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. The small communities lining highways 2, 95 & 200 in east Bonner County are generally referred to Sandpoint, the largest of these being the actual Sandpoint. Excluding Sandpoint, they are the following: Careywood 18 miles south of Sandpoint, Hwy 95. Cocallala 12 miles south of Sandpoint, Hwy 95. Westmond 10 miles south of Sandpoint, Hwy 95. Dufort 8 miles south of Sandpoint, Hwy 95. Algoma 6 miles south of Sandpoint, Hwy 95 Sagle 5 miles south of Sandpoint, Hwy 95 Ponderay 3 miles north of Sandpoint, sandwiched between Hwy 95/2 and Hwy 200. Kootenai 4 miles north of Sandpoint, Hwy 200. Sunnyside 6 miles east of Sandpoint, Hwy 200 Oden Bay 8 miles east of Sandpoint, Hwy 200. Trestle Creek 14 miles east of Sandpoint, Hwy 200. Hope 16 miles east of Sandpoint, Hwy 200. East Hope 17 miles east of Sandpoint, Hwy 200 Beyond Hope 21 miles east of Sandpoint, Hwy 200 Dover 3 miles west of Sandpoint, Hwy 2. Wrencoe 9 miles west of Sandpoint, Hwy 2 LaClede 14 miles west of Sandpoint, Hwy 2. The time zone is Pacific (UTC-8), and the area code is 208. The official currency is United States dollars, but most stores and restaurants will accept Canadian currency due to Sandpoint's proximity to the Canadian border and the large number of Canadian tourists who visit the region.

Farmers Market at Sandpoint, Farmin Park (in the middle of the one-way roads, downtown). Sa 9AM-1PM, W 3-5PM. Rockin' good veggies, flowers, crafts and food. Real people doin' real things. 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. Starting with the Kootenai and Kalispel inhabitants, it covers the history of the area, including the timbering and tourism industries surrounding Lake Pond Oreille.

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. 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. Schweitzer, 10000 Schweitzer Mountain Rd, ☏ +1 208-263-9555. A full-service ski and snowboard resort. Free. The Festival At Sandpoint, 1100 Airport Way, ☏ +1 208-265-4554. 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. Every August! Sandpoint Historic District, stroll along N 2nd Ave and see old and present mainstays like the former Coldwater Creek headquarters and the Panida Theater. Try the Pond d'Oreille Trail. It can be accessed along Sandpoint Ave just north of Sandpoint City Beach Park and runs for several miles along the shore. Lake Pend Oreille Cruises, 100 Bridge St (at beach park). Gives you a chance to sightsee from the water and see eagles. Tel: +1 208-255-5253

For a small town in a relatively remote region, Sandpoint contains a disproportionate number (60 but not all are listed here) of restaurants of all sorts, likely 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. Every town has a specialty, and Sandpoint's 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! Price guide for an average entrée: $ = <$10, $$ = $10-20, $$$ = >$20 Spuds Rotisserie & Grill, 102 N 1st Ave, ☏ +1 208 265-4311.

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

1 Days Inn, 363 Bonner Mall Way, ☏ +1 208-263-1222. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Located near the base of Schweitzer Mountain Ski Area 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's airport is only served by charter planes. Getting in and out is complex and expensive. Spokane International Airport (GEG) 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. From Seattle/Portland Driving east from the west coast, you have two options. I-90 eastbound is the fastest, but it is mostly barren steppe and scrubland. In Coeur d'Alene, take Hwy 95 north to Sandpoint. The scenic alternative to I-90 is Hwy 2- which winds through northern Washington and drops you off right in Sandpoint. It is slightly longer, though. From Boise Take Highway 55 or 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 the East I-90 westbound is your best bet. Same drill- take 95 at Coeur d'Alene. For an alternative, Hwy 200 winds through northernwestern Montana, following the Clark Fork River gorge. 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 even 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 ski season. Bonner Taxi, 501 Lake St, ☏ +1 208-597-3463. Sandpoint 7B Taxi, 1413 Spruce St, ☏ +1 208-907-6402. For car rentals from the airport, see Spokane.