Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, is known for being a world-class vacation destination, a great place to live, and for its dozens of lakes and rugged mountains. It’s also home to one of Stellar’s amazing senior living communities, North Star Assisted & Senior Living. There are countless things to do in Coeur D’Alene, from 5-star restaurants to outdoor activities to museums and art galleries. It’s also conveniently located just a 30 minute drive from Spokane, Washington, which houses Gonzaga University, as well as all the big-city healthcare services and entertainment options you could want.
With the small-town feel of this mountain village, it’s easy to see why more than 170,000 people call Coeur D’Alene home, and why so many visit each year. Here, we’ll explore just a few of the many things for seniors and their families to do near North Star Assisted & Senior Living in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho.
The Village at Riverstone, Riverstone Park, and Riverstone Pond
The Village at Riverstone is less than a mile away from North Star, and contains almost anything you could want from an open-air entertainment and shopping district. Visitors love the movie theater, seasonal farmer’s market, restaurants, and boutiques. It’s a gorgeous setting, with lodge-style architecture, mature landscaping, parking, pedestrian walkways, and views of forested mountains. The Village is also ever-expanding as new businesses move to the area.
Riverstone Park is nearby, featuring 10 acres of walking trails, pathways, picnic spaces, a dog park, a playground, and more. It surrounds Riverstone Pond, where you can feed the ducks and geese. Riverstone Park has an amphitheater with a summer concert series and other events.
Outdoor Activities
Coeur D’Alene is best known for its rugged mountain setting, location along the Spokane River, and many lakes. As you might expect, this means there are lots of options for outdoor activities! Here are just a few that seniors and their families might enjoy.
- Go boating on Lake Coeur D’Alene. There are more than a dozen boat launches and several companies that rent all kinds of watercraft, like jet skis, pontoon boots, and sailboats.
- Fish at Lake Coeur D’Alene. The lake has 9 marinas and plenty of fish, including chinook salmon, trout, bass, and kokanee salmon. You can charter a guide service and rent equipment, or strike out on your own.
- Enjoy viewing wildlife. Each winter, from November through February, a migration of bald eagles visit the area and feed on kokanee salmon in Wolf Lodge Bay on Lake Coeur D’Alene. You can also see ducks, geese, osprey, and other birds in spring and summer seasons.
- Take a picnic at any one of Coeur D’Alene’s many lakes or riverfront spots.
- Hike Tubbs Hill, which has some well-maintained and relatively easy trails that offer great views of the lake.
- Coeur D’Alene City Park features a unique sandy beach, where you can swim in the lake or just enjoy watching other beachgoers on a sunny day.
- Golfing. Test your skills on Coeur D’Alene’s famous Floating Green, the 14th hole of The Coeur D’Alene Resort Golf Course. It adds a one-of-a-kind challenge!
- Book a cruise with Lake Coeur D’Alene Cruises, where you can tour the famous lake, or enjoy the Spokane River or St. Joe River. Cruises typically run from June to September. It’s a great way to see the outdoor beauty of Coeur D’Alene without having to do much walking or any hiking.
- Tour Seven Stars Alpaca Ranch! Tours are offered year-round: guided in the summer, and self-guided in the winter. Learn more about the animals on the ranch and the history of alpaca ranching.
Museums & Galleries
Coeur D’Alene also has plenty of intellectual pursuits, which are fun during the winter months or for those who prefer to stay indoors. These are some of the best museums and galleries that seniors and their families might enjoy.
- Museum of Northern Idaho is a great place to learn about the history of Northern Idaho, including its mining and fur-trading history, as well as yearly featured exhibits that showcase historic Coeur D’Alene.
- For a unique day trip, visit the Bird Aviation Museum and Invention Center in nearby Haines, Idaho. It’s an aircraft museum where you can learn about aviation history by viewing planes and other craft, dating from pre-World War I to present day. There are also some special exhibits about modern inventions. Admission is free, but hours are limited, so make sure to call or check the website before you head over. You may also want to note the museum does not have air conditioning, so avoid visiting on warmer days or days with poor air quality.
- The Art Spirit Gallery of Fine Art showcases some of the finest art in the region. They have new exhibits every month, so you can see something new every time! Admission is free, but the artwork is for sale, so expect to leave with a new favorite purchase for your home or senior living apartment. Opening receptions for new exhibits are held on the first Saturday of each month.
- Coeur D’Alene Galleries has a great collection of Western art. They also have some community events to celebrate and showcase new collections.
- Go wine tasting at Coeur D’Alene Cellars, which hosts community events like live music nearly every Saturday from 3:30-6:30 pm.
Community Events
There are community events all year long in Coeur D’Alene, including these local favorites.
- The Downtown ArtWalk is held on the second Friday of each month, all year long! It’s a free event open to the public, with gallery openings, pop-up art shows, live music, and free drinks.
- The Coeur D’Alene Golf and Spa Retreat offers regular events, like farmer’s markets, wine extravaganza, trivia nights, lake cruises, outdoor movies, and summer concerts.
- Car D’Alene is the largest classic car cruise in Northern Idaho, and it ends in a fun public car show. It’s an annual event that also includes family fun activities and voting that is open to everyone.
Shopping
Of course, a 5-star vacation destination wouldn’t be complete without plenty of shopping options. These are a few of our favorites.
- Downtown Coeur D’Alene offers an atmospheric boutique shopping experience full of over 100 unique local businesses. We love Honeypeeps Sweet Shop, Knit Knit Yarn, Crow’s Nest Antiques, and Figpickel’s Toy Emporium.
- Silver Lake Mall is the largest indoor mall in Northern Idaho, and it has everything you could want from an indoor mall. Clothing stores are plentiful, including Ariat, Carhartt, Columbia, and Macy’s. You’ll also find specialty shops like Bath and Body Works, Jo Ann Fabric and Crafts, and Winter World/Water World. And since no mall is complete without mall food, there’s a coffee shop, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, and more.
As you can see, Coeur D’Alene truly has something for everyone. This is great news for residents and families of residents at North Star Assisted & Senior Living! Considering senior living in Coeur D’Alene? Our family advisors are waiting to help you tour North Star today!
