Things to do

20 Fun Things To Do In Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

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Coeur d'Alene is a picturesque city in northern Idaho located near a serene lake known by the same name. Activities mostly preferred in the Coeur d'Alene lake are swimming, boating, and fishing.

The city is sometimes referred to as CDA by the inhabitants, and there are lots of opportunities for recreational activities. It was named after the Coeur d'Alene Tribe meaning "Heart of the Awl" in French because back then they were sharp in trading.

So, here is a compiled list of 20 fun things to do in Coeur d'Alene:

1. Salmon River Half Day Rafting in Riggins Idaho

It doesn't matter whether you are an experienced rafter or a beginner, this part is the perfect place for a memorable adventure. The half-day rafting journey in Riggins can be a fun day outing with friends and family seeking a mix of thrill and bonding.

It is located approximately four hours away from Idaho. The journey creates an ideal balance between exhilarating Class III rapids and the canyon's tranquil beauty.

In addition to following an expert guide and learning ways to navigate the river safely, you will also be enlightened by fascinating facts about the local ecosystem and history.

2. Play At McEuen Park

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McEuen Park has plenty of things to keep people entertained for some time. It is not very busy most of the time as well which is always on the plus side. Play on the playground, have a snack, take a walk on one of the trails at the end of the park, pet walk, or play frisbee.

The park leads down to the lake with some cool art along the way. It can also connect to Tubbs Hill and the floating boardwalk from here. The park charges no entry fees besides parking and it offers ample space and activities for both children and adults.

3. A Macabre History of Boise Walking Tour

To understand Boise City well, this tour focuses on its shift from the city's upper-class founders and politicians to the general people. These individuals are often misunderstood and misrepresented.

A tour guide takes you through the shadows of Boise's past. Hear about the macabre, the forgotten, and the unsettling truths that shaped this city.

One main stop will be in the U.S. Assay Office where the guide enlightened about the claims of miners in the Idaho Territory. All these make this excursion one of the most unique things to do in CDA Idaho. However, there are many other things to do in Boise for a fun day.

4. Hike The Tubbs Hill Nature Trails

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Take a self-guided tour of this two-mile trail loop and unfold the historical points while enjoying a great lake view. The park is essentially right in town, but doesn't feel like it.

There are great trails that wind around and up the hills. It can be quite a workout if you let it. Light hiking is mostly preferred here and is not difficult. If you wish to visit the top of Tubbs Hill just study the park map.

It is located by the trail entrance and moose statue. Or, take a photo of the map on your phone to refer back to. You will not find any markings along the way.

5. Hells Canyon Kirkwood Jet Boat Tour near Boise, Idaho

During this half-day trip, explore the Wild River section of the Snake River excitingly. Hop up a jet boat and ride through the Hells Canyon, located on the border of Oregon and Idaho.

This section features the biggest rapids on the river, and the canyon is at its deepest. It provides scenery from rock walls to grasslands to alpine forests.

As you move along the way, listen to commentary from the captain about this region's Native American and amazing history. The tour incorporates lunch. Keep an eye on bald eagles, black bears, and bighorn sheep.

6. Take A Lake Coeur d'Alene Cruises

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This is one of the highly recommended things to do in Coeur d'Alene ID to learn about the area and river. It is very reasonable but reserve online or call to schedule.

Tickets can be bought at the Lake Coeur d’Alene Cruises website. They have many sorts of enjoyable cruise services for example daily sightseeing cruises, dinner cruises, Sunday brunch cruises, holiday cruises, and much more.

This service can be all year round. They give some history and information at key points, and most of the time you are free to enjoy the soothing music, the breeze, the splash of water, and the beautiful scenery.

7. Try Zip Lining At Timberline Adventures

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For those who have never been zip lining, this is the absolute best place for beginner zip lining. First-timers benefit from the friendly, knowledgeable, and devoted employees.

Follow the instructions well and you go as a group talking, making jokes, pictures, and videos. This is one of those Coeur d'Alene Idaho attractions that even someone terrified of heights would enjoy.

If you want to try something different, try walking across two sky bridges and check out the auto-belays. Moreover, there is a treehouse where you can sit, eat, and enjoy the lovely lake view.

8. Walk or Bike At The North Idaho Centennial Trail

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The North Idaho Centennial Trail spans 22 miles in length. Hire a bike to visit the Centennial trail for a few hours. In general, the trail is relatively flat and there is enough seating throughout the trail duration.

The trail goes to the east and west sides. The east side is much more scenic, while the west side will take you toward Spokane. You get a lot of pretty views of the Spokane River and the dam.

Moreover, the trail links other paths, which makes it even better to explore more of North Idaho's lovely surroundings. If time permits, do check things to do in Spokane as well.

9. Visit The Coeur d'Alene City Park And Independence Point

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This is a pretty place with lots of flowers and amazing trees and bushes. You also get to see some artistic sculptures along the way. A nice walking path, dog park, and clean bathrooms, make it a great space to enjoy some leisurely time.

The Coeur d'Alene resort is nearby so walking to this park will be quite easy. Independence Point is right next to the park and is an attractive place that connects to the lake.

This is a lovable place for both the tourists and the locals to have a taste of different things like parasailing, have a boat riding among others.

10. Try Delicious Sandwiches At Meltz Extreme Grilled Cheese

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The Meltz Extreme Grilled Cheese is a popular spot in Coeur d'Alene, best known for its mouth-watering and creative grilled cheese sandwiches. They turn a regular grilled cheese into something unthinkable and season them with unique toppings.

