Most Wonderful Time of Year – The Coeur d’Alene Resort

There is no better time to be a kid than the Christmas holidays, and there is no better place for the whole family to enjoy the excitement, love and warmth of the season than the Coeur d’Alene Resort.

Elves read stories in the Resort lobby every day at 4:30pm, Dickens Carolers dressed to the hilt in velvet and lace roam the lobby serenading with lively holiday favorites and everything is aglow in decorations and lights.

We can’t prove it, but we are pretty sure you can see the Coeur d’Alene Holiday Light Show from space. Everything – and I mean everything – is alive with a multi-colored light display that blankets the Resort, the grounds, the Boardwalk and every tree on the property. Grown men have been known to ohhh-ahhhh out loud, women gasp and children jump up and down in unfettered enthusiasm at the jaw-dropping display of over one million twinkling, sparkling, flashing lights.

You can wander the hotel grounds and the boardwalk to view the lights anytime from Thanksgiving to New Years, but to get the full WOW effect, join us for the big reveal Holiday Lighting Ceremony on November 23. Imagine this: it’s a chilly winter night, you’ve bundled everyone up in warm coats, gloves and hats, and you’ve secured a prime spot on Sherman Avenue, ready for the parade to start. At 5:00pm, elves, Santa, reindeer, festive floats and more make their way down the street. At 6:00pm, a hush settles over the crowd, the switch is thrown and over one million lights announce the beginning of the Holiday season. And if all that illumination isn’t enough, a dynamic firework display over the lake starts at 6:15pm.

A parade, fireworks and millions of lights aren’t the only things we do just for kids – and adults — at the Coeur d’Alene Resort. They’ll never forget our Journey to the North Pole Holiday Lake Cruise, a boat ride to Santa’s North Pole Toy Workshop where the tallest floating Christmas tree in the nation adds even more lights and enchantment to the evening. (Be sure to let the elves in the Resort Plaza Shops know your children’s names when you pick up your cruise tickets and they will get a personal shout-out from Santa.) Milk, cookies and hot cider are available for purchase on the boat as well as a full bar for the grownups.  Cruise times and prices are HERE

Why not make a night of it? Our Santa Family Getaway combines a discounted overnight stay at the Coeur d’Alene Resort, boat cruise tickets, meal credits, milk and cookies delivered to your room by our very own elves. Holiday hotel package details HERE.

“But what about me?” you ask, “I don’t have any little ones.” No fear, we have an array of adult-pleasing activities decked out in holiday glitter, glam and high spirits. Our lavish Sunday Brunch is open to all and runs every Sunday in December with a special guest- Santa Claus himself! Come hungry and be prepared to be amazed at the array of gourmet choices. Reservations  are recommended.

Both Beverly’s and Dockside restaurants offer special holiday menus that focus on regional favorites, craft cocktails, fine wine and memorable meals. Go casual at Dockside and enjoy the hearty buffet or dine in high style at Beverly’s, our 5-star restaurant that boasts the Pacific Northwest’s largest wine cellar.

The Travolta Christmas Show  is a perennial favorite at the Resort. For the last four years, local resident and Hollywood actor Ellen Travolta has directed and starred in an intimate cabaret performance that focuses on family, tradition, friends and good cheer. This year’s show, Christmas with a Twist, will include stories submitted by Coeur d’Alene community members read and acted by Ellen, her sister Margaret Travolta, daughter Molly Allen and Abby Crawford. Purchase tickets HERE.

And last, but certainly not least, we’ll ask Santa to step aside for a bit and let Mother Nature take center stage. Each December, North American bald eagles come back to a quiet bay in the corner of Lake Coeur d’Alene to feed on spawning kokanee, landlocked sockeye salmon. It’s unusual to see so many congregated in one area around here and it’s a thrill to watch the big birds dive for dinner. The Coeur d’Alene Resorts two-hour Eagle Watching Cruise is an ideal way to watch the spectacle. Departure times, cost, and tickets can be found HERE.