Bench with a view, Lake Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
National Geographic called Lake Coeur d’Alene one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. I might be a little biased since I live right next to it, but I’d certainly have to agree. Located in the panhandle of Idaho, far from the state’s population center of Boise, the alpine beauty of Lake Coeur d’Alene offers a wide variety of fun family activities, whether you’re on a budget or you have money to burn.
To me, it’s just about the ideal place to spend a few carefree summer days on the water. With a length of over 25 miles and a shoreline measuring over 109 miles, the lake is big enough that it never feels crowded, even on the busiest Saturday in August.
The obvious place to begin your family vacation is in the city of Coeur d’Alene, which sits on the north shore of the lake and is your best bet for lodging. Your hotel options range from the luxurious Coeur d’Alene Resort, which juts out over the water near downtown, to a Holiday Inn Express less than a mile from the city beach.
Summer fun in the water
During the summer months, mainly July and August, the water temperature of the lake is perfect for any activity you can imagine. My kids and I swim at least two or three times a week during these warm days. Coeur d’Alene’s city facilities stretch out across the north shore, so you don’t have to go looking for a spot to set up your beach chairs. City Beach offers the safety of lifeguards, but if you want to get away from the crowds there, simply stroll down to the adjacent beach in front of North Idaho College. You’ll feel like you have the lake to yourself.
If you want to do more than just sit on the beach and take in the beautiful view, you don’t have to go very far for a refreshing hike. Right smack dab in the middle of downtown Coeur d’Alene is what can only be described as the jewel of the town. Tubbs Hill is a 135-acred forested peninsula with a 2-mile loop trail that takes you all along the shoreline, where you can find secluded beaches, scenic overlooks, rocky coves, and woodland habitats. My family hikes Tubbs Hill regularly, and I’m always amazed at the beauty of the place, not to mention the fact that the city was able to save this urban wilderness from development. We pack a picnic lunch, hike out to the tip of the peninsula, and find a quiet spot for the afternoon.
Tubbs Hill
If you want to get out onto the water, there are several options. At Independence Point, next to City Beach, you can rent jet skis, kayaks, and paddle boats. Many different businesses in town offer reasonable rentals on everything from jet boats to luxury yachts. Well, I’m not so sure if the words “reasonable” and “luxury yacht” go together. The Resort also offers daily lake cruises, ranging from 90 minutes to 6 hours. There’s even a parasail boat and a float plane if you want to see things from a different perspective.
If your kids are waterlogged and tired of hiking, you can rent some bikes and head down any number of paved bike trails that hug the lake shore. The Centennial Trail runs right through downtown, heading east all the way to Higgens Point and west along the Spokane River, across the border into Washington, all the way into the city of Spokane. Or, you can explore the prairie north of the lake on the new Prairie Trail, which connects with all the other bike trails. Come to think of it, there are so many miles of trails around here, you might actually get lost. But a good kind of lost. If a park is what the kids are hoping for, there’s the City Park which, naturally, sits right next to City Beach, and contains a huge castle-like play structure for the kids to run wild on.
Hiking, biking, boating, and swimming. What more could you ask for in a relatively inexpensive family vacation? You’ll find it all here, in one extremely centralized location at the north end of Lake Coeur d’Alene. Like I said, though, it’s a big lake and there’s certainly more to explore. But I’ll save that for another post. I could talk about “my lake” endlessly. I’m sure that if you bring your family to this part of Idaho, you’ll also be talking about one of the most beautiful lakes in the world.
Kayaking on Lake Coeur d'Alene
Scenic overlook on Tubbs Hill
Cliff diving in Idaho
All photos by Phil Corless
