July, 2010

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Three Festivals in One in Downtown Coeur d’Alene, July 30–August 1

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

Every summer for the last nineteen years, Sherman Street in the downtown lakefront district of beautiful Coeur d’Alene, ID, has turned into a giant street fair for one sunny weekend. The Coeur d’Alene Downtown Street Fair features over 250 vendors of all kinds of arts, crafts, food, and other wares plus entertainment galore. Around 40,000 people attend the family friendly fair, which runs concurrently with two other big events in the city. It is handicap and stroller friendly so that everyone can feel welcome and comfortable. Hours are Friday and Saturday, 10:00 to 8:00, and Sunday, 10:00 to 5:00.

Also in downtown Coeur d’Alene, check out A Taste of the Coeur d’Alenes, in the city park, with food booths from some of the finest restaurants in the area. This is a great way to sample some of those nice restaurants you have been wanting to try! You can also enjoy great free live music in the park while you relax in the large, grassy sitting areas.

Art on the Green 2010 Just a short walk away, or a short free shuttle ride that comes every thirty minutes if you are tired from walking around the street fair, is Art on the Green at the old Fort Sherman Grounds on the North Idaho College Campus. This event, in its forty-second year, brings together 135-plus artists, a variety of performers, over 500 volunteers, and 50,000 visitors for a celebration of art, creativity, and friendship. You can browse a large marketplace of original artist creations or try your hand at creating some of your own art in the hands-on sections for both children and adults, instruction provided. Two stages will showcase jazz, salsa, and Celtic music plus performances by the Lake City Playhouse, the Coeur d’Alene Opera, the Arte Flamenco Dance Theatre, and much more. Hours are Friday, noon to 7:30, Saturday, 10:00 to 7:30, and Sunday, 10:00 to 5:00.

Posted in Art, Coeur d'Alene, Dining, Events, Family, Live music, Shows | No Responses »

Cool off with a Day of Waterslides!

Friday, July 16th, 2010

Splash Down Family Water Park in Spokane Valley, WA

The weather is finally hot in the Spokane area, so it is time to head to one of the several water amusement parks in the area. Here are the three best options in the region. If you are wondering why Wild Waters is not listed, it is because that park is closed for the summer to make improvements that will be unveiled in summer 2011. Grab your swimsuit and family and go play!

Splash Down Family Waterpark

Located in the Spokane Valley, this outdoor waterpark is the closest major facility to Spokane. Splash Down offers tall, straight drop slides for those who want to see just how fast they can go as well as long, curving slides and swimming pools. Be sure to check out some of the park’s newest attractions, including Splashketball, water balloon battles, Petey’s Lil Puffer Fish Lagoon with pools and slides for tots, and Frisbee golf. Low admission prices ($13–$16) and the option of bringing your own picnic or BBQ supplies make this an affordable day of fun for families. Although you can bring your own coolers in, alcohol is not allowed. Monday through Saturday, the park opens at 11:00 a.m., and Sunday it opens at noon. Generally, the park closes at 6:00 p.m., but on Tuesdays and Thursdays hours are extended to 8:00 p.m., with live music on Thursday nights. The address is 11127 East Mission Avenue, Spokane Valley, WA.

Boulder Beach at Silverwood Theme Park

Rumble Falls at Silverwood. Copyright Silverwood and Boulder Beach.

North Idaho’s Silverwood Theme Park is the largest theme park in the Northwest. Admission includes admittance to both the amusement park and the water park and costs $21.99 for kids 3–7 years old and $41.99 for general admission. If you are looking for a big park with incredible attractions, this is it. The large water park features long and high fast-paced slides (check out Avalanche Mountain, at 650 feet), but there are plenty of more relaxing options, such as Elkhorn Creek, a lazy river to float on with a tube. There is an area just for younger children as well as two large wave pools. One major advantage of this park is that if you don’t want a full day in the water, or if the weather turns less than sunny, you can always go enjoy the high-quality rides in Silverwood. Many Boulder Beach lovers advise waiting for a hot day, as the park is so large that visitors can do a lot of walking in wet bathing suits, and this can be a little uncomfortable on cooler summer days. No outside food or beverages are permitted in the park, but there are numerous restaurants, some with alcoholic drinks, and concession stands. Limited camping is available, which is great if you want to stay for two days or if you prefer to eat lunch in your RV; call for reservations. Both parks are open 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The address is 27843 N Highway 95, just north of Coeur d’ Alene.

