Plan a luxury vacation weekend in the Pacific Northwest for your favorite valentine this winter.  At TMI Tours of Coeur dAlene, Idaho, we are always looking for uniquie ideas for couples who enjoy the great outdoors.  What better way to suprise your “special someone” than with a weekend get-a-way to somewhere exciting and remote.  Below are some of my favorite romantic vacation ideas for this Valentines Day.

Nightrider Snow Mobile Tour

Spokane, Washington is a beautiful city with luxurious hotels and fabulous dining opportunities downtown and along the riverfront.  The Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park is a short 30 mile drive from downtown and offers great day and night activities.  Try the Nightrider Snowmobile Dinner Tour which includes snowmobile rental for two, 3 hour snowmobile guided tour from 5:00pm -8:00pm and ends with a steak, chicken or salmon dinner at Bear Creek Lodge.  Riding experience is not necessary.

Pacific Ocean Storm Watching

Winter brings the most spectacular ocean storms ashore at the Pacific Rim National Park on the west coast of British Columbia.   Resorts cater to couples looking for a good storm, offering complimentary rain slickers and boots as well as floor to ceiling windows in their restaurants and lounges that face the raging sea.  What could be better than beachcombing for treasure washed up after a great storm!  Enjoy 2 night packages that include luxurious accomodations, rain gear for two, specialty  ’stormwatchers’ coffees in the lounge and a 3-hour guided nature walk with a local naturalist. 

Suite Indulgence on Lake Coeur d’Alene

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho is famous for it’s beautiful lake, it’s quaint downtown and mountains that seem to go on forever.  The perfect romantic get-a-way includes a stay at the Coeur d’Alene Resort in their Signature Lake Tower rooms.  Enjoy fireplace  accomodations with fantastic lakeviews, champagne and strawberries upon arrival as well as dining credits and complimentary spa services.  Be sure to take a stroll downtown for fun  shopping and lively entertainment.

Wine-tasting along the Columbia River Gorge

The mild climate of the Washington State wine country allows these tours to operate year round and the range of unique accomodations make this destination a perfect get-a-way for any couple.   Imagine a resort poised 900 feet above the Columbia River surrounded by estate vineyards and fragrant orchards.  Romance packages include 1 night in a cozy cliffehouse or cavern room, breakfast for two and a bottle of CaveB wine, signed by Winemaker Freddy Arrendondo.  For the adventurous, enjoy a night in a Ranch style Bed and Breakfast that includes a wine-tasting tour on horseback.  Enjoy a trail ride through the vineyards to nearby wineries, wine tasting at selected tasting rooms, a picnic lunch and free delivery of your wine purchases.

Daytona 500

While this is not in the Pacific Northwest, what a great way to say “I love you”  to a NASCAR fan.  Race day is February 14th this year in Daytona Beach, Florida and I can’t think of a better place to visit in February.  Packages include roundtrip airfare, rental car, tickets to the race and hotel accomodations. 

Space is limited and subject to availability for all of these package ideas.  Call Linda Bruno or Rhonda Sand at TMI Tours for information on any of our Valentines Day specials for 2010.  We are your unique vacation specialist in the Pacific Northwest. 1-800-975-7775 or info@tmitours.com

The Kokanee are spawning on Wolf Lodge Creek, drawing the attention of our National bird, the bald eagle.  Every winter during the Kokanee run, hundreds of these majestic creatures perch above Wolf Lodge Bay feeding on the delicious freshwater salmon.    Arrivals began shortly after Thanksgiving this year and will increase up until Christmas when their numbers usually reach around one hundred. 

Although you can see them through out the day, perched on snags on the mountain sides of Lake Coeur d’Alene, the early morning hours will provide you with some lofty entertainment.  Just after dawn you can observe them perching close to waters edge, looking for a flash of silver before they swoop down in a spiraling motion, snatch the fish with their talons and return to their perch to feast.   Throughout the day soaring eagles can be ovserved around the bays at Higgins Point, Wolf Lodge and Beauty Bay.

