It’s hard to choose which season is the favorite in Sandpoint. Summers on the lake or in the forest in the surrounding mountains are moderate with average high temperatures in the low 80’s. August brings The Festival at Sandpoint, the area’s signature event that has brought big name acts such as Lyle Lovett, Etta James, and Tony Bennett for a two-week outdoor concert festival on the lake.

In autumn the landscape is transformed into beautiful hues of orange against the deep green of the evergreens, and the dark blue of the lake. Oktoberfest celebrations downtown and at Schweitzer Mountain get residents and visitors into the mood. The excitement of the upcoming ski season soon follows.

Sandpoint as a winter wonderland can’t be beat with 2900 acres of downhill skiing at Schweitzer Mountain, cross country skiing, and snowmobiling options in the outlying national forest. Winter Carnival in Sandpoint brings everyone out on the streets in mid January to celebrate with a winter ArtWalk and Rail Jam on the downtown streets.

As the snow melts, the trails begin to reveal themselves, and the trees begin to bud. The town wakes up for Lost in the 50’s in mid May bringing nostalgia, poodle skirts and vintage cars galore. The weekend also marks the announcement of the Festival at Sandpoint line-up. Starting in early May, The Farmer’s Market in downtown’s Farmin Park makes it easy for the community to purchase their goods straight from our local growers.

Who lives in Sandpoint? Families, retirees, young adults, people who want to be in the outdoors but still want the amenities for a downtown with arts, dining, live music and great events.

What are they doing? They are hiking the surrounding mountains with numerous trails in the surrounding Idaho Panhandle Forest or closer in town at Gold Hill or the community founded McKinnick Trail. They are out mountain biking up at Schweitzer Mountain or at Farragut State Park. They are out on the lake exploring the coves and public beaches that are only accessible by boat. They are mushroom picking, antler hunting, huckleberry picking. They are up at Schweitzer skiing, snowshoeing.

Lake Pend Oreille School District (www.lposd.org) consists of three high schools, one middle school and seven elementary schools from Clark Fork to Sagle to Sandpoint. The Sandpoint Charter School is the only charter school in the area (www.sandpointcharter.org) and there are three private schools: Sandpoint Waldorf School, (www.sandpoint.org/waldorf/); Sandpoint Junior Academy, (www.sjasda.org); the Sandpoint Community Christian School, (www.sandpointchristian.com); and The Selkirk School, (www.selkirkschool.com).

Like many small western resort towns, Sandpoint’s initial growth came from the lumber and then railroad industries. When natural resource economy began to dwindle it was replaced with a tourism scene as many began to visit the area to enjoy the surrounding natural beauty. When Schweitzer Mountain opened in 1963, Sandpoint became even better known and helped to stimulate the winter economy, making the area a more viable community year round. Tourism remains one of the top industries in Sandpoint. Bonner County has economic diversity with a good base of manufacturing and the homegrown industries from the lifestyle refugees which will create jobs and attract more year round residents. The area attracts semi-retirees for our natural amenities.

Other major employers include Coldwater Creek (women’s apparel corporate headquarters located in Sandpoint), Litehouse Dressing and Dips, Pend Oreille School District, Schweitzer Mountain Resort and the US Forest Service.