A New Way to Promote Your Development-The Midwinter Art Fest at Dover Bay - 12/21/08 01:42 PM
Realtors are always looking for new ways to promote their listings. String quartets at open house events, clowns, free hot dogs, giant balloons, etc. etc., etc., ad nauseum.
Two years ago, my small sales team started a string of events called the Mobile Artist Open House, featuring 10-20 artists for one day and two day events at homes we had listed. These were well-advertised, and attracted up to 200 people to the homes we were featuring. We got three buyers out of these events, so the success was somewhat limited.
However, what we did gain is goodwill with the communities and … (3 comments)

Sandpoint is an Art Town - 12/21/08 01:17 PM
The 1970s brought hippies and environmentalism as well as arts and more theater to the Sandpoint area. This spelled the downfall of the lumber industry. Jim Brown, of the Pack River Lumber Company, wisely diversified his business and, as one of the original founders of Schweitzer Mountain, bought out the rest of the shareholders to make Schweitzer a privately owned venture. To this very day one can still see the occasional psychedelic bus or love bug traversing county roads. Now the hippies are augmented by the winter ski bum, and the warm weather off-road cyclists.
Around this time the Hope Peninsula … (0 comments)

The Weather Outside is Delightful in Sandpoint and on Schweitzer Mountain - 12/17/08 10:39 AM
When Tom Chasse and Jennifer Ekstrom, CEO and Communications manager respectively for Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort appeared on my show, North Idaho Arts and Adventure, Tuesday, December 16, 2008, we talked about everything but the weather. So, here is a remedy. Schweitzer is coming off two record seasons, being ranked in Ski Magazine's Top 25 Ski Resorts and #3 for Tree Skiing last year, and, with Sandpoint, in AskMen's Top 10 Resort Towns this spring. While we have lots of great stuff up here in North Idaho, one of our best facets is our weather.
Weather in Sandpoint is a gentle friend, … (0 comments)

Things to Do in Sandpoint & Schweitzer Mountain - 12/13/08 07:41 PM
Wow! What a run we have had here in the North Idaho Panhandle. Schweitzer has spent millions on improvements and finally made Skiing Mag's Top 25. Spring 2008 had AskMen.com naming Sandpoint and Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort one of the nation's Top 10 Resort Towns. There's always something going one. Winter events like Holly Eve, Winter Carnival, and Mardi Gras added to some great downhill runs. Spring brought Lost in the 50s, Spring Festivals, and marathons, and the fun continued through summer, with art and festivals, fishing derbys, Summer Sampler, 4th of July, the Wooden Boat Festival, the Festival at Sandpoint … (0 comments)

The Skinny on Sandpoint, Idaho - 12/13/08 07:38 PM
First, Lake Pend Oreille is the second largest freshwater lake and the deepest in the West with 111 miles of shoreline. Watersports, sailing, and racing are common and several boat cruises are offered. Next is Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort, a top winter destination rated in the Top 25 in Skiing Magazine and Top 10 in Sunset Magazine, with the finest skiing and snowboarding with unbelievable panoramic views overlooking Lake Pend Oreille. With over 2,900 acres, 2,400 feet of vertical, 67 named runs and seven chairlifts, Schweitzer Mountain is a dream for downhill enthusiasts. There's also 32k of cross country trails, beautiful … (0 comments)

Magical, mystical, misty North Idaho Waterfalls - 12/13/08 07:34 PM
Google ‘waterfalls' to find hundreds of pages detailing pictures, videos, trips to, and every conceivable detail about these often awe-inspiring, yet curiously relaxing touches of Mother Earth. There have been other hundreds of feature films with waterfalls, and one website has 328 videos of waterfalls from around the world. North Idaho has an equal number of stunning chutes, some popping up after spring rains and temperatures start the annual runoff of winter snow, others majestic year-round. Waterfalls in North Idaho run the gamut, from the low-slung Lion Creek Falls that locals call ‘Slippery Rocks,' to the long-falling Copper Creek Falls, dropping … (0 comments)

Sailing, Boating, Scuba, Jet & Water Skiing in Sandpoint on Lake Pend Oreille & North Idaho Waterways - 12/13/08 07:29 PM
You don't have to be here long to get the picture. We are in lake country. Not surprisingly, many blogs and writings of winter skiers attribute to the area the misnomer that we are primarily a summer resort destination. After all, when skiing down the slopes of Schweitzer Mountain, the overwhelming view is Lake Pend Oreille. Oh so wrong, my research-lacking ones. Our main tourist season and draw is winter sports. Still, summers ain't bad.
To understand our history, one must first take into account our geography. While our area is dominated by mountains, the most prominent feature is Lake Pend … (0 comments)

