Coeur d'Alene, ID

This weekend was an amazing one for sports in Idaho. Coeur d’Alene played host to Ford’s Ironman race. And what could be better than competing in a triathlon. A nice 2.4 mile swim followed by a 112 mile bike ride and then finishing off the day with a 26.2 mile run. This is an easy one, watching it. Now I have always been open to trying new things but talk about not playing with a full deck of cards. Don’t get me wrong these athletes are amazing to be doing what they do.

We try hard to go out as a couple at least once a month. We both think it is important to get a babysitter and do something “adult”. This week with the weather being so beautiful and Father’s day being the weekend before, we planned a picnic and massage date night. So Friday night after the babysitter arrived we headed to Post Falls, Idaho to have a picnic at Falls Park and then get massages at The Highlands Day Spa.

Did I just read that right? I paid $3.95 for one gallon of gas right here in Coeur d’Alene? I guess I shouldn’t be surprised when gas is above $4 nation-wide. Well, there went our planned trip to Yellowstone and Disney Land. Not only is gas up, but everything else is up, it’s not only keeping us home, but many others to. I guess we’ll just have to stay here in North Idaho and find things to do.

I think we need a Staycation!

BMX Racing At its Best! Several years ago I took my boys to watch some BMX racing off of Seltice way. The track was ok and it sured looked like a lot of fun. I had passed the track often while riding my road bike along the Centennial Trail from my home in Hayden, through Coeur d’alene and off to Post Falls or Spokane. The boys were a bit too young to race, but not so much anymore.

Fishing season is in full swing and it’s time to stake out your favorite spot. For this my husband and I go up to the Chain Lakes east of Coeur d’Alene. The chain lakes consist of about a dozen small lakes that feed off the Coeur d’Alene River and are great for catching northern pike and largemouth bass. Our two favorites are Rose Lake and Bull Run.

Bayview is a quaint little town that sits right on the waters edge. There is plenty of activities around Bayview. There is boating, hiking, swimming, eating, biking and fishing. Bayview is also home to the Naval Acoustic Research Detachment

An annual event that can be a lot of fun to do with your kids is the “Spring Into Safety” Carnival and Bike Rodeo that is put on by the Coeur d’Alene School District. This event is held at the beginning of March and admission is always free. There is a lot of great information that is given out for children and adults on safety and health issues. This year the event was bigger than ever and was held mostly indoors at Coeur d’Alene High School. In the past the event has been held at the City Park.

My family has been searching for a camping spot closer to Coeur d’Alene and was surprised to find Mica Bay Boater Park only 10 miles south of town. While the primary access is by boat, you can also get to the camping areas by parking and walking down a gated road. The walk is very short and if you don’t mind packing it in- is worth it.

What to do on a Sunday morning? Having 4 children, 2 of which are in diapers, and 2 dogs makes the activities a little more challenging. However, you can always count on nature to provide an engaging, fun experience. My husband and I remembered a spot we passed when coming back toward Coeur d’Alene from Kidd Island Bay on Hwy 95. We notice a side road with cars parked along it and people walking along a path with their dogs. We had been looking for a place that is friendly to our four legged critters and allows us to get outside and have some fun. We made a point to say we would check out this little spot sometime in the near future.