SperlingViews - Sandpoint, Idaho

rains alot[read more...]

I have lived in just outside of Sandpoint for almost 6 years. I can see it from my basement windows across the lake. It is a beautiful area with a good small town environment. There is a lot to do out doors from simple walking to skiing, mountain biking and hunting. We are finally getting a byway finished that will route the big trucks around town. I have enjoyed it and am soon moving to a new location for another adventure. Check Sandpoint out, you will like it.[read more...]

If you are thinking of moving to Sandpoint, and you have children in school, look very carefully at your alternatives, private and charter. They offer a different perspective, and may be the best choice, particularly if your child has any special needs. [read more...]

what available?[read more...]

My family and I are considering a move to Sandpoint and I am wondering 2 things: 1. Are the days really grey skies most of the time? 2. Are the schools really as bad as I have heard with budget cuts, etc. We have 2 elementary school age children. I would love any feedback. Thanks! [read more...]

A comment from the author: Originally in the article I wrote that Glen Harvey rented Swans Landing to his nephew, based on the chef relating this incorrect info in a conversation I had with him. The chef was the instructor for our local culinary program, of which I was a part. In a conversation I had with Glen Harvey on December 24th, 2008, he asked me why I had written an article "about me," and really believed I had done very wrong to mention him in the article. The original article stated my belief that during that time, the lessee of Swans had done much to ruin the reputation of the restaurant, and that the rents were high. I based this on conversations I had with two of the owners, as well as a conversation I had with Glen Harvey four years ago, when he was quoting me how much he was asking for in lease payments at that time. During my Christmas Eve conversation with Mr. Harvey, I asked if he had read the article. He admitted he hadn't at that time. I stand by what I have written, am willing to prove my sources, and will admit that what I was told was that the owner was married to Mr. Harvey's neice. I retract the familial affiliation. Merry Christmas.[read more...]

Let's be honest, there is virtually no public transportation in Sandpoint and for most of North Idaho. The N.I.C.E. bus takes people from Sandpoint to Coeur d'Alene, where there is better public riding, and Spokane has a decent system, but we have none. Hoever, there are bikeways galore, and people do ride their bikes here, though that is impossible during winter months. We have a couple of taxi services, one pretty good, the other okay. With such a giant lake, people do use their boats, but as gas topped $3 a gallon, this practice fell off. Now that a gallon of gas typically costs $1.50 a gallon, a general sigh of relief has collectively passed over the community. In North Idaho, car (...or, er, trucks and SUVs) is king. There are two ways to view traffic in North Idaho. We are growing, and tourism adds road burdens during season, especially summer. For long-time residents, the added numbers means extra minutes on the road, especially during commute hours. The other way of looking at the issue is comparing our travel times to larger communities. Certainly the amount of time it takes to commute is bearable when compared to even our neighboring cities. Plus, any old-timer will tell you there have been arguments for better roads and systems for 50 years or more. Plans to widen Highway 95, create a byway that bypasses Sandpoint, and pave outer roads are wants that most agree are both needed, and on the books, soon to come to fruition. The Sand Creek Byway has been controversial, but the ribbon cutting happened in October. See this YouTube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef2GayV8Grc Here is the direct link to the Idaho Transportation page about the Sand Creek Byway: http://itd.idaho.gov/projects/d1/SandCreekByway/ Because of the recent downturn in the state's coffers, many projects are in limbo. Here is the link to all IDT projects for North Idaho: http://itd.idaho.gov/Projects/D1/ Our future is dictated by several factors. Our County Master Plan, the proposed bypass, the widening of Highway 95, and roads planned by the state. The most controversial of all projects locally is the Sand Creek Byway. (Project Web Site: Sand Creek Byway) Many are opposed, including the outspoken North Idaho Community Action Committee (NICAN). The project has been challenged legally, and the disagreement reported in USA Today and the Bonner Daily Bee, the Spokane Journal, and the Spokesman Review many times. (Article 4, Article 5, Article 6, Article 7, Article 8) While most agree some sort of bypass is needed, a substantial minority disagree with the placement and the environmental impact. Others feel that bypassing the city of Sandpoint will hurt the economy greatly. However, despite the controversy, it appears the project is finally underway. U.S. Route 95 is a north-south United States highway. Unlike many other US highways, it has not been the victim of decommissioning by an encroaching Interstate highway corridor. In fact, US 95 is the only US highway to gain mileage after California began to decommission US Highways in the 1960s, and it is the only US Highway not to end in California after entering it. US Highway 95 in the state of Idaho is going through a massive overhaul. In 2000, Idaho started a massive reconstruction project on Highway 95 in the north of the state due to a large amount of accidents and fatalities. Three main processes have started and will revamp the highway completely. The first section, south of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho from Fighting Creek on the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation to Coeur d'Alene, has since been completed. It changed the highway from a two lane highway to a four lane highway for approximately 10 miles. The second section, from Fighting Creek to Lake Creek on the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation, is currently under progress and will affect a 7 mile stretch of the highway. The project is expected to be completed in mid-2006. The last section, from Lake Creek to Worley, Idaho, is expected to start mid-to-late 2006 and is not expected to be completed until late 2007 or early 2008. This section is significant due to it being entirely on the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation. The "new" highway will bypass the Coeur d'Alene Casino, the largest business on the Reservation, with the old highway becoming an alternate route that will connect the highway to the casino and the more remote regions of the reservation. When this 20 mile stretch of highway is completed, the length of the highway will have been cut down by about 20 miles. Many more reconstruction projects are being undertaken in the northern part of the state including ones between Plummer, Idaho and Moscow, Idaho, between Moscow, Idaho and Lewiston, Idaho, and between Lewiston, Idaho and Riggins, Idaho.[read more...]

