Page 10 - Vacation Country Travel Guide

Idaho is a land of variety and contrasts: bustling
IDAHO modern cities and vast primitive wilderness; rich farm-
lands and sweeping expanses of lava and sagebrush;
rushing rivers, solitary streams and placid lakes.
Lewis and Clark were the first white men to see the
land that is now Idaho. After them came the fur trap-
pers and traders, hunters and missionaries. Following
the discovery of gold and the arrival of prospectors in
1860, pioneers trekked into Idaho settling the land and
developing it for farming.
Northern Idaho is blessed with more than its share
of rivers and lakes. There’s Lake Pend Oreille, Priest
Lake, Hayden Lake, Lake Coeur d’Alene, Spirit Lake,
Rose Lake and Black Lake. The St. Joe River is believed
to be the highest commercially navigable river in the
world. Fishing is a way of life here. Pend Oreille Lake
holds the record for the world’s largest Kamloops trout,
Snake River Canyon Priest Lake for the largest Mackinaw. Moose, elk,
photo by:
Chad H. whitetail and mule deer and even the rare mountain
caribou live in this rich north country.

Priest River Coeur d’Alene is situated on the shores of It is also one of the few cities in the United States
Location: Hwy 2; 47 miles northeast of beautiful Lake Coeur d’Alene, the gateway to miles to be included on the National Historic Register in
of waterfront edged with sandy beaches, docks, city
Spokane. Population: Approximately 2,500. park, virgin pine and fir trees, nature trails and a its entirety. Wallace offers the visitor a Downtown
District Walking Tour and an underground tour of the
Priest Lake flotilla of boats. Powerboats, sailboats, houseboats Sierra Silver Mine. Several museums allow a glimpse
and even surf sailors hem the four-mile waterfront
Location: Priest Lake is located on Highway 57, that is readily accessible to hikers, joggers, sightseers of the past: Wallace District Mining Museum, the
which runs north from the town of Priest River, and nature lovers. Enjoy the world’s longest public Northern Pacific Depot Railroad Museum and the
located on Highway 2 approximately 20 miles floating boardwalk. A patio with benches and bright Oasis Bordello Museum. Enjoy the popular Sixth
west of Sandpoint. Population: about 600 year flowers, a boat-gap bridge and swing-out drawbridge Street Melodrama for an evening of entertainment.
round residents. Visitor Information: Priest add to the experience of a waterside boardwalk stroll. For the shopper, there are many silver, gift and
The town and lake of Coeur d’ Alene have grown
Lake Chamber of Commerce; Website: www. into an international resort destination with homes specialty shops within the city. The surrounding area
priestlake.org; Email: info@priestlake.org. and resorts nestled along 100 miles of shoreline. Lake also provides two ski hills, cross-country, snowmobile
and mountain biking trails, horseback riding, fishing,
Spirit Lake Coeur d’ Alene is over 26 miles long and has many golfing and other recreational opportunities.
well-maintained boat ramps.
Location: Hwy 41, 25 miles north of Coeur
d’ Alene. Population: Approximately 1,200. Worley Lookout Pass Ski Area
Visitor Information: Local merchants. Location: On Highway 95, 25 miles south of Location: Near the Idaho/Montana border on
Sandpoint Coeur d’ Alene. I-90. Contact (208) 744-1301 or visit www.
skilookout.com.
Location: Highway 95 North in the Idaho Kellogg
Panhandle; 79 miles from Spokane; 46 miles Location: Highway I-90; approximately 12 Idaho’s oldest ski area, Lookout opened in
from Coeur d’Alene. Population: 5,500. Visitor miles west of Wallace, 35 miles east of Coeur d’ 1935 and today it is an affordable family ski area
Information: Highway 95, 1/4 mile north Alene. Population: 2,600. Visitor Information: combining easy access with great snow. More than
of town. Chamber of Commerce: Greater Silver Valley Chamber of Commerce, 608 350-400 inches of snowfall per year means there’s
Sandpoint Chamber, PO Box 928, Sandpoint, Bunker Avenue, Kellogg, ID 83837; Phone always great powder skiing.
ID 83864; Phone: (208) 263-2161. (208) 784-0821. Location: On I-90, 11 miles
west of Kellogg. Population: 780. Visitor Moscow
Bonners Ferry Information: Historic Wallace Chamber of Location: On Hwy 95 north of Lewiston, near
the Washington border. Population: 22,000
Commerce; (208) 753-7151.
Location: Highways 2 and 95; 30 miles Visitor Information: Moscow Chamber of
south of the US-Canadian Border; 108 miles Kellogg is rich in mining history from an era past, Commerce, 411 South Main Street, Moscow,
from Spokane: 32 miles from Sandpoint and but still thrives with the influx of new enterprise.
Schweitzer Ski Area; 80 miles from Coeur Located in the Coeur d’Alene region of Idaho’s ID 83843; Phone: (208) 882-1800 or (800) 380-
d’Alene. Population: Approximately 2,000 “Panhandle,” this community still evidences a 1801; Email: info@moscowchamber.com
(city); 8,500 (county). Visitor Information: colorful past that will capture one’s imagination.
Greater Bonners Ferry Chamber of Commerce, Immediate areas surrounding Kellogg are frequented Sun Valley / Ketchum
205 East Riverside, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805; by visitors interested in reliving the exciting and often Location: On Hwy 75, 82 miles north of Twin
Phone: (208) 267-5922; Email: info@ violent mining dispute history of the town. Falls. Visitor Information: Website: www.
bonnersferrychamber.com The Silver Valley is an important historical area visitsunvalley.com.
of Idaho. Gold was discovered a few miles north
Clark Fork of Wallace in 1882, which then led to the discovery Sun Valley offers more recreational opportunities
of silver, lead and zinc in the region. Since that
Location: Hwy 200; 8 miles south of Hope, 4 time, the valley’s Coeur d’ Alene mining district has than any other destination resort in the country, and
miles from Lake Pend Orielle, 76 miles from been one of the largest silver mining regions in the except for wilderness adventuring, the wide array of
Coeur d’Alene, 104 miles from Spokane. world. Mining history provides the traveler unique activities are all available within walking distance of
recreational adventures from exploring ghost towns the quaint village.
Coeur d’ Alene to panning for gold. Enjoy fine dining, exceptional entertainment and
Location: Junction of Highways 95 and I-90; 30 nightlife, great shopping and soothing spas, then
miles to Spokane, WA; 46 miles to Sandpoint; Wallace relax in your choice of accommodation in preparation
100 miles south of the Canadian border; 173 Location: On I-90, 11 miles west of Kellogg. for fabulous skiing and snowboarding, exploring
miles to Missoula, MT; 310 miles to Seattle, Population: 780. Visitor Information: Historic multi-purpose trails, ice skating, swimming and golf,
WA. Population: 30,000. Visitor Information: Wallace Chamber of Commerce; (208) 753- to name just a few of the exhilarating pursuits to be
2nd and Sherman (year-round) and U.S. 95 and enjoyed in Sun Valley.
Appleway (booth in summer); Coeur d’Alene 7151.
Area Chamber of Commerce, 1621 N 3rd Street, The town of Ketchum has a fascinating history
Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814; Phone: (208) 664- The historic city of Wallace has a most colorful dating back to the 1880s, when the area was one of
3194. past and a history that dates back over 100 years. the richest mining districts in the Northwest.
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