Forty-four miles north of Coeur d'Alene in the shadows of the spiky Selkirk Mountains, SANDPOINT , northern Idaho's most attractive resort, is at the northwestern end of Lake Pend Oreille (pronounced "Pon-duh-ray"). Smaller and less commercialized than Coeur d'Alene, Sandpoint's lazy downtown is brightened by Cedar Street Bridge Public Market , a covered mall of stalls, shops and cafés overlooking placid Sandy Creek. At the south end of the lake, Farragut State Park , 13400 Ranger Rd (cars $3; tel 208/683-2425), a former naval training base, is a popular spot for hiking, camping and the like.

Accommodation possibilities include the comfortable Lakeside Inn , beside the lovely white sandy beach at 106 Bridge St (tel 208/263-3717 or 1-800/543-8126; $75-100/$100-130); the K2 Inn at Sandpoint , 501 N Fourth Ave (tel 208/263-3441; $75-100); and Coit House , 502 N Fourth Ave (tel 208/265-4035; $100-130), a tastefully restored Victorian B&B house within walking distance of downtown and the lake. One of the best bars in town is Eichardts , 212 Cedar St (tel 208/263-4005), which has a dozen microbrews to choose from and good bar food. Local rock bands perform on weekends. Amtrak passes through early in the morning in both directions.

Looking down on Sandpoint from the Selkirk Mountains to the northeast, Schweitzer Mountain Resort is northern Idaho's best ski and summer resort (tel 208/263-9555, ). Lift tickets are $37, night skiing is also available ($10) and in summer you can use one of the lifts for hiking and mountain biking ($8).

Sandpoint

• Sandpoint

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