Ponderay, ID Road Trips

Sandpoint is a region in transition. From humble timber and fishing beginnings, Sandpoint has been rocketed to among the top destinations in Idaho. It was number one on USA Today's List of Unforgettable Summer Vacations, as well as Sunset Magazine's top small Western Town, along with numerous other distinctions. This article also covers many small communities lining highways 2, 95 and 200 in east Bonner County, broadly described as part of Sandpoint: Careywood 18 miles south on Hwy 95. Cocallala 12 miles south on Hwy 95. Westmond 10 miles south on Hwy 95. Dufort 8 miles south on Hwy 95. Algoma 6 miles south on Hwy 95 Sagle 5 miles south on Hwy 95 Ponderay 3 miles north, sandwiched between Hwy 95/2 and Hwy 200. Kootenai 4 miles north on Hwy 200. Sunnyside 6 miles east on Hwy 200 Oden Bay 8 miles east on Hwy 200. Trestle Creek 14 miles east on Hwy 200. Hope 16 miles east on Hwy 200. East Hope 17 miles east on Hwy 200 Beyond Hope 21 miles east on Hwy 200 Dover 3 miles west on Hwy 2. Wrencoe 9 miles west on Hwy 2 LaClede 14 miles west on Hwy 2. Although Idaho is generally recognized as a Mountain State, Sandpoint and other far northern Idaho cities are often categorized as part of the Pacific Northwest. The closest city of more than 100,000 people is Spokane, Washington, 78 miles away. The time zone is Pacific (UTC-8), and the area code is 208. Located just north of the 48th parallel, Sandpoint's climate is unique in the region. Although found not far from the deserts of Eastern Washington, Northern Idaho is on the rainy side of the next mountain chain - the Rocky Mountains.

1 Bonner County Historical Society & Museum, 611 S Ella Ave (in the middle of the one-way roads, downtown), ☏ +1 208-263-2344. Tu-F 10AM-4PM. It covers the history of the area, starting with the Kootenai and Kalispel inhabitants and including the timbering and tourism industries surrounding Lake Pond Oreille. Sandpoint Historic District, stroll along N 2nd Ave and see old and present mainstays like the former Coldwater Creek headquarters and the Panida Theater.

1 Sandpoint City Beach Park, 58 Bridge St, ☏ +1 208-263-3613. A popular destination for relaxing and swimming, at least in summer. From here you can see the long bridge coming into Sandpoint. Free. 2 Round Lake State Park, 1915 Dufort Rd, Sagle, ☏ +1 208-263-3489. A quieter lake with Canadian geese, beaver, and other animals and swimming and boating. Free. 3 Schweitzer Mountain, 10000 Schweitzer Mountain Rd, ☏ +1 208-263-9555. A full-service ski and snowboard resort. Pond d'Oreille Bay Trail (Sandpoint Ave, just north of Sandpoint City Beach Park). It runs for several miles along the lakeshore. Lake Pend Oreille Cruises, 100 Bridge St (at City Beach Park), ☏ +1 208-255-5253. Gives you a chance to sightsee from the water and see eagles. The Festival At Sandpoint, 1100 Airport Way, ☏ +1 208-265-4554. August. Annual, family-friendly event featuring live music and Wings Over Sandpoint, a fly-in event showcasing aviation in the northwest including classics and home built aircraft.

For a small town in a relatively remote region, Sandpoint contains a disproportionate number of restaurants of all sorts because of its strong tourist economy. In addition to locally owned restaurants listed below, Sandpoint hosts several fast food chains. Sandpoint holds two food festivals annually- A Taste of Sandpoint in February (part of the Winter Carnival) and Sandpoint Summer Sampler in late June. Both feature many local restaurants in a fun and artsy setting. Foster's Crossing Antiques holds a fudge contest during the Winter Carnival, and for a small fee anyone can test then judge entries. Sandpoint's specialty is huckleberries. From huckleberry pie to huckleberry syrup to huckleberry daiquiris, you can find just about everything in huckleberry come summer. Local stores often carry some of the prepackaged stuff, like huckleberry candy bars, and restaurants usually serve some sort of huckleberry dessert. Huckleberry Ice Cream in particular seems to be the local favorite. All of Sandpoint's restaurants are casual, that is to say none of them have dress requirements. Even the most expensive restaurants will let you in wearing ripped jeans, but you may get some looks. That being said, you will probably also see many others dressed as you are! Spuds Rotisserie & Grill, 102 N 1st Ave, ☏ +1 208 265-4311. Perhaps Sandpoint's most well known local restaurant, Spuds' lunch menu is chock full of freshly made sandwiches of all sorts, plus delectable rotisserie chicken and, of course, lots of potatoes.

MickDuff's Brewpub, 419 N 2nd Ave, ☏ +1 208-255-4351. (updated Feb 2016)

1 Days Inn, 363 Bonner Mall Way (near the base of Schweitzer Mountain Ski Area), ☏ +1 208-263-1222. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. With log cabin style rooms with premium 'log' furniture. Amenities include sauna and hot tub. Hotel is pet-friendly. $49-129. 2 The Lodge at Sandpoint, 41 Lakeshore Drive, Sagle, ☏ +1 208 263-2211.

Sandpoint is on U.S. Route 95 (US-95). From most places, the fastest route is to take Interstate 90 to Coeur d'Alene, then take US-95 north. From Seattle: I-90 eastbound is the fastest, but it is mostly barren steppe and scrubland. The scenic alternative is US-2, which winds through northern Washington and drops you off right in Sandpoint. It is slightly longer. From Boise: Take IS-55 or US-95 north through the state. Though it is two-lane most of its length, it is the shortest route, and takes about the same or slightly less than the alternative through eastern Oregon and Washington. From Missoula: I-90 westbound is your best bet. For an alternative, MT-200 winds through northernwestern Montana, following the Clark Fork River gorge. Sandpoint's airport is only served by charter planes. Getting in and out is complex and expensive. Spokane International Airport (GEG IATA) is about 2 hours southwest of Sandpoint. It is a hub for Horizon Air, Delta Air Lines, Frontier, and Big Sky Air, and airlines like United and Southwest also fly there. Most flights bound for GEG leave from Seattle/Portland, so be prepared to fly to Seattle or Portland even if you are heading east. You can get a flight directly from Minneapolis, but expect to pay more. 1 Sandpoint station, 450 Railroad Ave (next to the marina). The doors on the station are locked, but unlock automatically 1 hour before the train is scheduled to arrive. Inside the station is a heated waiting room and a bathroom. (updated Oct 2023) Amtrak, ☏ +1 215-856-7924, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245.

Although Sandpoint bills itself as a walking town, you can't really see everything without a car, or at least a bike if you're athletic. Spot Bus serves Sandpoint, Dover, Ponderay and Kootenai. Other buses are privately owned ones that take you up and down Schweitzer Mountain during the winter ski season. Bonner Taxi, 501 Lake St, ☏ +1 208-597-3463. Sandpoint 7B Taxi, 1413 Spruce St, ☏ +1 208-907-6402.