2007 IEEE Symposium on
Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing

Coeur d'Alène, Idaho, USA

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Coeur d'Alène: City and Lake

Nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Coeur d'Alène (population 38,000) is an upscale resort town located 310 miles (500 km) east of Seattle, 30 miles (50 kilometers) east of Spokane International Airport, and 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of Canada. It is the perfect place to experience nature and escape the big city while enjoying life's luxuries. The city lies on Lake Coeur d'Alène, a 50 mile (80 km) wide oasis where you can watch bald eagles and moose, take a cruise, learn to sail, or hit the floating green at a world-class golf course.

Browse art galleries, try gourmet Western food such as fresh salmon, microbrewed beer, huckleberry pancakes, or even buffalo, or choose from international fare such as pasta, sushi, and fine wines. Take a guided tour for rafting, fishing, hiking, or horseback riding, or just shop and relax at the spa. September is typically sunny, dry and comfortable, with average highs of 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 degrees Celsius).

Getting to Coeur d'Alène

To reach Coeur d'Alène by air, fly into Spokane International Airport (airport code: GEG), which is served by most major U.S. airlines, including Alaska, Delta, Northwest, Southewest, and United. Once you reach the Spokane Airport, you have at least three options for your travel to Coeur d'Alène:

• Take the Coeur d'Alène Resort Shuttle.If you are staying at the Coeur d'Alène Resort or at the Best Western Coeur d'Alène Inn, you can either take a cab (see below) or take the Coeur d'Alène Resort shuttle at a cost of $59 per person round trip. In order to take advantage of this shuttle, you must book it at least three days in advance, either by calling 1-800-688-5253 or by e-mailing Donna Lindell. When you call or e-mail, be sure to specify your complete flight information, both for your arrival and your departure. Note that you can charge the shuttle fee directly to your room bill; you do not have to pay it in advance.
  
  
• Take a cab. If you are not staying at the Coeur d'Alène Resort, you will need to take a taxi from the airport to your hotel. The average one-way cab fare from Spokane to Coeur d'Alène is $90-$100. However, we have negotiated the following special one-way rates with TransX Taxi Service of Spokane:
  
  
  • $75 for a cab (can accommodate up to three people; no need to book in advance)
  • $25 per person for shuttles of four or more people (good for groups who know they will be arriving at the same time; must be booked 24-48 hours in advance)

  
  To book a cab or shuttle call 1-866-765-6500 (toll free), 509-536-1666 (local), or e-mail Steve Paschall, making sure to supply your flight arrival information. Phone reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance, whereas 48 hours' advance notice is required for e-mail reservations, so that there is enough time for TransX to send you e-mail confirmation. In order to receive the special rates, you must mention "VL/HCC" when you make your reservation. If you choose not to make an advance reservation, you must tell your cab driver that you are with VL/HCC at the time you call the cab.

• Rent a car and drive yourself. Spokane International Airport is served by most major rental car agencies, including Thrifty, Dollar, Budget, Hertz, Avis, and National. Using a search engine, you can easily book a car with any of these companies on-line. A web search conducted through Orbitz on June 16, 2007 yielded daily rates that ranged from $19-30 for an economy car, and weekly rates that ranged from $140-190 for an economy car.

Booking Accommodations

The conference technical program, as well as all social functions, will take place at the the world famous Coeur d'Alène Resort, a 5-star hotel with beautiful lakefront views located in picturesque Coeur d'Alène, Idaho, USA. We have negotiated a block of rooms that are available to VL/HCC attendees at the following special rates:

• Traditional room: $129.00/night
• Deluxe room: $159.00/night
• Premier room: $199.00/night

Free wireless internet access is available in the hotel lobby and in the guest rooms. All rooms are subject to a 12.5% tax and surcharge fee (as are all motel rooms in the city of Coeur d'Alène). . The resort can only guarantee these rates, and the availability of rooms, through August 12, 2007. Please make your reservations either by calling 1-800-688-5253 or by e-mailing Donna Lindell. Be sure to mention that you are with the VL/HCC conference in order to receive the special rates.

Because we have worked hard to negotiate these special rates, we strongly encourage you to take advantage of the value, convenience, ammenities, and scenic beauty of the Coeur d'Alène Resort. However, if you would like to stay elsewhere, Coeur d'Alène does have a few less expensive motels that are relatively close to the Coeur d'Alène Resort. We provide information on a few of these here; you can find many others through web searches. A good place to start would be the Coeur d'Alène Visitor Bureau website.

Eating in Coeur d'Alène

Three meals are included with your conference registration: the Monday opening reception (which will feature many hors d 'oeuvres and drinks), the Tuesday banquet cruise (sponsored by Microsoft Research), and the Wednesday closing lunch. For the rest of the meals, you are on your own. Fortunately, the Coeur d'Alène Resort is located directly adjacent to the Coeur d'Alène downtown area, which offers, within easy walking distance, numerous dining options for hungry VL/HCCers. If you would like to gather some information on dining options before you travel to the conference, the Coeur d'Alène Visitor Bureau's restaurant guide provides a good starting point.

Planning a Vacation around the Conference

Blessed with scenic beauty, Coeur d'Alène provides numerous opportunities for outdoor recreation, ranging from daylong rafting, biking, hiking, and fishing trips to multi-day trips to national parks. Indeed, At least five national parks (Glacier, Mt. Ranier, North Cascades, Olympic, Yellowstone) are within a days' drive of Coeur d'Alène. We strongly encourage you to take advantage of Coeur d'Alène's proximity to scenic beauty by extending your trip beyond the conference. With typically mild and sunny weather, September is an ideal time to enjoy the area.