Did you know that at one time, Idaho had the highest concentration of fire lookout towers in the world? It’s true! At the peak of operation, Idaho had 992 lookouts in service and Washington had 658. The greatest density of towers was in the St. Joe River drainage, where some towers were less than three miles apart. The primary purpose of the fire lookout was for the detection of forest fires. The most notable wildfire that struck the inland Northwest in Idaho, Montana, and eastern Washington was the famous 1910 fire. When fires were detected, the lookout person would report the fire location to a dispatcher who would initiate fire suppression action. Initially, the communication was by telephone via miles and miles of telephone wire; but was later replaced with radio communications. Unfortunately, modern day technology has replaced most fire lookouts with satellite imaging and aerial reconnaissance to spot forest fires.

Today, there are fewer than 200 left standing and out of those less than 50 are actually still in service. Fortunately, there are several organizations that understand the historical significance of these lookouts and continue to work hard to preserve them.

For those who are adventurous, you can now rent many of these lookouts for several nights at a time. Virtually every one of these towers offers unparalleled views of the inland Northwest’s pristine forests and mountains since they are perched on mountain peaks. Many of the visitor logbooks at these towers will be full of statements such as “most amazing view of the Milky Way I’ve ever encountered.” Whether you enjoy wildlife photography, hiking, bird watching, or simple seek solitude, TMI Tours can assist you in creating a Lookout Tower Adventure. Several towers in the North Idaho area are accessible with four wheel drive vehicles.

Let us make all of the arrangements for you! From transportation to bedding and top notch cuisine…we’ll do all of the legwork for you! You simply need to relax and enjoy! Call Linda Bruno or Rhonda Sand today at 1-800-975-7775 to begin planning your Lookout Tower Adventure.

Sandpoint, Idaho is one of North Idaho’s favorite get-a-ways for locals and tourists alike.  It is quaint and quirky with local artist galleries, earthy shops and local crafts as well as stunning scenery and white sand beaches.  Sitting  on the shores of beautiful Lake Pend Oreille, nestled between the Selkirk and Cabinet Mountain ranges,  Sandpoint offers an abundance of summer and winter activities.

Stay and play on Lake Pend Oreille in one of Sandpoints newest upscale waterfront developements.  This marina village offers lakefront and mountain view bungalow rentals with full kitchens and full outdoor decks for enjoying bar-b-ques or watching the sunset.  Each cottage comes fully furnished and includes lake access with boat and watersport rentals, membership to the fitness center and access to 9 miles of walking and biking trails that meander through the forest, wetlands and lakeshore.  The village cafe offers casual dining for lunch and dinner and a small market offers snacks, beverages and boating supplies.  Sandpoint is just minutes away for further dining options, supermarkets and sightseeing.

While in Sandpoint, be sure to visit the Cedar Street Bridge Public Market.  Built on a bridge that spans Sand Creek, this public market has windows that look out over the creek and houses some interesting restaurants and gift shops.  Another beautiful place to visit is the Sandpoint City Park with it’s pristine white sand beaches on Lake Pend Oreille.  With food concessions, BBQ and picnic areas, tennis and basketball courts, volleyball and horseshoe pits as well as two marinas, it is a fun place for family and swimming.

Schweitzer Mountain is just a 10 mile drive from Sandpoint and is a refreshing alternative when the heat of summer gets a little uncomfortable.  Ride the Great Escape Quad lift to the top of the mountain and take in a view that will leave you breathless.  Enjoy the cool mountain breezes at the top of Schweitzer where you’ll find hiking and mountain bike trails as well as huckleberry picking and local wildlife.  The Mountain Activity Center can arrange for participation in the Kids Day Camp, Disc golf, Geocaching, wall climbing and bungee trampolines, tennis, lawn games or a movie in the Selkirk Theatre.

TMI Tours has great packages and optional activities available for all the top destinations in North Idaho.  Contact Linda or Rhonda at info@tmitours.com or 1-800-975-7775 for more information and reservations.

Renting a lakefront home or cabin on Lake Coeur d’Alene is the perfect way to enjoy all that our area has to offer. Our luxury home and cabin rentals come with all the amenities you require for a summer vacation on the lake—private homes complete with beautiful lake views, open air decks, sandy beaches, dock space for boats, jet skis, and more.

Water sports are a huge part of lakefront living on Lake Coeur d’Alene. Water skiing, boogie boarding, wakeboarding, and tubing all are available right from your own private dock. We’ll be happy to arrange instruction for beginners too. Personal watercraft rentals are a great way to see the lake and a sure fire way to add some excitement to your day. We can arrange jet ski or wave runner rentals by the day or by the week.

If you have never experienced the thrill of sailing your own boat, this is the perfect place to try it. Lake Coeur d’Alene always has gentle breezes on the water and we can arrange for you to learn with one of our sailing experts. The perfect ending to a day of sailing is refreshments on the deck at Silver Beach where all the local sailors meet and hang out!

Your vacation won’t be complete until you’ve spent the day exploring the 130 miles of shoreline on a private lake tour. Armed with sun tan lotion, cool drinks, and a gourmet lunch, we can show you the most beautiful, secluded lake homes, wildlife drinking at the water’s edge, and the world’s only floating golf green. Enjoy lunch and a swim at an uncrowded beach or go ashore to enjoy one of the lake crowd’s favorite watering holes. Learn about the rich and lively history of this lake and the small towns that still thrive along its shores. Please email us or call us at 1-800-975-7775 for availability and additional information about cabin and house rentals.

Dude Ranch vacations offer a taste of the Rocky Mountain outdoors and the option of adventures together as a family, as well as spending some time on your own.  Each day is filled with horseback riding and a wide mix of other local activities for all ages.

North Idaho and Western Montana have beautiful ranches nestled into the mountains and valleys of  the Rocky Mountains.  Surrounded by stunning scenery, activities center around the true western mode of travel–horseback.  Because most ranch stays are all-inclusive, meals, lodging and activities are all included in one price.

Accomodations can range from guest rooms in a main lodge, to cozy cabins for the family or luxurious mountain retreats and private homes.  Three meals a day are served family style with special nights reserved for couples only and real western campfire cookouts.  Most activities are guided by the ranch hands such as trail rides, hiking, mountain bike rides, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, river floats, atv rides, gold panning and more.

Dude ranches cater to kids with special programs that are both educational and entertaining.  Hands on experience with their assigned horse is centerpeice for these programs along with daily adventures introducing them to riding, nature and ranch life.  Adults are always welcome to join their kids during any activity, or may use this special time to pursue their own adventures.

Ranch vacations are usually booked for 3-7 night stays during the summer months with shorter stays for spring and fall.  TMI Tours offers a wide selection of ranch vacation throughout Idaho and Montana.  Let us match you to your perfect western vacation.  Call Rhonda or Linda at 1-800-975-7775 or email info@tmitours.com

With spring in full swing throughout North Idaho, now is the time to get the clubs out, and get to work on your handicap. Coeur d’Alene is quickly becoming a well known destination for beautiful and challenging golf courses. The premier courses in our area are geared up and ready for players. So, set aside some time from your busy schedule and let us help you spend a few days enjoying our stunning, panoramic North Idaho scenery while you work your way through some gorgeous fairways and greens.

TMI Tours has created a fantastic, luxurious golf package that features four of the best golf courses in the entire Inland Northwest. Read more about each of these courses and the entire package by clicking here. These courses are hard sought after by many golfer, so please contact Rhonda Sand or Linda Bruno today to ensure your tee times will get scheduled before these courses are booked up for the season.