Our City, CDA

Our City, CDA

By Matyson Frazier

Idaho. The Gem State. Although it is named that for its minerals and resources, it should be named that for the beauty of the outdoors and the quality of the people.

Idaho is one of the most beautiful places in the US. It ranges from deep forests and mountains, to small tourist towns that hundreds of thousands of people visit every year. One of the most well known areas in Idaho is none other than Coeur D’Alene. Coeur D’Alene (often referred to as CDA) is one of the largest cities in Idaho. It is home to an estimated 50,000 people, young and old. With that many people, there is sure to be a lot going on all year long. One of the main events that all Idahoans know is the Ironman Triathlon, which is probably one of the biggest and most well known events that happens every year. CDA also hosts an event every year called ‘Car D’Alene’ where all the hot cars, new and old, are driven around downtown to show off cars and have the owners brag about them. CDA is also acknowledged for its pristine golfing, and its courses are known as some of the best in the nation.

Despite all these bigger events, there are also lots of smaller, more personal things that happen in the town of CDA. A great example of this is the cafe, Calypsos, in downtown CDA. This small city favorite has an ‘Open Mic Night’ every Monday. They provide opportunities for local musicians and aspiring artists to come and sing songs, play instruments, and read poetry. These nights are usually accompanied by large amounts of coffee from customers, who fill the building to its maximum occupancy quite often. Another thing people often do in CDA is hike Tubbs Hill. Tubbs Hill is 120 acres of public land that has been dedicated to the public. People are encouraged to go out and take in the beauty that it has to offer. Many hike the mountain and use it for picnics and jogs, though during the summertime many people take advantage of it being on the lake, and enjoy diving off of its many cliffs.
CDA is a very tourist friendly town, always offering things for people to do. Downtown offers a vast array of things to do — from exploring shops and diners, to taking walks on the docks — CDA has it all. With so many things to do, there are a lot of people who go out and do just these things. One of the favorite things to do from NICS students is just to hang out downtown. Students enjoy walking around and getting coffee at the various shops, and also going to the beach during the summertime. For those who don’t want to walk around in the heat, CDA offers a gorgeous drive around the lake where you can observe both the depth of the woods and the astounding beauty of the lake. With a city like this, and a population of people who are out enjoying it, it’s not hard to see why CDA has made its way to being one of the most popular cities in Idaho.