I'm going to be in Seattle on business in mid to late September or early October (dates not yet firm) and the wife is coming along. Since neither one of us are big city types, we are thinking about tacking a few days on to the trip and drive over to Northern Idaho to do a little exploring.

1. What should we expect weather wise?

2. She would like to stay in a B&B - any recommendations? Something comfortable but not too expensive.

3. We like just getting out and driving around, small town stuff (good food / small shops / local favor). Any recommendations?

My son and I flew out a year ago to visit UofI in Moscow but didn't have time to do anything - beautiful drive to and from though.....

Thanks!

Edit to add: Thanks for the great suggestions! The travel dates have been confirmed. I will be in Spokane for work on Sept. 17/18 and we will driving over to Sandpoint on the 19th. We will be flying back out of Spokane on the 24th. That leaves roughly 4 days to explore North Idaho.

- My wife wanted to stay at a B&B, so we have reservations at a place call Talus Rock in Sandpoint. Looks pretty and has good reviews plus the owners seem very nice on the phone. Anyone ever stayed there?

- We will be using Sandpoint as our base during the visit.

- Planning to do a boat tour of the lake on one of the days and tour the mine in Wallace on another.

- The weekend is actually our wedding anniversary, any recommendations for a nice dinner place (not too loud and we are not much into drinking), just a nice place with good food and a little special?

- I've been checking out the local calendars for events but nothing really seems to be scheduled. Anyone know of anything going on in particular?

Thanks again!

I dont know where yo tell you start.  Maybe Lewiston and start north.  get to the top of the grade, out of Lewiston and the view is awesome.  Get a small sample of the Palouse between Moscow and Lewiston and then continue on north to CDL and Sandpoint.  Its all beautiful country   South of CDL was an Elk farm, but it looks like it has closed down now.  Across the highway from the old farm is the North Idaho democrat party headquarters.   Thats nothing more that a dilapidated barn with a sign in front of it.

You could cut off at Potlatch and go east through the white pines and on to St Maries    That a beautiful ride.

After St Maries, you can take the 5, which loops back around to the 95, which joins at Plummer and there you can pick up some cheap smokes and whiskey.  then just north of there is the big Casino.

Never messed around in CLD very much, so can't tell you much about that.

North of CDL is Farragut State Park.   It is an old Navy training area and has a museum with some pretty neat displays.

Other than that, I dont know.

its a double

My youngest brother and I took a road trip out to Northern Idaho just over a year and a half ago during around the same time frame you're looking at. Was late September to be exact. I had the area at the top of my list of potential places to move in a couple years and wanted to scope out the area. Spent 3 nights in Sandpoint and ventured out from there.

Weather was absolutely perfect while we were there, low/mid 70s and sunny. As we were leaving it started getting rainy and cool so we timed it well. The leaves were changing colors so the drive out was pretty scenic.

I mostly drove around and explored the Lake Pend Oreille coast (there's definitely plenty of that to check out!) and headed up 95 to see the area around Bonners Ferry. My brother golfed The Idaho Club and loved it, if golf is your thing. Said it's the best course he's played and very reasonably priced.

We wanted to stop in at Laughing Dog Brewery but their tap room was under construction. Ate and drank at MickDuff's Brewing the first night. That was nice because it was within walking distance of the LaQuinta we stayed in. Beer and food was pretty good. While walking around we stopped in at Northwest Hadmade Furniture. Their stuff is nice and the price reflects it. Lots of other stuff to walk around and see in downtown Sandpoint. The locals were super nice. Lots of folks smile, wave, and talk which was a bit of a departure from Cincinnati and areas local.

Ate and drank at Sweet Lou's in Ponderay on the second night. Food was great there, especially their nachos which were massive and delicious. 3rd night we got some take out pizza from Bab's Pizzeria on recommendation from a local. Pretty good eating!

The area is amazing and we had a great time! Would love to make another road trip out there before moving.

Depending on where you get a hotel room, go check out Wallace, Idaho.  It's a mining town about an hour east of Couer d'Alene.  Wallace has kind of a cool story behind it.  After years of supporting the mining industry the Government decided that Highway 90 should run right through town.  The property owners got together and got nearly every building in town added to the historic register thus saving the town from getting torn up.  Literally the town is just like how it was in the late 19th, early 20th century.

Wallace is cool to walk around in and check out.  Theres a cool antique/gun store that will make you drool.  Also go check the Mine Tour.  Wallace is worth the trip.

You didn't mention the real reason anybody has heard of Wallace, Idaho...the whorehouse.

That is the best time for weather up here.

Stay at Hills Resort on the Priest Lake. If you golf there is a good chance you will see elk or deer tracks in the sand bunkers. The CDA Resort in CDA is your modern place but at high season they have reasonable rates. Can jump to Wallace, Spokane, Sandpoint etc. from there. Expect traffic.

edit for double tap.

We enjoy going to the casino at Bonners Ferry, good food an the hotel is nice. The old downtown has some antique /thrift shops.

A couple of additional questions in the OP.

Follow 200 up around the north end of the lake past Hope. You'll end up paralleling the Clark Fork and it's a very short jog from there into Montana. Good rugged countryside.

The Salmon area is very nice to visit.