Coeur d'Alene is a small town and resort area in North Idaho. The name is French for "the heart of an awl," or sharp leather tool, but no one really knows for sure why the French Canadians or French-speaking Natives called it that. What is for sure is that today, Coeur d'Alene is a historic and scenic place with many popular activities.
Lake Coeur d'Alene is said to be one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. The Lake is known for kayaking and other boating. Lake Coeur d'Alene features popular beaches as well as the Spokane River Centennial Trail. The Trail offers options for cycling, jogging and walking. It reaches from Higgens Point on Lake Couer d'Alene to the Washington-Idaho border. Centennial Trail features scenic spots of interest and is known for family and beginner show shoeing in the winter.
Farragut State Park is home to Canada geese and wild ducks in the winter and offers popular picnic spots in the summer. The rock stack formations here are intriguing to locals and tourists alike. Coeur d'Alene has four mountains for skiing and or snowboarding.
Nearby Moscow, Idaho has a focus on culture as well as outdoor sports. Music and theater are popular here and The University of Idaho is also located in Moscow. Game hunting, fishing, camping, biking and hiking are some of the outdoor activities that Moscow is well known for. Moscow was first called Paradise Valley in 1871, but was later named after Moscow, Pennsylvania.
The Museum of North Idaho on the North Idaho College campus in Coeur d'Alene focuses on the history of the earliest farms in the area as well as on the forest industry. Museum exhibits include information on the growth of logging and mining in North Idaho. The history of steamboat travel is also covered at the Museum. Over 40 large steamboats operated on Lake Coeur d'Alene between 1910 and 1915 before the use of trains and automobiles became widespread.