Things to do in Spokane
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Spokane
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Best window: falls at full flow, lilacs, rafting and Hoopfest energy.
Best window: Green Bluff harvest, fall colour, good golf and hiking, no crowds.
Spring falls season begins, cool and changeable, rafting opens in April.
Lake and trail peak but hottest and driest, with wildfire smoke risk in late July and August and low falls.
Winter for ski, symphony and Christmas Tree Elegance. Cold, snow and low falls.
Worst for sightseeing: cold, dark and low falls. Fine only as a ski trip.
What's on
- Lilac Bloomsday Run First Sunday in May
12K road race founded in 1977 drawing 30,000 to 40,000 plus participants.
- Spokane Lilac Festival Mid-May
Week of events ending in the Armed Forces Torchlight Parade, timed with Manito lilacs.
- Hoopfest Last weekend in June
World largest 3 on 3 basketball tournament taking over downtown streets.
- Spokane Pride Parade and Festival Mid-June
Pride parade and festival in mid June.
- Cherry Pickers' Trot and Pit Spit July
Green Bluff cherry season event, peak small town harvest atmosphere.
- Crave! NW July
Food festival energy in July.
- Pig Out in the Park Late August into Labor Day weekend
Big free food and music festival in Riverfront Park.
- Spokane County Interstate Fair September
County fair in September alongside Green Bluff harvest season.
- Christmas Tree Elegance Late November to December
Decorated trees fill the Historic Davenport and River Park Square.
Best things to do in Spokane
Riverfront Park
Downtown park built for Expo 74 around the falls, with bridges, clocktower and the red wagon slide.
Spokane Falls
Waterfall dropping through the middle of downtown, best viewed from the bridges in spring runoff.
Numerica SkyRide
Gondola that drops into the gorge and hangs in front of the Lower Falls for the closest falls view.
Looff Carrousel
Hand carved 1909 carrousel still running its brass ring game, loved by adults as much as children.
Manito Park
Ninety acres of formal, rose, lilac and Japanese gardens that residents name as the city favourite.
Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture
Regional art, Inland Northwest history and Plateau Indigenous collections in Browne's Addition.
Campbell House
Period kept 1898 mining mansion next to the MAC, with guided tours praised for guide quality.
Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox
Restored 1931 Art Deco palace and home to the Spokane Symphony, the best dressed up night out.
Where to stay in Spokane
Downtown - Riverside core
first trip, all-round base
Walkable to the falls, theatres, best bars and most top restaurants around Riverfront Park.
Kendall Yards
quiet, modern base
Across the river from downtown with gorge views, calm streets and the Centennial Trail as front path.
Browne's Addition
character, romantic or repeat visit
Historic mansion district around the MAC, tree lined and residential, 15 minutes walk to the core.
South Hill - Manito area
local life, longer family stay
Beloved residential hill around Manito Park with cafes and Luna, rentals only and a car needed.
Spokane Valley / Airport corridor
road trip overnight or early flight only
Cheaper chain hotels on I-90, functional but you drive for every sight.
Think twice about
- South downtown / SoDo under I-90
Visible homelessness and open drug use around 2nd and 3rd Avenues and Division and 3rd, with encampments under the viaduct. Do not base here.
- East Sprague motel strip
Motel strip east of downtown flagged in the prose to avoid basing in, trading on price alone.
- Trent industrial blocks
Industrial blocks east of downtown flagged in the prose to avoid basing in, with little hotel stock worth choosing.
- Division Street freeway corridor
Basing here to save money leaves you in strip retail and driving everywhere, the classic Spokane mistake.
Best restaurants in Spokane
Gander and Ryegrass
Spokane most ambitious kitchen, built around the city only tasting menu and handmade pasta.
Wild Sage Bistro
Seasonal downtown bistro and classic pre Fox dinner, known for popovers and duck.
Luna
South Hill institution by Manito with garden patio, pear Gorgonzola pizza and tuna tartare.
Sorella
Small open kitchen Kendall Yards Italian making scratch pasta, vodka pasta and meatballs.
Italia Trattoria
Small Browne's Addition Italian with regional technique, agnolotti and grilled culotte steak.
