LIVING & PLAYING
If you’ve never been here before, come and visit. Our quality of life is amazing! We’re a world-class resort community with wonderful restaurants, shopping, cultural events, and recreational activities. We are home to the world-renowned CdA Resort “floating green” golf course and the beautiful Lake Coeur d’Alene.
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We are set amidst the majestic mountains of the Continental Divide, but only an hour’s flight away from major metro cities like Seattle and Portland, and under two hours flight time to San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Vancouver, BC. We have incredible children’s parks, beaches, and trails in all of our local communities, as well as numerous campgrounds, mountain lakes, ski resorts, ATV/snowmobile trails, and many other locales --if you want to embrace the full outdoor experience.
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Commute and traffic are virtually non-existent with residents complaining if we have to sit at an intersection longer than a couple of minutes. Our health care is terrific, with a brand new expanded Mayo Clinic affiliated community hospital, partnered with a explain in a word or two (Heritage Health and Advanced Care) and a private surgical center (NW Specialty Hospital). We are home to four higher education institutions, along with two technical training centers –one focused on college-level AA and certification, and its partner facility focused on training 11th and 12th-grade students. In other words, we care about workforce training and education.
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To help you experience all that North Idaho has to offer Kootenai County has put together a video series highlighting some of the various attributes of living in Idaho.
RECREATION & LIFESTYLE
North Idaho’s quality of life is very exceptional! Thanks to the region’s low population density, residents enjoy safe & quiet neighborhoods, very mild traffic and clean air. The cost of living –housing, groceries, transportation, utilities, taxes—are all below national averages and significantly less than in larger cities. Service and volunteer opportunities abound through United Way, Rotary Clubs, and various other community organizations.
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Our region is a nature-lover’s paradise where both national and state parks abound and scenic byways pass through stunning natural attractions. Trails are within city limits for walking, biking, ATV rides, cross-country skiing, and horseback riding, with the Centennial Trail extending from Spokane through Post Falls to Coeur d’Alene and beyond to the Silver Valley.
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Three ski resorts are within an hour’s drive, and a five-star lake resort with the world’s longest floating boardwalk and floating green for golfers, is centered in Coeur d’Alene. The region has some of the best lakes and rivers for boating, whitewater rafting, and other water-related activities, including legendary fly fishing and bass fishing.
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In addition to the numerous and outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities, the region also boasts a variety of art galleries, museums, cultural events, wineries, shops, world-class dining options and border proximity to tourist destinations in Canada, Montana, Oregon and Washington. Go to VisitIdaho.org for more!
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“Northern Idaho: Healthy For Business, Great For Life.”
GOLF
Coeur d’Alene Golf Resort golfer teeing off on the floating green.
Choose between the region’s 18 beautiful courses set in some of the country’s most gorgeous scenery. Courses are typically open from mid-April to mid-October. Golf Digest deemed North Idaho home to three of Idaho’s top courses, with some receiving national awards and recognition.
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This legendary course features one of the best-known icons in golf – the Famous Floating Green on the 14th hole. Nothing else beats a good day of golf here... You arrive by wooden boat, greeted by your personal forecaddie. The lake is a gorgeous backdrop – as well as a formidable challenge. The expertly groomed course compliments your game.
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Located south of downtown at the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel and Spa, this course was created amidst a unique blend of wetlands, grasslands, and woodlands. At 7,189 yards, the par 72 championship layout meanders through 620 acres, with only 100 of which represent the cultivated ground. Wildlife is abundant and includes elk, deer, moose and an occasional black bear.
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Located in picturesque Hayden Lake, Avondale Golf Course’s impeccably groomed fairways wind through some of North Idaho’s most spectacular wooded scenery, treating golfers to a visual wonderland, as well as offering them a challenging and enjoyable 6,600 yard 18 hole course. The course is complemented by a large practice putting green and natural turf driving range.
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Golf has been a mainstay of HLCC since the turn of the century. However, today we offer much more than just golf and have expanded our programs to focus on entertainment and activities for the whole family. The Hayden Lake Country Club is a member-owned Country Club rich in tradition and historical heritage. The Club is dedicated to maintaining this tradition by providing first-class recreational, dining, and hospitality facilities.
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Club facilities include 18 holes of golf, six tennis courts, marina, private beach, and swimming dock. The unique Club facility houses eight spacious hotel rooms as well as six hotel rooms on the grounds adjacent to the Clubhouse. The Club maintains the golf course and other facilities to the highest of standards and provides quality staff to create a friendly and family type atmosphere for all to enjoy.
