Your Next Getaway to American Country B&B in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

"where Welcome Never Felt So Good!" Slideshow: American’s trip from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, United States to 2 cities Post Falls and Wallace was created by TripAdvisor. See another United States slideshow. Create a free slideshow with music from your travel photos.

American Country Wine Gems In North Idaho

Discover A Hidden Gem

We enjoy serving our guests our wine samplings in the evening here at American Country B&B, and asking them to rate what we serve. We have mentioned some of our favorite local wines (Post Falls) in an earlier post about Timberock, and of course, Coeur d'Alene Cellars also creates several we enjoy.

Serving these hidden gems to our guests has only further promoted our long time hobby of searching for that "squeeze" of wine you are proud to "pour or store and share or pair."

You don't always need an expert to tell you why you should buy their wine, you can do that yourself. You are the one that knows what you like! Tasting these hidden gems has become a hobby of mine!

I'll start with my current fav', not local, but soon to be viral, so stock up now, if you can find it!

Spanish Quarter! Like it says, it's from Spain. It's a 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Tempranillo. It is made by the Cordoniu Group. You can't miss the label, because it is a complete wrap around showing "Spanish Quarters."

Things To Consider:

• Hard to find and almost always a custom order
• Experts say it has a bright nose, tastes of plum and black cherries, medium tanins with a long and pleasant finish
• For more information go to www.thespanishquarter.com :slow loading and sometimes non-op. Go figure.

Here's a peek at some of my other fav's:

1. The Cypress Cabernet by J Lohr from Paso Robles, CA....another hard to find wine, simply because it is their introductory version. A bargain wine from a great vintner!
2. Red Diamond, Merlot, from WA. This previewed in 2005 as a restaurant wine and has become a huge Northwest favorite.

Dreamy Recipe For Gingerbread

Gingerbread Recipe

I rarely share a cookie recipe form the B&B, but several of our guests asked if I would share this one! This recipe will be one that you will want to add to your "fav" list!

2 C whipping cream

1 tsp vanilla

2 1/2 C brown sugar (packed)

2 T baking soda

3 tsp ginger

2 tsp curry powder

3 tsp grated lemon peel

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/3 C molasses

6-8 C of flour

Whip the cream until it is nice and stiff. Beat in the vanilla. Combine the sugar, lemon peel, spices and salt. Stir in the molasses. Fold in the whipped cream. Gradually add the flour. The dough will be stiff, the more of the flour that you add, the more you will find that your hands are the most effective mixing tools. If you don't add all 8 cups, the dough will tend to spread as it is cooked and your cookie shapes will too. Cover the dough and chill for at least 30 minutes. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured board to about 1/4" thick. Bake at 400 degrees for 6-12 minutes...that is the range for soft to crispy.

Things to consider:

• These are great for valentine's day, dipped in chocolate after baking. A very popular recipe here at American Country B&B.
• This recipe makes a good number of cookies, depending on the size of the cutter
• I once made a child sized cookie from this recipe and frosted it in a patchwork design
• If you add less flour, these also make a great small gingersnap, if the dough is shaped into little rounds, about teaspoon size.

North Idaho's Gorgeous Gazebo!

North Idaho's Most Gorgeous Gazebo!

If you like the looks of this during the day, you should see it at night with all the hidden lights aglow. From a distance, it appears as though a flying saucer has landed in the yard!

Little did we know as we built this with the help of our dear friend and building guru, Daniel Sheldon, that it would become one of the most popular outdoor areas on our property! Daniel has built another gazebo here in Coeur d'Alene, not far from his first, but large enough to accommodate up to 70 people.

From the eagle weathervane to the wonderful fire-pit, this little piece of heaven has become a gathering place for our guests in the evening. We have often hosted an afternoon get together with snacks and beverages followed by a delightful session of marshmallow toasting!

The project was always a part

of our big plan here at American

Country B&B, and as it took

shape, we knew it was

exactly what we wanted!

