Coeur d'Alene is a charming lake resort town offering you darling shops, incredible restaurants, and every outdoor activity you could possibly imagine. As you roll into Coeur d'Alene, you are greeted by the most breathtaking lake surrounded by rolling green hills that span as far as the eyes can see. The beaches are bustling with families playing in the waves, parasailers flying in the sky, boats cruising on the lake, and people enjoying delicious food and drink on the patios lining Sherman Avenue.
We checked into One Lakeside, a luxury accommodation situated right in the heart of Coeur d'Alene, and then, my husband, our dog, Finley, and I headed out to find our own private beach on the lake. We used Tubbs Hill trail to start exploring and looking for a place to dip our toes in the water, sunbathe, and just watch the time pass. There is a place for everyone along the shores of the lake and Tubbs Hill trail is a well-worn path that leads through the trees, down by the water, giving incredible views of the surroundings along the way. We quickly found our own spot, wading in the water, playing fetch with Finley, and making friends with those enjoying the beautiful day. Tobi, Finley, and I could have spent much longer in this private cove but we had places to go, namely fabulous food to fill our bellies.
I had heard great things about Cedars Floating Restaurant and we both decided that was the spot for the evening. We arrived just in time for a cotton candy-colored sunset to fill the sky and reflect off the lake. We sat on their floating patio overlooking the lake and ordered scallops and fresh halibut for dinner. We thoroughly enjoyed our food, the patio, and the overall experience of Cedars.
The next morning, I woke up before Tobi and I decided to visit the rooftop terrace. There is nothing I love more than quiet mornings, watching the sunrise and soaking in the quiet morning. There was an added perk to the rooftop terrace with a lovely hot tub that I was able to soak in alone for an hour before getting ready for the day. The view from the rooftop spanned across downtown Coeur d'Alene and over the lake. It was breathtakingly beautiful and a little oasis at One Lakeside.
Tobi and I had scheduled a full day of adventuring in Coeur d'Alene but we needed to feed ourselves first. We popped into the Vault Coffee shop and grabbed an Americano and their highly recommended pumpkin bread. Both items were delicious and hit the spot for us to be on our way. The first fun adventure we booked for the day was with Brookes Seaplanes. They fly their customers all around the lake and give an incredible history about when the area was developed, who lives where, and what's growing in the fields. We learned so much on our seaplane tour and loved every minute of being in the air and having a bird's eye view of Coeur d'Alene.
Tobi and I returned to One Lakeside and grabbed our mountain bikes (and Finley!) and headed out for a mountain bike ride on Canfield Mountain. The trails were in perfect condition and offered incredible views overlooking the whole valley. We weaved multiple trails together since we were enjoying the views so much, but as always, we have items on our agenda that were calling our names. We wrapped up the ride and headed back to get dressed for our fancy night out on the town.
We had reservations at Beverly's just in time to watch an epic sunset across the lake. Our table was positioned right in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows that encompass the whole backside of the restaurant - one of the many reasons you want to dine here. We took our time ordering phenomenal cocktails, enjoying their in-house-made sourdough bread and finished with what might be one of the best-seared tuna dishes I've ever eaten. Our dinner was everything we had hoped and upon walking outside, we were greeted with a supermoon lighting up the night sky, the icing on the cake to end the evening.
The next morning, we headed to Woops to enjoy a little breakfast before our spa appointments at Coeur d'Alene resort. We both were pleasantly surprised when we walked into Woops darling cafe. The cafe is white and bright with the cutest tables that invite you to take a seat and stay a while. We ordered a cappuccino and flaky croissant filled with ham, cheese, and arugula and with no surprise, we finished every last bit of both. Fueled and ready to go, we made our way to the spa to have some much-needed self-care and relaxation. The spa is so inviting and really allows you to take a deep breath and fully relax in their quiet rooms and comfy spaces. Tobi had a massage and immensely enjoyed it, and I had a facial and I was amazed at how my skin looked upon leaving. I highly recommend booking some time to just relax and rejuvenate yourself on vacation; it really does a body good.
Our time in Coeur d'Alene was coming to an end, but we wanted to sneak in one more good meal before we hit the road. Again, I had heard phenomenal things about Crafted tap house and kitchen. It features 50+ taps of beer and cider at any given time. I was surprised when I saw the taps literally lining one full wall, so many choices to choose from. The food was served perfectly and was so full of flavor. I had the Bahn mi sandwich and sweet potato fries and was I elated by the ingredients they included.
Upon our departure, there was one last spot we knew we needed to visit before leaving Coeur d'Alene for good. Panhandle Cone & Coffee is a must-stop and we were so happy to walk in and see mouth-watering descriptions of their ice cream. After a handful of tasters, we decided on a toasted coconut marionberry and salted caramel brown butter cookie. Let me tell you, I could have stayed and eaten their ice cream all day. The flavors were "out of this world good" to the very last drop in the cone. It was the perfect place to end our trip and say our goodbyes to Coeur d'Alene.
One Lakeside is just steps to the sandy beaches, biking trails, boutiques, eateries, and nightlife downtown. Numerous biking trails are conveniently located right in town get you on your way to exploring this breathtaking region of Idaho. One of the best things about One Lakeside is the location and the rooftop terrace. This terrace allows you to soak in a private hot tub while overlooking all of Coeur d'Alene. It also has a wonderful BBQ spot to make a meal, light a fire, and watch the sunset over the lake. We spent many nights star gazing from the top of the resort and admiring the beauty that surrounded us -- truly a private oasis in the heart of the city.
