lake couer d lane Archives

We went to Coeur D’Alene, Idaho early in the summer to visit Mike’s aunt’s family home. If you never heard of Coeur D’Alene before, it is a small town next to a beautiful lake. It is a great summer get-away destination for those with small children. Downtown had all of the quaint shops that you would expect, as well as mom-and-pop eateries and restaurants. There were plenty of activities for our 13-month old son that we also well-enjoyed as adults. We spent a lot of time outdoors. There are hikes, beaches, boat rides, water sports, parks and playgrounds. I wanted to share with you guys a few favorite spots and activities on our weekend trip.

Hike Tubbs Hill

Tubbs Hill is a 2.0 mile loop trail that is considered an easy-hike. It took us less than an hour to complete at a leisure pace. We had a 13 month old toddler with us, and took plenty of water breaks. The hike has epic views of the lake, so we also stopped to admire the views. We watched seaplanes take off from the lake, boats driving around, and teenagers out for summer jumping off the cliffs. We saw a lot of young families, teens, and dogs. There was hardly any shade so definitely wear sunscreen. And there were plenty of turn-outs in case you wanted to stray off the loop path and hike up towards the top of the hill. If we didn’t have Casey, we definitely would have! Mike’s sister ended up going back a day later to hike one of the trailheads up the hill.

Take the Kids to McEun Park

This was probably the best part of our trip. We were at this park every day. As parents to a 13-month old who loved to run around, we needed a safe place for him to play. McEun Park is epic and huge! There is a splash pad that Casey greatly enjoyed. Bring swimsuits and an extra pair of clothes as your kids will surely not want to miss out on the splash pad. I also highly recommend these water shoes, which were grippy enough that we weren’t afraid of him falling on the cement. And there is no shade, so sun screen is also a must.

For parents, there is a McEun Bakery that opens early right in front of the park. And the Coeur D’Alene public library is also right there. Feel free to grab a pastry, coffee and a book and just sit on a park bench while your child enjoys. We spent hours at this park, and would do it again in a heartbeat. It was beautiful to watch Casey enjoy a vacation this thoroughly.

Go Out on the Lake

Mike’s aunt owns a boat so we decided to go out on the lake for a day. It was Casey’s first boat trip and we were not sure how he would do. He wasn’t scared of the speed, and he loved walking around the boat eating chips, fruit, and sandwiches. The life-vest wasn’t comfortable, but safety first. And the sun must’ve taken it out of him because he eventually passed out after landing on the dock. If we didn’t have Casey, we would have gone wake surfing. Mike’s sister and uncle went out one morning to paddleboard which would have been nice too. I can’t wait until Casey is older and we can do those sorts of activities with him one day.

Fuel Up at Evan’s Brothers Coffee

My favorite coffee stop was Evan’s Brothers Coffee. It is on the main street of Downtown Coeur D’Alene, about a block from McEun Park. Their extensive pour-over menu delivers! The coffee shop also makes in-house hand pies and whole pies – both savory and sweet. Casey dug into his right away. We were there every day.

Grab lunch at Back Pocket Bakery

Back pocket bakery serves San Fran style bread. We got a seeded loaf which we used to make sandwiches for the boat ride. We really good pizza and meatball marinade sandwiches for lunch as well. Artisan loaves in a small town is hard to find. My only con was that they open very late for a bakery, which is uncommon. So this is more of a late morning or lunch spot to me.

Eat at Crafted Taphouse Brewery

Really hip brewery, with great food and even better service. Dining is indoor and outdoor, with bar seating at well. They catered very well to our one year old, seating us outdoors where he can walk around. They also took his order first so that his food came out first. This prevented fussiness and a melt-down. It also allowed us to take turns with him once the adult meals arrived. The food was stellar, although I can’t attest to the alcohol. And it was at the end of the downtown strip which gave us better chance for parking.

Cool Down with Panhandle Cone and Coffee

Mike and I went out on a date one night while his dad and sister baby sat Casey. On our date, we went to Panhandle Cone and Coffee which isn’t anywhere walkable from Downtown Coeur D’Alene. But it is worth the drive for their unique ice cream flavors. I got the Orange & Dark Chocolate Freckles flavor while Mike went for a Bourbon Butter ice cream. Amazing!

Shop Manna

Manna is advertised as a jewelry store but they had all sorts of home goods, clothing, and accessories there. I fell in love with table linens, skin care products and framed artwork. I ended up buying a summer rattan sunhat as a souvenir. I also purchased some Crane Baby blankets from the kids corner. My aunt was looking at a cute diamond ring for herself. And my SIL purchased natural soap and lip balm.

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