Houseboats?

Is there a place to rent a houseboat so we could spend the night on the lake? We would love to stay on the lake but not into the huge resort thing.

Houseboats?

Did a quick check of the local yellow pages here in Coeur d%26#39; Alene and didn%26#39;t see anything on houseboat rentals. You might want to check with the local visitor center via its web page and or e-mail www.coeurdalene.org .

Houseboats?

Here are a couple links (which I can%26#39;t vouch for personally):

92 Ft Luxury Houseboat Located Downtown Coeur D Alene:

http://www.vrbo.com/73396

This site looks confusing, but you might want to check it:

www.houseboatrentalcenter.com/idaho.htm

This may be the same boat as the first link

www.piggybackhouseboat.com

Here is yet another page about the 92 Ft. boat, but it gives prices (which are high -- I had no idea!)

http://www.findrentals.com/16881.html

This one might be cheaper, it%26#39;s a floathouse in Bayview (40 minutes north of Coeur d%26#39;Alene)

www.katieswildroseinn.com/floathouse.htm

Link to the phone number of Excursions Northwest, which rents houseboats

bizwiz.com/ezcommerce/excursionsnorthwest.htm

Good luck, it sounds like fun.

Thanks for your replys I%26#39;ve followed up on all the suggestions and it comes down to a lot of $$$$$. I had researched renting a house boat when we went to Lake Powell, they were reasonably priced there. But the ones on Lake Couer d%26#39;Alene seem to be much to fancy for this family.

Thanks so much for your help.

After spending $100 + each night for little cabins in the National Parks we are just looking for soom clean comfortable beds. Any preferences between Resort City and Budget Saver. Trying to stay local and explore some family roots. Thanks again!

%26lt;%26lt;Any preferences between Resort City and Budget Saver. ?%26gt;%26gt;

Resort City is in a slightly better location (a little closer to the beach/resort) and has a better ';record'; on TripAdvisor. They don%26#39;t quote the price on Budget Saver, but a forum regular, ';camping_girl'; stayed there and gave it high marks so it can%26#39;t be too bad and it might be a little less expensive.

Both locations are very good -- don%26#39;t think you%26#39;ll be disappointed with either.

Thanks for your reply, if you have any other suggestions they are more then welcome.

While you%26#39;re in CDA make sure you take a walk around the Fort Sherman park by the beach and the floating boardwalk at the CDA resort.

Also be sure to hike the nature trail around Tubbs Hill (right by the resort and the boardwalk). It takes about an hour (two at the very most) to walk around. Very pretty, the best views of the lake, lots of little secluded beaches for swimming or a picnic. You%26#39;ll probably see lots of locals jumping off the cliffs and rocks into the water.

For a great family-friendly adventure that is off the beaten track, check out the Route of the Hiawatha. It is about 45 minutes east of CDA on I-90. It was a railway that has been converted to a bike path. It is a 15-mile gradual downhill trail that winds through the mountains – you%26#39;ll go through 10 tunnels and over 7 high trestle bridges (when you get to the bottom you take a bus back up to the top). It has got spectacular views of the mountains. You can rent bikes and headlamps - you%26#39;ll need lights for the very long and very dark Taft tunnel - at the nearby Lookout Ski Resort. Go to this website for more details: http://www.skilookout.com/hiaw/

Good local restaurants...

Tomato Street on Appleway has great Italian food and pasta, their smashed sandwiches are delicious and the atmosphere is really fantastic. This is probably my favorite local restaurant (they have a location in Spokane too) Good wine list and big portion sizes. Kids love this place too, they put butcher paper on the tables for the kids to color on while they wait for their food.

White House Grill in nearby Post Falls (only about 3 miles west just off I-90 on the corner of Seltice and Spokane Street) has amazing authentic Greek/Turkish/Mediterranean food…go at lunch time, for dinner you need reservations and even with reservations you will wait forever, but there is usually no waiting at lunch. Ask about the specials and the ';Spring Bowl'; it is not on the menu but always available…their Shepard%26#39;s Salad is great too

If you are wine lovers stop by Barrel No.6 on Sherman Ave. downtown. This local wine bar serves wine grown regionally and made locally by Coeur d%26#39;Alene Cellars, their basic red is great

For fantastic desserts go to the Dockside restaurant in the CDA Resort...their ';Gooey'; sundaes are the best (the sundaes are about $8 each, but big enough to feed 2 or 3 people, you can get a smaller ';personal sized'; sundae too, but that is not as fun) The food at Dockside is good too, but we usually just go for dessert (then take a walk around the boardwalk)

Hudson%26#39;s Hamburgers on Sherman is good for a simple lunch while shopping downtown…their burgers are famous and oh so good…but that is pretty much all they serve, burgers and pie, they have been around for literally about 100 years

Michael D%26#39;s just off Sherman on CDA Lake Drive serves a great breakfast, especially if you like a good omelet – they are not open for dinner, just breakfast and lunch

If you are a coffee lover there are tons of great Cafes here…Java on Sherman has a great drink called the Bowl of Soul (espresso and Mexican hot chocolate, a little on the sweet side, but soooo good) Java is a good place for breakfast too