While homes in Sandpoint aren't cheap, but compared to other resort areas, still much more affordable than places like Sun Valley or Tahoe. As I write this there are 1175 homes, condos, and townhomes in the Sandpoint, North Idaho area, with a median price of $329,000. However, there are many, many affordable homes on the market. Yesterday I wrote an offer for a 1800 sqare foot newer home for under $100,000, and there are over 400 homes available under $250,000. So, how is the real estate market and business here in Sandpoint and North Idaho? Besides being named to Sunset Magazine's Top 10 Resort Towns this year, Idaho was just named the nation's 8th healthiest state. In Sandpoint, several new businesses just opened, including a Jack in the Box, Big 5 Sporting Goods, and Zip's. By a quick count, over twenty other new businesses have opened in the last forty days. The new Mountain West Bank building now graces Highway 2, and the Panhandle State Bank is a monument downtown. Quest Aircraft just hired 60 new employees, and the dredging will be finished by Friday for the start of the Sand Creek Byway. This three-year project to circumvent Sandpoint will provide dozens of high-paying jobs for the next three years. When the CEO of Quest was on my non-paid business public radio show, he also pledged to hire up to 200 more over the next several months to meet the demand for his first-rate aircraft. A lot of noise has been made over the unemployment rate going up a couple of points since summer quarter. Looking back on historic figures since 1990, there has not been one year in which the rate did not increase during winter months. The facts are, in that eighteen year period, Bonner County had 47 months of unemployment over ten percent; the highest rate was 15.1% (Thank God for our current low rate); 40 times the rate swung more than two percent; several times the monthly or quarterly change was 4%, 5%, or even up to 8.4%. Why such volatile swings? In a county with under 50,000 full-time residents, seasonal changes because of weather and tourism make great changes the norm. Alarmists sound the bell, but don't actually look at what our area is all about. Compared to the national rates, we are still ahead, and our future does not look bad. Click here to view the Unemployment Rates 1990-2008: http://www.sandpointid.net/Bonner-Historic_Unemployment_Rates.html Since 1997, the biggest gain we have had in employment is in manufacturing. With companies such as Quest Aircraft, Airtow, Encoder Products, Litehouse Foods, Coldwater Creek, and Thorne Research, we have better than average big company representation. In ten years over 1,000 new manufacturing jobs have been created in Bonner County. Many think tourism is king. While important, it is only a fraction of our base. One of our shining tourist draws is Schweitzer Mountain Resort. The ski resort is not fully up and running, but once ski season begins, this will help our economy greatly. Tom Chasse is coming on my community service show, North Idaho Arts and Adventure, on Tuesday, December 17, 2008 to talk about the upcoming season, as well as the very slick and new Schweitzer Magazine. Schweitzer was named last year to Skiing Magazine's Top 25 Ski Resorts, and is coming off two record years. According to Jeff Bond, owner of Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty, the company had its best September ever this year. Certainly we have seen a decline in prices. Some estimates for our area are declines of 4%, 6%, and 6% for the last three years. However, we saw increases of 30%, 40%, and 40% the previous three. All in all, we are not doing so bad in real estate. Most values are maintaining, and sales, while not robust, are certainly better than other parts of the country. Across the country the banking issue has been disconcerting to say the least. Home loans are tougher to get. Borrowers need to have sparkling credit, and according to news reports, 20% downpayments are also becoming the norm. For those looking for loans in North Idaho though, the best resources appear not to be national companies, but local sources. Mountain West Bank did not take on the kind of bad loans that bigger banks took on, and they have been making loans in routine fashion, much like before this economic storm. Recently, a story was sent out by broker Judy Delucchi about a loan that was falling apart right before closing. Jason Hauck of MetLife (that's right, they make home loans, too!) put together a loan at a decent rate in just one week. The changes with USDA loans are generous. Joseph Cool of USDA in Post Falls says that a family of three can buy a home anywhere in Bonner County, and they can make in excess of $70,000, and even get assistance. There is money out there for loans in the Inland Northwest. Just look down the street rather than around the globe. Another alarming trend people have noted in Sandpoint is the closing of several area restaurants. Restaurants are among the most visible and talked about of businesses. Therefore, many people see this segment of the business environment as a guage to the economy. Sandpoint has had some trouble keeping fine dining restaurants open. After the Power House Bar & Grill closed, Montana Pizza opened one of their Craggy Range franchises at the Power House. It lasted one season. After Alex Verhoogen, a Spokane MD, lost Swan's Landing, Glen Harvey picked up the property, developing it into the Lodge at Sandpoint. He leased the restaurant to his nephew, and the venerable establishment's reputation suffered for almost two years. From personal knowledge, with rents so high, it didn't seem it could succeed no matter who ran the kitchen. Then Len Golding took over, and for a time, the place ran smoothly, but in October 2008, he also shut the doors. Now, Claudia Dick, owner of the Crossings at Willow Bay and Cafe Trinity, will start another restaurant venture there this December. The old Passtime, a staple of downtown Sandpoint, was renovated at great cost to the Chicago transplants that hoped that Sandpoint was ready for a nightclub and cool eatery, but also closed after a couple of years. Three Glasses opened with Chef Luigi from Alba, Italy and fantastic reviews. John and Darcy Peters hoped that the incredible wine list, live piano music, and very, very good food would attract enough business to warrant gutting the building at considerable cost. Result? Closed doors. Upstairs, the Loading Dock has found limited success as a deli and pizzaria. They have since made the restaurant into a kind of concert hall with some success. Out in Hope, Barney Ballard hoped the Dock of the Bay, with its fine menu and wine selection, would make it, but when rents were raised, he gave it up and moved to the new Panhandle Bank building in Sandpoint. Now Gloria Waterhouse is looking to sell the Sand Creek Grill. Fine dining just doesn't seem to be able to survive here, and many miss restaurants like the Garden. Truth is, while we seem to have enough people to support these dining rooms, we actually don't. Plus, though we appear to be a prosperous community with so many wealthy people finding homes here, many are not full-time residents. Our wages are still low compared to the rest of the nation. Still, we do have some pretty good places to catch a bite. Yesterday I interviewed Tom Guscott of Arlo's Ristorante, and by all accounts, they are doing well, employing twelve employees even in winter months. After a fire there last year, the worry was they wouldn't reopen. Gary and Laura Peitz owned the venerable Coit House B&B, and after selling a couple of years ago, looked for the right place to open at the right time. Next month they will open a comfort food diner with chef Gabe Cruz nex to the new Subway, next to the new Mountain West Bank complex. Apparently, in this economy, pricier fine dining isn't working as well as more affordable sandwiches and comfort food. I have worked with great chefs, the most notable[read more...]

