IDAHO'S GREAT LAKEs
pANHANDLE GEMS
by Janet & Stuart Wilson
Still water, a warm sun and faint breeze equaled perfect tranquility as we drifted slowly on a narrow, meandering waterway. Rather ironically named “The Thorofare,” this quiet, moderately trafficked river connects Priest Lake with its smaller neighbor Upper Priest Lake in Idaho’s northernmost reaches. Less than 20 miles from the Canadian border, we navigated our way down the passage in a yellow, tandem kayak. Exchanging waves with people gliding past at 5mph aboard motorboats, we shared the serenity in this no-wake zone where human-powered craft outnumbered the motorized kind. And mama ducks and their trailing, furiously paddling, broods outnumbered them all.
Most of our week in Idaho’s Panhandle, we spent on, or within sight of, one of the state’s great lakes: Coeur d’Alene, Pend Oreille (pronounced Ponderay), and Priest. These large, crystal clear bodies of water fill submerged valleys, where reflections of surrounding forested mountains sometimes morph into impressionist paintings, distorted by the wakes of boats. The region seemed to be populated by visitors and residents alike who were here to play. It took no effort at all to get into that spirit.
Our Panhandle sojourn began in the resort city of Coeur d’Alene on the northern shore of its namesake lake. The service center and largest city in the Panhandle at 40,000 people, its lively traditional downtown near the lakefront thrives on tourism. Specialty shops, art galleries, and restaurants line the main street. We became temporary regulars at the popular Java on Sherman, offering Wi-Fi, breakfast and great coffee. Resort hotels and condos, a marina and boardwalk, a public pier, and sandy beach help to anchor downtown...
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