Coeur d’Alene is truly a dreamy place to be in the summertime. If you’re here for a weekend and want to know what this local gal does every time she comes back to visit, this is the post for you!
When I visit Coeur d’Alene, I remember high school summers, racing from work to the beach to squeeze in a game of beach volleyball at North Idaho College before it got dark. Or meeting a friend for a run around Tubbs Hill. My family still lives in Coeur d’Alene, so we visit often. This summer we visited in the tail end of June. If you are planning your visit up North, keep in mind that summer is a long time coming for those folks! Your best bet for 80 degrees and sunny is JULY. June is such a whacky month and we happened to arrive in the middle of a cold front.
I was really looking forward to spending some time at the lake as we had our (now) one-year-old in tow and last summer he was too young to appreciate the sparkling clear water. However, even though we were just a week shy of July, the lake was not going to happen! Luckily Coeur d’Alene has plenty of coffee shops and hiking spots, our other favorite activities.
We actually planned to drive right through CDA as we were headed farther East to camp along the Idaho-Montana border. Since the cold front also brought quite a bit of rain, we decided to wait that out and head up when the skies cleared.
Where to get coffee
Judah is as much a fan of CDA Coffee Co as I am.
A stop for the already well-caffeinated
As some of our crew had hit their coffee limit, we walked down the street to another place called The Wellness Bar. This is your go-to for Acai bowls and delicious smoothies. We got a few ‘Funky Monkeys’ to share.
This was LAST July- we were much more bundled up during this trip
If you’re in Coeur d’Alene, you need to visit the main drag, Sherman Avenue. This is not just for tourists- us locals love to hang out down there as well! Our first stop was to CDA Coffee Co. on the corner of Lakeside and 5th. This historic downtown building had boarded over windows and was one I never really noticed- but the renovation would make even Chip and Joanna proud. My favorite is the drink called ‘Heart of the Awl’, which is what Coeur d’Alene actually means in French. Apparently this was the name given to the natives for their shrewd trading practices.
Hiking and swimming downtown Coeur d’Alene
No trip to CDA would be complete without a stroll around Tubbs Hill. This scenic 2 mile loop takes you along the lake shore for some gorgeous views. It’s a relatively easy hike and the trail is easy to follow.
Keep an eye out for kids (and kids at heart) taking a leap off the cliffs and into the water. You might see the tourist sea plane take off or land while you’re on the West side of the hill. I like to do the whole loop and make sure to hit the swinging bridge at the end. It’s a pretty busy trail, so try to pick an off-time to make your loop if you can. If the sun’s shining, take some snacks and wear your suit; there are great beach spots on the West side of the hill to pull off and take a swim. There are no water fountains, restrooms, or garbage cans around the trail, so plan accordingly :)
Carter definitely falls into one (both?) of those categories!
Our other favorite beach spot is Sanders. This beach is less crowded than the beaches right downtown and is much more family friendly. You can get to Sanders beach by heading down 11th street to where it dead-ends at the lake. We like to rent paddleboards from North Idaho College and paddle around Tubbs Hill. If you don’t have a vehicle to transport them, you can paddle down in front of North Idaho College along the dike.
One place we will definitely be visiting NEXT summer is Fort Sherman. If you’ve got kids under 12, this is a must see! This enormous wooden play structure is right next to city beach. This park is perfect for an intense game of lava tag and then a hop over the sea wall to cool off in the lake. I can’t wait until Judah is old enough to appreciate this kid palace like I did. In fact, if someone challenged me to a game of lava tag there to this day- I absolutely would oblige.
Where to eat
When you’re ready for lunch, there are several fun places right on Sherman within walking distance from the CDA Resort. If you can get a place to sit, Hudson’s Hamburgers is a flashback in time. Sit at the bar while you sip on a soda drink and watch your hamburger cook right in front of you. ‘Onions, pickles, or both’ is the only choice you have to make for this burger. There are no sides here- but you could opt for a slice of pie after your meal. Hudson’s has been serving CDA since 1907 and there’s a reason for the line out the door every day. Try 11 AM or mid afternoon to avoid the wait at this iconic CDA spot.
If you’re wanting a more contemporary plate, another one of our favorites is Crafted Taphouse. This place has a fantastic patio, so make this a go-to if it’s patio weather! This time around, we chose Bardenay in Riverstone. This is a few miles from downtown but we really enjoy the restaurant placed pond-side in an up-and-coming development. They brew their own spirits and have great lighter-plate options.
We wrapped up our time in town and made our way back to my childhood home on the South side of the Spokane River. I spent 20 years calling this North Idaho town home (as did my parents), and as we drove the backroads, I can’t help but feel excited for the summer-time memories our children will have in this beautiful place. We stopped on the roadside and watched a herd of elk grazing in the field at the top of the hill. It was a beautiful night; the weather had cleared and it looked like tomorrow was the day to head up to the mountains.