DAY 5-8 ~ NORTHERN IDAHO (May 22 – 25)

Boise to Grangeville, Idaho

DAY 5 ~ Grangeville, ID (May 22)

It was a 4 hour drive to this stop.  There is nothing here exciting to visit.  It’s just an overnight stop to break up the drive to Coeur d Alene; our last stop in Idaho.

Grangeville to Coeur d Alene

DAY 6-8 ~ Coeur d Alene, ID (May 23 - 25)

Coeur d’ Alene means “heart of an awl”.  It was named by French-speaking traders who also named the Coeur d’ Alene Indian Tribe.  One theory for the name is that trappers considered the local Indian tribe to be sharp traders, with the heart of an awl.  The town sits beside a lake that is fed into by Spokane River.  So a lot of water traffic made this a successful settlement in the late 1800’s.  Today it is a lake resort with lots of nice restaurants and shops.   The Coeur d’ Alene is a fancy resort with a nice boardwalk circling the lake side of the resort and extending out into the lake. 

Mudgy Moose  There are 5 of these scattered along the riverfront.

I found a bead shop...but it was closed.

That’s Dave’s reflection in the window.

We are staying in nearby Post Falls, the gateway to North Idaho.  Post Falls is known as Idaho’s River City with the Spokane River in the heart of town.  The highlight of this town is the Falls at Post Falls Dam.

Marmot at Post Falls

SPOKANE was only 30 miles to the west, so we did a day trip there.  We visited the JOHN A. FINCH ARBORETUM.  This garden was founded in 1912, but planting officially began in 1949.  In this garden there are over 2,000 labeled trees and shrubs representing over 600 species and varieties.  It was a beautiful warm day and very peaceful walking through this place.  There are no marked trails.  You just free walk through the grass and under the trees.  There was a whole section of lilac trees in full bloom.  The sweet scent intoxicates you.

Tri-color Beech  and it's leaves.       

Lilac bushes

In downtown Spokane along the Spokane River we strolled through the RIVERFRONT PARK and saw the Spokane River Falls, the Clock Tower and the Red Wagon.

This is an interesting metal sculpture of runners.

Spokane River Falls

Nearby in the town of Mead is a very small zoo called Cat Tails.  It is a sanctuary for rescued big cats.  You know, lions, tigers and bears.  They have two bears too.  Cat Tails is also home to the only school which teaches exclusively zoo-keeping.

Next stop is Montana!