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Coeur d’Alene (/ˌkɔːr dəˈleɪn/ KOR də-LAYN; French: Cœur d’Alêne, lit. ‘Heart of an Awl’ [kœʁ d‿a.lɛn]) is a city and the county seat of Kootenai County, Idaho, United States. It is the largest city in North Idaho and the principal city of the Coeur d’Alene Metropolitan Statistical Area. In 2020, the United States Census Bureau estimated the city’s population at 53,354. Coeur d’Alene is a satellite city of Spokane, which is located about thirty miles (50 km) to the west in the state of Washington. The two cities are the key components of the Spokane–Coeur d’Alene Combined Statistical Area, of which Coeur d’Alene is the third-largest city (after Spokane and its largest suburb, Spokane Valley). The city is situated on the north shore of the 25-mile (40 km) long Lake Coeur d’Alene and to the west of the Coeur d’Alene Mountains. Locally, Coeur d’Alene is known as the “Lake City,” or simply called by its initials, “CDA.

In you will find some beautiful attractions that you just cannot miss! Places like Lake Coeur D’alene, North Idaho Centennial Trail, and Harriman State Park and many more. Continue reading to know more.

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Enjoy outdoor activities, on land and water, and a crazy golf game.

This lake, which is 26 miles long, is the second-largest in northern Idaho. Thus, it is a natural playground complemented by parks, campgrounds, beaches, trails, and recreational areas. The lake also has well-maintained boat launches, along with rentals of jet skis, sailboats, and other watercraft. You can do all these within a beautiful setting that offers magnificent mountain views.

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North Idaho Centennial Trail is a point-to-point trail that features beautiful scenery since it houses a lake.

North Idaho Centennial Trail, located in Idaho, is a multi-use trail where it is accessible all year-round. It is a point-to-point trail where visitors could admire the beauty of nature as it houses a lake. The trail is also ideal for other outdoor activities aside from walking such as cycling.

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Harriman State Park lies within a 16,000 acre in Idaho, United States.

Harriman State Park has 22 miles of mountain biking, hiking trails, horseback riding trails with gorgeous views of the beautiful mountains. The world’s largest waterfowl species are commonly seen in this park. Winter events are very famous in this park, they include snowshoeing, skiing, fat biking. Good wildlife and fishing with beautiful picnic spots can be enjoyed in this park. The parking fee is very reasonable and worth it.

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Timberline Adventures offers the ultimate outdoor experience in Coeur d’Alene which one should not miss.

Timberline Adventures offers the ultimate outdoor experience in Coeur d’Alene, with 7 lines, 3 sky bridges, and out-of-this-world views. A van will pick you up and bring you to Timberline. The land overlooking Beauty Bay is located 12 miles east of downtown. The Yamaha Viking will be just that: a Yamaha Viking. A zip line canopy tour guide. With the assistance of a guide, you may reach the top of the canopy.

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An excellent place to stay on a vacation to Coeur d’Alene.

The Best Western Coeur d’Alene Inn is located in Idaho, United States. The hotel provides 122 well-furnished rooms at affordable prices. The inn is close to the river and is just 3 km from Kootenai Clinic Hospital Medicine and Coeur d’Alene Golf Course. The hotel has an indoor pool, sports bar, free internet access, and an on-site restaurant offering delightful cuisines. You can also enjoy horseback riding, fishing, and boating.

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Hiawatha Trail is known to be one of the most stunning trails in the country which offers breathtaking views.

Hiawatha Trail, located in Idaho, is the perfect trail for those who love cycling as it features a smooth asphalt trail. Visitors would surely love the trail as it also offers stunning views of nature and evokes a calming atmosphere or feeling. The trail passes by the Bitterroot mountains and also features picnic stops for those who want to take a rest.

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One-stop destination for kayaks and stand-up paddle rentals and sales.

Kayak Coeur D’Alene is located at Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. With multiple lakes around the city, North Idaho is the best place for kayaking. Kayak Coeur d’Alene rents kayaks, paddle boats, and float tubes. On order, the items are delivered to the vacation houses around the lake. Orders can be confirmed through emails or calls. The pickup facility of the rented equipment is also available at the end of the tour. While kayaking one can come across local wildlife of Idaho such as moose, bear, coyote, mountain goat, and bald eagles.

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Avid readers should check out the Coeur d’Alene Public Library where it houses diverse collections of books.

Coeur d’Alene Public Library, located in Idaho, is a reader’s dream come true as it is home to numerous books. It is known for its excellent library services and is committed to providing free and equal access to resources to promote lifelong learning. Visitors could easily spend hours at the library reading as the library’s atmosphere is peaceful and is conducive for learning and reading.