FISHING IN NORTHERN IDAHO
For anglers, Idaho is truly a land of opportunity and variety. From alpine valleys to lowland deserts, a dazzling array of waters await discovery.
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Idaho is graced with 26,000 miles of streams and rivers, more than 3,000 natural lakes, and a quarter-million acres of ponds and reservoirs. Inhabiting those waters are 42 game fish species, from giant white sturgeon to wild trout, catfish to kokanee, and smallmouth bass to salmon and steelhead.
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Most Idaho waters have year-round fishing seasons. However, many rivers and streams and some lakes, have special rules and seasons. Pick up a fishing rules book, which outlines season dates, special regulations, and bag limits, at all Idaho Fish and Game offices and most sporting goods stores statewide.
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To fish in Idaho you need:
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A fishing license
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Rules and regulations
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Proper gear
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A place to go
EDUCATION
The CDA area is proud to support a range of education options, including the CDA public school district, one of Idaho’s highest performing districts. Several magnet schools target interested students by offering in-depth study in areas such as the arts and humanities (Sorensen Elementary), science (Ramsey Elementary) and science, health and arts (Lakes Middle). Three colleges serve the greater Coeur d’Alene area: North Idaho College’s main campus is located downtown on the shore of Lake Coeur d’Alene. Five additional outreach centers are located throughout the region. The Coeur d’Alene branches of both Lewis-Clark State College and University of Idaho offer four-year degree programs as well as graduate programs at University of Idaho.
Coeur d’ Alene School District
Serves students in Coeur d Alene, Dalton Gardens, Hayden, Hayden Lake and a portion of rural Kootenai County. The Coeur d Alene school district has 17 schools: 11 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 2 traditional high schools and an alternative high school. The district also offers opportunities for students at a joint professional-technical high school campus shared by neighboring Lakeland and Post Falls School Districts. The district also offers educational choices through the magnet programs, including: Sorensen Elementary focusing on arts and humanities, Ramsey Elementary focusing on science, and Lakes Middle School for science, health and arts. While similar courses and programs are available districtwide, the magnet schools attract students by offering unique opportunities for in-depth experiences and study in specific areas of interest. Coeur d' Alene school district prides itself on being Idaho’s highest performing large school district in student achievement and has one of the highest number 5 star schools in the State of Idaho.
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The Post Falls School District recognizes that a rapidly changing world and society have placed new challenges upon the education system. To meet the challenge of preparing students for the future, they must continue their commitment to basic education. Primary emphasis is on reading, writing, math and critical thinking as we introduce our students to an era of high-technology, global communication and information.
A Community Committed to Academic Excellence and Dedicated to Student Success is not just a slogan, but it is a practice and their promise to you! They acknowledge and celebrate that all staff, all entities, and all community members raise students and student achievement. In so doing, they prepare each student to be successful, and in turn, students develop a strong sense of community.
Coeur d’ Alene Charter Academy
The Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy founded in 1999, is a public charter school which provides a tuition-free, college-prep education for grades 6 - 12. Enrollment numbers are capped to ensure small daily class sizes.
North Idaho regional information center for pre-Kindergarten to Career Training and Beyond:
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A private, regional, Roman Catholic primary education school located in beautiful Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. They are proud to be a part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Boise's education system which offers families quality, accredited, and affordable elementary and middle-school education programs - Pre-K through 8th Grade.
KTEC – Kootenai Technical Education Center
Kootenai Technical Education Center (KTEC) is a partnership between business and industry leaders, local school districts and local manufacturers. This Branch campus of your local high school provides tuition-free industry and business-grade training for 11th and 12th grades while offering dual enrollment credits, industrial certifications, and a new route to success through applied skilled learning. It’s a joint venture between the Coeur d’Alene School District #271, Lakeland School District #272, Post Falls School District #273 and Kootenai County Patrons & Businessmen. This state of the art technical training high school is located in the middle of the Rathdrum Prairie on Lancaster Road.
HEALTH
Coeur d’Alene is home to world-class healthcare providers. Kootenai Health, affiliated with the Mayo Clinic, provides the region with a comprehensive range of services at its main campus downtown and at several regional locations.
Northwest Specialty Hospital is a physician-owned hospital, specializing in general surgery, orthopedics, urgent care, women’s care, nephrology, bariatrics, occupational medicine, and many others.
