Northern Idaho

See

There are many bald eagles in North Idaho. A good place to see them is Lake Coeur d'Alene. Lake Coeur d'Alene is 25 miles long with more than 135 miles of shoreline. The lake is an average of 120 feet deep.

Finished in 1853, The Cataldo Mission, east of Coeur d'Alene, is the oldest standing building in Idaho. The Old Mission (built 1848-1853) was a combined effort of the missionaries and over 300 native Catholics.

Wallace has many buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Wallace is also famous for its mining history and included in that history is the Oasis Bordello Museum. When the final occupants of the Oasis Rooms left in January 1988 (the last recorded date in the "hotel" registry), they seemed to have left in a hurry. Clothing, makeup, toiletries, food and personal items were all left behind. An accurate and tastefully-presented twenty-minute tour of the upper rooms explains the mystery of the ladies' hasty departure and gives a glimpse into the town's bawdy past with details that range from poignant to hilarious. Also of interest in the Wallace area is the Sierra Silver Mine Tour. This is the only tour of its kind in the Northwest. It offers a rare opportunity to personally experience the underground world of mining in the richest silver district on earth. Also the main city in which the movie Dante's Peak, starring Pierce Brosnan, was filmed. Wallace is also nicked named "The Center of the Universe" - when entering the town walking or driving there will be a sign pointing down towards a cross walk which is where the center of the universe is supposed to be.

Not far from Wallace, Kellogg has metal sculptures of a dragon and knight, a gold panner, an elk (in front of the local chapter of the ELKS), a big wildcat (which is the high school's mascot) in front of the local pool, a miner and donkey, and the best was the Red Baron. All seemed to be made of scraps of metal from different things, but they are large! Mine tours (approx. 30 min.) are given at Crystal Gold Mine. Kellogg was the site of one of the worst U.S. mining accidents; a statue of a miner holding high a rock drill guards dozens of impromptu headstones at the Sunshine Mine Disaster Memorial. Miner's Hat Realty, a building shaped like a big miner's hard hat, complete with giant carbide lamp can be seen from I-90 on the north side of the road.

Do

• The Hiawatha Trail is a scenic section of abandoned railbed from the Milwaukee Road turned into a world class non-motorized trail. It starts on the Idaho-Montana border east of Wallace.
• Silverwood Theme Park in Athol, a short drive north of Coeur d'Alene.

Winter sports

• Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area on the Idaho-Montana border, east of Wallace.
• Schweitzer Mountain in Sandpoint.
• Silver Mountain in Kellogg is home to the world's longest single-stage gondola. Enjoy a scenic ride and take in the great views along the 20-minute ride to the top.