SperlingViews - Coeur_d'Alene, Idaho

We have lived here for 8 years and we love it it's beautiful but I would not say there are 4 seasons. April and May are usualy cloudy and for the most part rain a lot. June starts to warm up so you have JUly and August with warm sunny days then the end of Sep starts to cool down a lot. I always say that winter lasts for 3 seasons. There are 174 sunny days here. The average income is very low somewhere aroun $35k a year and housing is pretty high. BUT there is a lot to do, it's so beautiful up here and worth it if you love the outdoors and love snow. The winter is pretty quit and come spring/summer we get a lot of traverls which can make traffic horrible but it's still a lot of fun! We are looking to move though. 8 years with little sun is starting to get to us. Some people do fine with little sun but growing up in a sunny state for 23 years then moving to a place with very little sun is wearing on us. We will be back every summer to visit though![read more...]

We moved to Coeur d'Alene 8 years ago after having spent 40+ years in Idaho Falls, Idaho. We were enamored with the beauty of the lake and surrounding area. We hadn't been here long until we realized that the place was changing rapidly! Traffic is awful for this sized town, recreation areas nearby are overcrowed during the times one can use them, and worst of all, people from California move up here because of the small-town atmosphere and then immediately want to change it (and the people) to California! The mountains around are being covered with houses and the forests are coming down! It is a reincarnation of what happened to Jackson Hole, WY and Sun Valley, ID. Winters are long and damp-cold and air-conditioning is mandatory if you want to be comfortable during the very short summer! The cost of living and taxes are high! If you haven't got big bucks to start with, you'd be well-advised to look elsewhere for a place to flourish![read more...]

I have lived here all my life......42 years. At one time it was a beautiful place to live. The entire kootenai county area went from a small laid back logging town to a busy, overcrowded, snobby city of 125,000 people. Our town is full of traffic, polution and it is just crazy to go anywhere anymore. The cost of living is above the national average and houses are untouchable here for the blue collar man. Our farm fields are all now covered in sub-divisions and strip malls. The lakes are loaded with people and camping area's, so you cant really enjoy the outdoors like you use to. We locals are called slow and simple minded people by new people moving up here and it is disturbing because us locals use to be very friendly. There have been many times I've had people flip me off, come to my window at parking lots and start yelling at me.....I've had people slam their car door open and dent my door and then start threatening to kick my A_ _ because I said something to them about it. It's just a tense place to live anymore. Then there is the weather...........OMG! We get on average about 5 months of warm weather. Semi warm in May and June and September.....60's and 70's and then July and August are hot....around the 80's to 90's. The rest of the months, count on cloudy, gloomy, COLD, rainy or snowy (a lot of snow) days. For the last two years, we've had at least 7 feet of snow up against our home after the snow has been shoveled off. We still have at least 2 feet and it is April 4th. We are actaully looking to move out of the area, maybe to Tennessee. We visited Tennessee last December and fell in love with how kind and friendly people are back there. It is slow paced and beautiful. Coeurd'Alene as far as the entire area is still beautiful.........but with 2 million dollar homes going up all over the mountains and every part of the lake front that's available.........it takes away from the beauty. Of course this is my opinion of the place that I have always called home.......many people moving up here think it is beautiful considering where they came from......until they stay here a winter. I have no problem with change and growth........but a lot of people move up here because they like the area......then once they get here, they want to change everything and the people who have lived here all their lives. None of it makes sense to me. [read more...]

I have found it to be quite the opposite. The people in Coeur d'Alene are extremely friendly. Not only are they friendly, but they welcome diversity. There isn't a whole lot of cultural diversity, but it is definitely welcomed. PLEASE DO NOT LET THIS PERSON'S OPINION PUSH YOU AWAY FROM COEUR D'ALENE! IT IS A TRULY WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE![read more...]

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho is one of the most beautiful places on earth. We enjoy four distinct seasons with unique and varied recreational opportunitis for each one. We have over sixty lakes within 100 miles, world class snow skiing, trophy hunting and fishing and hundreds of miles of trails for hiking, biking, atvs and horses. We are 45 minutes from Spokane International Airport and 5.5 hours from Seattle by car. Our mountainous terrain provides us with exceptional views and thousands of acres of National Forest land for everyone to enjoy.[read more...]

Error in database. Coeur d'Alene's altitude is about 2100 feet at the lake surface, about 2200 feet at the airport. It is definitely not 5000+ feet.[read more...]