Join the Bureau of Land Management during Eagle Watch, December 19-21st and December 26-29th between 1:00pm and 3:00pm.  Wildlife biologist will be on hand to answer questions, present demonstrations and provide telescopes for the public to enjoy.  Don’t forget to bring your binoculars or zoom lens cameras, as getting too close to the eagles is discouraged.

Eagle watching cruises depart downtown Coeur d’Alene for a 2-hour exploration to quiet, isolated bays with the best view around.  Reservations are required for  Dec 17-20, 26-27 or Jan 2-3 afternoon cruises.

This is a rare and wonderful way to see our National symbol, the American Bald Eagle in it’s natural habitat.  Call Rhonda or Linda at TMI Tours & Cruises for information on accomodations in Coeur d’Alene,  cruise details or the best spots to enjoy eagle viewing. 1-800-975-7775 or info@tmitours.com

TMI Tours of Coeur dAlene is offering snowmobile tours to our top 5 snowmobile destinations.   Idaho, Montana and Washington offer superb snowmobiling with lots of crisp, clean snow and miles of groomed and ungroomed trails throughout the Rocky Mountains.  Snowmobile rentals have become popular over the past few years with many companies offering full packages including bibs, boots, gloves, helments and goggles.  Accomodations in the mountains welcome this off-season boost to their economy and offer packages where you can snowmobile right from your door.  Here are our favorite 5 snowmobile destinations:

Whitefish, Montana

Home of Big Mountain Ski Resort, this beautiful resort town is the perfect place to begin exploration of the Flathead Valley by snowmobile.  Extending from Whitefish to the west entrance of Glacier National Park, down to the north shore of Flathead Lake, this area offers over 200 miles of groomed trails and 2,000 miles of forest service roads.  Riders will enjoy great hill climbs, powder play areas, wildlife viewing and spectacular ridgetop views of Glacier National Park and the Canadian Rockies.  Trails lead through fir forests, snow-dusted canyons and wide bowls rimmed with icy ridges.  Elevation of groomed trails begins just shy of 3,000 feet and reaches 7,000 feet in some areas.

Seeley Lake, Montana

This is small-town snowmobiling at it’s best.  Tucked between two mountain ranges, the Swan Range and the Missouri Mountains, Seeley Lake is one of western Montana’s most popular snowmobile areas.  Snow depths are fantastic and this community caters to snowmobilers with a variety of services.  Your adventure can start right from your front door, continue on the trail system into town and then on to the over 350 miles of groomed trails and ungroomed areas for exploration.  Lakefront accomodations and cabins are a great ending to a perfect day of riding and alternate activities include ice-fishing, ice-skating, snow shoeing or cross county skiing on the 18K cross-country ski trail system.

Island Park, Idaho

Island Park sits in a vast caldera created by an ancient volcanic eruption, possibly the largest symmetrical caldera in the world.  Located 30 short miles from the west entrance of Yellowstone National Park, Island Park is one of Idaho’s least restricted snowmobile areas.  With an average annual snowfall of 229 inches and over 500 miles of groomed snowmobile trails, Island Park offers riding conditions for every level of snowmobile enthusiast.  Horizons of snow-capped peaks beckon, powder blanketed valleys of white entice you off the groomed trails and the breathtaking scenery will stop you in your tracks.

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

This premier resort town is the perfect base of operations with access to hundreds of popular snowmobile trails and areas.  Snowmobilers will love our lakefront Coeur d’Alene Resort with it’s luxurious accomodations, lively lounges and restaurants plus relaxing spa services.  The Silver Valley, just 30 miles east of Coeur d’Alene is also the home to Silver Mountain Ski Resort and the famous gondola.  Kellogg and Wallace welcome snowmobilers right from downtown where you can start your trip with a hearty breakfast and continue out to the over 250 miles of groomed trails along the Idaho/Montana border.  Sandpoint is a quick 45 minute drive north and has many well groomed trails higher than 7,000 feet in the Selkirk, Purcell and Cabinet Mountains Ranges.  Also the home to Schweitzer Ski Resort, it offers great family entertainment and back country guided snowmobile tours.  75 miles north of Coeur dAlene lies pristine Priest Lake with an additional 700 miles of groomed trail, mostly forest service roads ranging in elevation from 2,500 to 6,500 feet.  From this area you can ride to the Idaho/Canada border by back country.

