Every June - for 10 years now - the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce hosts a Summer Sampler event (pictured above) that's second to none - gathering up the area's finest restaurants, breweries and wineries downtown in Farmin Park. This year's event Thursday, June 25, is a foodie's perfect way to kick off the summer season; along with delicious bite-sized samples of gourmet cuisine, enjoy a Litehouse-sponsored cooking competition where local chefs battle for the win. It's all about food!

   Schweitzer Mountain Resort's summer opening celebration has always been a real kick, but now it's bigger and better than ever! Billed this year as 7B Sunday, this grand opening day of fun - happening Sunday, June 28 - signals the unofficial kickoff to summer for Sandpoint and Bonner County -- and Schweitzer is inviting local businesses and non-profits up to the mountain so visitors can sample the best that our area has to offer all in one place. Restaurants, retailers, beer and wine producers, artists and musicians will all be at Schweitzer for the day, so join the fun!
   Just as in the past, free chairlift rides will be offered from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., plus there will be live music, activities for the kids including the zip line, air jumper, climbing wall and more!

    Uncovering the mysteries of the deep, the new summer 2015 issue of Sandpoint Magazine reveals the secret lives of fishes in our waters – from the mighty Gerrard Kamloops rainbow trout to the bizarre-looking burbot.

    Read about kokanee and other famous fish of Lake Pend Oreille, sturgeon and burbot hanging in the balance in Kootenai River, and warmwater imports, not to mention excellent essays on furred and feathered fishers and crick fishing in the new issue - available at many locales around the area, or at SandpointMagazine.com.

    Artists in the region are the stars of the show when the 38th annual ArtWalk comes to downtown Sandpoint! Sponsored by the Pend Oreille Arts Council, the juried art is displayed in 26 local venues with opening receptions held Friday, June 19. Many galleries and businesses also offer complimentary appetizers and drinks, as well, making the night a truly special Sandpoint occasion. Art remains on display through Sept. 11.

    For its 33rd season, the Festival at Sandpoint celebrates a summer concert series unlike any other - showcasing eight nights of music under the stars August 6-16 on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille. The season line-up serves up an eclectic lineup of classic favorites and progressive artists - take a look!
Aug. 6: Arlo Guthrie
Aug. 7: Ziggy Marley
Aug. 8: Vince Gill
Aug. 9: Family Concert
Aug. 13: Lake Street Dive
Aug. 14: Trampled By Turtles & The Devil Makes Three
Aug. 15: Wilco
Aug. 16: Grand Finale
Buy tickets and get info at FestivalatSandpoint.com.

    If you're seeking a true challenge that's also close to Sandpoint, look no further than the Mickinnick Trail. The sweat index is fairly high for this trail, which rises more than 2,000 feet in its length (the hike is 7 miles round trip). That's a workout, especially on a warm summer day! Note: The east-facing aspect of the trail makes it more user-friendly in the afternoon. The trail leads through open forest on a rocky hillside, and ends on a rocky knob commanding a view of Sandpoint, the Cabinet Mountains and Lake Pend Oreille.
    To get to the trailhead from Sandpoint, take Highway 95 north to Schweitzer Cutoff Road; turn left and go a half mile; turn right and go less than a mile to turn left on Schweitzer Mountain Road (at Schweitzer sign); go one-half mile to Woodland Drive; turn left and go 0.7 miles. The trailhead parking, with pit toilet, water and map, is on the right.
    Another fun challenge (but much more flat) is the Bay Trail Fun Run, happening this Sunday, June 7 at the shoreline Pend d'Oreille Bay Trail. Click for more information on this cool local event!

    Silverwood Theme Park's Boulder Beach water park opens for summer Saturday, June 6, and features family-friendly fun galore including Avalanche Mountain - a family raft slide that splashes 650 feet down a slide before landing in a below-ground canyon. It's definitely an exciting ride that everyone will remember!

    Admission to the park includes both the water park and the theme park with its legendary wooden roller coasters and more. Have a great summer!