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Things to Do

Looking for something to do this weekend? Coeur d’Alene and North Idaho have plenty of activities both indoors and out, including historic sites, museums and galleries, music, theater, escape rooms, and, of course, the golf courses, ski resorts, and hiking trails we’re famous for. Here’s a partial list of businesses and parks to explore plus a list of yearly events from the Mac & Cheese Festival to the Iron Man Triathlon. Check back regularly as I update this page and feel free to send me suggestions for businesses or events that aren’t listed but should be.

Chambers of Commerce & Tourism Websites

Newspapers & Other Local Publications

  • Coeur d’Alene Magazine – Biannual lifestyle magazine
  • Nspire Magazine – Biannual lifestyle magazine
  • North Idaho Wellness – Every other month lifestyle magazine focused on wellness
  • North Idaho Family Magazine – Quarterly family lifestyle magazine
  • Family Guide – Quarterly listing of events and resources for families in Spokane and North Idaho
  • Coeur d’Alene Living Local – Quarterly lifestyle and real estate magazine
  • Real Northwest Living – Biannual lifestyle and real estate magazine
  • Nickel’s Worth – Local classifieds
  • North Idaho Exchange – Local classifieds

Arts & Culture

Not only do we have great restaurants, we have some wonderful arts and culture all over North Idaho. Look around as you drive the streets and you’ll see a plethora of public art in roundabouts, on corners, and in our many parks. We also have some great museums and performing arts groups. Here are some of my favorites.

  • Coeur d’Alene Arts & Culture Alliance
  • Libraries
  • Historic Sites
    • Coeur d’Alene’s Old Mission State Park – Also known as the Cataldo Mission and Sacred Heart Mission, this is the oldest building in Idaho, constructed between 1850 and 1853. The area surrounding it is now a state park with an interpretive center but masses are still occasionally held in the church.
    • Clark House – This mansion overlooking Hayden Lake was build by a wealthy industrialist in 1909 and the estate originally covered 14,000 acres. It was sold at auction less than eight years later after Clark mysteriously disappeared. In the following years, it served as a convalescent home during WWII, a hotel, a youth center, and a restaurant. Sadly, the hotel and restaurant, which occupied the mansion since the 1990s, has been closed since 2014. The estate is private property so you may only look as you drive by on Hayden Lake Road.
    • Farragut State Park Museum at the Brig– The land that is Farragut State Park was originally a Naval Training Station during WWII. The Museum at the Brig now highlights that history.
    • Fort Sherman Buildings – several buildings dating back to the 1880s when this area was an Army Post. The chapel is still in use today and is owned by the Museum of North Idaho.
    • Treaty Rock – This hidden away Post Falls city park is the historical site where German immigrant Frederick Post and Chief Seltice of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe literally hammered out a deal on the side of a giant granite monolith. You can still see the chiseled letters of the treaty today.
    • Wallace Historic District – Until the late 1980s, Wallace was still a rough and tumble mining town complete with an active brothel. Over the decades it played host to shootouts, mob riots, and even Hollywood starlet Lana Turner in her youth. The entire town has been preserved as a National Historic District and tours are available. It also calls itself the Center of the Universe.
  • Museums, Galleries & Art Studios
    • Cisco’s Gallery – Lots of antiques, Native American artwork, and some great taxidermy. All of it’s for sale but you’re also welcome to just browse as it’s as much a museum as it is a gallery.
    • Coeur d’Alene Galleries – An art gallery specializing in Western, Wildlife, and Traditional Art. Located on Sherman Ave.
    • Emerge – An artists collective that offers classes, a pottery studio, darkroom, and a gallery where local artists can display their work for sale.
    • Hands to Art – Pottery painting studio.
    • Jacklin Arts & Cultural Center – Located in one of Post Falls’ historic buildings, the Jacklin showcases local artists and musicians and also offers classes.
    • Museum of North Idaho – Our history museum. It will open at its new location in 2025.
    • The Art Spirit Gallery of Fine Arts – High quality original works by regional artists.
  • Bookstores & Writers Groups
  • Musical Performance Venues & Groups
  • Live Theater Venues & Performance Groups
  • Cooking Classes

Theme Parks, Movie Theaters & Other Entertainment

  • 59:Escape Adventures – Escape room in Post Falls
  • Big Red’s Barn – Petting zoo in Hayden featuring traditional farm animals as well as reptiles, birds, and even capybaras!
  • Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel – Tribal casino located about 30 minutes south of Coeur d’Alene offering video gaming and bingo. More traditional casino games like craps, roulette, and blackjack are not legal in Idaho.
  • Crime Scene Entertainment – Interactive murder mystery nights. They have events open to the public or you can book a private party.
  • Escape Game – Escape room in downtown Coeur d’Alene.
  • Frontier Ice Arena – Ice skating rink that offers open skates, lessons, and hockey leagues for both youth and adults.
  • Hayden Cinemas – Independently owned multiscreen cinema showing first run movies. Much cheaper than the Regal Cinema, especially the concessions.
  • Regal Riverstone Cinema – The other cinema in town.
  • Sierra Silver Mine Tour – A tour of a small abandoned mine just outside Wallace. You’ll learn some of the history of mining in the area, geology, and see some of the equipment used including a live demonstration of a jackhammer.
  • Silver Rapids Waterpark – indoor waterslide park located at Silver Mountain Resort in Kellogg.
  • Silverwood Theme Park – Five high intensity rollercoasters and all the other typical theme park rides, an “Old West” train ride/show, and a water park with several high intensity waterslides. This rivals Disneyland and at a fraction of the ticket price (not to mention the cost of traveling to Southern California).
  • Skate Plaza – roller-skating rink.
  • Stateline Speedway – Auto racing. It occasionally hosts concerts and other events, including a living nativity every December.
  • Triple Play – Family fun center featuring laser tag, mini-golf, bumper cars, go-karts, arcade, indoor waterpark, and more.
  • Kroc Center – 132,000 square foot facility with workout equipment, two pools, basketball court, and climbing wall, as well as a kids center, classes, and performing arts venue.