You have to make at least $45,000 to buy a house here now. Housing prices went up so high that it is impossible for the normal person to buy a house. Great place to live unless you want to buy.[read more...]

Coeur d'Alene is a gem in the Northern part of Idaho. It sits next to Coeur d'Alene Lake and hosts the beauty of the Idaho panhandle. There is a lot to do summer and winter. It is close to several downhill ski areas for winter fun and of course the lake for summer fun. Enjoy Art On The Green and Street Fairs. Silverwood Theme Park is 15 miles out of town and it's the place to go if you love roller coasters. The beauty of the area will take your breath away but be prepared for biting cold below zero in the winter and 80 or 90 degree heat in the summer. There is a college in town and lots of shopping.[read more...]

Nice town but with 16'-9" of snow this winter (2007-2008) you can sure get cabin fever in this area.[read more...]

The best town I have ever seen![read more...]

Having lived in Coeur D'Alene for approximately 34 years has allowed me to see some changes. The schools are great. The seasons are not bad with consideration to the winter months. The summers are nice too. The overall climate is dry. Coeur d'Alene has experienced some phenomenal growth over the past 10-15 years. Unfortunately, past Coeur d'alene city council members and Kootenai County commissioners have neglected to establish key planning for roads and highways to accommadate the influx. Instead, more emphasis has been placed on home development. Real Estate prices have been increasing in value steadily for the past 10 years. Coeur d'Alene Lake was once a beautiful destination but residential and commercial development has created a "mini-Tahoe" atmosphere. Homes, roads, and condos, are quickly filling what empty space exists around the lake. In essence Coeur d'Alene Lake is being "loved to death". Property taxes are increasing at a steady rate. Most jobs in the area are service-oriented and low-paying. Commercial growth has seized upon this opportunity to improve their individual company earnings at the expense of low salaries to locals with little or no benefits. My advice is- the surroundngs are beautiful, with numerous outdoor activities but do your homework if your planning to move there. If you have a decent career with a decent salary waiting for you by all means make the move. But don't let the beauty suck you in and hope for the best. Make plans accordingly.[read more...]

Cost of housing is high, wages are low.[read more...]

My whole family , Daughter and family and son and family all moved here, and would like to spend the rest of their lives here. Friendly people, safe to walk at night, many things to do. No grafiti on anything. Lots of churches to go worship. People helping people is a way of life. The beauty of the area will take your breath away.[read more...]

You have 4 seasons in couer d alene but in the winter it gets very grey. You get all of the weather from Seattle. Awesome place to live but winter is very grey.[read more...]

Hi moved here from California and really had high hopes. When you visit you go towntown and see the cute town and beautiful lake but when you live here you can only go there so often.The shopping is practically non-existent. I think if you vacation here it's great but I don't think it's the best place to live at least not for me.[read more...]

Magnificent environment: Surrounded by alpine forests, mountains, lake, rivers… Vast recreation: Golf, Sail, Ski, Hunt, Fish, Hike, Ride, Swim, Run, Bike, Kayak... Great four season climate: Snowy winters @ 30 degrees – Sunny summers @ 85 degrees Good jobs, schools, medical facilities - low crime and unemployment… Healthy growth, not too crowded in town, lots of space outside of town… Quality of Life is fantastic… [read more...]

Magnificent environment: Surrounded by alpine forests, mountains, lakes, rivers... Vast recreation: Golf, Sail, Ski, Hunt, Fish, Hike, Ride, Swim, Run, Bike, Kayak... Great four season climate: Snowy winters @ 30 degrees – Sunny summers @ 85 degrees... Good jobs, schools, medical facilities - low crime and unemployment. Healthy growth, not too crowded in town - Lots of space outside of town. Quality of Life is fantastic... [read more...]

We have avery thing here. Clean air, sking, snow and water sking, hunting, fishing, camping, clean water, great weather.[read more...]

If you like four seasons, winter fun in the snow, summer fun on the lake, then this is your place![read more...]

I agree with the person who posted about narrow minds. CdA is full of them. This city lacks culture and anything intellectual. If you like to hunt, fish, or ski and love snow and gray skys this is your town. The city is filled with extremists of many kinds. Home of the un-compassionate conservatives. Speed limits are 25 miles per hour and I've never lived anywhere where people drive under the speed limit on a regular basis and only when the sun is shining and the roads clear. As soon a snow or ice is on the road, they want to go 70! Don't bother coming here, I've lived here 5 years and have had enough. This is your place is you are narrow-minded, stupid, and like isolationist government.[read more...]