Great Toddler Activities in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho offers the best of two worlds, it feels like a safe small town but there’s always something for families to do! We moved to the area from Seattle in 2014 to raise our kids and enjoy hiking and exploring. Two of our kids were born in CDA and we’ve spent several years doing lots of activities with our babies and toddlers. Here are some of our favorite toddler activities in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Wallace family photo – 2016

Jump for Joy

Looking for something to do on a rainy day? We like to head to Jump for Joy in Coeur d’Alene so the kids can bounce on the various bounce houses. Jump for Joy is available for kids ages 2 to 10 and under 5 feet tall. Kids can play on the bounce houses and go down the inflatable slides, and young kids can explore the toddler area. I’ve spent many afternoons sipping a latte and watching my kids play at Jump for Joy.

25 Cent Ice Cream Cones

Did you know that Super 1 Foods has best treat in town?? Kids can get 25 cent ice cream cones at the grocery store’s deli. These soft-serve cones are generously sized for a child. Once I get my kids their ice cream cones, I can also grab some extra milk or fresh fruit in the nearby produce aisle. Super 1 Foods is a fun stop for a post-play date snack or a “mommy and me” ice cream date! Super 1 Foods has locations in Hayden, Rathdrum and in Coeur d’Alene on Kathleen Ave.

Gymnastics Open Gym

Next on our list, Avant Coeur Gymnastics offers an open play time for kids to get exercise on the gymnastic equipment. Kids can practice their moves on the balance beams and take turns jumping on the trampolines. My kids favorite activities are the toddler-sized gravity rollercoaster, kids zip-line and jumping into the foam pit.

During the two hour open playtime kids can use the gymnastics equipment with their siblings or little friends. We’ve gone to the Friday open gym morning several times so my kids can enjoy the unstructured playtime. The gym also has plenty of room for moms to sit and talk. Young kids can play in the toddler area with smaller-sized gymnastics equipment, or use the upstairs playroom filled with toys.

Story Time at the Library

The Hayden Library and downtown Coeur d’Alene Library often offers kids story time sessions. Kids can sit with their moms or by themselves and listen to a story read by one of the library staff. Reading time is a great way to get kids interested in reading books!

Huckleberry Hollow Play Area

Huckleberry Hollow at the Coeur d’Alene Kroc Center is another great space for young kids to climb and explore. This play area has a large climbing structure with enclosed platforms and tunnels, a climbing rock wall, slides, and smaller toddler area. It’s styled to look like a large tree and forested scene. Huckleberry Hollow is open during specific hours, which can be found on the Kroc Center’s web site. Moms can sit and watch their kids play, and a nearby attendant also supervises the kids. I found it very helpful that my kids could use the nearby Huckleberry Hollow bathroom without having to exit the play room.

Playgrounds and Splash Pads

On sunny days, young kids and toddlers will love going to one of Coeur d’Alene’s many playgrounds and splash pads. Going to a park is definitely one of our family’s favorite toddler activities in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. On a playground, kids can feel independent, practice their climbing skills, and try new activities such as the monkey bars or a tire swing.

Many of the Coeur d’Alene and Hayden playgrounds also have splash pads, which are turned on after Memorial Day. My kids love playing at the splash pad on a hot summer day, and then drying off by swinging on the nearby playground swings.

You can find more details about Coeur d’Alene’s neighborhood parks and playgrounds here.

Playground at McEuen Park in downtown Coeur d’Alene

Easy Hiking Trails

Hiking with your toddlers is another great way to get the whole family outside to enjoy the fresh air and beautiful scenery. The Coeur d’Alene area has many great destinations for easy hiking adventures.

English Point in Hayden is a great place to go on a hike with young kids. The English Point Yellow Loop Trail is perfect for an easy afternoon hike. The 3.2 mile trail is fairly flat and surrounded by beautiful forested scenery. You can also bring dogs on this trail as long as you keep them on a leash. We’ve taken our kids hiking at English Point in all sorts of weather, on sunny days and snowy afternoons alike.

Tubbs Hill is another beautiful and easy hiking area for families with young kids. Located in downtown Coeur d’Alene, the Tubbs Hill trails lead along the edge of Lake Coeur d’Alene, with many paths that go down to small secluded beaches. These trails are very popular, so you are likely to see many locals out getting exercise on a sunny day. The main 2-mile Tubbs Hill trail is good for all ages and skill levels, including toddlers, kids, teens and parents!

Farragut State Park also has plenty of kid-friendly hiking trails, a nearby playground, and access down to Lake Pend Oreille. This 4,000 acre state park is also a great place to go camping with your family, with more than 200 individual camp sites. Farragut State Park is also a great destination for a day trip because there’s so much to see and do. We could spend hours exploring the scenic hiking trails and soaking in the beautiful lake views.

These three destinations are just a snapshot of the family-friendly hiking trails that North Idaho has to offer.

Family Walk with Beautiful Lake Views

Downtown Coeur d’Alene is an especially great place to walk along the lake shore and enjoy the views of Lake Coeur d’Alene from the pier. Toddlers and kids can play and swim in the shallow water at the downtown beach areas. The lake is a very popular place to visit and hang out in the summer months. On an average hot summer day, hundreds of locals and tourists enjoy the beach at Lake Coeur d’Alene.

We often take our kids down to the lake near Fort Sherman Park to walk along the sand. Closer to downtown, we can walk out onto the pier near Tubbs Hill and another closer to the Coeur d’Alene Resort. The whole area is a beautiful place to explore and enjoy a nice sunny day.

Local Seasonal Events

Last but not least on our toddler-friendly activity list, Coeur d’Alene has some great seasonal events. In the summer, families can go to the weekly farmer’s markets, Street Fair and the North Idaho State Fair. Additionally, toddlers and kids will love watching the local Forth of July parade. The city also hosts an impressive Independence Day fireworks show on Lake Coeur d’Alene.

In the fall, young kids and toddlers will love going to Prairie Home Farm. Picking out a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch is one of our family’s favorite fall toddler activities in Coeur d’Alene. Back downtown, the city also hosts an annual post-Thanksgiving holiday parade.

Finally, just in time for the holidays, the Coeur d’Alene Resort lights up downtown Sherman Avenue for the Holiday Lighting Ceremony. Families can also take a holiday cruise Journey to the North Pole on Lake Coeur d’Alene. Of course, more downtown fireworks light up the sky to celebrate New Years in North Idaho.

There’s lots of activities to enjoy in CDA all year round!

The Coeur d’Alene area offers a lot of things to do and destinations to explore. It’s no surprise that many families are choosing to raise their kids in North Idaho. The many parks and playgrounds, easy hiking trails and fun community events offer parents lots of toddler activities in Coeur d’Alene. We’ve really enjoyed our own family adventures with young kids!

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