Sandpoint, ID

The signs at the edge of town make it clear: Sandpoint, Idaho, is a “Walking Town.”
For every interesting thing you can find to do in this northern Panhandle community, there’s a crosswalk that will take you safely to it.
Today we were zeroed in on the Farmers’ Market. I had just finished a mile swim in the local pool, and my fuel stores were running low. I needed sustenance.
We parked in the public lot at Third and Main—where the first three hours are free—and walked a half-block to the Market on Third and Oak. Open-air canopies were pitched around the fountain plaza, where children squealed as multiple hidden nozzles generated random blasts of water against their legs.

Crossing the street, we walked under the clock tower at Farmin Park, strolled passed the bronze statues of a tortoise and a hare, and melted into the pleasant shade where the main body of the Farmers’ Market vibrated with noise and activity. Following my nose, I found one of my favorite booths—the smell of freshly-baked bread was a dead giveaway—and paid the man for an Italian sausage rollup (a fistful of decadence in a flaky croissant tube). With the first huge bite, life returned.
We browsed.
Now in its 20th year, Sandpoint’s Farmers’ Market has retained its original mission: to offer local growers and craftspeople a common venue for marketing their products. That central concept has ensured the success of this venture. While the faces have changed a bit over the past two decades, the Market has always been located at Farmin Park. The enterprise spilled into the fountain plaza several years ago as growth dictated the need for additional space.
From organic produce to handcrafted items and food to the works of local artisans, the Market offers a plethora of goods that will delight any shopper. At Chad and Tracy Moore’s booth, we admired the intricately-cast beeswax candles and tried to remember if we still had honey at home before I finally opted for a handful of peppermint-honey sticks for my tea. Elsewhere, I almost bought some vigorous-looking tomato plants to replace the limp and anemic ones I had at home. Even though you may not find what you want today, you can enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, listen to the live entertainment (drop a dollar in the tip jar, please), buy a fresh bouquet for your partner (or just for you!), share stories with “Sprouts” or “Bear,” and make plans to return. One of the nice things about our Farmers’ Market is that, while its friendly environment never changes, the products follow the seasons. You’ll find something different each time you visit.

The Market runs from early May through October; Saturday hours are 9 am to 1 pm, Wednesdays 3 to 5:30 pm.
Visit www.sandpointfarmersmarket.com