COEUR D' ALENE, IDAHO

An Idaho Good Morning!

Reflecting on the last two days spent in Coeur d' Alene it will be with sadness that we leave. The small city of 45,000 is situated on Lake Coeur d' Alene ( 25 mi. long X 3 mi. wide) nestled among the beautiful Idaho mountains. It was founded in 1879 as a fur-trading post & named by French trappers. Today, it is truly a tourist destination for it offers natural beauty and First Class amenities to visitors. In addition to the tourism IT corporations have moved here from high-tax states like California for the quality of life offered; like snow skiing in the winter and boating in the summer. Of course at the same time they contribute to the local economy. Sherman Ave., the main street near the waterfront is filled with boutiques, restaurants, bars, and shops with art sculptures and flower displays along the thorofare. I might add that it took me about 3 days to learn how to correctly spell, Coeur d. Alene!

In the 1980's developers Duane Hagadone and Jerald Jaeger purchased about a mile of lakefront property in the city and created an amazing resort (creatively) called "The Coeur d' Alene". It includes a high-rise 338 room hotel, a 4 ship cruise boat fleet, two marinas, a floating restaurant, an RV park, and a championship golf course with the world's only floating green, along with condos, all overlooking the lake. Within the hotel are multiple restaurants and bars, spas, conference rooms, etc. The property includes community parks with manicured lawns and dozens of flower garden features.

The hotel marina has the world's longest floating boardwalk at 3,300' which shelters 362 boat slips. The second marina has boat sales/service & is situated just around the point on the Spokane River where the Cedars Floating Restaurant is located. Multiple boat slips are located there also.

Our base in this city was the Coeur d' Alene Elks Lodge. Very convenient and very inexpensive at $5.00/night! What was saved here was spent in dining at the 7th floor restaurant at the hotel and at the floating restaurant! We took the lake cruise and conversed with the boat's captain all along the way through the open window of the wheelhouse. He told us that the lovely homes along the lakefront are provided daily US Mail service by boat throughout the summer, and boat service 3 times a week in winter. During the cruise we passed by the famous golf resort. The condos, 5 stories high, adjacent to the golf course sell for prices beginning at $3.5M but include life-time membership for two at the club with free green's fees. What a bargain! For those golfers who successfully hit their ball onto the 7,000 sq. ft. floating green a small boat, named "Putter" takes you across the water to the green. Very unique!

Our next stop will be Bonner's Ferry, ID not far from the US/Canada border. From there we travel to Banff & Lake Louise in Alberta Province of Canada.