About half an hour down the mountain road from Schweitzer's village sits one of Idaho's loveliest small towns. Sandpoint is where the mountain goes to play on its days off — and it makes a perfect day trip whether you are staying on the hill or just passing through the panhandle.
Start with the water. Lake Pend Oreille is the largest lake in Idaho, a 148-square-mile expanse of deep blue ringed by forested mountains. City Beach Park has a protected swimming area that is ideal for families, and outfitters like Action Water Sports rent paddleboards, jet skis, pontoons, and ski boats for longer days on the water. For a gentler morning, the flat, two-mile Pend d'Oreille Bay Trail runs right from downtown along the shoreline through birch and cottonwood groves — in October, the colors are spectacular.
Work up an appetite with a walk or a short hike. The 2.1-mile Mineral Point Trail follows the bluffs above the lake with big views and a dip down to a cobblestone beach at Green Bay. More ambitious hikers head for Gold Hill or the Mickinnick Trail, both just a few miles from town, climbing to vantage points with panoramic views.
By afternoon, downtown Sandpoint earns its reputation. MickDuff's Brewpub pours house-brewed beers in a historic federal building — complete with arcade games and quirky touches like a nursing area in the former bank vault. The Fat Pig pairs exposed brick and high ceilings with a lively bar scene. For breakfast or brunch, DiLuna's Café serves massive, inexpensive, and slightly eclectic plates. Save room for Panhandle Cone & Coffee, where the ice cream flavors run to roasted strawberry, wildflower honey, and lavender.
Time it right and you will catch a festival: Sandpoint's Harvest Fest lands on October 17 this year, right in the middle of larch season.
Then drive back up the mountain as the sun drops, the village lights winking on below the dark silhouette of the slopes. Some days the best part of the mountain is the town beneath it.
The Village Overlook is our hilltop condo overlooking Schweitzer's ski village — the perfect launchpad for a Sandpoint day trip and a cozy place to land when you get back. We would love to host you.