We are going to Spokane for a long weekend, end of April. We are thinking of spending a day in Coeur d'Alene, as we drove thru years ago and it seemed lovely & i always wanted to go back. Any ideas? I will probably want to take my 14 year old nephew.

I'm eager to learn the answer to your question. I've stopped off in Coeur d'Alene several times hoping to find something to do and never did. North of Coeur d'Alene is the largest amusement park in the NW. I imagine it would be much more interesting to a 14-year-old boy. Have fun. (PS Luna Cafe in Spokane is excellent.)

If you have access to a boat, a trip up the St Joe River (which has its outlet in the lake)is fun. Back in my drinking days, we could make an entire day out of cruising up the river, stopping at each little bar along the river for a beer. Met lots of nice folks, saw some wildlife (and even a few wild animals) and had a great time.

Thanks for your ideas, we went to amusement park when my nephew was younger,..No boat available; Any new ideas on Coeur d'alene? Or Spokane?

One of my favorite day trips involved a visit to Coeur d'Alene but not for the entire day. I drove from Spokane to Coeur d'Alene and had a late breakfast. Then, I drove north on US-95/2 through Idaho's panhandle into Canada. I went west on C-3 until lunch and a Canadian beer at a saloon in the little town of Salmo. Further west on C-3, I re-entered the US at Cascade and followed US-395 back to Spokane in time for dinner.

You'll see a variety of great scenery and, if you enjoy it as much as I did, a great day.

Visit Wallace, Idaho and take the silver mine tour

Thank you for ideas dwooddon, i'm afraid the 14 yr old would not love the car ride, though it sounds beautiful. We drove some around there i.e., Sandpoint, Hayden Lake, Kalispell (the rental car broke down on the way, and this was before cell phones, another story) to Glacier. How far is Wallace bigtyke? Hope the weather cooperates, we leave 4/22.

Wallace is right off the freeway between Spokane and Coeur d'Arlene

Wallace is located East of Coeur d'alene by quite a bit. I don't see it's appeal, but then I don't like mine tours either. Maybe a 14-year-old would.

Have you been to Riverfront Park downtown Spokane? I would also recommend the Imax Theatre there. In addition to that Manito Park-Japanses Gardens on the South Hill as well. Very pretty. There is a place called Laser Quest downtown on 2nd ave. called Laser Quest I believe that the 14 year old might enjoy. Its a game where you shoot at people with laser weapons. Fun. If questions about anything thing else, drop me a line.

Back from Spokane, what a beautiful part of our world...tried to check in to Fodors from the hotel (after i printed the return airline boarding passes) but the website was not available. But thank you for all suggestions. Turned out the 14 year old nephew had Been & Done just about everything in the area. He knew that Wallace (Idaho)'s claim to fame was the Bordello Museum as well as the Silver Mine!

Our trip ended up being concerned about my 92=year old mother. We could not drive to Imax (Riverfront Park) & the walk was too long for her (weather was windy & cool), etc etc etc. We did drive to Coeur d'Alene and went to "The Resort". The Hotel provided a free wheelchair & we tried a walk on the boardwalk, but it was too cold for her. So we had a lovely lunch for seven people, not too expensive, with a gorgeous view of the lake. (Our parking tickets were validated with the meal).

Last time we were there, my brother told us that Patty Duke lived in Coeur D'alene. Now the celebrity factor has been increased by John Travolta's sister, who runs a theater group. And dwooddon, my brothers said thay had rented a boat and did the St Joe's river trip.

And Spokane has so much going on...hope to return for another trip.

Willy, glad you enjoyed my little corner of the world!! Spokane does have alot going on, especially downtown now, with the revitaliztion of our downtown in full swing, plus we are heading into our busy time of the year. Bloomsday the (sometimes) largest timed road race in the World is this Sunday morning. Then in June we shift gears to host Hoopfest, the largest 3 on 3 basketball tournament in the world. Come back often!