The Great Outdoors

Perhaps the best thing about living in North Idaho are the many outdoor activities we are able to enjoy. From hiking to skiing to golfing and more, here are some fun things to do outside no matter the season.

  • Golf Courses
  • Ski Resorts
    • Schweitzer Mountain – North Idaho’s premier ski resort located in Sandpoint. 2900 acres of skiable terrain, 92 trails, and 10 lifts. Offers mountain biking trails in the summer.
    • Silver Mountain – Located in Kellogg, you reach the summit ski area via the world’s longest gondola ride. 1600 acres of skiable terrain and 7 lifts. Great tubing park as well.
    • Lookout Pass – A smaller, more affordable ski resort located on the Idaho/Montana border. Free ski lessons for kids every Saturday morning. 1023 skiable acres, 52 trails, and 5 lifts.
    • 49° North – Located in Chewelah a little over and hour north of Spokane, WA. 2325 skiable acres and 7 lifts.
    • Mount Spokane – Located just north of Spokane. 1704 skiable acres, 52 runs, and 6 lifts.
  • Hiking Trails – There are hundreds of hiking trails within an hour’s drive of Coeur d’Alene. Here are some of my favorites, many of which are close by offering the opportunity to get an evening hike in after work.
    • Canfield Mountain Natural Area – Located on the eastern edge of Coeur d’Alene, this U.S. Forest Service land offers more than 25 miles of trails, including a path to the summit. Also open to dirt bikes.
    • Cougar Bay – Located two miles south of Coeur d’Alene, this nature preserve offers an easy mile-long hike along the water.
    • English Point – Located on the north side of Hayden Lake, this US Forest Service land offers 6 miles of easy hiking trails. Also open to horses.
    • Mineral Ridge – Located about 15 minutes east of Coeur d’Alene near Beauty Bay, this is moderately strenuous 3-mile loop trail along connects to a few much longer trails.
    • Pulaksi Tunnel – A four-mile out-and-back hike to the historic mining site where forest firefighter Ed Pulaski saved the lives of all but six of his 45-man crew by leading them to the safety of an old mine shaft when a terrible fire ripped through the area in 1910.
    • Q’emiln Park – Several easy trails and some rock climbing spots located on the south side of the Spokane River in Post Falls.
    • Rathdrum Mountain – Located in Rathdrum. 10 miles of trails including one to the summit.
    • Tubbs Hill – A beautifully preserved natural area in the heart of the city surrounded by Lake Coeur d’Alene and offering an easy 2-mile loop hike around the perimeter of the peninsula. Some nice hidden beaches along the way as well.
    • Mudgy & Millie Trail – An 2.25-mile urban trail between Tubbs Hill and Independence Point following the adventures of local mascots Mudgy the Moose and Millie the Mouse and featuring five life-size bronze statues along the way.
  • Biking Trails – While these trails are primarily used by mountain bikers due to their length, you are also welcome to hike them as well. There are many more in North Idaho but these are the most popular.
    • Route of the Hiawatha – 15-mile-long scenic rails-to-trails ride that takes you through nine tunnels (the first is 1.7 miles long) and over seven sky-high trestles. A shuttle will meet you at the bottom and take you back to near the starting point.
    • Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes – 73 miles total between Plummer and Mullan but a popular segment is the 7.8 miles (15.6 miles round trip) between Heyburn State Park and Harrison that take you over a converted train trestle across Chatcolet Lake
    • Centennial Trail – 23-mile-long paved trail between the state line and Higgins Point.
  • Camping – Just a few of the many places you can camp around North Idaho.
    • Beauty Creek – US Forest Service land about 15 minutes east of Coeur d’Alene.
    • Bumblebee – US Forest Service land about 15 minutes north of Kingston.
    • Farragut State Park – Located about 30 minutes north of Coeur d’Alene on the south shore of Lake Pend Orville.
    • Heyburn State Park – Located about 10 minutes east of Plummer near the south end of Lake Coeur d’Alene.
    • Riley Creek (Army Corp of Engineers) – located about 30 minutes west of Sandpoint on the Pend Orville River.
    • Round Lake State Park – Located just south of Sagle.
  • Adventure/Ziplining Parks
  • Guest Ranches
  • City Parks – There are several more city parks in the area. These are just a few of my favorites.
  • Public Beaches & Waterfronts
  • Other Outdoor Activities

Events

No matter the month, there’s almost always some major event happening in North Idaho, from our farmers’ markets to Christmas Lights display, here are some fun activities for you to take part in. We even have an IronMan Triathlon every July!)

Monthly
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
  • Scarywood – Every October, Silverwood Theme Park transforms into “Scarywood” with roving monsters ready to scare you at every turn and even a rollercoaster that runs backwards!
November
December