Quality of Life What it all boils down to in the final assessment is that catch-all phrase, “quality of life.” In northern Idaho we believe the lifestyle is uncompromised. You’re not far from paradise when you can see the mountains from the office window and walk to the lake on your lunch break. Recreation Nature built her playground to accommodate sailboats, houseboats, skiers, snowmobilers, campers, hikers, and bikers. Traipse through the silent forest in search of wild game or wildflowers. With seven state parks, dozens of lakes and hundreds of trails you are always close to the great outdoors. There are three ski resorts within an hour’s drive. The Centennial Trail links Spokane, Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene with a paved ribbon of blacktop that skirts the Spokane River and Lake Coeur d’Alene. Coeur d’Alene is home to the world-class Coeur d’Alene Resort, famous for the world’s longest floating boardwalk. Over a dozen golf courses are minutes away, including the top-ranked Coeur d’Alene Resort course whose centerpiece is a floating green on Lake Coeur d’Alene. But entertainment doesn’t have to be outdoors. North Idaho College hosts a full schedule of events, from nationally-ranked wrestling and basketball to concerts and symphonies. And Spokane’s Opera House is the venue for Broadway plays and sell-out concerts, while local theater groups offer exciting performances year-round. Climate Northern Idaho enjoys a true four-season climate with cool mountain evenings. The mean summer temperature is 69 degrees, dropping to 27 degrees in winter. The region receives an average annual precipitation of 26 inches, fall of over 62 inches, which can vary widely from year to year. The annual average relative humidity is 46percent. Even though Coeur d’Alene is located over 300 miles from the Pacific Ocean and 2,158 feet above sea level, the weather is influenced by maritime air borne eastward on the prevailing westerly winds. Particularly in winter, the maritime influence is noticeable in the greater than average cloudiness, greater frequency of precipitation, and mean temperatures, which are above those at the same latitude and altitude in mid-continent. The main barrier to free-flowing air is the rugged chain of Bitteroot Mountains forming much of the boundary between Idaho and Montana. The annual average percentage of sunshine ranges from about 30 in the winter, with frequent periods of cloudy weather, but in July and August the average percentage rises to the 80s as crystal-clear days may linger well into fall for perfect golfing and boating weather. Monthly average daytime Jan. 34°3.58 in May 69° 2.02 in temperatures and Feb. 41° 2.50 in Jun. 76° 1.93 in precipitation Mar. 48° 2.28 in Jul. 86° .70 in Apr. 59° 1.68 in Aug. 85° .99 in Health Care As a major medical center for the region, Spokane and Coeur d’Alene are unparalleled in the quality service available for everyone from newborns to seniors who live in the Inland Northwest. Kootenai Medical Center is a 246-bed community-owned hospital. KMC provides a full range of health care services for the people of North Idaho and has provided care since 1967. From emergency medicine and intensive care to full-service surgical services, rehabilitation and cancer therapy, residents can count on KMC to meet their health care needs from birth to the end of life. KMC also offers a rehabilitation center, extended care, and accredited treatment programs for psychiatric, behavioral problems and substance abuse. A medical staff of more than 225 physicians provides a broad range of medical specialties. KMC has been recognized six of the past seven years as one of Healthcare’s Most Wired and named as a Top 25 Most Wireless hospital in 2004 and 2005. A full-service cardiac care program opened in 2003. www.kmc.org Northern Idaho Advanced Care Hospital opened in the spring of 2006 providing long term accute rehabilitation care to patients recovering from strokes, head and spinal cord injuries, and other functional deficiencies as a result of injury or illness. Deaconess Medical Center, The Heart Institute of Spokane, Sacred Heart Cancer and Research Center, Holy Family Hospital, Veterans Affairs Medical Center and hriners Hospital for Children are minutes away from comprehensive therapy, treatment for advanced and specialized care, and cancer research treatments. |
