It is extremely rare that I am surprised by a travel destination anymore. I consider it an occupational hazard. When my feet hit the ground at a new place, I already know where to go, what to eat, and enough insider tips to pass as a local. It was much the same when I arrived in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Even though I had never heard of the city and never visited the state before, I felt like I had a good idea of what to expect. But, I was completely surprised, even blown away, by the beauty of the little city on the banks of the lakes of Northern Idaho. It was every bit the picturesque storybook locale that the romantic sounding name suggests. Surrounded by woods, hiking, and activities that center around the lake, it is a true natural paradise with a wealth of activities for kids to enjoy with their families.
What to Do in Coeur d’Alene with Kids
- Explore the city with Mudgy and Millie. This is quite possibly the cutest way to introduce kids to a city that I have ever seen. Mudgy and Millie are a moose and a mouse who call the shores of Coeur d’Alene home. These two lovable characters were created by acclaimed author Susan Nipp, who is best known for her Wee Sing collection. While hiking in the beautiful scenery of Coeur d’Alene, Nipp was inspired to create a storybook that would introduce children to the highlights of her hometown. Along with the beautifully illustrated storybook, sculptor Terry Lee created five life sized bronze sculptures that echo the story and invite visitors to hike along the Mudgy Moose Trail. As you follow the book and the trail, you take a 2 ¼ mile walk through the heart of town and around the landmarks of the city. It is an ideal way to delve into the beautiful landscape and features of Coeur d’Alene.
- Thrills and Giggles at Silverwood Theme Park. As the largest theme park in the Pacific Northwest, Silverwood has something for every age group. Over 70 slides, rides, shows and attractions, including four roller coasters, Boulder Beach Water Park, a steam engine train, live entertainment, restaurants, and more are available inside the gates. A special park just for little kids, and award winning roller coasters are just some of the features that are great families. You will also the love the 2 for 1 admission to both the theme park and the water park next door.
- Do it All at Triple Play Family Fun Park. Rated as one of the top family fun centers in the world, Triple Play has just about anything you could imagine doing with kids, and more. For a daily fee activities include bowling, climbing wall, laser tag, indoor glow golf, go-karts, bumper boats and outdoor miniature golf. Sluice mining, video games, and restaurants are also available for a small additional fee. If you tire of all of that, Raptor Reef Indoor Waterpark is adjoining and can also be added to your daily ticket for a nominal fee. You can easily spend a day playing here, and it is an especially good option if the weather turns sour during your trip.
- Dig into the Gold Mining Past. Crystal Gold Mine tours offers a peak at an 1880’s gold mine that was mysteriously hidden and rediscovered over 100 years later, giving visitors a unique look at the gold mining boom that was kept frozen inside. During the tour, visitors will travel the same path lit by candle carrying miners in the 1880s. Throughout the tour, a guide explains the techniques and tools used, including how they traced the quartz vein and tested the vein for gold. Beautiful stalactite crystals of smithsonite in an array of colors coat the walls. Gold and wire silver can still be seen in the quartz vein.
- Dive into Lake Coeur d’Alene. The lake is at the heart of the activities in the city and with the range of activities it’s only a matter of choosing how to explore. Depending on the season, you can catch a scenic boat tour, rent a kayak or jet ski, take off on a seaplane, or relax on the beach. For a treat that’s just for kids, Pirate Cruises along the lake are action-packed 90-minute cruise that includes sword fights, games, face painting and singing. Nearby, the world’s longest floating boardwalk traverses a mile of shoreline, and is an ideal place to spot bald eagles swooping down to catch some lunch. The diversions on the lake are the perfect place to take in the spectacular scenery that surrounds the pastoral town of Coeur d’Alene. Looking up from the shore or a boat deck, you will see the gentle natural beauty, breathe the somehow fresher air, and wish that every place could be this pristine and peaceful.
Check out this itinerary as you plan your day in Coeur d'Alene on the trail of Mudgy and Millie.
~Coeur d'Alene Resort hosted my stay in Coeur d'Alene. They did not require that I express a particular viewpoint and all opinions are my own.~
Anytime you get near a gun, assume that it is loaded.
A few of the best stand locations are effectively off access roads, near huge lakes or
exactly where multiple ponds and lakes form a labyrinth of
timber between them that deer should navigate during their
daily travels. This will help you get acquainted
with what turkeys sound like.
hunting and fishing stores in ohio recently posted…hunting and fishing stores in ohio
If they do find garbage though, they will leave a tag
and ask you to sort out your garbage that they will then collect the next week.
The great thing about these bean bags is the fact that they can help
you continue recycling this material due to the fact that in time the beans get compressed and you need to add new ones.
Depending on the item, an individual can typically get anywhere
from ten to sixty percent of the original purchase price of the item.
recycling articles recycle recently posted…recycling articles recycle
I’ve only driven through Coeur d’Alene before. Never stopped for more than a single night. Going to have to go back after reading this!
What a great list of things to do! Kids especially would love the gold mining attraction. Coeur d’Alene is a beautiful area and this list would help make any visit there even better.