Sandpoint, Idaho..."America's Coolest Small Town"?

Sandpoint, Idaho..."America's Coolest Small Town"?

Once again, Sandpoint is getting noticed. Budget Travel Magazine has a poll for “America’s Coolest Small Town” and Sandpoint is in the running. (http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-srv/coolestsmalltowns/CST2010.html). If you have been reading my blog with any regularity and agree with my assessment about this area, click on the Sandpoint star on the map, then click “Add to Ballot”, then “Cast Your Ballot”.

I present this information with a certain amount of reservation. The rule here is to "keep your mouth shut" about the virtues of this town. We want everyone to enjoy the natural splendor of this area but...we DO want to keep it that way. Well, the cat is out of the bag, as they say. We've been labeled "The Most Extreme Town" (whatever that means?) by the Banff Film Festival, Outside Magazine called Sandpoint one of the top ten dream towns in the U.S., National Geographic Adventure Magazine calls Sandpoint a "top 12 Adventure Town" and goes on to say, "The only drawback to life in an idyllic adventure haven is that, inevitably, some glossy magazine comes through town and blows its cover." (Hence my previous comment..."keep your mouth shut") and the list goes on. I guess the cat is out of the bag...way out.

At any rate, I love it here and I really can't believe I am lucky enough to call Sandpoint my home. That is, pretty much, the feeling of everyone I know here. Sandpoint sits on the dramatic shores of Lake Pend Oreille, the largest Idaho lake (148 square miles) and the 5th deepest lake in the U.S. Sandpoint is home to world class Schweitzer Mountain Resort (which, by the way, is expecting 30+ inches of snow in the next three days). The Selkirk Crest, one of the largest roadless wilderness areas in North America, is a mere 30 miles NW of city center and the ultra spectacular Scotchman Peaks Wilderness is 45 miles to the east following the shore of the lake. In addition, wilderness hiking trails abound offering access within the city limits!

I'm not going to go on. Too much information. Suffice it to say, this place rocks. I sell real estate here, but I don't "sell-out". I care deeply about this town (as does, virtually, EVERYONE who lives here) and I am proud to be a Sandpoint citizen. As my NOLS training has taught me, "Step softly and leave no trace".

SANDPOINT, IDAHO...AMERICA'S COOLEST SMALL TOWN? ...there is no debate.