Things to Do in Sandpoint & Schweitzer Mountain Wow! What a run we have had here in the North Idaho Panhandle. Schweitzer has spent millions on improvements and finally made Skiing Mag's Top 25. Spring 2008 had AskMen.com naming Sandpoint and Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort one of the nation's Top 10 Resort Towns. There's always something going one. Winter events like Holly Eve, Winter Carnival, and Mardi Gras added to some great downhill runs. Spring brought Lost in the 50s, Spring Festivals, and marathons, and the fun continued through summer, with art and festivals, fishing derbys, Summer Sampler, 4th of July, the Wooden Boat Festival, the Festival at Sandpoint two week concert series, and great lake fun. Now coming up is Lakedance Film Fest and the turning of the leaves. Can't wait for Oktoberfest! We have seen some cool new restaurants, the Bonner Mall getting a makeover, and more things to do in our Calendar of Events (http://www.sandpointid.net/Calendar.html) than we have ever had before. Sports and doing things outdoors here ain't so bad either. From the CdA Ironman, to the NORBA Nationals, to the Long Bridge Swim, we have the national events. But with dozens of bike trails at every level, hiking, and boating, you can find what you like to do. Choose one of the activities on either side, or surf the rest of the website. You are surely going to find something cool to do in Sandpoint and North Idaho. As for Sandpoint, you might have seen the sign, and yes, Sandpoint is a walking town. That is one of the most popular things to do in Sandpoint and up on Schweitzer Mountain in the village when coming to visit. In a half day, we can walk either village, seeing cool shops, visiting galleries, and dining in good restaurants. But there is much more to do in the outlying areas. Here are a couple other things to consider. First, Lake Pend Oreille is the second largest freshwater lake and the deepest in the West with 111 miles of shoreline. Watersports, sailing, and racing are common and several boat cruises are offered. Next is Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort, a top winter destination rated in the Top 25 in Skiing Magazine and Top 10 in Sunset Magazine, with the finest skiing and snowboarding with unbelievable panoramic views overlooking Lake Pend Oreille. With over 2,900 acres, 2,400 feet of vertical, 67 named runs and seven chairlifts, Schweitzer Mountain is a dream for downhill enthusiasts. There's also 32k of cross country trails, beautiful snowshoe trails, and a brand-new tubing center plus shopping galore. Winter Sports feature snowmobiling and ice skating, and during the summer we host the NORBA Nationals and biking of every sort. We are home to Coldwater Creek with their HQ and biggest store. There are three golf courses, among them award-winning Hidden Lakes, now the Jack Nicklaus Idaho Club. Just a few miles away is Silverwood Theme Park, the Northwest's largest theme park. Sandpoint is a great, historic railroading town, with fantastic scenery on short or long trips within the Pacific Northwest. The Burlington Northern, Montana Rail Link, and Spokane International rail systems all converge to create "The Funnel," an amazingly active rail crossroads with more than 40 trains a day traveling through. Rail buffs come from around the world to see the many trains traveling through. We are home to the award-winning Pend d'Oreille Winery, and North Idaho and Eastern Washington have many wineries, and Coeur d'Alene and Sandpoint have no fewer than twelve wine bars. The area is filled with world-famous artists, galleries, antique stores, and shopping. We have great restaurants, including Sushi, Tapas, and eclectic as well as traditional fare that satisfies every taste. As the saying goes, "Where do you find the best restaurants in Spokane? Sandpoint!" There are several wildlife refuges, national parks, nature preserves, and state parks within short driving distance. We also have some of the finest hunting and fishing in the nation. There are dams, horseback riding, sleigh rides, camping and hiking. We have the International Selkirk Loop, a 280-mile driving loop through two countries (U.S. and Canada) and two states (Idaho and Washington) considered to be one of the best drives in the country. Finally there are so many events that they are too many to mention. The historic Panida Theater has many of them, but others are city or county-wide such as our Madcap Mardi Gras during our Winter Carnival celebration and two Oktoberfests. In short, North Idaho is a jewel, with Sandpoint and Coeur d'Alene sparkling bright. Come visit us and see why so many that do never leave. Here is a little more about what the Sandpoint Area Offers One of America's truly unique places, sheltered by the Selkirk and Cabinet Mountains, the climate is further tempered by prodigious Lake Pend Oreille, offering amenities normally found only in much larger and so-called more sophisticated towns. The sheltering didn't end there. First the artists and hippies came, such as Ed Kienholz, and the few knew the beauty and outstanding lifestyle, they kept the secret close to the vest. However, Sandpoint's charms have recently been discovered by the outside world. Outside Magazine recently named Sandpoint one of America's Top Dream Towns, calling us "The cool northwest's hot property", while Sunset Magazine calls it "The Best Small Town in the West". Read on and learn grasshoppers. Oh, did I mention we have awful big grasshoppers? Having Fun on the Water You don't have to be here long to get the picture. We are in lake country. Not surprisingly, many blogs and writings of winter skiers attribute to the area the misnomer that we are primarily a summer resort destination. After all, when skiing down the slopes of Schweitzer Mountain, the overwhelming view is Lake Pend Oreille. Oh so wrong, my research-lacking ones. Our main tourist season and draw is winter sports. Still, summers ain't bad. Lake Pend Oreille is the 2nd largest freshwater lake in the west with 111 miles of coastline, and Lake Coeur d'Alene is only a bit smaller, but we have many other beautiful Alpine and mountain lakes. Boating on Hayden Lake, Spirit Lake, Lake Cocolalla, or Twin Lakes is a daily activity for much of the year. We have fantastic white water kayaking, and skiing on the Pend Oreille River is a fav. So hit the water. Want some more mellow fun, go swimmin' under a Waterfall. Skiing and Winter Sports While many resort towns have great summers, or fantastic ski seasons, we have a true four-season climate, and Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort is minutes from downtown. So it is small wonder Sandpoint is a fantastic place for the winter sports enthusiast. But the spring and fall brings mountain biking, hiking, hunting, and festivals. The summer has boaters, fishing, sailing, waterskiing, jet boating, etc., etc., etc. Food and Drink Where can you find a town of this size with two wine bars, two Starbucks, and a Sushi Restaurant? We have several health food stores and cafes, and many, many good restaurants. In fact, according to the article in Outside Magazine, a standing joke in Spokane - a city of almost 200,000 about 75 miles to the southwest - goes something like this: "Where's the best place to eat in Spokane? In Sandpoint". While this might have started as a marketing ad we put out some twenty years ago, it may well be true. To learn more about our restaurants and eateries, click this link for RESTAURANTS (http://sandpointid.net/Restaurants.html). As the host of the radio show - Gourmet to Go, and a former local restaurant owner, I have a little insight on the subject. I worked with Emeril Legasse at Commander's Palace in New Orleans for three years, and I guarantee that we have some good fixin's here. The Festival at Sandpoint Harking back to a more relaxed era, the Festival at Sandpoint has been providing an unequaled out door concert experience since 1983. The individual acts are quite varied, so there's something fo[read more...]