Sandpoint and the North Idaho Real Estate and Economy-December 2008 - 12/13/08 07:26 PM
(This article has a correction and has been reposted. To see the corrected data, see the notes at the end of the article.)
How are things here in North Idaho? Besides being named to Sunset Magazine's Top 10 Resort Towns this year, Idaho was just named the nation's 8th healthiest state. In Sandpoint, several new businesses just opened, including a Jack in the Box, Big 5 Sporting Goods, and Zip's. The new Mountain West Bank building now graces Highway 2, and the Panhandle State Bank is a monument downtown. Quest Aircraft just hired 60 new employees, and the dredging will be … (0 comments)

History of Schweitzer Mountain and Skiing in North Idaho - 12/13/08 07:21 PM
While the art of winter sports has now evolved to fantastic levels, early Indians in North Idaho were adept at ice fishing and certainly made snow shoes to facilitate the winter hunt and travel. Our area was settled much by German and Scandinavian stock, as well as the early French trappers, priests, and settlers. So, it was a natural that the descendants of these settlers followed with skiing the area. Snow skiing originated from two geographic groups: Alpine and Nordic, much like our ancestors. Nordic skiing is the oldest category and includes sport that evolved from skiing as done in Scandinavia. … (1 comments)

Lake Pend Oreille - 12/13/08 07:14 PM
You don't have to be here long to get the picture. We are in lake country. Not surprisingly, many blogs and writings of winter skiers attribute to the area the misnomer that we are primarily a summer resort destination. After all, when skiing down the slopes of Schweitzer Mountain, the overwhelming view is Lake Pend Oreille. Oh so wrong, my research-lacking ones. Our main tourist season and draw is winter sports. Still, summers ain't bad.
To understand our history, one must first take into account our geography. While our area is dominated by mountains, the most prominent feature is Lake Pend … (0 comments)

Fall Fun Recreation Guide - Autumn Events in Sandpoint, IDaho - 12/13/08 07:10 PM
 Recreation Guide - Autumn EventsThings to Do in Sandpoint and North Idaho for Autumn 2009
Coolest Things to Do   What to do in North Idaho
Attractions & Amusements   Autumn Events
Certainly with the turning of the leaves comes one of the most beautiful times of year for the North Idaho Panhandle. The colors are the myriad of the rainbow, with Buckthorn, Larch, and Maple turning yellow, hawthorn going from deep crimson to purple-red, and Quaking Aspen and Birch running the gamut from reds to golds against the backdrop of the deep greens and reddish browns of the coniferous forests. With some … (0 comments)

Cross-Country and Nordic Skiing in Sandpoint and Schweitzer Mountain - 12/13/08 07:06 PM
We have so many great ski resorts: Silver Mountain, Mount Spokane, and 49 Degrees North to name a few. Our own local stop is Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort, and we beamed with pride last year when Schweitzer was named to Skiing Magazine's Top 25 Ski Resorts, and #3 for Tree Skiing. Sandpoint and North Idaho are famous for the mountain views, and while our ranges don't usually top 7,000 feet, there are advantages over the higher level mountain ranges. The lower ranges affords rolling hills great for cross-country skiing, also called Nordic skiing. This is granite country, and the fantastic outcroppings … (0 comments)

Other Winter Activities for Sandpoint and Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort - 12/13/08 07:00 PM
Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort, was named to Skiing Magazine's Top 25 Ski Resorts, and #3 for Tree Skiing, so, if you like downhill, slalom, or even back country skiing, this should be your first choice. We have a page for Cross Country Skiing, and one for Snowboarding and Backcountry.
Of course, skiing is #1, so to see info about all of our ski resorts, visit Skiing in the Inland Northwest.
While you may be the next Bode Miller, for those that are seeking other things to do during winter months, here are some good choices.
First of all, Sandpoint has a … (0 comments)

Sandpoint and Schweitzer Mountain Winter Recreation and Fun Guide - 12/13/08 06:51 PM
Sandpoint, Idaho has had so many great articles and accolades that it is hard to believe that right above is one of the world's best ski resorts: Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort. The North Idaho Panhandle is truly a winter wonderland, with several mountain ranges, including the Bitterroot Mountains, Cabinet Mountains, Clearwater Mountains, Coeur d'Alene Mountains, Purcell Mountains, Saint Joe Mountains, and Selkirk Mountains. There are many outdoors things to do for the winter months in Sandpoint and the surrounding winter sports areas, but there is also Shopping, many Events, Art, and great Drives, Tours, & Scenery. Sandpoint and North Idaho also … (1 comments)

 
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Gary Lirette-Sandpoint Real Estate

Sandpoint, ID

More about me…

Inland Northwest Realty

Address: 120 E Lake St., Sandpoint, ID, 83864

Office Phone: (208) 255-3474

Cell Phone: (208) 610-1384

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Sandpoint Real Estate Guide and Blog by REALTOR® Gary Lirette of Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty


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