Clinkerdagger
River view institution in the old Flour Mill for cedar plank salmon, prime rib and desserts.
Cochinito Taqueria
Modern downtown taqueria with handmade tortillas, street tacos and a real cocktail programme.
The Flying Goat
Neighbourhood Neapolitan leaning pizza with local names, serious beer list and busy patio.
Best bars in Spokane
Hogwash Whiskey Den
Basement speakeasy feel whiskey bar whose ramen and wings eat far above bar food.
Durkin's Liquor Bar
Main Avenue cocktail bar next to Gander and Ryegrass, one of two agreed best cocktail stops.
Outdoor things to do in Spokane
Spokane River Centennial Trail
Forty miles of paved river trail from Riverside State Park through downtown to the Idaho line.
Riverside State Park
River canyon park with basalt formations at Bowl and Pitcher, crossed by a swinging bridge.
Wiley E. Waters
Long established outfitter running guided Class III whitewater on the lower Spokane in spring.
Dishman Hills Natural Area
Ponderosa forest and granite conservation area in the Valley, good for an easy uncrowded hour.
Rocks of Sharon
Granite outcrops reached via Iller Creek with 360 degree views to Steptoe Butte and the Selkirks.
Beacon Hill Trail System
Urban mountain bike system with about 30 trails five minutes from downtown, from flow to technical.
Mount Spokane State Park
Large state park with summit Vista House views, old growth cedar trails and huckleberry patches.
Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park
Non profit ski area with 52 runs and night skiing, at a fraction of destination resort prices.
Best hotels in Spokane
The Davenport Hotel
Grand 1914 landmark hotel with spa and Peacock Lounge, Spokane only true luxury property.
The Davenport Grand
Modern Davenport across from Riverfront Park with park views and a rooftop terrace bar.
The Centennial Hotel
North bank Davenport hotel with river views and indoor outdoor pool setup praised by families.
Montvale Hotel
Boutique hotel in Spokanes oldest hotel building from 1899, with the Gilded Unicorn below.
Hotel Ruby
Stylish converted motor court hotel opposite the Davenport, the budget pick with location.
Oxford Suites Downtown Spokane
Riverfront suites with free breakfast, evening reception and free parking by the Centennial Trail.
The Coeur d'Alene Resort
Full lakefront resort with spa and boat shuttle to its golf course, an alternative lake base.
Is Spokane expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | $90 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | $175 a person |
| Splurge | $350 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture: a few days ahead
- Campbell House: a few days ahead
- Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox: weeks ahead
- Knitting Factory - Spokane: a few days ahead
- First Interstate Center for the Arts: weeks ahead
- Wiley E. Waters: weeks ahead
- Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park: a few days ahead
- Indian Canyon Golf Course: a few days ahead
- Book Gander and Ryegrass and Sorella days ahead for weekends, and Wild Sage before a Fox night.
- Book rafting in May and June, Circling Raven and Coeur d'Alene tee times, and Hiawatha passes and shuttles in summer.
- Hotels sell out for Bloomsday, Hoopfest, Lilac Festival and Gonzaga basketball weekends. The MAC is closed Mondays.
Is Spokane safe?
- Visible homelessness and open drug use concentrate in south downtown under I-90. Avoid underpasses and trestle areas after dark.
- Do not leave anything visible in a parked car.
Spokane travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- The SkyRide and falls in late summer, when flow is a fraction of spring runoff.
- Paying for every Riverfront Park attraction instead of just the SkyRide and carrousel.
- Green Bluff at noon on an October Saturday. Go before 10am or on a weekday.
Getting around Spokane: public transport and more
- A car is needed for Green Bluff, Mount Spokane, Riverside, golf and Idaho trips. Downtown, Kendall Yards and Browne's Addition are walkable.
- Spokane International GEG is about 15 minutes west of downtown. STA buses cover city corridors and rideshare is plentiful.
- Use the Centennial Trail as transport between downtown, Kendall Yards and Gonzaga.
Who Spokane suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Great |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | Good |
| Families | Good |
| Bachelorette parties | Good |
Make Spokane your trip
Swearby drafts the days from places people swear by. Swap any stop, then invite the crew by text, even friends without the app. Vote on dates, track costs as you go, and everyone gets one number at the end.
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