Coeur d'Alene, ID

The diverse beauty along the trail is worth exploring along with watching for the abundant wildlife. I’ve personally seen bears on the trail and moose, and have rollerbladed next to a Whitetail Deer for a few hundred feet, before she figured out how to get away from me. There are beaver and muskrats and an assortment of birds and raptors to keep the user entertained. Different times of the day adds new excitement and a new experiences like I am riding the trail for the first time.

The park had quite a few attractions to keep kids (and adults) of all ages having fun. There was a lazy river where you just grab a tube and float around the flowing current that goes in a big circle. This can be very relaxing as long as you don’t run into one of the many waterfalls located on the sides or get splashed by kids running by in the water without a tube (which can be fun too). There is also a younger children’s play area located above the lazy river that has very shallow water and multiple areas for kids to play and get squirted (including 2 mini waterslides that adults can go on too). In addition to these, there are also 3 waterslides located on an upper level, one that involves up to 4 people riding in a big raft down a waterslide.

My friends and I had decided to go garnet hunting so we all got together one summer day and headed over to Emerald Creek. I stepped out of the car near the garnet area and saw a sign “welcome rockhounds”. Although I do not consider myself a rockhound, I was there to do some hunting for garnets.

Camping in an area where you can also fish, swim and hike is always a good thing, so when my family found out about the Elk River Recreation District camping we thought we would try it out. From Moscow the city of Elk River is only 51 miles east on Hwy 8 so it is relatively nearby. The drive is very scenic and you can even follow through onto the Scenic Byway if you have a little more time.

My family and I recently joined the ranks of hundreds of hikers and walkers nationwide who have hiked to the Elk Creek Falls. The falls are located in Clearwater National Forest about 3 miles south of the town of Elk River, where there are some great camping spots. They are a relatively easy hike and the three trails lead you to the upper, middle and lower falls; he total combined height of which is an impressive 300 feet.

Rathdrum, just 14 miles northwest of Coeur d’Alene is a great little town and they have a wonderful city park. While visiting family we took our children to the park to get some of their energy out and found the park to be not only fun, but really pretty.

When it is hot outside sometimes you just crave a little ice cream. I have found that the best and most inexpensive ice cream around can be found at the Washington State University Creamery. Not only does the creamery sell ice cream in Ferdinand’s Ice Cream Shoppe, but they also sell the cheese that is made on site with milk from WSU’s Knotts Dairy.

Farmer’s Markets have always been a great place to get fresh local produce and meet some interesting people and Moscow’s Downtown Market is no different. For the past few Saturdays I have frequented the Moscow Farmer’s Market off of Main Street downtown. I have bought amazingly sweet cherries and some great bread as well as heard some really good music.

While camping at Graham Creek up the Coeur d’Alene River recently my husband and I went to Steamboat Pond to go fishing. I am never very lucky in the river so I was glad for some still water to try my luck, and boy did I have luck. On my first cast I caught a 12-inch rainbow and I was hooked, if you know what I mean. I soon found out that it wasn’t so much that I was a master fisherman as the fact that the stocked pond is teeming with fish.

Today ended up being one of the best family days we have had since moving to Moscow. We went to the 31st Annual Ice Cream Social that is put on by the Latah County Historical Society at the old McConnell Mansion on Second and Adams Streets. The McConnell Mansion built in 1886 was originally the home to William J. McConnell and his family. William was a merchant and also served as the state’s senator and governor. This event is free to the public and was not only enjoyable but also very educational.