It just wouldn't be right if I didn't reprint portions of the recent "USA Today" article about our quaint little town up here in North Idaho. Sandpoint truly is a gem and, even though it kills me to see it discovered, when it becomes a headline story in major periodicals I just need to relax and relish in the beauty around here. Besides, because of the rather narrow corridor between the Selkirk Mountains and the shores of Lake Pend Oreille within which Sandpoint finds itself residing, it would be hard to imagine a situation where rampant sprawl could occur.
Second homes:
Having it all in
Sandpoint,
Idaho
By Larry Olmsted Special for, USA TODAY
Photo by Chris Bessler, Keokee
SANDPOINT, IDAHO: Best for: Lake sports, winter skiing, year-round arts. Claim to fame: The annual Festival at Sandpoint, in its 28th year, is a non-profit music event featuring performers such as Clint Black, Boz Scaggs, the Subdudes and Blues Traveler. Don't miss: The Floating Restaurant, known as "the floater," off the beach in Hope has been a landmark for 25 years. Getting there: The airport in Spokane, Wash., is 75 miles away (about a 11/2-hour drive) .Tourism information: visitsandpoint.com
Natural beauty abounds: Bald Mountain towers over the town of Sandpoint, which sits on Lake Pend Oreille and is surrounded bywilderness, including the Cabinet Mountains. Winters are snowy but summers are warm in this retirement hot spot.
Who says you can't have it all? Not fans of Sandpoint, Idaho.
The small town, with a population of about 8,000, has won accolades as a retirement hot spot, an outdoor sports mecca, even one of thetop 10 cities for telecommuting. It serves as the national headquarters for several notable companies, including Coldwater Creek apparel,attracting a young, vibrant workforce and fueling the local economy.
So what's the big appeal? A combination of stunning natural beauty, excellent year-round outdoor activities and a surprising wealth of artand cultural offerings. Sandpoint is located in the Panhandle of northern Idaho and sits directly on 43-mile-long Lake Pend Oreille (pronounced "pond-uh-ray"). Though winters are typically cold and snowy, the summer months are marked by long strings of warm, sunny days. The Selkirk and Cabinet mountains overlook the town, offering options for hiking, climbing and mountain biking. The SchweitzerMountain resort,12 miles away, spans almost 3,000 skiable acres with 92 trails.
Both visual artists and performers make their homes here, and Sandpoint offers a lot of live music. In addition to regularly scheduled art exhibits and art walks, the town is host to one of the largest film festivals in the Northwest, and a major 11-day summer music festival attracts big names.
The Panhandle also is popular for golfers, and outside Sandpoint is a high-profile private golf club, The Idaho Club. There is a public course on nearby Priest Lake, two nationally ranked public courses and two more high-end private clubs around Coeur d'Alene, less than 50 miles away. Another popular second-home community on a large lake, Coeur d'Alene offers additional dining, cultural and recreational options to Sandpoint buyers.
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