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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (May 20, 2011)
OREGON'S LGBTO NEWSMAGAZINE •travel MAY 20, 2011 33 j » : ------ \ • • • • %%• • • % % % • • • • • «•••%%%%%%•••• • • Lake Pend Oreille, viewed from the deck at Sleep’s Cabins in Sandpoint Portland Q u e e r D o c u m e n ta ry Spokane’s cultural high point, the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture Film Festival Above: Right: artsy and inviting attitude. From Spokane, it’s an easy 90-minute drive to Sandpoint if you take Interstate 90 east to Coeur d ’Alene, and then U.S. 95 north, hut as is my usual tendency, I opted for a slightly longer scenic route up winding U.S. 2, much of it along the rippling Pend Oreille River. Once again, I arrived as the sun was setting, this time checking into a beautifully appointed little bungalow at Sleep’s Cabins (sleepscahins.com), situated on the southwest shore of 150-square-mile Lake Pend Oreille (pronounced uPAHN-àar-ay”). Each of the six rustic cabins at this circa-1930s family- owned compound has a kitchen, and they sleep from 2 to 10 guests. Most of Sand- point’s accommodations are independently owned—other good bets include the upscale Lodge at Sandpoint (lodgeatsandpoint.com) and the modern Dover Bay Bungalows (do- verbaybungalows.com), both of which enjoy frontage along this dramatic mountain lake. I drove into town for dinner at Eichardt’s Pub (sandpoint.com/go/eichardts), a casual place with live music, a notable wine and craft beer list and hearty food (you won’t go wrong with the elk burger and addictively tasty garlic fries). Back at my accommoda tion, I sat out on the dock admiring Lake Pend Oreille in the moonlight, and I won dered how such a stunning little town has remained relatively undiscovered outside the region. After a morning jog along the lakefront, I spent a good bit of the day poking around Sandpoint’s downtown. At the flagship of the outdoorsy yet stylish women’s apparel company, Coldwater Creek—which is based in Sandpoint—I ascended a flight of stairs to the store’s rustically elegant wine and coffee bar, where I enjoyed a leisurely lunch while pecking away on my laptop. I also dropped by Sandpoint’s excellent Pend d ’Oreille W inery and Tasting Room (powine.com), where I snapped up a couple of bottles of terrific San- giovese Reserve—you can also dine here on sophisticated tapas at the dapper Bistro Rouge Café. I popped inside two other res taurants of considerable local acclaim, Sand • * 0 0 0 0 O O O O O O O O O 0 0 0 o June 2-5, 2011 Clinton Street Theatre Creek Grill, which specializes in small-plate regional cuisine, and Joel’s, a first-rate Mexi can restaurant. There’s enough good eating in this town to keep you happily noshing for several days. I wasn’t in town long enough to partake of any of the outdoorsy activities for which Sandpoint is known, but there’s no shortage of ways to get your blood flowing. From spring through fall, you can rent sailboats and kayaks, fish for trout, play golf or ride horseback. And in winter, just 10 miles north of town, Schweitzer Mountain (schweitzer. com) ranks among the country’s better se crets among downhill skiing enthusiasts (during the warmer months it’s ideal for mountain biking, disc golf, hiking and huck leberry picking). By late afternoon, I was ready to continue my journey—motoring up U.S. 2 to Bonners Ferry, and then across into Western Montana, where I’d eventually make my way that eve ning to the town of Kalispell. I broke up my “Across America” trek with frequent trips back to Portland (leaving my car in strategic spots around the country), and in early April, I finally drove the last leg of my journey, re turning home from the Rockies by way of Salt Lake City and Boise. After 20,000 miles of vigorous exploring, with plenty o f great adventures along the way, I can honestly say I’m already looking forward to a return trip to Spokane and Sandpoint. vM Film s A t a G lance - Thursday June 2 7pm 9 :3 0 p m - Friday June 3 7 Pm 9 :3 0 p m Hit So Hard The Ballad of Genesis & Lady Jaye ~ Saturday June 4 2pm 4pm 6 :3 0 p m 9pm On These Shoulders We Stand I Am The Adonis Factor The Advocate for Fagdom ~ Sunday June 5 Noon 2pm 4 :3 0 p m 7pm Passionate Politics Youth Speak Out Inspired: Voices Against Prop 8 Becoming Chaz All screenings at the Clinton Street Theater 2 5 22 SE Clinton Street iji l UCI ON Al A n n ft C u i T u K t C O U N C IL Read more about A ndrew C ollins ’ travels at thecountyhunter. com and gay travel, about, com. Arias with a TWist: The Docufantasy Opening Night Party at Mother s Bistro --------------------- III i VYnrt Art CENTER just out MOREL INK .