Heritage Health, a community governed nonprofit, offers comprehensive health services at affordable rates.
For patients recovering from serious illness or injuries, North Idaho Advanced Care Hospital – Ernest Health provides long-term, acute care.
Panhandle Health District provides over 40 different public health programs to families, individuals and organizations in northern Idaho. From food and drinking water safety to health education and disease control, public health services are designed to ensure our community is a safe and healthy place to live, work and thrive.
Northern Idaho Advanced Care Hospital is a long-term acute care hospital specializing in caring for patients recovering from serious illnesses or injuries. often these individuals require additional critical care services for medically complex conditions.
Kootenai Health (KH), a locally-owned, Level III Trauma community hospital is the largest health provider in the region, delivers a comprehensive range of medical services in North Idaho, Eastern Washington, Montana, and the Inland Northwest at several facility locations. The main campus, in Coeur d’Alene, includes a 254-bed community-owned hospital, with medical services that include:
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Emergency Services
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Heart Center & Cardiology
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Cancer Services
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Behavioral Health Services
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Women’s & Children’s Services
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Rehabilitation Services
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Kootenai Clinic
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Additionally, Kootenai Health recently became the 30th member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, giving local patients access to world-class, leading medical expertise and physician collaboration without having to leave home. Kootenai Health repeatedly earns regional and national recognition. Patients of all income levels can expect quality healthcare. From low-cost health screenings to free child car seat safety inspections, Kootenai Health regularly demonstrates a commitment to giving back to the local community. Kootenai Health Hospital
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The region also has award-winning private hospitals that provide care in specialized fields. Northwest Specialty Hospital delivers state of the art service in various surgery procedures, as well as Family Medicine, Imaging, Oncology, Preventive Care and many others. The Northern Idaho Advanced Care Hospital focuses on long-term acute and critical care for patients recovering from serious illness or injuries.
Northwest Specialty Hospitality | Northern Idaho Advanced Care Hospital
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Educational opportunities in the health industry are exceptional with enrollment at NIC approximately 6,000; Spokane Community College at 6,700 -with the latter serving closer to 20,000 students in eastern WA on various training programs. Plus, there is an additional 20,000+ students enrolled at Gonzaga, Whitworth, LCSC (Nursing Program), University of Idaho, Eastern Washington University, WSU and University of WA Medical Programs in Spokane’s satellite campuses. A total of 55,000 students which includes the main campuses in Moscow, Pullman, and Cheney. Individuals/industries willing and able to work alongside one another to continue the growth of such an important industry in our region.
HOUSING
The housing market is strong in Kootenai County, with developers building non-stop to service the area’s high growth demands. Building permits for single and multi-family housing have risen year-over-year in both incorporated and unincorporated areas, with projections showing no signs of slowing down. Prices are rising, but stable and vary greatly, depending on age, as well as location and proximity to lake or river frontage. As with all high growth areas, the housing market is competitive in the middle range. In the region, that’s a price range of $225K-$450K –high numbers to those who grew up in the area, but very affordable to the many moving into the region.
For reference, median home values in the county are $300,000 for a 1800SF home. In Rathdrum, listings on realtor.com shows a range of $146,500 for a 1000 SF condo to $225,000 for a 3BR/2BA 1350SF home to $270,000 3BRE/2BA 1500SF homes, and beyond. As with other growth areas in the nation, monthly rental units are snapped-up quickly with rates ranging from $1,400/month for 2-3 BR units and higher for single-family homes.
CULTURE
North Idaho is home to a vibrant community of artists and makers. Galleries, theaters and music contribute to quality of life twelve months out of the year, for all ages. Come out monthly for Art and Music Walk, every second Friday or take part in annual summertime events like artist studio tours, the Riverstone Summer Concert Series and Art on the Green. Visit the Coeur d’Alene Arts & Culture Alliance for more information.
Inland Northwest Opera (formerly Opera CDA) is the only professional opera company serving Northern Idaho and Eastern Washington with world-renowned talent and emerging artists in the opera world, often rivaling other larger companies in the northwest with their productions.
The Jacklin Arts and Cultural Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the arts in and for the Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene communities and the surrounding region. We strive to provide exposure and development of local artists, while engaging the community in a wide range of artistic and cultural experiences.
Now that you have learned more about North Idaho we hope you might consider making this your home. Check out the employment resources available locally to help with your transition.
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