They start with basic cheese combinations, but you can add unique ingredients like bacon avocado, or spicy jalapeno. Meltz is straight-up comfort food on the menu and is perfect for a quick fix of hearty food.

The environment is conducive for a relaxed barbecue with friends, and family, or just an ordinary cup of coffee. If you are around and you fancy some cheesiness, Meltz is a must-try!

11. Wander Around The Seven Stars Alpaca Ranch LLC

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This is a working ranch and not a petting zoo. The animals are kept outside in large paddocks and pastures. Before you take a tour, the team will provide a short safety talk.

It might take around one and a half hours to wander around and it is advised to be considerate about the weather and wear sturdy shoes. Some of the animals you will come across are sheep, rabbits, donkeys, Llamas, and more.

This activity is best for church group outings, clubs, team building for businesses, bridal showers, and for large families. Children of 3 years and under get free entry.

12. Shop At Kootenai County Farmers' Market

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The market has a great variety of shops from art, plant food, live music, and more. The place is mostly seated in the shade under the trees. Parking will not be a problem with plenty of space.

There are multiple vendors serving breakfast/lunch. There are a variety of vendors from meat, coffee, pasta, jams, baked goods, produce, and plants to craft items such as soap, planters, etc.

Most of the vendors also do a winter event during the holidays at the fairground. This is the best way to interact with the vendors and learn about their products.

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The gallery presents a great selection of local artist work, multiple mediums, and guest presentations from select artists. The gallery is also used as a space for special events after hours.

Located in the heart of downtown CDA, the space is bright and inviting with the artwork well-displayed. The featured artists change each month, but a range of artistic media are always shown.

During summer, visit on second Fridays for art walks, and in winter there is a music walk. All the galleries are open featuring music. Most people find the shirt (available as a hoodie, sweatshirt, or t-shirt) art unique. o in and check it out, it is almost designed to be a puzzle

14. Taste Wines At Coeur D'Alene Cellars

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A fun spot in a commercial park that you wouldn't know about when you step inside. The place is lovely with a nice patio. The wine flight is a good price, especially if you buy a bottle.

You can choose their chosen wines or pick any 3 of your choice. But if it's your first time, ask for recommendations. Try their goat cheese, dried fruit, and nut drizzles with local honey.

If you wish to come and have a tasting session, then the tasting room is available from noon to 6 pm on Monday to Friday and up to 7 pm on Saturday.

15. Stay At The Coeur d'Alene Resort

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This is one of the fairly good Coeur d'Alene hotels located at the edge of Lake Coeur d'Alene. The resort also features a 22-story tall tower that features 338 guest rooms that are comfortable as well as those with excellent views of the lake.

Among its facilities, the floating golf green is unique in the entire world. Moreover, various facilities include motor boating fishing, and even a place for a gym and spa.

There are also good places for food and a marina for lovers of water bodies. Explore what other facilities are available on the Coeur d'Alene Resort page.

16. Experience The Big Red's Barn Indoor Animal Experience and Education

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Big Red's Barn is an indoor farm attraction in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. This gem of a park is especially good for children and parents because people can come all year round. The park does not restrict visits despite the weather Coeur d'Alene.

Some of the animals include goats and rabbits and some of the unique ones are the slopes and wallabies which one can feed and even pet.

Like all other buildings, the barn is constructed to be clean and safe both for the animals and for the visitors. You will also see a special hall dedicated to the reptiles; one can watch the snakes and the turtles.

17. Explore Downtown Coeur d'Alene

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The downtown area is great and rocking being close to Lake Coeur d'Alene. It has complete businesses that range from cute shops to good eats, cool hangouts, and even art galleries.

For some casual shopping experience, freshly brewed coffee, branded items, and some novelty items call for a walk around some of the streets.

Another upside of living in or visiting downtown is that nothing feels too far away when you're walking around. For those who are a bit more daring, you can always explore nearby trails such as Tubbs Hill to get awe-inspiring views. Here are some more things to do in Idaho.

18. Indulge In Outdoor Sports At Coeur d'Alene National Forest

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The forest features roughly 400 species of wild animals that range from elk, and deer, right to the Grizzly bears. Eagles and different types of owls would be a great sight to behold for any birder.

Moreover, it has great scenes of lakes like Coeur d'Alene Lake or rivers such as the St. Joe River; they are nice for fishing or kayaking. The 1,400 miles of trails are suitable for simple strolls to challenging treks.

In winter, the forest becomes a site of recreation including skiing and snowmobiles. There are so many things that one can do here. Should you desire to explore the forest in its best way, pick a forest drive, bike ride, stroll, climb, or hike.

19. Enjoy Rides At Silverwood Theme Park

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This amusement park is one of the most entertaining places in northern Idaho. It is the largest theme and water park in the Northwest and it takes a lot of space with more than seventy attractions and rides.

Among the park's attractions, the Boulder Beach Water Park is a very popular one since it is free with admission to Silverwood. You can swim in the so-called lazy river, swim in a wave pool, or slide down a water slide.

Also, they have events such as Scarywood in October. The park turns into a Halloween theme park. During weekdays, after lunch, the lines are not as long for most rides.

20. Stop By The Museum of North Idaho

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The Museum of North Idaho offers small exhibits with lots of things to look at, signage to read, and many antique objects. Children might like the wicks, fire, lookout, tower replicas, and the map of all the past and current lookout stations.

The 25-minute movie gives a good overview of the history of the area. You will find some of the best local history book selections all over the town. Moreover, the place is located next to the city park pace to get away from the crowds and heat.

There is also a solid gift shop with stuff from local artisans. Overall, the museum is clean with friendly staff and it charges $5 for adults.