Other activities

Sightseeing is a delight in this picturesque area. Sandpoint is on the northwest shore of the ear-shaped Lake Pend Oreille, which is 43 miles long. The name is French for “pendant of ear,” and is so called because the local Indians during white settlement wore ear pendants.

Sandpoint’s Winter Carnival, usually held the third week in January, has snow sculpture extravaganzas, ice skating parties, a “Taste of Sandpoint” on the Cedar Street Bridge, a Parade of Lights and a host of special events on Schweitzer Mountain. For information, call the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce at (800) 800-2106 or 263-2161. Hermit's Hollow Tubing Center operates Fridays through Sundays. Buy tickets in the Mountain Activity Center.

Train buffs, more properly called rail fans, consider Sandpoint to be a paradise. Railroad tracks here are called “The Funnel” because all 50 trains per day funnel onto the one track that goes through town. Sandpoint is at the convergence of the former Great Northern and Northern Pacific Railroad mainlines. They merged into the Burlington Northern system in 1970. Train watching is a never-ending source of amusement. A good photo opportunity is the Pend d’Oreille transfer yard, which is used daily by Burlington Northern, Union Pacific and Montana Rail Link.

In the Selkirk Lodge on the mountain, Heaven, the Spa (263-8107) pampers guests with everything from hot rock treatments to Thai massage and more.

Shopping includes some culinary delights. Coldwater Creek (263-2265), in downtown Sandpoint in a beautiful facility on Cedar Street Bridge, is a huge signature store with a deli and wine bar. Be sure to visit the bargain attic on the second floor. Don’t miss the Pend d’Oreille Winery (265-8545), just a few blocks from Coldwater Creek. You can have four free tastings. More tastings are free if you buy a bottle of wine. The gift shop is full of off-beat and interesting items—you can even buy “retired” oak barrel planters. Sandpoint is home to Litehouse Bleu Cheese Factory (263-2030), which has its full line and samples at its local retail store.

Photo by Woods Wheatcroft/Schweitzer Mountain Resort