travel spokane

Three Festivals in One in Downtown Coeur d’Alene, July 30–August 1

Written by Jack on July 23rd, 2010

Every summer for the last nineteen years, Sherman Street in the downtown lakefront district of beautiful Coeur d’Alene, ID, has turned into a giant street fair for one sunny weekend. The Coeur d’Alene Downtown Street Fair features over 250 vendors of all kinds of arts, crafts, food, and other wares plus entertainment galore. Around 40,000 people attend the family friendly fair, which runs concurrently with two other big events in the city. It is handicap and stroller friendly so that everyone can feel welcome and comfortable. Hours are Friday and Saturday, 10:00 to 8:00, and Sunday, 10:00 to 5:00.

Also in downtown Coeur d’Alene, check out A Taste of the Coeur d’Alenes, in the city park, with food booths from some of the finest restaurants in the area. This is a great way to sample some of those nice restaurants you have been wanting to try! You can also enjoy great free live music in the park while you relax in the large, grassy sitting areas.

Art on the Green 2010 Just a short walk away, or a short free shuttle ride that comes every thirty minutes if you are tired from walking around the street fair, is Art on the Green at the old Fort Sherman Grounds on the North Idaho College Campus. This event, in its forty-second year, brings together 135-plus artists, a variety of performers, over 500 volunteers, and 50,000 visitors for a celebration of art, creativity, and friendship. You can browse a large marketplace of original artist creations or try your hand at creating some of your own art in the hands-on sections for both children and adults, instruction provided. Two stages will showcase jazz, salsa, and Celtic music plus performances by the Lake City Playhouse, the Coeur d’Alene Opera, the Arte Flamenco Dance Theatre, and much more. Hours are Friday, noon to 7:30, Saturday, 10:00 to 7:30, and Sunday, 10:00 to 5:00.

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Cool off with a Day of Waterslides!

Written by Jack on July 16th, 2010

Splash Down Family Water Park in Spokane Valley, WA

The weather is finally hot in the Spokane area, so it is time to head to one of the several water amusement parks in the area. Here are the three best options in the region. If you are wondering why Wild Waters is not listed, it is because that park is closed for the summer to make improvements that will be unveiled in summer 2011. Grab your swimsuit and family and go play!

Splash Down Family Waterpark

Located in the Spokane Valley, this outdoor waterpark is the closest major facility to Spokane. Splash Down offers tall, straight drop slides for those who want to see just how fast they can go as well as long, curving slides and swimming pools. Be sure to check out some of the park’s newest attractions, including Splashketball, water balloon battles, Petey’s Lil Puffer Fish Lagoon with pools and slides for tots, and Frisbee golf. Low admission prices ($13–$16) and the option of bringing your own picnic or BBQ supplies make this an affordable day of fun for families. Although you can bring your own coolers in, alcohol is not allowed. Monday through Saturday, the park opens at 11:00 a.m., and Sunday it opens at noon. Generally, the park closes at 6:00 p.m., but on Tuesdays and Thursdays hours are extended to 8:00 p.m., with live music on Thursday nights. The address is 11127 East Mission Avenue, Spokane Valley, WA.

Boulder Beach at Silverwood Theme Park

Rumble Falls at Silverwood. Copyright Silverwood and Boulder Beach.

North Idaho’s Silverwood Theme Park is the largest theme park in the Northwest. Admission includes admittance to both the amusement park and the water park and costs $21.99 for kids 3–7 years old and $41.99 for general admission. If you are looking for a big park with incredible attractions, this is it. The large water park features long and high fast-paced slides (check out Avalanche Mountain, at 650 feet), but there are plenty of more relaxing options, such as Elkhorn Creek, a lazy river to float on with a tube. There is an area just for younger children as well as two large wave pools. One major advantage of this park is that if you don’t want a full day in the water, or if the weather turns less than sunny, you can always go enjoy the high-quality rides in Silverwood. Many Boulder Beach lovers advise waiting for a hot day, as the park is so large that visitors can do a lot of walking in wet bathing suits, and this can be a little uncomfortable on cooler summer days. No outside food or beverages are permitted in the park, but there are numerous restaurants, some with alcoholic drinks, and concession stands. Limited camping is available, which is great if you want to stay for two days or if you prefer to eat lunch in your RV; call for reservations. Both parks are open 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The address is 27843 N Highway 95, just north of Coeur d’ Alene.