Mt. Spokane State Park, Washington

Just over the Idaho/Washington border is Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park.  Mt Spokane State Park has over 50 miles of groomed trails encompassing the ski area.  Riders can enjoy dark, old-growth forests, open sub-alpine meadows, ice-covered streams, a 1935 log cabin with a cozy wood stove and a tri-state view from the summit.  Romantic guided night rides including a delicious dinner are popular during clear, full-moon evenings for that someone special in your life.

Contact Linda or Rhonda at TMI Tours in Coeur d’Alene for details on these and many other exciting snowmobile destinations.  We are the experts for unique and adventurous vacation ideas in the Pacific Northwest. 1-800-975-7775 or info@tmitours.com

Idaho and Montana have diverse seasons and that is one of the things that makes us such a great adventure destination. Last winter was popluar for snowmobile enthusiasts and we are hoping for another great sledding season.
The vibrant community of Seeley Lake lies between the Bob Marshall Wilderness and the Mission Mountain Wilderness areas in western Montana. Snowmobile enthusiasts are welcome to ride downtown which makes for easy access to the over 350 miles of groomed trails surrounding the Seeley Lake area. Accomodations range from charming motels & cabins to full-service lakefront resorts and real western dude ranches.

TMI Tours is offering early-bird packages for the winter season, starting December 26, 2009-March 15, 2010. Reservations purchased before October 1st will save 10% off the regular season rates. Whether you are a seasoned sledder or trying this sport for the first time, we have packages that are perfect for you.

For beginners or those who prefer a guided tour, we offer 4 days/3 nights including meals, lodging and Polaris snowmobile rental. Your rocky mountain guide will take you on three fun-filled days of snowmobiling right from your cabin door with a trail lunch provided. Each morning and evening you will be treated to hearty ranch-style meals in the main lodge. In the evening, relax in the outdoor hot tub or warm up beside a roaring fire in the main lodge or your private cabin.

For the seasoned rider we offer a 4 day/3 night package including meals, lodging and a map of the Seeley Lake Groomed Trail system. Snowmobile rentals can be added or you can bring your own but you’ll still enjoy a trail lunch daily with ranch-style breakfast and dinner in the main lodge and the same great accomodations.

Call Linda or Rhonda at TMI Tours for prices and availability on these and other great snowmobile packages for the 2009/2010 winter season in Idaho and Montana. 1-800-975-7775 or info@tmitours.com

• Iron Man 2009 really kicks off our summer season. This huge event draws elite athletes from all walks of life, as they compete in a 2.4 mile swimming event, 112 miles of bicycling, and 26.2 mile run. If you are planning to attend Iron Man this summer, you need to call TMI Tours to secure accommodations as they will sell out in advance. This event begins June 21st and draws large crowds, as well as participants, so be prepared for downtown Coeur d’Alene to really come alive.

• Kayaking and canoeing: we have so many miles of shoreline between Coeur d’Alene Lake, Hayden Lake, the Spokane River, Twin Lakes, Spirit Lake, and the beautiful marshlands of the 11 chain lakes. Rentals and guided trips are available with reservations. Whether you want whitewater or a quiet sightseeing trip through a nature preserve, TMI Tours can deliver the adventure you are looking for.

• ATV riding and rentals: we have miles and miles of old logging trails literally criss-crossing our backwoods. Rentals are available for all ages and there are several riding clubs locally that would love to have you join them for a day. Many of our small communities are ATV friendly and you can ride from your door to your destination, stopping at a local sandwich shop for lunch.

• Rock climbing: Tubbs Hill is surrounded by huge boulders and rock cliffs dropping right into the lake. Favorite local spots are Q’emilin Park in Post Falls or Castle Rock on the Coeur d’Alene River.

• Biking trails: the Centennial Trail, 37 miles of paved trail, shadows the banks of the Spokane River from Washington into Idaho. The Route of the Hiawatha follows the old railroad lines through 10 rock tunnels and 7 high train trestles. It covers 15 miles through the Bitteroot Mountains between Idaho and Montana. Bicycle rentals are available for a small fee, as well as shuttle transportation. Take your bicycle up the high-speed chair at Schweitzer or the gondola at Silver Mountain and ride along the top of the mountains.

