Recreation

Sun., Oct. 29, 2000

Four centuries ago, the French philosopher Descartes proclaimed, “I think, therefore I am.” Judging by votes in this year’s Reader Review, we’ve progressed beyond that basic premise. Today’s mantra is “I recreate, therefore I am.” Most readers have at least one pastime about which they’re passionate. Hanging out at the lake tops your list of favorites, followed by skiing/snowboarding, working out at a fitness center, golfing and mountain-biking. Thankfully, all these activities and more are only minutes away. If Descartes had had our options, suppose he would have been quite so philosophical?

Lake

1. Lake Coeur d’Alene

2. Priest Lake

3. Lake Pend Oreille

Honorable mention: Lake Roosevelt, Loon Lake

Scenic drive

1. Around Lake Coeur d’Alene

Lake Coeur d’Alene is readers’ favorite destination for a scenic drive. But first-timers may be disappointed not to mention exhausted if they try to make a full, four-hour loop around North Idaho’s second-largest lake. The U.S. 95 leg west of the lake is pretty, but offers only rare views of water.

A shorter, more satisfying route begins at Exit 22 off Interstate 90. Follow state Highway 97 south along Coeur d’Alene’s eastern shore. Five miles past Harrison, pick up Highway 3 and head northeast along a series of small lakes. Allow 2-1/2 hours for the loop.

2. Mount Spokane

3. High Drive

Honorable mention: Upriver Drive, North Cascades Highway

Place to mountain bike

1. Mount Spokane

2. Centennial Trail

3. Silver Mountain

Honorable mention: Hiawatha Trail, Schweitzer

Place to skateboard

1. Skate Park under I-90 in downtown Spokane

2. Centennial Trail

Tie: Riverfront Park, Coeur d’Alene Skate Park

Place to ride ATV or dirt bike

1. Seven Mile ORV Park

2. Mount Spokane

3. Priest Lake

Honorable mention: Airway Heights, Mica Peak

Place to snowmobile

1. Mount Spokane

2. Priest Lake

3. Fernan Lake

Honorable mention: Montana, Schweitzer

Place to ski or snowboard

1. Schweitzer

Schweitzer Mountain Resort and Mount Spokane finished in a virtual dead heat among readers. But there’s nothing dead about these two destinations.

North Idaho’s premier ski hill got a major facelift last fall after Harbor Resorts purchased the property. This summer, Schweitzer’s No. 5 chair was replaced by Stella, a high-speed six-person lift.

Meanwhile, Mount Spokane continues to cultivate the beginner crowd with affordable lessons-and-gear packages and friendly service.

Readers’ reaction: Keep it up … and pray for snow!

2. Mount Spokane

3. 49 Degrees North

Honorable mention: Silver Mountain, Big Mountain

Golf course

1. Indian Canyon

2. Downriver

3. Wandermere

Honorable mention: Hangman Valley, Creek At Qualchan

Health club

1. 24-Hour Fitness

2. Gold’s Gym

3. Spokane Club

Honorable mention: North Park, YMCA

Place for a weekend getaway

1. Seattle

Rain or shine, Seattle blows away the competition for favorite weekend getaway.

What does the Emerald City have that other popular spots Sandpoint, Leavenworth and Priest Lake, for instance don’t?

Major professional sports, the Experience Music Project, great museums, independent films, Pike Street Market, Gameworks video arcade, lots of great restaurants, stores galore, the Monorail, the Space Needle, diversity … that about covers the waterfront. Oh, that’s right: it also has a commercial waterfront.

If only gas were still 99 cents a gallon.

2. Sandpoint

3. The Coeur d’Alene Resort

Honorable mention: Leavenworth, Priest Lake

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