that the area affords, including many that are family friendly. The fun in the sun stretches up hiking trails, though forests, onto beaches and splashing into the waters of Lake Coeur d'Alene. One thing's for sure: Everyone will leave Coeur d'Alene with their bags packed full of memories.
City Park & Beach
Put on your trunks and some sunblock and get your family in touch with its wet-and-wild side at the Coeur d'Alene City Park & Beach (coeurdalene.org). Located on the banks of Coeur d'Alene Lake, the City Park & Beach is your family's launching pad for just about any water-related activity you can think of, whether playing in the sand, swimming, water-skiing or boating. Rent Jet Skis and more at any of the rental shops along the beachfront. When hunger hits your family, hit the water on one of the numerous dinner cruises that leave from Independence Point, adjacent to the City Park & Beach. For a boat outing that involves shooting, fighting and face painting, try the Pirates of the Coeur d'Alene lake cruise. After all is said and done, if you and the family just want to take it easy and play in the sand or soak up the sun with a book, there's plenty of beach to do that. Find out more about each of these activities at the magnificent and renowned Coeur d'Alene Resort (cdaresort.com/activities), just a short walk from the City Park & Beach, which is located off Sherman Avenue.
Horseback Riding At Rider Ranch
Saddle up for a good time at Rider Ranch (riderranch.com), a real working ranch where you and your family can get up close to nature like never before on the back of a horse. Ride through the mountains at a slower pace with one of the short day rides or go for an evening dinner ride, ending in a delicious meal at the Willows at Rider Ranch. If not everyone in your group is comfortable on horseback, a horse-drawn hayride through the ranch's beautiful meadow might be in order. There you'll get to breathe in the fresh Idaho air and enjoy the hints of wildflowers, especially in early summer. A the time of publication, day rides occur at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and are $40 per rider. Dinner rides start at 6 p.m. and are $55 per rider. Each rider must be at least 8 years old.
Tubbs Hill Nature Trails
Taking a hike never has been a better thing to hear than when you're in downtown Coeur d'Alene with the Tubbs Hill Nature Trails before you. Tubbs Hill consists of 120 acres of pure Idaho wilderness with trails running throughout, allowing hikers to see native trees, plants and animals. The most popular of the trails is a two-mile loop that leads past historical points of interest and gives the photographer in every family some great views of Coeur d'Alene Lake. The main two-mile loop trail starts on the west side of the lake at the south end of 3rd Street in the Diamond parking lot and on the east side of the lake at the south end of 11th Street. There is no cost to hike on any of the trails. No motor vehicles are allowed; dogs are allowed but must always be leashed. Please take caution to wear appropriate hiking footwear and pack out anything that you pack in.
Triple Play Family Fun Park
Prepare your family for a whole new level of fun at Triple Play Family Fun Park (3play.com). There's great fun for everyone with bowling, miniature golfing, go karts, laser tag, a climbing wall and 25,000 square feet of water-soaked fun at the Raptor Reef Indoor Water Park. Triple Play is just minutes from the center of Coeur d'Alene at the corner of Highway 95 and Orchard Avenue in Hayden, Idaho.
Tags: Coeur Alene, City Park, City Park Beach, Park Beach, your family