Here's a short list of Sandpoint-area attractions. We'll be adding to this page frequently, and also making seasonal changes, so check back often!

LAKE PEND OREILLE. At 1,200 feet, it's not only Idaho’s largest lake, but also the deepest: take a cruise, rent a houseboat, fish, ride a personal watercraft, parasail, windsurf or simply swim. City Beach at the end of Bridge Street has beautiful sandy beaches with lifeguards, volleyball, tennis, basketball and barbecue pits. Kayak tours and rentals are offered through Full Spectrum Tours, 208-263-5975. Fishing charters for fishing or cruising the lake: Diamond Charters (208-265-2565), and Pend Oreille Charters (208-265-6781).

LAKE PEND OREILLE CRUISES. Come be Captain Pearson's guest aboard the 40-foot Shawnodese, and discover the majesty and magic of Lake Pend Oreille. The Shawnodese was built by the Captain himself, employing the style and grace of shipbuilding utilized at the turn of the century. In summer, public cruises are scheduled daily, as well as Monday and Friday sunset dessert cruises, Tuesday and Thursday dinner cruises, wine tasting cruises and a Fourth of July fireworks cruise. This distinctive vessel can be chartered for two to 30 people. Perfect for weddings, parties, business meetings, or just touring the lake. Look up Lake Pend Oreille Cruises for further details and pricing. 888-SANDPOINT (726-3764) or 208-255-LAKE (5253).

FARMERS MARKET. May to October, open-air market of fresh produce, garden starts, handcrafts, flowers, food and live music. Farmin Park Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Wednesdays, 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. 208-265-0780 

WALKING AND BICYCLING. The Pedestrian Long Bridge, alongside Highway 95 over Lake Pend Oreille, continues to Sagle Road; paved paths at Travers Park on West Pine Street, City Beach downtown and along Highway 2 west to Dover. Paths also at Lakeview Park through and around the Native Plant Society Arboretum and overlooking Sand Creek at the Healing Garden just north of Bonner General Hospital.

SHOPPING. Downtown, discover a fine array of eclectic shops and galleries with clothing, art, antiques and gifts galore. Shoppers can also find the things they've been looking for in any number of shops in other areas around town and at the Bonner Mall in Ponderay, phone 208-263-4272, which has a six-plex movie theater and frequent events.

COLDWATER CREEK. At its new 311 N. First Avenue location, the mail-order giant offers world-class shopping in Sandpoint, as well as a delightful wine bar with often featuring live music on Fridays. For more than two decades, the company has been headquartered in Sandpoint and has grown from a local in-home business to a national phenomenon with stores in every state, as well as online. Phone 208-263-2265.

ANTIQUES. Foster's Crossing at Fifth between Cedar and Oak streets is a mini mall with antiques, books, jewelry and more. There's also a fine, small restaurant. Phone 208-263-5911. Cocolalla Corner Antiques has a fine collection as well. Located in Cocollala 12 miles south of Sandpoint. (Closed January and February.) Phone 208-263-9033.

WINERY TOUR. Sandpoint is home to its very own winery. Pend d’Oreille Winery, 2003 Idaho Winery of the Year and 2005 SBA Small Business of the Year, vints award-winning wines from the world-class vineyards of the Northwest. The wine bar features live music on Fridays and Saturdays, while wine tasting, wine sales and tours of the winery and gift shop are open daily. Drop into their storefront at 220 Cedar St., visit their website or call 208-265-8545.

BREWERY TOURS. Laughing Dog Brewing Co. opened in 2005 and brews several styles of beer in Ponderay. Tours and tastings, plus a gift shop are open daily, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Located just off Highway 200 in the Emerald Industrial Park across from the Bonner Mall. Phone 208-263-9222. Also see brewing in action at the new brewpub downtown, MickDuff's, at 312 N. First Avenue. Phone 208-255-4351.

DRIVING TOURS. Highway 2/41 Pend Oreille River Scenic Route, west on Highway 2 from from Sandpoint through historic Priest River and Newport/Oldtown; then south on Highway 41 through the Blanchard Valley all the way to the Spokane River. Wild Horse Trail Scenic Byway, 48 miles on Highway 95 from Sandpoint north following Kootenai Tribe’s historic path on the east side of Selkirk Mountains all the way to Canada. Available at the Greater Sandpoint Chamber Visitor Center. Selkirk Loop, 280-mile drive through the majestic Selkirks of Idaho, Washington and British Columbia, Canada. More than 55 lakes, including Lake Pend Oreille, on the tour. Phone 888-823-2626. Pend Oreille National Scenic Byway, 33.4 miles of spectacular water views on Highway 200, meandering east to the Montana state line along the rocky shores of Lake Pend Oreille.

