Welcome to Coeur d’Alene, the stunning resort town on the shores of sparking Lake Coeur d’Alene. The name, translated from French, means the “heart of the awl”, a name apparently given to the shrewd and possibly ruthless trading habits of the native Iroquois. We were in Coeur d’Alene way back in 2012, just 1 day after picking up our first 5th wheel, the 2012 Wildcat. However, we stayed outside of town and never explored this beautiful city.
Lake Coeur d’Alene, ID
Veterans Memorial Centennial Bridge at Lake Coeur d’Alene, ID
Today, we’re parked on the shores of the Spokane River, literally sounded by the river at Blackwell Island RV Resort. From the headwaters of Lake Coeur d’Alene, the Spokane River travels east to meet the Columbia at Roosevelt Lake, created by Grand Coulee Dam. Blackwell Island is a beautiful resort, offering nearly 200 sites, a huge beach area, a rally room, laundry facilities, a boat launch and moorage, all overlooking the river and beyond, the city beaches and parks.
Blackwell Island RV Resort, Lake Coeur d’Alene, ID
On Saturday after arriving, we explored a bit of downtown Coeur d’Alene, ending up at the Buoy Bar & Grill. The Buoy is outside, right on the edge of the beautiful McEuen Park. The outdoor seating offers great views of the nearby marina and lake, along with a tasty menu of fish tacos, burgers and snacks along with cold beer and wine. The perfect place to catch a sunset!
The Buoy Bar & Grill, Coeur d’Alene, ID
On Monday we jumped on the bikes, crossed the highway 95 bridge and joined the North Idaho Centennial Trail that runs along the beach at Cheamkwet Park and south along the shore of Lake Coeur d’Alene. We biked about 10 miles out to Higgins Point, all the time enjoying great views of the surrounding mountains and lake shore. That afternoon we joined Lake Coeur d’Alene Cruises for a 90 minute scenic sailing around the lake. It was a great cruise, we learned a little about the lake history including the steamers ships that provided the first crossings, saw some of the massive homes of resident celebrities (Kim Kardashian, Justin Bieber, Wayne Gretzky, John Elway) and enjoyed a few onboard cocktails. For dinner we selected Crafted Tap House & Kitchen – great food and excellent service.
Lake Coeur d’Alene Cruises
Crafted Tap House & Kitchen, Coeur d’Alene, ID
We departed Coeur d’Alene on Tuesday and made our way to Jim & Mary’s RV park in Missoula, MT. We’ve visited Jim & Mary’s before – review here. After just a quick overnight in this beautiful oasis in Missoula, we’re off to Bozeman at the Hot Springs Campground. This is a nice park, but their rules are a bit stringent. Arriving around 2PM, we’re told no check-ins can happen until 3PM and we can’t park here, we’ll have to go somewhere else. Talk about starting a visit off on the wrong foot! The park is OK, but we’d probably find another spot next time. After 2 quick overnights, we’re headed to Cody, WY where we’ll spend 3 nights at Buffalo Bill State Park on the shores of Buffalo Bill Reservoir. More from Cody…
Small Home - Big Yard 
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