This winter is looking like a great one for Idaho ski vacations.  November laid down a lot of snow in the mountains, allowing many ski areas to open early this year.  Cross country skiing is a great way to experience the beauty of Idaho’s mountains in winter and Idaho has plenty of great cross country ski trails.

Here is a unique cross country adventure idea for the Sun Valley area that is reasonably priced and perfect for families or couples.    Located in the Boulder Mountains is a day lodge operating as a home-base for cross-country skiers and snowshoers in the winter months.  They are open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner from 9am-5pm but during the full moon cycle, they offer a special Full Moon Dinner.   This is a 4-course plated dinner at 630pm served for 3 nights each month and guests are encouraged to ski or snowshoe in the moonlight either before or after their meal.  Located on a ridge above the lodge are  three yurts available for rent and furnished with wood stoves, propane cook stoves and fuel, lanterns, cookware and dishes/silverware, coffe pot, paper products, firewood, and beds with foam mats.  Two of the yurts can sleep up to 8 people each and there is a special Honeymoon Yurt tucked away in the forest that sleeps up to 4.    Visitors need to bring their own bedding and toiletries and can either choose to bring food to cook or eat at the lodge.

Surrounded by some of the best cross country skiing in the nation, these immaculately groomed trails extend  right from your doorstep within the North Valley Trail System.  And if skiing isn’t your style, there is an extensive system of snowshoe trails with beautiful views and snowshoe rentals can be found right at the lodge.  

TMI Tours of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho can design an exclusive Full Moon Idaho Ski Vacation for your family or group this winter.  Contact Rhonda Sand or Linda Bruno for complete details and availability at 1-800-975-7775 or info@tmitours.com.  We are your Idaho Winter Vacation specialists.

As I promised, below are some great snowmobile adventure ideas for Central to Southern Idaho and West Yellowstone, Montana. 

Mc Call, Idaho

Bear Creek Lodge just outside Mc Call is a perfect base for a snowmobile weekend.  Not only are the accomodations inviting, offering cabins and lodge rooms with riding right from your door, but one of the areas largest parking lots is right across the street if you choose to bring your own sleds.   A popular ride is a full day trip to the crystal clear hot pools of Burgdorf Hotsprings and the ghost town of Warren.  Burgdorf is not your typical hot springs..it is rustic and accessible only by snowmobile in the winter.  Enjoy the 6×6 ft. 113 degree spring box pool or the 50×85 ft. main pool, usually around 100 degrees.   Caretakers onsite will rent towels and suits if you need and there is fuel and food available as well as cabins for rent.  Continuing on, you can visit the historic gold mining  town of Warren.   Enjoy dinner and drinks and cozying up to the big wood stove at The Winter’s Inn before heading back to Bear Creek Lodge for the night.   Sounds like an extremely enjoyable day with perfect powder and gorgeous mountain scenery.

Cascade, Idaho

The Ashley Inn offers guests first class accomodations with a fireplace in every room, bountiful breakfast each morning and a heated indoor pool and whirlpool.  What a fantastic place to base your snowmobile adventure to Wellington Snow Park, just 18 miles south of Cascade.  The snowpark offers 400 miles of trails, including 250 that are groomed including  The Winter Wonderland Trail offering scenic views at over 7,900 feet.  Cozy up to the huge fireplace usually roaring in the parks warming hut  at  the end of your ride or enjoy a delicious meal at the Cougar Mountain Lodge located just across the steet.  Snowmobilers have access to the towns of Cascade, Mc Call, Ola, Stanley, Warm Lake and Garden Valley from this trail system.

Island Park, Idaho

Famous for the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River and it’s world class fly fishing, Island Park in the winter is magical.  Just west of Yellowstone National Park are the world famous loop snowmobile trails of the Island Park area. Over 400+ miles of groomed trails on private and public land through the Targhee National Forest. Forested trails connect with the West Yellowstone trail system to provide access to mountains more than 8,000-feet high. Renowned Two Top Mountain is here with select hillclimbing and powder bowls. Popular stops include Big Springs, which is the headwaters of the Henrys Fork of the Snake River and Mesa Falls, on the southern end of Island Park.  Places like the Angler’s Lodge offer “Bed & Sled” packages during the winter months to entice snowmobile enthusiasts to stay and play awhile.  After a day exploring Idaho’s perfect  powder, relax with dinner at Island Parks finest restaurant followed by a soak in the  community hot tub or your own private jacuzzi.

West Yellowstone, MT

The 21st annual Snowmobile Expo is being held in West Yellowstone, Montana  the 11-13th of March, 2011.  EXPO is recognized worldwide as the “Largest Snowmobile Event in the West.”  Arctic Cat, Polaris, Skidoo and Yamaha will unveil their new 2012 snowmobile lines for the first time to the public at the same location. This year combines annual favorite racing events with competitions including ATV racing, freestyle aerials, and a Toughman Enduro Race.

Contact Linda Bruno or Rhonda Sand at TMI Tours for rates, packages and information on attending this wild event at West Yellowstone or on any of our great snowmobile destinations in the Pacific Northwest.   TMI Tours of Coeur d’Alene at 1-800-975-777 or info@tmitours.com

If you are looking for something a little off the beaten path this winter, why not check into a snowmobile adventure.  Snowmobile rentals have become popular in areas that offer great riding, making this an affordable and exciting alternative to other winter sports.  In most cases you can rent riding gear, g.p.s., helmet, goggles and your machine all for one low daily rate including your first tank of gas.  Popular riding locations will always have accurate trail maps and usually guides for hire to familiarize you with the local area and access to facilities for food and fuel.

North Idaho and Western Montana are a snowmobilers paradise with hundreds of miles of groomed trails and forest service roads providing easy access to spectacular powder.   The Cabinet, Selkirk and Rocky Mountains provide experienced riders with the thrill of  windswept ridges and snow-filled bowls above the tree line.  Novices will love the meanering trails following icy streams through the dense forests full of wildlife.   Accomodations range from full-service Resorts to cozy log cabins in the woods.

Favorite snowmobiling locations for North Idaho:

• Priest Lake/Nordman
• Sandpoint/Schweitzer
• Coeur d’Alene/Silver Valley

Favorite snowmobiling locations in Western Montana:

• Libby/Troy
• Kalispell/West Glacier
• Missoula/Lolo Hot Springs
• Seeley Lake

TMI Tours of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho specializes in unique adventure packages for snowmobile enthusiasts to the Pacific Northwest.  We have information on rentals, great accomodations, guides and packages for all of the above locations in North Idaho and Western Montana.  Call Linda Bruno or Rhonda Sand at 1-800-975-7775 or email us at info@tmitours.com

Check back here for great tours and snowmobile packages for other  Idaho destinations in Central and Southwest Idaho like Stanley, Mc Call, Island Park and West Yellowstone…..coming soon.

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