Things to Do in Hayden

As an Outward Bound instructor, Will Parks has taught mountaineering and rock climbing to tough, brawny sorts. But he’s found that it’s not physical agility, but mindset, that empowers people to triumph over difficult situations. Will Parks strives to impart that lesson via Adventure Dynamics’s courses. Though it’s exhilarating to race down the 400-foot zipline overlooking the Spokane River and skitter across a five-story balance beam, the challenges are all, ultimately, a means to an end.

Will Parks has welcomed a variety of groups and has watched as people learn to communicate in high-stress situations, be it while in the middle of the ropes course or while grappling with the reality of Morgan Freeman’s mortality. “One day of work here is equal to one month in the office,” says Will Parks, pointing to the intensity of interactions that take place and the bonds that form thereafter. “People don’t remember what they learn by lecture or presentation. They remember what they do.

The Tipsy Muse painting series draws together wine appreciators to create acrylic paintings in the unpretentious environment of the Nectar Tasting Room. The venue aggregates the winemaking talents of five local wineries: Anelare Winery, Hard Row to Hoe Vineyards, Northwest Cellars, Skylite Cellars, and Terra Blanca Winery. Attendees cozy up with glasses of wine from the aforementioned producers inside the 2,000 square-foot space to sip and glean painting tips, such as how to properly speak to their paintbrush, from an experienced instructor.

Fun Unlimited rents high-octane outdoor equipment to adventurers interested in waverunners, boats, and their own brand of standup paddle boards, among other items, and also leads jet ski and paddle board tours. Rental periods can last from one day to one week, so clients have enough time to whittle a whole family of mannequins out of balsa wood and take them on a cross-country road trip before returning the equipment.

Paddles dip into the water of Coeur d'Alene lake, boards glide across its surface, and a moose nibbles plants near its edge as groups of paddleboarders see North Idaho through new eyes. Moments like these spring from the dedication and passion of Coeur d'Alene Paddle Board Company's staff. With a mission to share their love for stand-up paddleboarding, they teach classes on fundamental techniques and lead group sessions into the area's scenic waters. Under guides' watchful eyes, groups float out into the open lake or along more narrow waterways flanked by trees and rubber duckies squeaking in their natural habitats.

Staffers at Vacation Sports Rentals loan boats, paddleboards, and floatation devices to aqueous adventurers to explore the pristine waterways of Lake Coeur d'Alene while soaking in its surrounding beaches and mountain views. Water vessels available for half- or full-day rental include the Larson Senza speedboat, 24-foot pontoon, and 2011 Sea-Doo waverunners. Four-, 8-, or 24-hour rentals facilitate water sports such as tubing and wakeboarding. In addition to the boats, Vacation Sports Rentals doles out wakeboards, skis, kneeboards, standup paddleboards, and tubes. Safety necessities such as life vests, paddles, and wetsuits keep athletes protected from injury and icky seaweed.