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A small museum that exhibits the rich history of the Coeur d’Alene Region.

Museum of North Idaho is located in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, United States. It is a great place that reveals the history of Northern Idaho through photographs and artifacts. It showcases the features of Coeur d’Alene Tribe, the history of railroad, steamboats, recreation, and forest service in the area. Museum also has a great collection of regional books.

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Explore the high-quality work of native artists at The Art Spirit Gallery.

The Art Spirit Gallery is a fine art and craft gallery situated in Idaho. It features high-quality, original work by local artists. The 4,000 square foot gallery showcases artists with a unique voice and dedication to craft, materials, observation, and creativity. Also, the opening reception and Downtown Art Walks are undoubtedly enjoyable.

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Visit the one-of-a-kind Flamingo Motel where it is known for weird but cute flamingo sculptures on its lawn.

Flamingo Motel, located in Idaho, is the perfect place to stay when you are in the city. It is famous for the quality of its accommodations wherein they offer interesting furnishings and linens per room. Not only do they have good quality rooms but also offer cheaper accommodations compared to others.

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Coeur d’Alene Parasail is a parasailing adventure located in Idaho, United States.

Coeur d’Alene Parasail gives the chance of flying hundreds of feet over the lake and gives stunning views of Coeur d’Alene. This is fun and safe and landings and take-offs can be done from the boat. This adventure gives a calm and smooth experience to all who are not afraid of heights.

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Coeur d’Alene Inn Best Western offers one of the best accommodations in the city.

Visitors looking for great accommodations or places to stay should definitely try out the Coeur D’alene Inn Best Western. It is an inn located in Idaho where it features 122 well-maintained rooms at an affordable rate per night. The inn also has different amenities and facilities such as an indoor pool and a breakfast buffet.

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Coeur d’Alene Masonic Temple is considered to be a historical place known for its stunning architecture.

Visitors will surely love admiring and taking pictures of the Coeur d’Alene Masonic Temple which features one-of-a-kind architecture. The design of the building includes terra cotta and iron ornamentation which makes it more beautiful. There are also available exhibits inside where visitors could learn more about the building.

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Devin Galleries is one of America’s leading fine art galleries, and it’s located in a gorgeous resort neighborhood.

Devin Galleries, one of America’s best fine art galleries, is located in the lovely resort village of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Original paintings, bronze and stone sculpture, modern art glass, limited edition prints, wood, and ceramic vessels, jewelry, and more may be found at the downtown Coeur d’Alene gallery, which spans almost 7,000 square feet.

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Over the past 20 years, with advances made in digital and phone cameras, many of us feel the best way to capture a scene is by taking a color photo. Most of us are led to believe that color photography not only provides better detail, but also helps capture the mood of a particular scene. But in the latest exhibition, Creation and Re-Creation in Shades of Gray at Everybody’s Coffee, Maura Z shows us how details as well as moods can better come to life in photography using various shades of gray.

This is Maura Z’s first solo exhibition and on display are 44 digital prints. All the images were captured with her digital camera and then later re-created through Photoshop where she stripped the photos to their barest poetic essence while also creating negative and positive space within her images.

Although there is a muted quality to her work, the viewer is easily drawn to her images due to her mastery in composition—she effectively balances the amount of detail and space as well as highlights and shadows. The details in her photos are in many ways more vivid due to the absence of color—perhaps because our brain isn’t processing or being distracted by colors, we are forced to see the stark details within each image. Maura’s use of grey tones creates an ambience that evokes various moods that bring to mind the quote by the French author, André Gide, who once said, “The color of truth is gray.”

A number of her works act as visual haikus that create meditative moments. A good example of this is Daily Reflection (Portofino, Italy), that shows a body of water shimmering against the reflection of the sun. The dark tones of the water add a sense of depth and mystery to this scene. Another work that fits this mode is Life Cycle where we see a dying water lily. In this shot we are reminded of the natural decay that exists within nature while also making us aware that we are all taking part in the cycle of life and death.

There is also a whimsical aspect to her works, such as in Faeries’ Wings and Bubblies. When viewing these works, we cannot help but experience a sense of joy and a lightness of being. These works draw us into a state of mindfulness, inviting us to be in the present moment. These works not only allow us to appreciate the magic that exists within nature, but even more, to appreciate the subtle details that nature offers.

Maura’s works also express the majesty of various landscapes, such as in The Tree of Life, that shows a robust tree spreading its branches outward and upward toward the sky. And some of her images capture the raw energy of nature such as in Before the Deluge where we see foreboding clouds that gather before a storm or in Freshwater Collisions where we can feel the powerful movement of water.

