This Beautiful Covered Bridge In Idaho Is Actually A Market And You Need To Visit

There are times when the magic of the holidays can get lost in the shuffle of bustling malls, crowded parking lots, and the occasional winded race to the next open checkout register. But if there are two things that Idahoans love, it is the community that comes from shopping local...and epic views of Idaho's natural beauty. But why not have both, and wrap them all up in a charming, rustic package?

Rather than push your way through elbow-to-elbow shoppers, you can meander through a quaint village of artisan shops, cozy boutiques, and unique restaurants in a perfect historic setting. Even more delightful, what if those shops were all set in a lovely waterfront location overlooking a rippling creek and tucked away in one of the most charming mountain towns Idaho has to offer? Welcome to Cedar Street!

The gorgeous and unique Cedar Street Bridge Public Market in Sandpoint, ID is the only bridge marketplace in the US.

Spanning 400 feet across Sand Creek, this bridge has existed in some form for nearly a century, but has had a long and complex history leading up to its current success as an architecturally unique marketplace.

As Idaho's own nationally-known landmark, this unique community market was designed to mimic the famed Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy.

The original bridge at Cedar Street was humble: a simple foot bridge consisting of stacked logs and decking, which was destroyed in 1893 during a heavy spring runoff.

The inspiration for the remodel looks like this, in case you were curious!

The original Cedar Street Bridge across Sand Creek was built in the 1930s as an auto and pedestrian bridge, carrying traffic from downtown to the town’s train depot on the east bank.

The main walkway down the center of this covered bridge is where hundreds of cars and travelers on foot would have traversed the creek just 90 years ago. But as train usage declined over time, the bridge saw less and less use until it fell into disrepair. Eventually, the 1970s saw the bridge closed to traffic completely due to safety concerns and structural decay.

It wasn't until 2007, after a tumultuous and uncertain future, that this unique bridge opened permanently, becoming a public gathering place that has quite the history... and an even more unique setting.

Finally, local resident Scott Glickenhaus's original dream to save the auto bridge came to fruition.

Today, spaces are rented out to unique entrepreneurs, startups, and established boutiques of every kind.

Of course, multiple dining options are housed as well to truly turn the market into a welcoming, shopper-friendly destination that is a far cry from a "mall."

Uniquely, an outside walking path also connects the west and east banks of Sand Creek.

Here, unique gift items and nontraditional shops make Cedar Street just about the perfect place to do some holiday shopping, or to drink in the festive atmosphere of Sandpoint.

You'll even find places overlooking the water, where you can enjoy the picturesque beauty of this charming waterfront town.

And if you think the shopping and dining are fantastic, you should see this gem in person when it lights up at night!

You can find the main entrance to this beautiful bridge market at the intersection of First Avenue and Cedar Street.

Address: 334 N. 1st Ave, Sandpoint, ID 83864

It's easy to spend a relaxing day Christmas or window shopping at this enchanting waterfront village in Sandpoint, but it's also incredible to see Idaho's history preserved in a way that brings the entire community together!

For more of Idaho's best nontraditional places, check out these underrated places to take an out-of-towner!