• Horseback riding: Whether you are looking for a real Dude Ranch experience or just a day with the kids, TMI Tours can arrange a great Wild West vacation for you. With several ranches to choose from, you can enjoy a real campfire cookout, backcountry pack-in for hunting or fishing or guided trail rides over miles of mountains and streams.

• Golf in Coeur d’Alene: We have it all; public courses, private country clubs, and beautiful mountain courses overlooking Lake Coeur d’Alene. TMI Tours has an exclusive golf package featuring several private golf courses. With 13 courses to choose from, a golf vacation to Coeur d’Alene will keep you busy.

• Hiking trails will immerse you into the pristine scenery that makes North Idaho such a great destination. There isn’t a better way to observe wildlife and learn about local history. There are interpretive trails as well as miles of logging roads and back country lakes and streams to hike into and explore. Several local clubs have hosted hikes to some of our most popular attractions and they welcome everyone.

• Fishing, whether it be lake or stream, is one of our most popular sports, and with good reason. Our lakes and streams provide the kind of fishing most anglers dream about. With over 10 world class, blue ribbon wild trout streams and 1,500 high mountain lakes, Idaho offers a challenge for every class of fisherman. TMI Tours can arrange your vacation to include guides, fishing lodges, back country camp outs or just a day on the lake.

See our website for North Idaho adventure ideas, or contact us at info@tmitours.com for information on these or other vacations plans.

With a surface area of about 148 square miles, Lake Pend Oreille is Idaho’s largest lake. And with a maximum depth of about 1,150 feet, it is also the fifth deepest lake in the United States. This lake is fed by both the Pack River and the Clark Fork River and it is drained by the Pend Oreille River. This lake is a great vacation destination for people of all ages and interests. Here you can find luxury lake resorts, beautiful lakefront homes and cabins as well as inexpensive National Forest Service and State Park campgrounds. Whether you want to rough it or be pampered, you will enjoy the attractions and splendor offered by Lake Pend Oreille and the surrounding area.

Towns around Lake Pend Oreille

There are several towns that surround Lake Pend Oreille. The largest town, where you will find the most options for lodging, dining and entertainment, is Sandpoint, Idaho. Sandpoint is an excellent location to use as a base for your North Idaho vacation as it is the home to a lot of the local cultural attractions and events. Some of these attractions and events include: the Festival at Sandpoint, the Winter Carnival, the International Draft Horse Show, arts and crafts fairs, Lost in the 50s, the Schweitzer Ski Resort, and the Lakedance Film Festival. There are also several top notch golf courses in the area as well such as the Jack Nickalaus designed Idaho Club.

Ten miles east of Sandpoint is another lake town called Trestle Creek. This is a great little town to visit, especially if you are an RVer, as they have a great selection of campgrounds and RV parks. The next towns to the east of Sandpoint are Hope and East Hope. These are boat launch towns. If you need a deep water launch pad, this is where you will want to go. These towns also offer some great restaurants too.

Other lake towns that can be found near Lake Pend Oreille include Bayview, Lakeview, Garfield Bay and Bottle Bay. These towns each offer their own attractions and comforts. However, they are small and generally don’t offer a lot of lodging options.

Lake Pend Oreille Recreation

The size of Pend Oreille makes it a very popular recreation lake. Here you can fish, watch wildlife, go hiking, go boating, or participate in virtually any type of water sport imaginable. Obviously fishing is big on this big lake. The fish that you can catch in Lake Pend Oreille include whitefish, cutthroat, bull trout, bass, sunfish, catfish, kokanee, brown trout, mackinaw, crappie, and perch. Winter recreation focuses mainly around skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.

Another great place to visit is Farragut State Park. (more…)

Priest Lake is one of Idaho’s northernmost natural treasures. This pristine lake runs 19 miles from head to toe (this includes Upper Priest Lake) and is about 4.4 miles wide at its widest point. With depths up to 369 feet, Priest Lake is the perfect destination for fishing, boating, swimming, SCUBA diving, and wildlife viewing. The area occupied by Priest Lake is generally divided into five regions, north of Priest Lake, south of Priest Lake, the lake, the east side of the lake and the west side of the lake. When planning a trip to Priest Lake be sure that you explore everything this area has to offer.

