Whether you are from the USA, across the border in Canada, or coming from an International flight, there are plenty of things to do in Spokane, WA. In fact, there are too many things to do – with a large area of 180 Square KM, there are too many places to explore! So, the more important question is, what are the best things to do in Spokane, WA?
Luckily for you, we have compiled a comprehensive list of fun things to do in Spokane, WA! Just so you have an idea of what you are in for, here is a basic outline of our list:
Best Things to Do in Spokane, Washington
Fun things to do in Spokane, WA with kids:
- Bounce around in Flying Squirrel Trampoline Park
- Peruse art at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture
- Watch a baseball game at the Avista Stadium
- Taste wine at the Latah Creek Winery
- Listen to the Spokane Symphony
Free things to do in Spokane, Washington:
- Marvel at the Spokane Falls
- Take a leisurely stroll at the River Front Park
- Explore St. John’s Cathedral
Things to do in Spokane, WA at night (for adults) :
- Drink a martini at the Bistango, Martini Lounge
- Walk around in Downtown Spokane
- Go night skiing at the Mount Spokane Ski and Snowboard park
Best places to eat in Spokane, WA:
- Slurp a milkshake at Mary Lou’s Milk Bottle
If you are looking for a little more info on these destinations, no problem! Keep on reading for a more detailed review of each tourist destination!
1. Take a leisurely stroll at Riverfront Park
Price: Free
The peaceful soul of any city can be found in its parks, and so one of the best things to do in Spokane, WA today is to visit the Riverfront Park. The Spokane Riverfront Park is located alongside the Spokane River, upstream from the lower falls.
Best part? Admission here is free! However, if you’re willing to spend money, you can try out the paid attractions set up around the park. Go ride the Numerica SkyRide to get a beautiful view of Spokane or have some thrills on the Spider Jump trampoline! Attractions aside, however, taking a stroll in the park is one of the best free things to do in Spokane, WA!
Link: Riverfront Park
2. Peruse art at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture
Price: $19.50 for adults, $10 for kids, $17 for seniors and college students
If there is one great way to get to know about the locals, it’s in the art they make. So if you’d like to better know the culture, going to the Northwest Museum of Arts and culture is one of the best things to do in Spokane, WA. The museum has galleries filled with beautiful paintings in different genres, and you’ll surely enjoy the blend of colors and styles! Apart from that, the museum also has history galleries – and so the museum is nothing short of an excellent learning experience!
By the way, here is a tip – if you are looking to save money on the tickets, the museum offers various promos and discounts! You can learn more about their ticket discounts at the following link.
Link: Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture
3. Go Night Skiing at Mount Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park
Price: $60+ (to ascend the mountain) during holidays
Want a different way of enjoying the night sky in Spokane, WA? Then skiing is one of the fun things to do in Spokane, WA at night! This skiing hotspot is open both day and night. However, skiing at night allows you to see the gorgeous night stars. If you’re not into skiing or snowboarding, no problem! You can enjoy the view from the various chairlifts that ascend the mountain, or frolic in the snow.
If you get tired of building snowmen, you can head on to the warm lodges. These lodges offer souvenirs and excellent food service – so warm up in the lodges with hot chocolate for the kids and a glass of wine for you and your spouse. Nothing beats relaxing in Mount Spokane, one of the best things to do in Spokane WA, at night!
Link: Mount Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park
4. Marvel at the Grandeur of Spokane Falls
Price: Free
If you are looking to soothe the mind with the grandeur of nature, visiting the Spokane falls is one of the best things to do in Spokane, WA today! The Spokane falls consist of two waterfalls, and an electric that helps power the city.
If you are looking to take a new profile picture, the Spokane falls makes an excellent background! But more importantly, the roar of the waterfalls is sure to calm any soul. If you would like a bird’s eye view of the falls, you can spend cash to take a relaxing 20-minute ride over the falls!
Visiting the falls is one the best free things to do in Spokane, WA!
Link: Spokane Falls
5. St. John’s Cathedral
Price: Free
Visiting St. John’s Cathedral is one of the few ways you will be able to see real-life Gothic architecture. The Cathedral is one of the most well preserved in the country – with beautifully carved stone matched with colorful stained glass. If you drop in during the Cathedral’s services, you might be in for some good music! The Cathedral houses a large, built-in organ made of almost 4,000 pipes! Alongside this, the Church also has a carillon that plays sweet songs using many, many bells.
Whether you are a believer or not, the Cathedral is a wonderful tourist destination to stop by! Rich with history and beautiful architecture, attending service at the Cathedral is one of the best things to do in Spokane, WA today!
Link: St. John’s Cathedral
6. Watch a baseball game at the Avista Stadium
Price: $10 for 7+ years old and above (per head)
Baseball is a sport that is a unique heritage to USA. You will be missing out a lot on American culture if you know nothing about baseball. Thus if you want to experience this first-hand, why not buy some tickets and watch a game at the Avista stadium!
The Avista stadium is a baseball park, and home of the baseball team the Spokane Indians. Watching baseball is a rich experience – apart from the game itself, you’ll get to expose yourself to plenty of the classic sports food options. Get yourself some hotdogs, soda, and enjoy the baseball games!