BIKE TOURS. Sandpoint has long enjoyed the Long Bridge as a bike path; it’s a 2-mile long, flat bike ride that starts downtown behind the Old Power House. In recent years path has been extended south four miles to Sagle to create an easy, rolling scenic ride through the countryside along Highway 95. There’s a second bicycle path, beginning at Larch and Fifth in Sandpoint and heading about two miles west to Dover, built upon an abandoned railroad track. A route has also been extended from that path’s terminus at Larch to Boyer then west about .5 mile to E. Mountain View Drive and then down to Sand Creek, where riders can cross the Popsicle Bridge over Sand Creek. This burgeoning network of bike paths is the vision of North Idaho Bikeways, a group that formed in 1994. Click to see a map of the trails.

PEND OREILLE ARTS COUNCIL. For more than 20 years, POAC has been promoting the arts through Sunday Concerts on the Lawn in July, Summer Sounds at Park Place all summer long, the Arts & Crafts Fair in August, Artwalk all summer, a revolving art gallery in The Old Power House and the Performance Series from September to April at the Panida. 208-263-6139

ART GALLERIES. Truly an arts town, Sandpoint has about two dozen galleries located in town and the surrounding area, including Hallans Gallery with historic Ross Hall photos. In summer, up to 20 downtown venues become galleries in ArtWalk, a self-guided walking tour to browse revolving art exhibits, sponsored by POAC (208-263-6139). And about 15 area artists open their galleries for the Artists’ Studios Tour, a self-guided driving tour in the countryside, 800-800-2106.

SCHWEITZER.Ranked nationally in the top 32 resorts by both Ski and Snow Country magazines, Schweitzer is an award-winning winter retreat with the best skiing, snowboarding and views in the Inland Northwest. Come stay at the luxurious Selkirk Lodge with its outdoor pool and spa. Ride 2,900 acres of terrain, from the heart-stoppingly wild trails to those more approachable by beginners. And enjoy a mountain of summer activities, including hiking, mountain biking, huckleberry picking, disc golf, a climbing wall and bungee jump trampoline. Horseback rides and snowmobile and backcountry ski tours are also offered through Mountain Horse Adventures and Selkirk Powder Company. For winter or summer, come experience the beauty of North Idaho's premier alpine resort! Phone 208-263-9555 or 800-831-8810.

SILVERWOOD THEME PARK. The Northwest's largest theme park, located 25 miles south of Sandpoint on Highway 95, Silverwood Theme Park includes admission to Boulder Beach Water Park, so visitors get two parks for the price of one during Boulder Beach operating season. The park features Tremors, a 60-mile-per-hour underground roller coaster, plus Timber Terror and the Corkscrew. Ride a vintage steam train, challenge a gigantic wave pool and monster waterslides, or enjoy live entertainment. Silverwood has more than 60 rides, shows and attractions. Phone 208-683-3400.

BONNER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND MUSEUM. This delightful museum has many fine displays depicting old-time Bonner County, including "Seneacquoteen" (Deep Water Crossings), a display featuring Native American artifacts and history from the geologic formation to present day. An extensive collection of Ross Hall photos are on exhibit, as well as a pioneer kitchen with memorabilia from a bygone era and reproductions of gowns worn by First Ladies at their husbands' inaugurations. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and admission is $2 for adults, $1 for children or $5 per family. Located at 611 S. Ella at Lakeview Park. Phone 208-263-2344. email: bchsmuseum@imbris.net

HORSEBACK RIDING/SLEIGH RIDES. Mountain Horse Adventures treats riders to leisurely horseback tours through rich mountain forests and alpine meadows at Schweitzer in summer; phone 208-263-TROT (8768) or 800-831-8810. Western Pleasure Guest Ranch, 16 miles northeast of Sandpoint, offers sleigh rides in a rural setting for groups and couples, as well as horseback rides and overnight camping horse trips; phone 208-263-9066. Stillwater Ranch, in Sagle on Dufort Road, features hay rides; phone 208-263-0077.

FROM THE HEART RANCH. Located on Rapid Lightning Road northeast of Sandpoint, From the Heart Ranch offers tours, a vacation rental and retail store with many alpaca products. Phone 208-265-2788.