Silver Rapids Indoor Waterpark at Silver Mountain Resort

Although this waterpark is for guests only at Silver Mountain Resort, it is definitely worth staying here if you are travelling with children in North Idaho. It is located in Kellogg, Idaho, just off I-90. Completely enclosed, this warm waterpark is fun in any weather. Although it is small compared to other area waterparks, there are a few great slides, and Silver Mountain makes great use of the space that is available. Several interactive play areas will keep toddlers and kids of any age happy for hours, including the FlowRider, a continuous wave that can be body boarded or surfed after some practice. Adults can enjoy hot tubs and a bar overlooking the water park area. If you do stay at Silver Mountain, you can easily make a week’s vacation out of it. The area is an incredible outdoors playground. You can take a scenic gondola ride to the top of the mountain and go for a nature walk, play disc golf, and eat at the Mountain Haus restaurant. There are also some great mountain biking opportunities in the area as well as several lakes. Summer hours for the waterpark are Monday through Thursday 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Posted in Spokane | No Responses »

Museums in Spokane, WA: Part 2

Friday, July 2nd, 2010

After our post about Spokane museums, a couple of readers suggested some lesser-known, but still fun, museums in the area. So if you are interested in history, be sure to check out these treasures. And, if you are travelling to the Spokane area this summer for vacation, Stratford Suites Extended Stay Hotel is your home away from home, with affordable luxury suites that include full kitchens, pillow-top mattresses, and 52-inch high-def. televisions.

North Spokane Farm Museum

A short, pretty drive fifteen miles north of Spokane, WA off state highway 395 leads you to the North Spokane Farm Museum. Follow the sign from the highway to the “Red Shed,” a 5,000 sq. ft. teach and touch museum that displays farm machinery and farm artifacts from 1850–1950. All the farm equipment has been painstakingly researched and restored to near its original splendor. You can also check out what life was like in the first half of the 1900s, with a working 50s kitchen, a 40s bedroom, a 20s kitchen, and the largest collection of Ironstone China in the Pacific Northwest, with more than thirty-six sets from 1850 to 1976.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. most days, but it is best to call ahead at 509-466-2744 to make sure the hosts are not out working in the field, as this Spokane-area museum is located on a real working farm.

Spokane Sea Services Museum

Captain of the USS Spokane

Are you interested in military or naval history? Then be sure to visit the Spokane Sea Services Museum, which began as just a few display cases at the local Reserve Center in 1987 and has grown to occupy its own building. It is located at the Naval & Marine Corps Reserve Readiness Center on 5101 N. Assembly Street and includes an entire room dedicated to the USS Spokane.

Ship’s memorabilia at the museum include the ship’s bell, a life ring, a holiday Union Jack, Storm Ensign, Watch Quarter, Station Bill, Battle Efficiency Plaque, official ship photographs, news clippings, original programs from the commissioning, sea stories, copies of the ship’s newspaper “The Spoke,” boiler room information plates, and a picture of the first CO with the USS SPOKANE Silver Service.

Museum hours are Wednesday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact Mike Webb at 509-270-5319 for more information.

Cheney Historical Museum

Located in Cheney, WA, the Cheney Historical Museum houses information and artifacts that tell the stories of the Four Lakes, Marshall, Cheney, Tyler, and Amber districts of southwest Spokane County. These communities were born from agriculture and railroads, so here you can learn about the typical experience of rural farming communities in the West, along with discovering the people and traditions that made these places unique. The collection was started in 1935 by the Tilicum Club, a women’s social and service organization, because they were asked by pioneer families to preserve items of their history.

The museum is open May through September, Thursdays and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Fridays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. October through April, the Cheney Historical Museum is open Fridays only 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 509-235-2202 for more information.