Coeur d'Alene, ID

Hiking in Coeur d’Alene Idaho and the surrounding area is one of my favorite things to do when the weather turns nice. April is usually a great time to start taking the family out on some nice hiking trails. We love to explore the area and the great scenery and wildlife, my kids really love

North Idaho has so many outdoor pursuits to offer: hiking, biking, camping, fishing, canoeing; and we don’t usually associate them with helping to cure disease. So, participating in the annual M.S. Walk gives my family and many others a chance to not only take a lovely walk around Coeur d’Alene, but also do it for a good cause. The Multiple Sclerosis Society sponsors M.S. Walks all over the country every year, and one of them happens to take place right here in our city of Coeur d’Alene.

One of the greatest things about living in a town like Coeur d’Alene are the fun family events that are put on by different organizations throughout the year. One of these events is the Spring Fiesta that the North Idaho College Latin Club sponsors every year. For the second year in a row my family was able to attend and we had a wonderful time. Of course it doesn’t hurt that this event is free to the public.

Every year on Memorial Day weekend my family goes camping up the Coeur d’Alene River at Graham Creek. We found this spot several years ago and fell in love with the scenery, the hiking trails, and the close proximity to the river.

It has seemed like forever since the weather has been nice enough to get outside for an extended period, so the first slightly warmer day we had my kids were ready to move. I took them to the Coeur d’Alene city park downtown where the play structure alone is enough to keep them busy for a while.

This winter started off a little slow but by the Christmas holidays, Silver Mountain gets hit by a series of storms that would not let up. There are two weeks left of the season and still the mountain is receiving fresh snow. I like to fancy myself as a Goddess Aging with Gusto and with all this fresh snow, I decided I was due for a physical challenge that would push me out of my comfort zone. While I am already a diehard snowboarder, playing in the terrain park would really test my boundaries, being 47 and all…. I mean taking jumps, the quarter pike, riding over bent trees or sliding across rails just a few of the things to conquer.

I grabbed my friend and hopped in the car heading south on US-95 for a quick 30 minute drive to the Coeur D’ Alene Casino. The casino is great for a day trip or you can extend your trip and stay at their resort hotel. The Coeur D’ Alene casino has plenty to offer from a spa, golf course, full bar, a buffet, a restaurant, live boxing, bingo and did I mention 1800 slot machines?