Sandpoint has its own hospital - Bonner General -with 48 beds, and the healthcare industry has seen several new clinics open, with many new doctors and health offerings in the last five years. This year, Idaho was named the nation's 8th healthiest state, and people walk and hike, bike ride and ski, swim and race, and are generally doing healthy things more than not. Within 100 miles are ten hospitals, and just 45 miles south of Sandpoint is the Kootenai Medical Center, a very good, much larger hospital with all the services a good facility enjoys. A bit farther, in Spokane, are some world-class hospitals, including Deaconess and Sacred Heart.[read more...]

We are so proud of our high school, and I often ask people where in the nation do we still fund virtually every art and activity, all the way down to the Men's Glee Club. Our schools are rated in the middle of the pack, with a 6 out of 10 in Great Schools website and others. Many people locally do not think our schools are up to the task, and home-schooling here is as prevalent as any place. However, coming from Louisiana and Florida, I find the schools amazing. Certainly the children here are so much nicer, more polite, and seemingly better educated than in California, where my wife and I worked for three years. Education cannot be viewed only from the perspective of the quality of schools. When the kids coming out of the area are hard working, ethical, humble and polite, I have to think something is working right. Last year Dennis Pence, one of the founders of Coldwater Creek, pledged to donate matching funds with the state to build our first University of Idaho campus in Sandpoint. When the stock lost 90% of its value, those plans went on the back burner. However, this idea has taken seed, and I suspect we will have a university extension campus within ten years. Overall, education in Sandpoint is generally good, as are the schools.[read more...]

I host the radio show North Idaho Business. In that capacity I am often asked the questions, “Is it a good time to start a business in the area?” As a Realtor for Windermere Real Estate/Resort Lifestyles, I am asked the similar question, “Is it a good time to buy a home here?” There is often the codicil, “…or should I wait ‘til the fall/winter/summer/spring?” In fact, last May 14, 2007, on a forum hosted by CityData.com, a couple asked that very question. Looking back, was it a good decision to wait until the fall to buy? Here is the easy answer: prices are now lower on many properties. Also, if you overpaid in May of 2007, then you would be upside down now. There are other considerations. Did you plan on selling in under one year? Two? Five? Truth is, the real answer is if you don’t find the ‘right’ property and you overpaid, then you would need several years to absolutely know the answer. However, last year in the month of May, there were some seriously good bargains available. I should know. I bought a bank repo on 10 acres in Priest River. We gutted the home, fixed it pretty, and just closed on it at a profit. Big profit? No. Worth it? You betcha. If you are going to open a business or buy a home in North Idaho, the time is always ‘now!’ Why? Because, if you run your business well, do so with the bottom line always the constant goal, and treat your customers with kindness, professionalism, and offer a good product, then the chances of success are good. If you buy a home today with a good negotiated price, then even if it suffers some depreciation next year, over the course of two, three, or five years, you will see increases in value. This is historically accurate. However, it is more important to understand the dynamics of Sandpoint, Schweitzer Mountain, and Lake Pend Oreille. Anecdotal evidence of a good economy in Sandpoint is strong. While many new offices and buildings are coming on the market, the number of empty buildings and storefronts is historically low. Many developers and business owners are banking on continued growth. On Fifth Avenue several new buildings are being constructed, and similar projects are nearing completion on Highway 2/Pine. The businesses that were built last year are thriving, such as the new North Idaho Animal Hospital and Starbucks in Ponderay. Slate’s new digs are impressive, and a telephone interview Steve Coffman confirmed that this will be the restaurant front to a new hotel. Certainly the decision to build by Panhandle State Bank and Mountain West were based on a stronger economy, but the addition of their buildings created jobs as well as beautiful new structures gracing the Sandpoint skyline. Following the national trend, some local businesses have seen a decline in profits. Coldwater Creek’s stock price has tumbled from a high near $30 to around $6. Part of Coldwater’s strategy in recent years has been the addition of hundreds of brick and mortar stores to supplement its online and catalog sales. A comparison of the first quarter of 2007 to this year showed a 9.4 percent decline in sales. Yet after passing the milestone of a billion dollars in sales in 2006, this is not the worst news of the day. Nationally, retailers are having one of the worst years of the decade, and several national stores are filing for bankruptcy protection. Other companies such as Encoder, Thorne Research, and Unicep Packaging are continuing with business as usual, though with slower sales and numbers than recent years. Some local companies are increasing their presence both in national sales, and local employment, such as Litehouse Foods. Paul Schaller’s Quest Aircraft is hiring new employees and has plans for robust sales in the coming months. The multi-million dollar Sand Creek Byway project has begun, and soon scores of new hires with high-paying jobs will add to the local economy. Don’t think that every area adjacent to the vibrant communities of Sandpoint or Coeur d’Alene will appreciate similarly. This just cannot happen. Bonners Ferry, Naples, Priest River, Newport, and other communities just are not doing as well as Sandpoint or Coeur d’Alene. The old axiom of location, location, location, applies, even if your location is near the ‘in’ place. One only has to take a few minute walk in downtown Priest River to see many, many buildings with ‘For Rent’ signs, and closed businesses are the norm. The news is also not good for two of our best employment opportunities. JD Lumber and other mills have closed their doors. The lumber industry, which enjoyed resurgence during the housing boom of recent years is now suffering one of its greatest downturns. While Idaho created different industries over the last several years to buffer the decline of lumber, states more dependent on the lumber industry, such as Oregon, are in real trouble. The lack of building has also affected higher-paying jobs in the construction industry. Thus far, there have still been jobs available, but without some recovery, those jobs may be in danger. Still, our unemployment rate is low compared to the rest of the nation. With the national rate approaching 7 percent, Idaho’s 5.8 percent is impressive, and among the lowest in the nation. Still, it is at a 15-year high. Bonner County matches the national figure with unemployment November at 6.9 percent. According to the Idaho Department of Labor, Coeur d’Alene area has a similar rate of unemployed, while Boundary County to the north is in the double digits. This has to be compared to historical unemployment rates. In the past, the unemployed in North Idaho often was in double figures. Reviewing the unemployment rate for Bonner County since 1990, this figure is the absolute norm at the beginning of winter. So, while we have enjoyed unprecedented job growth over the last few years, what we are experiencing now is normal for our area. Certainly, compared to the nation and our past, our current figures are good. Looking at the jobs available in the Sunday newspapers confirms that there are jobs available, though we still lag behind the rest of the U.S. in rate of pay. As of the beginning of 2008, bankruptcy filings in North Idaho are again on the rise following historic drops in 2006. According to Filings in the Northern Division of the U.S. Courts, District of Idaho nearly doubled to 414 cases last year, up from 219 cases the prior year. The Northern Division handles cases from Kootenai, Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, and Shoshone counties. In 2006, filings in the division had dropped 87 percent, down from more than 1,600 cases, following enactment of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention & Consumer Protection Act, which took effect October 17, 2005. The new law created additional requirements which had to be met by debtors before they could become eligible for protection from creditors. While the figure is almost double the previous year, it is still in the lower tier of states. Idaho’s most vibrant city, Boise in Ada County, has had meager increases in quality of job life with a 0.4% increase in job numbers, and a 0.5% increase in the average weekly wage. There the technology boom has long been the envy of other cities, yet with the recent closing of HP operations, and Micron on the verge of bankruptcy, the outlook is not as gleaming as even 2007. Another area that Idaho shows strength in is foreclosures. According to the National Delinquency Survey by the Mortgage Bankers Association only nine other states have a lower rate of foreclosure than Idaho. This may be bad news for the intrepid investor looking to pick up property a bargain prices, but it speaks to our economy. A higher percentage of Idahoans are making their payments than 80 percent of the rest of the nation. If home appreciation and sales are the benchmark for judging how our economy is doing, then we are in a slowdown. Many pundits believed that 2005 or even 2006 were our best years ever for home sales. While 2005 was impressive with over $303,000,000 in hom[read more...]