North of Priest Lake
The region north of Priest Lake is where you want to go if you are interested in unspoiled wilderness. Here you will not only find some of the most spectacular wilderness areas, such as the Salmo-Priest Wilderness Area, but you will also find great trail systems and points of interest. Some of the sites that you will want to tour in this region include the Granite Falls, the ancient growths of cedars at Roosevelt Grove, and the Shoe Tree.

The Town of Priest Lake
The main attraction to Priest Lake, Idaho is the lake itself. While the town itself is unassuming, relaxed, and unhurried, it is the lake and the wilderness areas surrounding it that draw the majority of its visitors. The town’s own saying is a testament to this fact, “Priest Lake – Where Mother Nature Vacations.” Their amazing lake is well known for superior fishing. In fact, Priest Lake is where the largest lake trout in the United States was caught. It weighed in at a whopping 57 pounds 8 ounces. Today catching one of these whoppers is still possible; however, the average lake trout in Priest Lake will weigh in around 10 pounds.

In addition to fishing, you can also participate in a variety of great watersports on the lake. You can go jet boating, water skiing, swimming, SCUBA diving, snorkeling, kayaking, or you can just float around the lake on a pontoon boat. You can also explore the 70 miles of shoreline which include great beaches and historical Indian rock pictographs.

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The 2009 ski season for the Pacific Northwest is in full swing and with 5 ski resorts located around Coeur d’Alene, we are the perfect place to base your winter vacation.

But there is so much more going on at our ski resorts than just spending a day on the slopes.  Mt. Spokane, Schweitzer and Silver Mountain all have great local events happening almost every weekend with junior and adult racing, ski and snowboard stunt shows, special olympics and torchlight night skiing parades as well as winter carnivals.

For those of you looking for something different, try a snowmobile tour to the back country or a snowshoe hike into the surrounding forest.  Go whisking down the mountain on an inner tube or brush up your snowboarding skills at the terrain park.  In the evenings, enjoy outdoor concerts on the mountain to the beat of a local band or around a roaring campfire in the village.  The mountain waterpark will have you surfing like a pro or relax as you float the lazy river in a tropical 84 degree setting.



TMI Tours can provide the right accomodations and location for your vacation needs.  We can arrange ski and snowmobile rentals, vacation homes, mountain condos, luxurious resorts and spas as well as 4 wheel drive vehicles to get you anywhere you want to go.   With over 150 inches of snowfall on the mountains, you don’t want to miss out on what is promising to be a fantastic ski season.

The Inland Northwest is a wonderful place to visit during any season. Winter is a great time to explore the beauty of this area. However, since winter is a bit more challenging than other seasons, we wanted to give you some tips to make your visit here even more enjoyable!

1. The weather changes frequently from beautiful billowy snow to slush to amazing sunshine within 24 hours. Be sure to bring layers!

2. Bring binoculars and your camera! People come from all over the world to watch our majestic bald eagles feed. You will be able to see them snatch fish right out of the water and then go up to the tree tops right above you to gorge on fish. Coeur d’Alene, Idaho is one of the best places for eagle (raptor) viewing in the US!

3. Bring a thermos. Have one of North Idaho’s local coffee roasters fill it up with fresh coffee for you each morning.

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The Rocky Mountains of Alberta are home to a most magical playground for winter adventure and  wonder.  It is here that nature turns on her awe-inspiring laser light show known to most of us as the Northern Lights.  This is one of the best places in the world to watch the amazing aurora borealis as it lights up the sky in ghostly hues of color.   Tucked away in these mountains is a luxurious, all season, fly-in wilderness lodge where you can relax and enjoy really getting away from it all.  Join in the winter fun with a snowmobile adventure or an overnight dog-sled trip to an authentic propectors camp, complete with heated tent and campfire cooked meals.  Evenings at the lodge come with gourmet meals, fine wines and of course, your front-row seat to the shimmering northern lights.  Contact us at TMI Tours for complete details and reservations.