WaterLife Discovery Center. On Lakeshore Drive, the center offers interpretive trails and self-guided tours of fish habitat and an interpretive area on Pend Oreille River. www.fishandgame.idaho. gov (208-769-1414). Fishing. There’s great ice fishing on Lake Pend Oreille at the north end of the Long Bridge in front of Condo del Sol. Main prey is perch, though bass and trout are also caught. Ice fishing is also popular on smaller lakes: Cocolalla, Mirror, Gamlin, Shepherd, Round, Antelope and Priest. Lake Pend Oreille’s deep waters rarely freeze, and even in midwinter charter fishing boats pursue its trophy rainbow trout. Ice Skating and Sledding. It takes several days of sustained, belowfreezing temperatures without too much snow, but when conditions are right, ice skaters flock to Third Avenue Pier,

PHOTO BY WOODS WHEATCROFT

Skating on Lake Pend Oreille, North Idaho style.

Sandpoint City Beach or Sand Creek below the Cedar Street Bridge. Round Lake State Park maintains both regular and speedskating rinks (208-263-3489). For sledding Schweitzer offers Hermits Hollow Tubing Center (208-255-3081).

Indoors

Art Galleries. Truly an arts town, Sandpoint has numerous galleries and artists’ studios. Downtown take a walking tour; on First Avenue check ArtWorks, Cedar Glen Gallery/Ferrara Wildlife Photography, Hallans Gallery, Hen’s Tooth Studio and the Cedar Street Bridge Public Market. Art lovers may also visit Pend Oreille Arts Council, 302 N. First Ave., and satellite gallery locations that host revolving art exhibits year-round: Banner Bank (formerly AmericanWest Bank), 605 N. 5th Ave.; Edward Jones, 477100 Highway 95 in Ponderay; Monarch Mountain Coffee, 208 N. Fourth; Mountain West Bank, 1323 Highway 2 in Sandpoint and 476655 Highway 95 in Ponderay; Northern Lights, 421 Chevy Street in Sagle; Columbia Bank, 414 Church St.; Potlatch No. 1 Federal Credit Union, 476864 Highway 95 N, Ste. D in Ponderay.; and STCU, 477181 Highway 95 in Ponderay. www.ArtinSandpoint.org (208-263-6139). At Schweitzer, the Artists’ Studio in the White Pine Lodge features local artists. Museums. Enjoy many fine displays depicting old-time Bonner County at the Bonner County History Museum. Open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Saturdays in summer months and the first Saturday of the month year-round, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with free admission). Located in Lakeview Park, 611 S. Ella. www. bonnercountyhistory.org (208-263-2344). See story, page 43.

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WINTER GUIDE

Wildlife Refuge. Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge, 30 miles north of Sandpoint near Bonners Ferry, has more than 2,700 acres and abundant wildlife and birds. Hiking trails to a waterfall and around a pond, auto tour routes. www.fws.gov/kootenai (208-267-3888). See story, page 71.

T H E S P OT B U S From Dover to Kootenai with stops in Sandpoint and Ponderay, the SPOT bus route serves residents and visitors who are commuting or enjoying a night out on the town. When ski season is under way, catch a connector to the Schweitzer bus. The bus circles its route hourly every day, 6:24 a.m. to 6:27 p.m., with one late run Sunday through Thursday, and three late runs Friday and Saturday. Stops are marked with the SPOT bus sign – many at or near motels in Sandpoint and Ponderay in order to provide rides for their guests. The best part: It’s free! Check schedules online. www.spotbus. org. (208-263-3774).

The Bird Aviation Museum and Invention Center was founded by Dr. Forrest Bird and wife Pam in 2007. See their impressive collection paying homage to their love of aviation and innovation. Located in Sagle about 17 miles southeast of Sandpoint off Sagle Road on Bird Ranch Road. Open year-round, this winter by appointment, and

Sandpoint’s Complete Fitness Center since 1985

25 Meter Six Lane Pool Sauna, Steam Room & Hot Tub Raquetball & Pickleball Personal Training Group Exercise Classes Child Care Massage Therapy Social Dance Classes

Sandpoint West Athletic Club DAY PASSES and short-term membership available

On La Lake P Pend O Oreille

(509) 382-2954

1905 Pine St. 263-6633

www.archercondos.com/

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