Spend an all-American summer weekend in the small lake town of Sandpoint.
Drive just over an hour from the Spokane airport and you’ll come up on massive Lake Pend d’Oreille. Sandpoint is a small town located on the lake and is full of micro-breweries, bars with live music and the nicest people you’ll ever meet.
Best things to do in Sandpoint
1. Hike the Gold Hill Trail
Perfect on a hot sunny day - the trail is shaded by trees nearly all the way to the top
Bring lunch and enjoy the beautiful view of Lake Pend Oreille
2. Eat at Trinity on the lake
Dine at the restaurant with the best view in town
The breakfast wraps are the way to go for breakfast and for dinner I’d recommend the ribs
3. Wakeboard on Lake Pend Oreille
This lake is only 20% smaller than Lake Tahoe - it’s massive!
You’ll feel like you have the entire lake to yourself - we barely passed any other boats
4. Hike the Mickinnick Trail
This was a beautiful hike with lots of nice view points
Don’t do this unless you love hiking…it was about 7 miles round trip and all uphill on the way up. Worth it for the view.
5. Pontoon cruise around the lake
This was pretty relaxing and awesome - bring a cooler full of beers and some lunch and you’ll be good to go
The homes lining the lake are gorgeous…
6. Check out the beautiful lake homes
I couldn’t believe how many incredible lake homes there were lining the lake - most of them second homes only used in the summer.
7. Buy local goods at the Farmer’s Market
Pick up anything and everything with huckleberries - a local favorite ingredient
8. Bike along the Long Bridge
Ride along the water and listen for the trains going by
You can leave your bike anywhere…and unlocked! A nice change from San Francisco ;)
9. The Festival at Sandpoint
Don’t miss the festival - it goes on for 11 days over the summer and hosts a number of bands and performers. We saw Jackson Browne.
Bring lawn chairs and your own snacks and drinks.
Go to The Hive afterwards for the afterparty and bar hop around town ;)
Sandpoint is truly an all-American summer experience and I can’t wait to go back and see what it’s like in the winter (yes, there is also a ski resort there).