GOLF. Elks Golf Club is just two miles from downtown Sandpoint on Highway 200, phone 208-263-4321. This well-maintained, 9-hole course is perfect for the beginner or intermediate golfer. StoneRidge Golf has a recently redesigned 19-hole course in Blanchard on Highway 41, phone 208-437-4653. Play a challenging 9 holes, or 18 from the second set of tees, at Mirror Lake Golf Course in Bonners Ferry on Highway 95, phone 208-267-5314. Or, go to Priest Lake Golf Course with a recently expanded 18-hole layout just west of Priest Lake, phone 208-443-2525. Hidden Lakes Golf Resort, an 18-hole championship course about 8 miles east of town on Highway 200, closed in 2006 to undergo a complete redesign by Nicklaus Design, a team of some of the world's most accomplished overall golf course experts. The area will be transformed into The Idaho Club, a lake and golf retreat with elegant homes, tennis courts, a resort-styled pool, marina, a beautiful rustic clubhouse and, most importantly, an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. Watch for the first nine holes of the links-style course to open in 2007. Phone 208-263-1642.

FISH HATCHERIES. Cabinet Gorge Hatchery, about 30 miles east of Sandpoint just outside of Clark Fork, hatches several million kokanee salmon eggs each year for release into Lake Pend Oreille. Open daily; call 208-266-1431 to arrange a tour for a group, or stop in any day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for a self-guided tour.

DAM TOURS. Albeni Falls Dam tours are free and held seven days a week at six different times throughout the day. Tour guides will lead you inside the powerhouse, around the generators, onto each of the five floors and out on the spillway. Phone 208-437-3133.

WATERLIFE DISCOVERY CENTER. On Pend Oreille River on Lakeshore Drive, offers interpretive trails, and self-guided tours of fish habitat and an educational interpretive area. 208-769-1414

WILDLIFE REFUGE. With more than 2,000 acres, the Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge, 30 miles north of Sandpoint near Bonners Ferry, has plenty of habitat for an abundance of wildlife. The refuge has developed hiking trails and blinds where waterfowl can be viewed, but one of the best things to do there is take the auto tour through the ponds. Stay in your car and the waterfowl won’t take alarm, so the viewing is excellent. In autumn, the refuge plays host to literally tens of thousands of ducks, geese and swans migrating down the Pacific Flyway. Some hearty waterfowl winter over. Summer residents include bald eagles, rough-legged hawks, herons, geese and ducks. With luck, you may spot elk, deer, moose or bear. Auto tour routes are open daily except for the hunting season in October-November. A trail near the office and an area on the auto route are handicapped-accessible. There’s also a nice short hike to a scenic falls on Myrtle Creek. Phone 208-267-3888.

RAILROADING. Sandpoint is one of the West's greatest railroading towns, where the Burlington Northern, Montana Rail Link and Spokane International rail systems all converge to create "The Funnel," an amazingly active rail crossroads with more than 40 trains a day traveling through. Rail buffs come from around the world to see the many trains traveling through. You can sample Sandpoint's rich railroading heritage can be sampled at the Bonner County Historical Museum at 609 S. Ella, phone 208-263-2344. For the brochure, "A Railfan's Guide to Sandpoint Idaho," contact the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, Sandpoint is a fitting point of departure for the Montana Rockies Rail Tours, which offers excursion train packages between Sandpoint and Livingston, Montana. For more information call 800-519-7245.

STATE PARKS. Three state parks are within close range to Sandpoint, Farragut State Park, Round Lake State Park and Priest Lake State Park (www.idahoparks.org). Farragut is located four miles east of Athol, phone 208-683-2425, with 4,000 scenic acres alongside the southern tip of Lake Pend Oreille. Camping, swimming, boating, lots of wildlife viewing, a model-airplane flying field, mountain biking, cross-country skiing and an 18-hole disc golf course are all available. Round Lake is located 10 miles south of Sandpoint just west of Highway 95 on Dufort Road, phone 208-263-3489. Round Lake is a small, scenic lake surrounded by an interpretive trail and filled with perch and trout. Camping, fishing, hiking, skating, sledding and cross-country skiing are all available. Priest Lake State Park is located on Coolin Road in Coolin alongside the clear waters of Priest Lake, a beautiful lake abundant in kokanee salmon and trout. Phone 208-443-2200. Hiking and biking trails, camping (RV or tent), wildlife viewing and swimming are all available.

NATIONAL FORESTS. Three national forests are easily accessible from Sandpoint: Idaho Panhandle, Colville and Kootenai National Forests, for hiking, camping  and many other outdoor recreation possibilities. Click here for general information or here for camping reservations.