Joel Riner
In summertime, Coeur d’Alene is a popular destination for wakeboarding, Jet Skiing, and playing that award-winning golf course with the world’s only floating green. But in winter, the Idaho lake town is a scene out of a painting. Idyllic Coeur d’Alene Resort, a half-hour drive from Spokane airport, welcomes visitors determined to fill their itineraries with skiing, snowmobiling, snowcat skiing, sleigh rides, sledding, and tubing. The resort also hosts spectacular holiday attractions like lake cruises, a 160-foot Christmas tree, and the largest holiday light show in the U.S. November 29 through January 1, the nightly show features 1.5 million lights, accompanied by a downtown parade and fireworks show, celebrating the holidays in picturesque brilliance.