Things to Do in Sandpoint & Schweitzer Mountain Wow! What a run we have had here in the North Idaho Panhandle. Schweitzer has spent millions on improvements and finally made Skiing Mag's Top 25. Spring 2008 had AskMen.com naming Sandpoint and Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort one of the nation's Top 10 Resort Towns. There's always something going one. Winter events like Holly Eve, Winter Carnival, and Mardi Gras added to some great downhill runs. Spring brought Lost in the 50s, Spring Festivals, and marathons, and the fun continued through summer, with art and festivals, fishing derbys, Summer Sampler, 4th of July, the Wooden Boat Festival, the Festival at Sandpoint two week concert series, and great lake fun. Now coming up is Lakedance Film Fest and the turning of the leaves. Can't wait for Oktoberfest! We have seen some cool new restaurants, the Bonner Mall getting a makeover, and more things to do in our Calendar of Events (http://www.sandpointid.net/Calendar.html) than we have ever had before. Sports and doing things outdoors here ain't so bad either. From the CdA Ironman, to the NORBA Nationals, to the Long Bridge Swim, we have the national events. But with dozens of bike trails at every level, hiking, and boating, you can find what you like to do. Choose one of the activities on either side, or surf the rest of the website. You are surely going to find something cool to do in Sandpoint and North Idaho. As for Sandpoint, you might have seen the sign, and yes, Sandpoint is a walking town. That is one of the most popular things to do in Sandpoint and up on Schweitzer Mountain in the village when coming to visit. In a half day, we can walk either village, seeing cool shops, visiting galleries, and dining in good restaurants. But there is much more to do in the outlying areas. Here are a couple other things to consider. First, Lake Pend Oreille is the second largest freshwater lake and the deepest in the West with 111 miles of shoreline. Watersports, sailing, and racing are common and several boat cruises are offered. Next is Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort, a top winter destination rated in the Top 25 in Skiing Magazine and Top 10 in Sunset Magazine, with the finest skiing and snowboarding with unbelievable panoramic views overlooking Lake Pend Oreille. With over 2,900 acres, 2,400 feet of vertical, 67 named runs and seven chairlifts, Schweitzer Mountain is a dream for downhill enthusiasts. There's also 32k of cross country trails, beautiful snowshoe trails, and a brand-new tubing center plus shopping galore. Winter Sports feature snowmobiling and ice skating, and during the summer we host the NORBA Nationals and biking of every sort. We are home to Coldwater Creek with their HQ and biggest store. There are three golf courses, among them award-winning Hidden Lakes, now the Jack Nicklaus Idaho Club. Just a few miles away is Silverwood Theme Park, the Northwest's largest theme park. Sandpoint is a great, historic railroading town, with fantastic scenery on short or long trips within the Pacific Northwest. The Burlington Northern, Montana Rail Link, and Spokane International rail systems all converge to create "The Funnel," an amazingly active rail crossroads with more than 40 trains a day traveling through. Rail buffs come from around the world to see the many trains traveling through. We are home to the award-winning Pend d'Oreille Winery, and North Idaho and Eastern Washington have many wineries, and Coeur d'Alene and Sandpoint have no fewer than twelve wine bars. The area is filled with world-famous artists, galleries, antique stores, and shopping. We have great restaurants, including Sushi, Tapas, and eclectic as well as traditional fare that satisfies every taste. As the saying goes, "Where do you find the best restaurants in Spokane? Sandpoint!" There are several wildlife refuges, national parks, nature preserves, and state parks within short driving distance. We also have some of the finest hunting and fishing in the nation. There are dams, horseback riding, sleigh rides, camping and hiking. We have the International Selkirk Loop, a 280-mile driving loop through two countries (U.S. and Canada) and two states (Idaho and Washington) considered to be one of the best drives in the country. Finally there are so many events that they are too many to mention. The historic Panida Theater has many of them, but others are city or county-wide such as our Madcap Mardi Gras during our Winter Carnival celebration and two Oktoberfests. In short, North Idaho is a jewel, with Sandpoint and Coeur d'Alene sparkling bright. Come visit us and see why so many that do never leave. Here is a little more about what the Sandpoint Area Offers One of America's truly unique places, sheltered by the Selkirk and Cabinet Mountains, the climate is further tempered by prodigious Lake Pend Oreille, offering amenities normally found only in much larger and so-called more sophisticated towns. The sheltering didn't end there. First the artists and hippies came, such as Ed Kienholz, and the few knew the beauty and outstanding lifestyle, they kept the secret close to the vest. However, Sandpoint's charms have recently been discovered by the outside world. Outside Magazine recently named Sandpoint one of America's Top Dream Towns, calling us "The cool northwest's hot property", while Sunset Magazine calls it "The Best Small Town in the West". Read on and learn grasshoppers. Oh, did I mention we have awful big grasshoppers? Having Fun on the Water You don't have to be here long to get the picture. We are in lake country. Not surprisingly, many blogs and writings of winter skiers attribute to the area the misnomer that we are primarily a summer resort destination. After all, when skiing down the slopes of Schweitzer Mountain, the overwhelming view is Lake Pend Oreille. Oh so wrong, my research-lacking ones. Our main tourist season and draw is winter sports. Still, summers ain't bad. Lake Pend Oreille is the 2nd largest freshwater lake in the west with 111 miles of coastline, and Lake Coeur d'Alene is only a bit smaller, but we have many other beautiful Alpine and mountain lakes. Boating on Hayden Lake, Spirit Lake, Lake Cocolalla, or Twin Lakes is a daily activity for much of the year. We have fantastic white water kayaking, and skiing on the Pend Oreille River is a fav. So hit the water. Want some more mellow fun, go swimmin' under a Waterfall. Skiing and Winter Sports While many resort towns have great summers, or fantastic ski seasons, we have a true four-season climate, and Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort is minutes from downtown. So it is small wonder Sandpoint is a fantastic place for the winter sports enthusiast. But the spring and fall brings mountain biking, hiking, hunting, and festivals. The summer has boaters, fishing, sailing, waterskiing, jet boating, etc., etc., etc. Food and Drink Where can you find a town of this size with two wine bars, two Starbucks, and a Sushi Restaurant? We have several health food stores and cafes, and many, many good restaurants. In fact, according to the article in Outside Magazine, a standing joke in Spokane - a city of almost 200,000 about 75 miles to the southwest - goes something like this: "Where's the best place to eat in Spokane? In Sandpoint". While this might have started as a marketing ad we put out some twenty years ago, it may well be true. To learn more about our restaurants and eateries, click this link for RESTAURANTS (http://sandpointid.net/Restaurants.html). As the host of the radio show - Gourmet to Go, and a former local restaurant owner, I have a little insight on the subject. I worked with Emeril Legasse at Commander's Palace in New Orleans for three years, and I guarantee that we have some good fixin's here. The Festival at Sandpoint Harking back to a more relaxed era, the Festival at Sandpoint has been providing an unequaled out door concert experience since 1983. The individual acts are quite varied, so there's something fo[read more...]