Equally intriguing are a couple of her works that at first glance seem to be abstract without an immediate association with the physical world. She achieves this through her use of perspective, movement and light—transforming something ordinary into an unexpected and unrecognizable image.

“I want my work to remind people that they should stop and look around them and take the time to appreciate the beauty on this planet,” said Maura.  She also added, “Hopefully, someone’s perspective might change on how they see the world when looking at my work.”

What makes Maura Z’s work stand out is her unique combination of mechanical execution when taking a photo and her creative eye when re-creating photos through Photoshop. She also exhibits traits that other great photographers share such as having a sharp eye for detail, capturing a fleeting moment in time, and creating a mood that resonates within the viewer.

Creation and Re-Creation in Shades of Gray will be on display through January 5, 2023. Everybody’s Coffee is located at 935 W. Wilson. Hours: Monday thru Friday, 7am–2pm; and Saturday and Sunday, 8am–3pm. For more info, visit their website or call 773-303-6220.

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Snowy Owl hovering overhead in strong gusty winds. Its wings are in the full downward position.

This image of a snowy owl was taken a couple of years ago in northern Ontario, Canada. During the summer breeding season, the snowy owls live in the Arctic regions of North America and Eurasia. In winter some snowy owls migrate south, often into the United States. Snowy owls have been spotted here in southwestern Ohio.

Snowy owls can weigh as much as 6 pounds with a wing span of 4 feet. The adult males are pure white and the females are white with some dark feathers. To keep warm, they have a layer of down underneath many layers of feathers. They are extremely good judges of distance, have excellent hearing, and long black claws which aid their ability to hunt. Since their summer breeding grounds are above the Arctic Circle where there is 24 hours of daylight during this time of the year, snowy owls are not completely nocturnal. During winter they hunt during both the day and night depending on weather conditions and availability of their food source. They nest in the Arctic tundra and are attracted to open areas, which make it easier to photograph them.

The snowy owl’s migration habits during the winter months are dependent upon their food supply which consists mainly of lemmings and field mice. If their source of food is plentiful, there will be a sudden boom in the population of snowy owls that migrate south. This sudden boom is referred to as an irruption.

Even though the year the image in this post was taken would not be considered an irruption year, there was still a healthy population of females. It was easy to spot a snowy owl in a field perched on a fence post or on the ground, and then wait for the owl to take off. Scouting the area ahead of time was necessary to find the locations where the owls were frequently spotted. Since these locations were on private land and a quarter to half mile from the road, it would be necessary to hike a short distance to reach a good photographic distance without disturbing the owl. This would require gaining permission to access the private land from the owner. Scouting to find these locations and gaining access permission was done a day or two in advance.

The image seen in this post was taken on a day when weather conditions were extreme with freezing rain and gusting winds. The back of my down jacket, which was facing the wind, was covered in ice as were my camera and lens. The gusting wind made it impossible to place a rain cover over my equipment and continue to photograph. Most of the images were take hand-holding the camera and lens since it is easier to track a snowy owl in flight hand-holding the equipment rather than mounting on a tripod. Just as with airplanes, ice buildup on the wings of the owls spoils the flow of air over their wings making it difficult to fly. Only during brief periods when the freezing rain stopped would they try and it was obvious that it was challenging for them. They would stay in the air for only a few minutes not venturing far from their perch.

As is often the case, bad weather can produce great photographic opportunities. Due to the freezing rain and gusting wind, the owl’s ground speed was greatly reduced. This made it easier to concentrate on the position of their wings to produce some nice flight shots. The owl in this photograph was flying overhead close enough to me to obtain a frame filling image hand-holding my telephoto lens. I like the simplicity of this high-key image made possible by the bad weather co so I titled the image “Riding the Wind”.

At the beginning of this year I started my new position as assistant professor in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Nevada, Reno. The last few months have been quite busy with starting up my lab, getting settled into our home, making new friends, etc. So, adventures have been a little infrequent. That said, Aubrey and I are really enjoying our new home and jumping off point. We’ve already had more great backcountry ski days than most other years, and it’s only February!

Last weekend some friends from Seattle came for a visit, hoping to escape snowmageddon. Of course, Reno welcomed them with larger than normal snow and unusually cold weather. We headed south to find a pocket of good (but cold) weather, enjoy some desert hot springs, and explore Nevada’s geology.

PS – the post title is a reference to our state song.

Sunrise over the fish lake hot springs with a view of the snowy white mountains.

Colorful mounds of volanic tuff are scattered across the mountain ranges of Nevada.

Our camp for the night. It was cozy and wind free in our red “hot hut”.

Modern desert truck art.

Tags: desert, hot springs, nevada