Our trek through the Inland Northwest took us from Spokane, Washington, up Highway 2 through Green Bluff, an area boasting over 30 apple orchards and numerous at-home entrepreneurs.  From there, we drove north toward Bonners Ferry, Idaho, but only made it to Sandpoint when near-darkness and weariness overtook us.

Had we known that Sandpoint would become one of the classiest, most interesting cities on our trip, we would have planned it as a destination.  As it was, we sat in the car looking on our iPhones for the names of B&B’s, hotels, restaurants, etc.  What a find we made when we booked unknowingly one of the finest places we stayed on the whole trip:  the Lodge at Sandpoint!

Rooms facing Lake Pend Oreille

Situated on Lake Pend Oreille, this Old World boutique hotel with modern conveniences charmed us with log construction and upscale lodge furniture.

The commons area exuded comfort with leather seating, patterned pillows, antiques, stained glass windows, and an oversize fireplace just waiting for us to stand with our backs to it and “warm up a spell.”

Fireplace in the main lobby where beamed ceilings and lodge furniture invite relaxation

We could see why the website for The Lodge states that it’s “built on the proposition that Life at the lake is the most fun of all”! No wonder it’s a destination for small weddings, family gatherings, and weekends away for folks like us.

Spectacular sundown view of the lake from the porch at Lodge at Sandpoint

We wondered how long it would take to drive from Sandpoint city center to The Lodge, but the drive was short:  about two miles across the Long Bridge into Slagle.

We never had to leave The Lodge for dinner since Forty-One South (on the premises) offers gourmet cuisine in a lovely waterfront setting.

Our room was spacious even though we were only there for sleeping.  We mostly enjoyed spending time reading in the main lobby or wandering the more than 600 feet of sand beach outside.

With gorgeous evening views of Lake Pend Oreille, though, our first priority was to relax in the cushy seats on the porch until the last glimmer of light dipped into the horizon.

The Lodge at Sandpoint became one of the unexpected high points of our trip, and returning would be a plus, for sure.  According to calendar listings in Sandpoint Magazine, special events abound.  No matter what you enjoy doing — shopping, boating, rafting, fishing, celebrating — Sandpoint seemingly has it all.  It’s definitely on our radar as a Place To See Again!

The Lodge at Sandpoint

41 Lakeshore Drive

Slagle, ID 83860

208.263.2211

http://lodgeatsandpoint.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lodge-At-Sandpoint/112662938751149

Forty-One South

http://41southsandpoint.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Forty-One-South/175667542452845

For more on our travels in the Inland Northwest, click on the page at the top of this post.

And we’d be very pleased if you click to follow this blog by email or share comments about any of the places you’ve visited in this beautiful part of America.