Art in Sandpoint and North Idaho The 1970s brought hippies and environmentalism as well as arts and more theater to the Sandpoint area. This spelled the downfall of the lumber industry. Jim Brown, of the Pack River Lumber Company, wisely diversified his business and, as one of the original founders of Schweitzer Mountain, bought out the rest of the shareholders to make Schweitzer a privately owned venture. To this very day one can still see the occasional psychedelic bus or love bug traversing county roads. Now the hippies are augmented by the winter ski bum, and the warm weather off-road cyclists. Around this time the Hope Peninsula became an art colony. Edward and Nancy Reddin Kienholz moved there from Los Angeles in 1973. The Peninsula also had a cluster of buildings owned by the Max Factor family, and the Kienholz’s drew upon the beauty of the area as inspiration. A close friend and principal benefactor to Kienholz was Klaus Groenke, also a former resident of the Hope Peninsula. Groenke is one of the richest German real estate developers and is the managing director and part owner of Trigon Holding GmbH, a Berlin based international real estate company. He is also reported to be a leading share holder in Coca Cola Company, and a regional board member of the Deutsche Bank Berlin/Brandenberg. It is reported that the reason that the Hope Peninsula has a paved road it that he had it done so his guests would not have to drive on a dirt road out to his estate. Half his estate was sold in 2005, however, formerly Mr. Groenke's land boasted a series of triangulated satellite dishes, extensive antennae arrays, and curious metal "art." These giant sculptures dotted his property, many of which were originally purchased for millions of dollars, and some could be seen by Lake Pend Oreille boaters. A few were the "Tableaux" that Kienholz was famous for. One of the most famous features is the Plexiglas-encased full section of the Berlin Wall, graffiti and all, easily seen right in front of the front gate. The Hope Peninsula is also the home of the Ruen property: a 194 acre jewel that the family cannot agree on what to do with. It also has Sam Owen Park and is a nature preserve, with hundreds of friendly, tame deer that tourists love to interact with, and many other protected animals such as dozens and dozens of wild turkeys. Local art gallery owner, Jim Quinn of the Timberstand writes in his blog: “Throughout the years art colonies have developed by region because they give skilled but lessor known artists the opportunity to work side by side with more accomplished painters. One of the earliest and better known colonies is The New Hope Colony. They were associated with the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and the concept of painting en plein air. Many members of this group, Daniel Garber, Fern Coppage, Walter Emerson and many others are very collectible in today's market especially since they followed in the footsteps of artist Edward Willis Redfield who influenced an entire generation. Some other well known colonies are - Woodstock, New York, The Hoosiers, Colonies of the South, Southern Women Artists, etc... In today's world art colonies continue to develop in places like Jackson Hole, WY, Sun Valley, Idaho, Sandpoint, Idaho and many other places known for their natural beauty.” Today with the Artist Studio Tour, many galleries, and hundreds of artists, the county has become a true artist’s haven. The Pend Oreille Arts Council was formed in 1978 and with it, summer theater was born. The Panida Theater closed its doors until it was saved by a community fund-raiser and reopened in 1985. A bridge was constructed across Sand Creek and housed the public market. It is now home to Coldwater Creek’s flagship store. The 1980s brought more local flair to the area as the Farmer’s Market was founded and the Festival at Sandpoint began welcoming top name musicians to the area at its wonderful setting on the shores of the Pend Oreille River. Supporting the arts is an effort we feel is well worth the time and moneys invested to help our community flower into the art destination we believe our areas deserves. It shows off our region as a true artist colony, brings in tourist dollars, and with the internet, allows our artists to make a living in an area that for decades suffered from low wages and high unemployment. Art lifts the soul to a higher level, creates critical thinking, and makes us better citizens. Over the last years I have covered some controversial subjects on my radio show: North Idaho Arts and Adventure. We have discussed the need for art in our schools, we have discussed what is and is not considered art, which was a subjective proposition at best. Now we are exploring how Sandpoint and Bonner County can move forward and pave the way for the future which could lead our area to become a major tourist art destination. If we think about a couple of art communities, it becomes clear how supporting the arts on a local level can lead to community-wide prosperity. Take for instance Carmel and Monterey, California. These were sleepy little fishing villages with nice views and smelly piers. To get an idea of what it was like one only has to read Steinbeck’s Cannery Row. That tome was published in 1945. Have things changed there? Not too much in the way of industry or tourism sixty or so years ago. How about Sausalito? While San Francisco a few miles south boomed, Sausalito was again a slow-moving hamlet that had beautiful scenery. Last time I went to the Sausalito Art Festival it cost $20 to enter. There was a time when it was free. What would the city of Sandpoint do with $1,000,000 if we had 50,000 visitors to an art festival that had a $20 ticket price? One of our favorites is the Winter Park Art Festival. Been going on for 45 years, and attracts over 350,000 each year. Could we feasibly attract 20,000 or 30,000 visitors over a two or three day period? These other small towns attract many times that. These areas became artists’ havens, and the artists showed the world the wonder of their adopted homes. The areas became famous, their economies boomed, and while they did not grow stupendously, they prospered greatly. We are very much like these towns in the early years of their art movements. Artists here are fantastically great and we are at a crossroads. We can either get behind this idea and create another great art enclave, or not. I don’t like to think what North Idaho would be like without our natural beauty and majesty. What would we be like without art? Upcoming Art Events December: Coeur d'Alene - Art Walk The Coeur d'Alene Arts and Culture Alliance has organized a monthly Art Walk, that takes place from 5-8 pm the 2nd Friday monthly, April through December. Enjoy an evening of exceptional art, fine dining and friends in downtown 208-664-3194 www.artsincda.org January 17-18: Dover Bay, IDaho - Midwinter Art Fest 11am -5pm daily: With art from dozens of North Idaho Artists, this is our area's biggest winter art event. Featured at one of North Idaho's coolest waterfront communities, the Midwinter Art Fest is the biggest weekend deal during the Sandpoint Winter Carnival. Events, fun for the whole family, meet the aritsts, enjoy free beverages, refreshments, and treats, and see one of North Idaho's most beautiful resort communities. To learn more, visit www.MidwinterArtFest.com or call Gary 208-610-1384 or send an e-mail to garyplirette@nctv.com January 15-18: Sandpoint Winter Carnival ArtTrek - 5-8 pm, at locations around downtown Sandpoint Wander blissfully amid downtown's wine bars, galleries and shops in this self-guided art trek, showcasing the work of many local and regional artists. Special showings, hors d'oeuvres, live music and more at many locations. Self-guided map will be available at the Chamber and Downtown Sandpoint Business Association offices and many shops. See Festival at Sandpoint poster artist Janene Grende at the Coldwater Creek Wine Bar[read more...]

