Talk about a wild ride - Silverwood Theme Park, which is now open for the season, has grown from a local attraction into the largest theme and water park in the Northwest! Visitors enjoy 221 acres of pure fun with more than 70 rides, slides, shows and attractions in the park. Four massive roller coasters and a drop tower offer thrills for the adventurous, plus there are countless other family-friendly rides and attractions.

    New this year, Silverwood has enhanced two of the entertainment shows including the magic show with Nick Norton, as well as the train show with new scenes and animatronic characters.

    Special pricing continues throughout the month of May, so now's a great time to check it out. For the most current information, visit SilverwoodThemePark.com. Boulder Beach Water Park, which features two expansive wave pools, numerous water slides, play areas for kids and more, opens June 6. Hooray for summer!

   Sandpoint's ready for their biggest party of the year - the Lost in the '50s celebration shakes and rattles our town for four nostalgia-filled days, Thursday, May 14 through Sunday, May 17. Don't miss the great lineup of events including a downtown classic car parade, rock 'n' roll concerts at the fairgrounds featuring the one and only Frankie Avalon, an all-day classic car display in the streets of downtown Sandpoint, and more! Visit the Lost in the '50s Facebook page for more information, or go to the website.

    There's still snow in some of the higher elevation trails around Sandpoint, which is a great reason for dayhikers to enjoy the trails right here in town for a little while longer.

    Soak in the scenic shoreline beauty of Lake Pend Oreille during a 3-mile roundtrip trek along the Pend d'Oreille Bay Trail. Offering mostly level terrain, dayhikers can take in the trail's natural setting and in-town convenience. The trailhead begins on City of Sandpoint property at the Sandpoint Water Treatment Plant just past the Edgewater Resort in Sandpoint. The trail begins at the trailhead parking lot and continues for approximately 1.5 miles along the shores of Lake Pend Oreille. Get map information and more news about this great local attraction at POBTrail.org.

    The historic Sandpoint Train Depot has been restored to its original glory, and the community is filled with pride as this landmark opens its doors once again to the public. The project has been nominated for a Preservation Idaho award (to be announced May 30 during the Orchids and Onions Awards held here in Sandpoint; two other local nominees are the Heartwood Center and the Nesbitt House).

    A grand re-opening of the depot will be held Saturday, May 30, at 2:30 p.m., followed by a self-guided walking tour of Sandpoint at 3:30 p.m. All are welcome! To learn more about the Orchids and Onions Awards, visit PreservationIdaho.org.