Taste the Local Brew

North Idaho has a nice variety of microbeer breweries and wineries worth checking out.

Coeur d’Alene Brewing Company at 2nd & Lakeside Ave. in downtown Coeur d’Alene offers beer brewed on site and facility tours. One of the oldest microbreweries in the region, it was established in 1908.

Laughing Dog Brewery in Sandpoint features a tap room, daily tours and a gift shop.

In keeping with the town’s colorful past, visitors to the Wallace Brewing Company can enjoy Red Light Lager and Dirty Blond Ale in the whOrehouse Tasting Room.

For the largest selection of area micro-brews on tap, stop by Capone’s Pub and Grill located on 4th in midtown Coeur d’Alene and on Ross Point Road in Post Falls.

There are many popular North Idaho wine tasting events but if you aren’t here to catch one, Pend d’Oreille Winery (208-265-8545) in Sandpoint offers daily tastings of their award winning wines, live music Fridays and Saturdays, and a gift shop.

Coeur d’Alene Cellars (on Schreiber off Kathleen Ave. in Coeur d'Alene) is open for tastings at the winery.

Daanen’s Delicatessen (corner of Prairie and Government in Hayden, 208-772-7371) offers tastings every Friday night from 4:30-7:00pm and one of the best wine and beer selections in the region.

Get your disc on...

In North Idaho, the sport of disc golf is played year ‘round. Each one of these locations features incredible scenic backdrops in addition to the challenging courses.

Corbin Park Disc Golf Course, Post Falls - The course is part of a beautiful park along the Spokane River (Riverbend Dr. to Corbin Rd.) Diverse shots, elevation changes, a few water hazards, big rocks and lots of trees. Wildlife, picnic tables, softball field, volleyball and horseshoe pits are nearby.
Holes: 15 DISCatcher l Tee Type: Concrete l Course Length: 3828

Farragut State Park, Athol - Professional level courses. Combine parts of both in the Front Nines course as part of a unique disc golf experience. For the family, the Whole Nine Yards course offers 9 holes for the beginner or those with young children. $4/vehicle/day fee.
Northstar
Holes: 18 DISCatcher l Tee Type: Concrete l Course Length: 4994
Wreckreator
Holes: 18 DISCatcher l Tee Type: Concrete l Course Length: 6239

Schweitzer Mountain Resort, Sandpoint - Mountain course with some uneven terrain and magnificent views. About 700’ elevation gain to the highest point. 9 hole option stays lower.
Holes: 18 Baskets l Tee Type: Natural l Course Length: 5606 l Alternate Course Length: 2622

North Idaho College Disc Golf Course, Coeur d’Alene - Fort Sherman Park at NIC. Flat and grassy with an abundance of Ponderosa pines, it meanders around the college rose garden and features challenging target placements. Across the road is a paved walking path along the Spokane River. Loaner discs at Campus Rec. on the lower level of the student union building.
Holes: 9 Mach5 l Tee Type: Natural l Course Length: 2190

Bluegrass Park - Kiwanis Disc Golf Course, Coeur d'Alene - Laid out in an 11-acre circular passive-use park with a picnic shelter and playground in the Coeur d'Alene Place subdivision (Ramsey Rd. and Dalton Ave.) Rolling hills and lots of trees.
Holes: 9 Baskets l Tee Type: Natural l Course Length: 2062

Cherry Hill, Coeur d’Alene - 15-acre course completed in 2008 by the Panhandle Kiwanis Club. Elevation changes, lots of foliage and trees.
Holes: 18 Baskets l Tee Type: Natural

Get above it all...

Before summer's over, get a bird's-eye view of North Idaho on a high-flying tour. Brooks Seaplane Service at the city dock on Lake Coeur d'Alene has sightseeing and charter flights over North Idaho waterways 664-2842.

Departing from the Coeur d'Alene airport, Serendipity Hospitality offers North Idaho mountain, lake and ski area scenic flights. www.idahoserendipity.com or 935-6330.

Fairly good fun

Fairly good fun...

The crops are grown, the animals tended to, handcrafts are completed, pies are baking, ribbons are waiting to be awarded.... it's time for the annual county fairs all over North Idaho!

The Kootenai County Fairgrounds (corner of Government & Kathleen in Coeur d’Alene) plays host to many events all year including the North Idaho Fair & Rodeo held August 26-30. There are new exhibits and attractions, traditional favorites and sensational foods. Don't miss the blue ribbon exhibits of arts, crafts, photography, baked goods, flowers and garden produce. Make time for the rodeo, motocross and demolition derby. Carnival rides and games are also on-site. 208-765-4969

The Bonner County Fair (located off Hwy 95 north of Sandpoint) is happening August 25-29. The 2009 fair theme is "Blue Jeans & Black Tie A-Fair". Enjoy exhibits, 4-H animal showings, demolition derby and more in an old-fashioned, wholesome environment.

The Benewah County Fair in St. Maries (off Hwy. 5) will be held August 20-23. The 2009 Fair Theme of this small country fair is "Idaho - Our Heritage".

August 19-22 are the dates of the Boundary County Fair in Bonners Ferry (located south of the Kootenai River off Hwy 95.)