While stats show Sandpoint has typical crime compared to other small towns, many people here do not lock their doors. Murder is next to unheard of, and we don't have as much of a drug problem as neighboring communities. In fact, right across the border in Washington is a much larger meth issue than we have. Personally, I have never seen a tweaker in Sandpoint. Maybe I just don't know how to recognize them. When I mentioned to some folks that when I owned Walker Donuts, the hookers would stop by around 3am, they did not believe that we even had prostitution in Sandpoint. In fact, when a couple of women and a man booked a room at a local hotel, and tried to solicit on Craig's List, before they even got their first John, the authorities set up a sting and arrested the trio. Certainly we have burglaries, and other violent crimes. It just doesn't feel like it. In fact, were it not for the statistics that disprove the feeling, I would swear we had virtually no crime at all. But we do. Maybe we should lock our doors.[read more...]

Sandpoint and Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort make our area a tourist town, so there are the right places to buy, and the ones to avoid. For instance, Safeway in downtown Sandpoint is generally higher in pricing than Yoke's, which is marginally more than the Walmart Super Store. Still, having lived in Florida, Louisiana, and California before moving to Sandpoint, we noted groceries to be roughly 10% higher. Certainly beef and fish costs more, and sales are not always as deeply discounted. This is more because of lack of competition, and the limited population. Gas prices follow Spokane and even Seattle rates, and they have the higher Washington taxes. South of Sandpoint, in Coeur d'Alene, gas prices can be 10% or more cheaper. Utilities are low compared to much of the nation, as are supplied in the Pacific Northwest by hydro generation, but with colder winters than many other areas, the cost during winter can be more than many are used to. Health care is reasonable, and this month Idaho was rated the 8th healthiest state. With miles of bike trails, and outdoor living a big part of life in Sandpoint and all of Idaho, this is a given. Major purchases like homes and cars are in the middle of national numbers, though home prices, like many other desirable resort areas, sky-rocketed over the last few years, and has only drawn back marginally over the last three. Sandpoint is a generally reasonable city to live in and you don't have to be rich to live here. Still, many look back just five years ago to reminisce about when homes had a median price of $126,500, and everything was more affordable.[read more...]

