Best Floating Holiday Light Show, Northwest USA

Visit Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, for Winter Vacations During the Holidays

Nov 20, 2009 Susan Lynne Hamilton

People of all ages enjoy winter activities in scenic North Idaho. Travel by car, bus, train or plane to Coeur d'Alene for spectacular holiday lights, lodging and dining.

In the Northwest U.S. in the “panhandle” of North Idaho, the town of Coeur d’Alene sparkles on the northern edge of Lake Coeur d’Alene. The lake, named one of the five most beautiful lakes in the world by National Geographic magazine, is surrounded by mountains and lush forests. Each December, America’s largest floating holiday light show is reflected in Lake Coeur d’Alene.

From Thanksgiving to New Year’s, the town of Coeur d’Alene puts on its holiday best, with activities from skiing to shopping. Stay at a world-class resort or cozy B&B and dine at restaurants featuring regional specialties. Spokane, in nearby eastern Washington, offers an international airport, train station and bus service to Coeur d’Alene (35 miles by interstate freeway).

Coeur d’Alene Holiday Activities

The holiday light show (featured on ABC TV’s “Good Morning, America” as one of the nation’s best holiday light shows) begins the day after Thanksgiving with a parade through downtown Coeur d’Alene, followed by the much-anticipated lighting ceremony. Everyone watches in expectation as 1.5 million lights suddenly illuminate the night sky and more than 250 holiday displays come to life. Fireworks flash above, adding to the drama of the evening.

The Coeur d’Alene Resort’s surrounding boardwalk is a good place to see the floating, twinkling panorama of displays, featuring toy soldiers, dancing elves, candy canes and giant snowflakes. The best view of the largest on-the-water holiday light show in the U.S. is from the Journey to the North Pole Cruises, leaving nightly from the resort, November 27 through December 31. Santa and Mrs. Claus greet cruise-goers, who enjoy the animated holiday displays colored with dazzling lights.

More holiday activities in Coeur d’Alene include horse-drawn carriage rides downtown, symphony and choral holiday concerts, and performances at Lake City Playhouse. Shopping opportunities abound at the exclusive Coeur d’Alene Resort’s adjacent stores and downtown’s unique art galleries, exotic boutiques and quaint shops.

Coeur d’Alene Outdoor Winter Activities

Skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, back-country skiing and Nordic skiing are the prime winter sports around Coeur d’Alene:

Silver Mountain Resort, a short 30-mile drive east of Coeur d’Alene, boasts the world’s longest gondola. Some of the West’s best dry-powder skiing and snowboarding are found at Silver Mountain. Back-country skiers take advantage of more than 1,600 acres of prime powder.
Snowmobiling in the nearby town of Kellogg and the surrounding Silver Valley offers one of America’s largest networks of snowmobile and all-terrain trails, with more than 1,000 miles of interlinked paths. Wallace, an historic town 49 miles east of Coeur d’Alene, is the hub for trail riding and one of the Northwest’s only towns allowing snowmobiles in its streets.
Cross-country skiing at Farragut State Park, 46 miles north of Coeur d’Alene, offers 7.5 miles of well-groomed trails for beginning and intermediate Nordic skiers, as well as outstanding views of the park and mountains surrounding scenic Lake Pend Oreille.

Lodging in Coeur d’Alene

Accommodations in Coeur d’Alene include a world-class resort, regional hotels and cozy bed-and-breakfast establishments:

The Coeur d’Alene Resort, on the lake’s northern shore, features a luxurious lobby. The ambiance extends to the resort’s premier rooms, with private balconies and great views of the lake, fireplaces and Jacuzzis.
The Roosevelt Bed and Breakfast Inn, located close to downtown Coeur d’Alene and within a five-minute walk of the lake, is a renovated early American landmark. Its 15 guest rooms are decorated in Victorian style and furnished with turn-of-the-century antiques.
More bed and breakfast establishments in the Coeur d’Alene area offer a variety of lodging options.
AAA three-star, national hotels in the Coeur d’Alene area include Ameritel Inn, Comfort Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Shilo Inn.

Dining in Coeur d’Alene

Restaurants for fine dining in Coeur d’Alene feature regional dishes and wines:

The Wine Cellar, in downtown Coeur d’Alene, is known for its outstanding wine list, Mediterranean cuisine and decor.
Beverly’s, near the top of the Coeur d’Alene Resort, boasts panoramic views of the lake as well as impeccable food and wine offerings.
Cedars Floating Restaurant on Lake Coeur d’Alene features fresh seafood, aged steaks, prime rib and pasta specialties.
Other dining choices in Coeur d’Alene include casual cafes, pubs and grills, delis and coffee shops.

Travel to Coeur d’Alene, in northern Idaho, for a holiday vacation. View America’s best floating holiday light show, ski or snowmobile in the surrounding mountains, stay in a four-star resort or cozy B&B, and taste regional cuisine and wine.

For more Northwest winter holiday vacations, visit Leavenworth, Washington, for a Bavarian holiday, North Pole, Alaska, for its Christmas in Ice Festival, or Yellowstone National Park for winter tours.

HOL 101

The copyright of the article Best Floating Holiday Light Show, Northwest USA in NW U.S./Alaska Travel is owned by Susan Lynne Hamilton. Permission to republish Best Floating Holiday Light Show, Northwest USA in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Coeur d'Alene Holiday Light Show