Watching a baseball game at the Avista Stadium is one of the fun things to do in Spokane, WA with kids!
Link: Avista Stadium
7. Taste Wine at Latah Creek Winery
Price: Free
Perhaps you’re looking for a fun day with your spouse – and you’d like a fun food experience. For adults that want to drink without the craziness of a bar, head on over to the Latah Creek winery! The Latah Creek Winery is one of the few wineries in the county and was established in 1982. The Latah Creek winery has been producing wines for 30 years, with wines rich and sophisticated flavors. If you’re looking to spend an afternoon learning the wine production process or get to practice your wine tasting skills, the Latah Creek Winery is the place to go!
Link: Latah Creek Winery
8. Downtown Spokane
Price: Varies
If you are looking to get a taste of the nightlife, you must visit Downtown Spokane. Alternatively known as “The Riverside”, Downtown Spokane is a business district full of restaurants, bars, shops, and many other places. Downtown Spokane is divided into several districts, each with their own specialty service. The Arts and Entertainment District is home to live entertainments and hotels for instance. We recommend that you take your time exploring Downtown – for there’s lots of hidden gems that can only be found through exploration.
Link: Downtown Spokane
9. Listen to the Spokane Symphony
Price: Tickets starting at $26 (depending on seating)
Are you looking for a different type of entertainment? Tired of barhopping, wild rides, and wanting something more sophisticated? Then the Spokane Symphony is the place to go! The Spokane Symphony is one of the few professional orchestras in the country, performing 65 concerts a year!
Now you could tune in on the radio, but why pass up the opportunity to listen to them live at the Martin Woldson Theater? Besides, many of their concerts not only have music as entertainment, but usually come packaged with food, and other fun activities! Watching a Spokane Symphony concert is one of the best things to do in Spokane, WA!
Link: Spokane Symphony
10. Bounce around in the Flying Squirrel Trampoline Park
Price: $16 per hour
Have your kids been restless, itching to do something exciting? Do they seem to hate long walks around the city, but just want to run around and play? Then you better bring them over to the Flying Squirrel Trampoline park, one of the most fun things to do in Spokane valley! With floors covered in trampolines, foam pools, and even a trampoline room dedicated for dodgeball, this is the perfect place for play!
Your kids will have an excellent time bouncing around, and for the adults you’ll get some exercise too hopping around with the kids! Jumping around in the Flying Squirrel Trampoline park is definitely one of the fun things to do in Spokane valley!
Link: Flying Squirrel Trampoline Park
11. Drink a martini at the Bistango Martini Lounge
Price: $8 for a martini (during Happy hour)
No trip to Spokane is complete without a taste of the nightlife. One of the best places to experience the nightlife is in the Bistango Martini Lounge, located in the heart of Downtown Spokane. If you’re looking to have a good conversation with excellent meals and martini’s, this lounge is the place to go! Now if you are looking to drink less responsibly, no problem! The Bistango Martini lounge sells drinks discounted from 4 pm – 6 pm daily, so grab your drinking buddies and get ready for a wild night!
Link: Bistango Martini Lounge
12. Slurp a milkshake at Mary Lou’s Milk Bottle
Price: $7 for a milkshake, $6 starting price for burgers
A trip is never complete without indulging on local diner food. Mary Lou’s Milk Bottle is one of the most memorable in Spokane – especially since the restaurant is designed to look like a Milk Bottle! Mary Lou’s Milk Bottle offers all your diner meal favorites at affordable prices, from burgers, banana splits, and fries! However their best sellers are their milkshakes – being arguably the best in the city! When your family trip to Spokane, you better make sure to eat at Mary Lou’s. Slurping a milkshake at Mary Lou’s Milk bottle is one of the best things to do in Spokane, WA with kids!
Link: Mary Lou’s Milk
Related Articles:
What are the best things to do in Spokane at night?
What one person’s “best” is going to be completely different than someone else’s, even in the same town. That being said, though, I’m going to give you a few options that I personally think are fantastic.
The nightlife of Spokane can be enjoyed throughout the year, but especially during the middle of the summer months, these activities are most popular with residents and tourists alike. During the summer months, you can also enjoy an open-air concert in Riverfront Park, which takes place each Wednesday night during the summer. This is a very popular activity
Spokane also offers outdoor music in its city parks, such as the popular Riverfront Park. There is also a local opera company that offers excellent performances year-round. You can also enjoy the symphony, which has been operating in the city for over 50 years.
The city also has several museums and theaters, including the historic Orpheum Theatre, which has been hosted many performers over the years. There is plenty of great dining from steak to Vietnamese food or frozen custards and homemade donuts.
Conclusion
There are so many things to do in the empire city of Spokane it’s hard to pick just a few. After reading this list, I hope you have an idea of how to plan your next trip to Spokane. Though Spokane isn’t as popular as Washington DC, Miami, or New York, Spokane is still a gem of a place. There’s more to Spokane than these 12 destinations listed here – so you better get to exploring!
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