OREGON'S LGBTO NEWSMAGAZINE
•travel
MAY 20, 2011
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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
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III i
VYnrt
Art
CENTER
just out
MOREL INK
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