The Weather Outside is Delightful in Sandpoint and on Schweitzer Mountain When Tom Chasse and Jennifer Ekstrom, CEO and Communications manager respectively for Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort appeared on my show, North Idaho Arts and Adventure, Tuesday, December 16, 2008, we talked about everything but the weather. So, here is a remedy. Schweitzer is coming off two record seasons, being ranked in Ski Magazine's Top 25 Ski Resorts and #3 for Tree Skiing last year, and, with Sandpoint, in AskMen's Top 10 Resort Towns this spring. While we have lots of great stuff up here in North Idaho, one of our best facets is our weather. Weather in Sandpoint is a gentle friend, made mild by the greenhouse effect that evaporation from massive Lake Pend Oreille proffers. In Florida, when the Army Corps of Engineers straightened one meandering waterway, the cover that had kept the citrus industry warm for generations ceased to function, forcing the industry farther south due to freezes now occurring where the waters once flowed freely. In Sandpoint, Hope, and Sagle, Idaho, the 148 square mile Lake Pend Oreille, with 111 miles of shoreline, creates what locals call the 'banana belt', often keeping temperatures much warmer than surrounding areas. We do have a good amount of rain, but temperatures during summer are generally mild. For about a month of the year, temps rage above 100°, and in recent years, can hit 105° or even 107°. While winter 2007-2008 dumped record flakes, normally Sandpoint and North Idaho gets 71 inches in the valleys of snowfall. Some reports state that Annual snowfall on Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort is 300 inches, though others claim roughly 21 to 25 feet. Annual precipitation in Sandpoint is 31-35 inches, depending on which refererence is used. For our purposes, we have listed some irrefutable tables below, and links back to their sites. Temperatures are mostly near 32°, though this can mean snow melting into ice and freezing overnight some seasons. The general consensus is that weather is a pleasure in North Idaho. Summers are gentle and mild, with occasional rainfall and temperatures near 80°, and winter has great snowfall with temperatures being considerably warmer than other western states. This makes Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort a charmer, since we typically always have snow, but with much more bearable cold. This, coupled with the fantastic views of Lake Pend Oreille, and being named to Ski Magazine's Top 25 Ski Resorts has made our area a favorite destination. Taking the weather together with the incredible scenery, wildlife, friendly small town atmosphere, and great lake life, has made the national press take notice. Sandpoint has been touted as the 'West's Best Small Town' in Sunset Magazine, one of 'America's Best Small Towns' in Outsider, and several write ups as one of America's Top Resort Towns. We love all of our four seasons. Wouldn't you like to live here? An Update: As I post this article in December 2008, we have had record snowfall during one 24-hour period. Bitter cold has gripped the region, but this has been the picture all over the nation. On television in St. Louis, a playoff game is taking place on a frozen field in zero degree temps. The forecast over the next fifteen days predicts the temperatures will go back up to 28-32 degrees, but snow will continue to fall the entire two week period. To see our specific forecast and graphs on our weather go to http://sandpointid.net/Sandpoint-Weather.html If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at any time. Gary Lirette Realtor, Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty Host of North Idaho Business & North Idaho Arts & Adventure on KSPT and KBFI 208-610-1384 garyplirette@nctv.com To learn more about North Idaho, Sandpoint, and Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort, visit the community websites: www.SandpointID.net www.SkiSchweitzer.net[read more...]

As the host of two radio shows - North Idaho Business and North Idaho Arts and Adventure for many years - the perspective of interviewing hundreds of native Idahoans and transplants has given me a unique perspective. While certainly one can lament that this fantastic place has changed over the years, it is still a quaint, high quality of life small North Idaho town with a population under 10,000. Year after year the national media has awarded great accolades to Sandpoint: Best Small Town in the West, Top 10 Resort Towns, America's Dream Town, Top 10 Adventure Town. The NY Times, USA Today, Sunset Magazine, AOL Travel, National Geographic and many, many more all have touted this place as a dream town, undiscovered and hidden from the rest of the world. Right above the city of Sandpoint is Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort, and similarly, over the last few years, Schweitzer has also garnered national attention, being named for the first time in 2008 to Skiing Magazine's Top 25 Ski Resorts, and #3 for Tree Skiing. Lake Pend Oreille, gargantuan with its 111 miles of coastline sandwiches Sandpoint on one side, with Schweitzer on the other. Manufacturer and national businesses have made the area home, with companies such as Coldwater Creek, Litehouse Foods, Quest Aircraft, Encoder Products, Thorne Research, and many more finding great employees and a quality of life few other places can offer. With growth has come growing pains, yet the essence of this part of the North Idaho Panhandle has remained. It is a great place to live, raise a family, and enjoy what nature offers. Festivals and events pepper each season, and the people are friendly to a fault. Certainly if one looks, we find issues that are troubling, such as the cost of living, traffic, and attitudes the newcomers bring that differ with the local populace. Many believe, however, that these are comparatively minor aberrations; our slice of North Idaho heaven is still better than most of the places any of us have been before. Our economy is suffering much like the rest of the nation, yet we still have good unemployment figures, optimistic future job growth, and are tackling our issues with fervent community involvement. We are so, so proud of our little community, and while we worry about growth, we are also proud, and welcome more than we turn away. Sandpoint is truly what they say about us. Perhaps Cabin Life, Cabin Living said it best calling our community “the quintessential Western outdoor lover’s town.”[read more...]

The Idaho panhandle is by far one of the prettiest places on earth. Filled with lush forest, abundant wildlife, world class fishing. Clean air, low crime, rich artist community, majestic views, lakes and rivers everywhere. A true sportsmans paradise with skiing at Schweitzer, boating on one of the many lakes like Lake Pend Oreille or Lake Couer d' Alene. Canoeing on Priest Lake or the Clark Fork river, hunting, fishing, and snow mobiling in the Kaniksu national forest. Or take a scenic drive on the Selkirk Loop scenic byway. Idaho is a great place to raise a family, or to live out your days on your slice of paradise.[read more...]

I am a little stunned to read the views from the other posters on the great and beautiful town of Sandpoint. It just goes to show how much perception changes from person to person. First let me say as a disclaimer, I am a Real Estate Agent in Sandpoint, though I am not posting this to get any leads or new clients…you can chose from any one of the over 250+ agents in our community. Sandpoint is a great little town located on one of the largest lakes in the western U.S. It has recently experienced a housing boom, not that different from what has happened to most of the housing markets around the country over the last 3-4 years. And yes it is a great place to buy a home or just come on vacation. What makes Sandpoint so special is its diversity, history and of course its location. Sandpoint is a kind of melting pot of cultural differences, from hippies to loggers, professionals to hermits living up in the woods, and young families to retirees, Sandpoint boast a little of every thing. The bottom line is that people here a genuine, not afraid to speak their mind and yet still willing to hear what someone else might have to say. I have never found a place that offers so much as far as “the people” are concerned. The town has a nice mix of cultural events, including music and film festivals. Great restaurants, from traditional “American Cuisine” AKA – Steak & Potatoes, to a Thai restaurant, several eclectic Pubs and Cafes offering vegetarian and vegan choices on their menus, great Italian, Mexican, Pizza, Cajun, and more. Several times I have heard that the best places to eat in the Inland Northwest are all in Sandpoint. Yes its true there are not and endless supply of restaurants, cafes, and pubs…and if you eat out a lot the choices seam to repeat them selves often…after all Sandpoint is a Small Town…how many places can it support. Once your belly is happy, take in the rest of the area…Skiing at a fantastic “local” mountain…with more ski-able acres than Sun Valley! A Lake that is 42 miles long, over 6 miles wide in some points, and 1200 feet deep…this all adds up to lots of great water recreation. Golfing at a Jack Niclaus signature golf course( under construction ), mountain biking on trails used for the NORBA championships! Kayaking, Fly Fishing, Hiking, Snowmobiling, The list goes on and on…The Sandpoint area is truly a four season recreation destination! But really do not take my word for it and definitely do not let the other postings on th[read more...]