A Postcard from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
He wanted trees, I wanted waterviews - we have both in our vacation home overlooking the lake, in the midst of the woods. And how about have our second home in a city that has Heart in its name. Don't you just love it already?
About Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Located directly on the magnificent Lake Coeur d'Alene, this city (also known as the "City with a Heart") has miles and miles of shoreline, green forests and awe-inspiring mountain peaks. With natural beauty and upscale style, the town is a great mixture of quiet and excitement, rugged and cultivated areas. The combination of great views of the lake, and blue-sky alpine mountains give a particularly inspiring backdrop to vacation homes. Douglas fir, white pine, Ponderosa pine, and western larch fill the forests around the lake. The Lake itself is 25 miles long with more than 135 miles of shoreline, and averages 120 feet in depth.
The city offers great winter and summer outdoor activities and lots of culture. It has relaxed and peaceful atmosphere of a small city and is a fun place to own a vacation home. If you love snow and the chance to bundle up in the winter, you are in luck because this city can get up to 4 inches of snow at one time! And with 11 golf courses in the area, Coeur d'Alene makes a second home useful all year round. Good second homes can also be found in nearby Hayden.
Local History
Founded by fur trappers, the French traders named their outpost based on the trading experience they had with the local Indian tribes. The name means "Heart of the Awl", but is more likely an idiomatic phrase describing the strength or sharpness of their hearts. Pronounced core-da-lane, the town was built around a US Army fort, then later grew up around mining and timber. It has evolved into a five-star travel destination.
An Average Lifestyle in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Laid back, unhurried, and delighting in nature are the way most visitors describe life in Coeur d'Alene. A sense of humor and fun pervades. Any town that has a public art project called "No Moose Left Behind" has got to be a fun place to live. Relaxing serenity, and lots of outdoor enjoyment bring people here for resort vacations and retirement living.
Housing
Almost 30% of homes here are rented, making it a good investment as well as vacation home. There are luxury communities as well as retirement communities. You can live downtown, out in the woods, on a hill or lake. Choices include single family homes, condos and townhouses, and golf resort homes. You can find manufactured starter homes in subdivisions nfor as low as $97,000 and 11-acre massive homes for $2million. Median housing costs: (census 2000) $109,800
Things to Do in Coeur d'Alene
Fly fishing
Sea Kayaking on the lake
Hiking on extensive trails in the area
Horseback riding
Biking
Cruise boats on Lake Coeur d'Alene
Enjoy spa and golf at Coeur d'Alene Resort
Golf on 11 courses in the area
Winter Skiing and snowboarding at Silver Mountain
White water rafting on Clark Fork River
Tribal Casino
Take the kids to a theme park or water park
Cultural Activities in Coeur d'Alene
Art galleries
Summer Theater
Museum of North Idaho
Opera Plus
Cougar Bay Preserve
Fall Arts Festival
Nearby Excursions
Spirit Lake
Lake Pend Oreille
Hayden Lake
Calendar of Events
Location
Located in Kootenai County, south of the Canadian border and east of the state of Washington, in northwestern Idaho.
Elevation
2,152 Feet
Distance to other major cities
Spokane, Washington: 40 miles
Missoula, Montana: 180
Seattle, Washington: 330 miles
Canada: 90 miles
Getting To Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
By air to Spokane International Airport (40 miles); charter planes directly into Coeur d'Alene.
Weather
Annual Average Temperature: 86 in July, 61 in October, 34 in January, 59 in April
Annual Average Rainfall: 26 inches
Annual Average Snowfall: 30 to 80 inches
Economics and Demographics
Population: 36,259; county is 112,297
Median Age, 2000: 34.8
Median Household Income: $33,001
Principle Industries: Education, retail, entertainment.
Higher Education
North Idaho College