7NFDQ3VQTYE5

Coeur d'Alene Best Hikes: #1 Of 10

Mineral Ridge National Recreation Area

Wow!

What a view!

Early September found everyone in the mood for a little adventure!

Mineral Ridge, with its 3.3 mile trail, was the perfect choice for a leisure afternoon hike. We packed a wonderful picnic for our guests and sent them off with advice to take a jacket and plenty of water.

In 1982, it was designated as a National Recreation Trail. Rising only about 700 feet from the parking lot at an 8% average grade (some parts are about a 15% grade) it seemed like the perfect choice! The Summit is about 2,400 feet, so it's a good hike! Although you have access to the trail year round, it is most enjoyable from April through mid-November! I tell you this, but feel compelled to also tell you that in December through January it is one of the best vantage points to view the annual winter migration of over 150 bald eagles that flock to the area to feed on the spawning kokanee salmon in Lake Coeur d'Alene!

The 22 station markers along the trail provide a lot of stops to take a break and enjoy the views! There are several vantage points with views of Lake Coeur d'Alene and Wolf Lodge Bay!

Things To Consider:

• Bring a lightweight jacket
• Take plenty of water
• Great picnic spots all along the trail
• 2-4 hour hike depending on your pace
• 11 miles E of Coeur d'Alene off I-90 to Wolf Lodge Bay exit (#22) then S on 97 for 3 miles
• Good sized parking area at the trailhead
• Part of the National Recreation Trails Program www.americantrails.org
• For more information call the Bureau Of Land Management Coeur d'Alene Field Office 208-769-5000
• Perfect venue for great photos

Waiting For The Return Of The Tree Swallows In Coeur d'Alene

About this time of year, as the snow begins to melt and the grass starts showing through the patchy snow, we begin to think about the return of the wonderful tree swallows in March & April!

They have chosen to grace our veranda each spring with their young, by selecting to nest in our hexagonal birdhouse.

Our guests know it's Spring if they are in the gazebo in the evening, and the highly acrobatic swallows are foraging in flight for all the little flying insects.

We look forward to watching the male bring in all types of nesting material to the female who busies herself with all the housekeeping necessities of setting up the nest. Once the babies are born, we are amazed at the frequent trips both mother and father make to bring in food for their young!

They are such a social bird and the evening skies are a-flutter with all of their activity. It would seem that once the young swallows are about 15 days old, all of their relatives show up to give them flying lessons! What fun to sit on the porch and watch them swoop in to show the little ones just how it is done!

Things To Consider:

• The swallows returned on April 8th, 2010
• Bring your camera, they love to have their photos taken
• For more information on the Tree Swallow, visit http://www.seattleaudubon.org
• It is still a bit chilly on spring evenings, so bring a lightweight jacket to enjoy the swallows from the gazebo in the front yard

Last Minute Get-Away Package In Coeur d'Alene

LAST MINUTE GET-AWAY

You just had a big week and you can't believe that it is already Friday!

What you need is a last minute getaway!

This all inclusive package includes:

$25 Dinner Voucher

Complimentary Sparkling Cider or Champagne

Gourmet Breakfast With A Delightful In Suite Beverage Service

"Welcome Never Felt So Good!"

A phone call away for an instant get-away!

Award winning inn with over 175 Five Star reviews!

REVIEW! COMPARE! RESERVE!

Available January through April!

Book now, with a week or less notice!

Cannot be used with other special offers or discounts!

American Country B&B

208-664-9650

info@americancountrybedandbreakfast.com

http://www.americancountrybedandbreakfast.com

Spring Clean-Up In Coeur d'Alene

The crew is assembled and "Spring Cleaning" is about to begin! After alerting the neighbors on Highland, Up River & River View, the eager group donned their bright orange vests and grabbed a few garbage bags to begin the long awaited clean up of the roads in our neighborhoods!

The weather cooperated this fine March morning, and we were able to complete our mission by mid afternoon!

The quantity of our collections was truly amazing! We hauled quite a number of bags to the pick up point and promised one another to meet up and do this again at the end of the summer season!