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.

While there isn’t any lasting snow on the ground  in our beautiful ”City by the Lake” yet, our surrounding mountains have had a couple dustings of that crispy, white powder that we are so famous for.  With the holiday season upon us, touring Lake Coeur d’Alene by helicopter or seaplane is the most magnificent way to observe our area decked out in its holiday best.  With the luxurious lake homes lit up with thousands of lights and displays, they are clearly visible from the warm comfort of your aircraft.   Beautiful mountain lakes are a vivid blue as you glide over them and spotting wildlife below is easier than ever against the white backdrop.  The deer, elk and moose are herded together in the mountain meadows looking for food. The bald eagle population is growing daily at Wolf Lodge Bay, reaching it’s peak right at Christmas time.  This is a perfect photographic opportunity from the air and our pilots love showing you our winter wonderland.  Call us at TMI Tours for up to date information on vacation rentals and local sightseeing by air.

The annual Holiday Light Show and Parade for  downtown Coeur d’Alene will kick off, Friday, November 28th at 5pm.  With more than a million sparkling lights across Lake Coeurdalene, it is sure to be the largest water resort holiday light show in America.  This year it features over 225 holiday displays ringing the boardwalk and a memorable “Journey to the North Pole” aboard the Lake CDA cruiseboats.  Take the family on a magical journey across the lake to Santas’ workshop with holiday animated features, the Worlds Tallest Living Christmas Tree and guaranteed snow showers every night! Dress warmly and come join us at TMI Tours downtown for this spectacular lighting ceremony and fireworks display as we ring in the 2008/2009 holiday season.