8 Pros of Living in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
The city of Coeur d’Alene can be found in Idaho’s upper panhandle and has a growing population of 55,000. It also serves as a bedroom community for the community of Spokane, WA that lies about 30 miles to the west. Because the name Coeur d’Alene can be challenging to pronounce, people tend to call it CDA.
Coeur d’Alene (pronounced core-da-lane) sits on the shores of the magnificent 30-mile Lake Coeur d’Alene, offering abundant recreational opportunities right in the heart of a vibrant, beautiful downtown. Take a stroll along the 2-mile Tubbs Hill Trail, or just relax on the sandy beaches of Coeur d’Alene City Park.
Enjoy clear blue skies, sparkling water and forested mountains, five-star amenities, quiet getaways, and exciting attractions. Popular attractions are lake cruises, Silverwood Theme Park, championship golf courses, shopping for antiques, downtown show art shows, concerts in the parks, and much more make Coeur d’Alene one of the best places to live.
1. Close to Nature
When the summer months come around in Coeur d’Alene, you’ll find the locals enjoying everything that nature offers. Residents go camping, boating, hiking, bird & wildlife watching, and fishing. Winter gives you the option to go snowmobiling, skiing, tubing, winter shopping, carriage rides, light shows, theater, and all of the popular holiday activities that CDA is known for.
2. Get Fit
An emphasis of fitness is a way of life when living in Coeur d’Alene. The city hosts several runs and races throughout the year to help people stay active. You’ll also have plenty of time to get in shape by taking the various trails that wind around the nature areas near the community. The residents are know to walk, jog, or ride their bikes to work.
3. Small Town Feeling
Since the city is home to about 55,000 people, there is still an emphasis on maintaining that small-town America feeling that people love. Once you start living here, it won’t take long for the business owners to learn your name and remember your preferences. It’s one of the few places where there is a preference to have a relationship with your neighbors, even if you are a transplant.
4. Low Traffic
If you’re used to a metro area like Seattle or San Francisco, then you’ll be surprised when you rarely spend any time stuck in traffic when living in Coeur d’Alene. Because there are fewer cars on the road, you’ll notice that the air is distinctively cleaner than what you might be used to experiencing as well.
5. Get all Four Seasons
You are going to experience all four seasons when you start living in northern Idaho. Although the winters can get to be a little cold at times, you don’t get the bitter stretches that happen further east in North Dakota or Minnesota. The community receives less than 24 inches each year in rainfall, and you can expect about 38 inches of snow to fall during the typical season. Since many people move to CDA to stay active, you’ll find the changing of the seasons give you an opportunity to try new activities and redefine your fitness routine.
6. Wonderful Culinary
The growth in the tourism industry over the past decade has led to a surge in world-class restaurants. You’ll find places right on the lake that give you stunning views of the water while you enjoy a glass of wine or a cup of coffee in the morning.
7. Spokane is Only 25 Minutes Away
If you find that it is challenging to get a job in Coeur d’Alene, then don’t worry. You will likely find work in Spokane. Commuting is easy thanks to the interstate. Since Washington doesn’t have an income tax, you don’t need to worry about filing two state returns each year either. There is a major airport there, all of the big city amenities you might miss in a small town.
8. Golf Courses
When you move to Coeur d’Alene, you’ll want to take in at least one round at the Resort Golf Course in the city. The 14th hole is the most unique one in the world. It’s the only movable floating green, and it weighs over 22,000 tons. An underwater cable system allows for operators to move it anywhere from 90 yards at the women’s tees to 220 yards if you’re using the championship one. There are two sand traps to navigate as well. Getting to the green means taking the small ferry on the lake. The course also ranks as one of the best in the world for its conditions and personal service.