Silver Rapids Indoor Waterpark at Silver Mountain Resort

Although this waterpark is for guests only at Silver Mountain Resort, it is definitely worth staying here if you are travelling with children in North Idaho. It is located in Kellogg, Idaho, just off I-90. Completely enclosed, this warm waterpark is fun in any weather. Although it is small compared to other area waterparks, there are a few great slides, and Silver Mountain makes great use of the space that is available. Several interactive play areas will keep toddlers and kids of any age happy for hours, including the FlowRider, a continuous wave that can be body boarded or surfed after some practice. Adults can enjoy hot tubs and a bar overlooking the water park area. If you do stay at Silver Mountain, you can easily make a week’s vacation out of it. The area is an incredible outdoors playground. You can take a scenic gondola ride to the top of the mountain and go for a nature walk, play disc golf, and eat at the Mountain Haus restaurant. There are also some great mountain biking opportunities in the area as well as several lakes. Summer hours for the waterpark are Monday through Thursday 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

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Museums in Spokane, WA: Part 2

Written by Jack on July 2nd, 2010

After our post about Spokane museums, a couple of readers suggested some lesser-known, but still fun, museums in the area. So if you are interested in history, be sure to check out these treasures. And, if you are travelling to the Spokane area this summer for vacation, Stratford Suites Extended Stay Hotel is your home away from home, with affordable luxury suites that include full kitchens, pillow-top mattresses, and 52-inch high-def. televisions.

North Spokane Farm Museum

A short, pretty drive fifteen miles north of Spokane, WA off state highway 395 leads you to the North Spokane Farm Museum. Follow the sign from the highway to the “Red Shed,” a 5,000 sq. ft. teach and touch museum that displays farm machinery and farm artifacts from 1850–1950. All the farm equipment has been painstakingly researched and restored to near its original splendor. You can also check out what life was like in the first half of the 1900s, with a working 50s kitchen, a 40s bedroom, a 20s kitchen, and the largest collection of Ironstone China in the Pacific Northwest, with more than thirty-six sets from 1850 to 1976.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. most days, but it is best to call ahead at 509-466-2744 to make sure the hosts are not out working in the field, as this Spokane-area museum is located on a real working farm.

Spokane Sea Services Museum

Captain of the USS Spokane

Are you interested in military or naval history? Then be sure to visit the Spokane Sea Services Museum, which began as just a few display cases at the local Reserve Center in 1987 and has grown to occupy its own building. It is located at the Naval & Marine Corps Reserve Readiness Center on 5101 N. Assembly Street and includes an entire room dedicated to the USS Spokane.

Ship’s memorabilia at the museum include the ship’s bell, a life ring, a holiday Union Jack, Storm Ensign, Watch Quarter, Station Bill, Battle Efficiency Plaque, official ship photographs, news clippings, original programs from the commissioning, sea stories, copies of the ship’s newspaper “The Spoke,” boiler room information plates, and a picture of the first CO with the USS SPOKANE Silver Service.

Museum hours are Wednesday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact Mike Webb at 509-270-5319 for more information.

Cheney Historical Museum

Located in Cheney, WA, the Cheney Historical Museum houses information and artifacts that tell the stories of the Four Lakes, Marshall, Cheney, Tyler, and Amber districts of southwest Spokane County. These communities were born from agriculture and railroads, so here you can learn about the typical experience of rural farming communities in the West, along with discovering the people and traditions that made these places unique. The collection was started in 1935 by the Tilicum Club, a women’s social and service organization, because they were asked by pioneer families to preserve items of their history.

The museum is open May through September, Thursdays and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Fridays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. October through April, the Cheney Historical Museum is open Fridays only 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 509-235-2202 for more information.

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Spokane’s 4th of July Festival Jam-Packed with Music and Fun

Written by Jack on June 28th, 2010

Fireworks show in Riverfront Park, Spokane, WA

Sure, Spokane, WA has a spectacular fireworks extravaganza on July 4th, but the fireworks show is the culmination of two full days of revelry in Riverfront Park. Spokane’s 4th of July Festival begins on Saturday, July 3. All day long, you can watch live music at three different outdoor stages, including an American Idol competition with Spokane’s top ten competitors, the Spokane Jazz Orchestra, a dozen or so popular local/regional bands, and a karaoke competition. On Saturday night, don’t miss Ignite Community Theatre’s presentation of the melodrama Blazing Guns at Roaring Gulch (7:30 p.m.) followed by a showing of the film The Basket, which was filmed right here in Spokane. Roving performers will entertain you while you walk around. The shows are all free and fun for the whole family. For the complete schedule, go to the Riverfront Park website.

The historic Loof Carousel in Riverfront Park

Riverfront Park will also offer specials on day passes all weekend for the park’s many attractions including the historic Loof Carousel, the IMAX theater, amusement rides, and the Spokane Falls SkyRide gondola. Food choices will be diverse, with an international selection of food booths, and beer and wine will be available at the Boulevard Bistro. You can also browse exhibitor booths and enjoy art activities and games.

Do you have something you’ve been dying to say on stage? Sign up for a five-minute slot on the Freedom of Speech stage, which will be open on both days.

The big finale fireworks show starts at 10:00 p.m. on Sunday. If you want the best seats, you can purchase reserved seating tickets for $8.00, which includes a collectible stadium seat cushion. Tickets can be purchased at Riverfront Park’s Guest Services or by calling 509-625-6602 (there will be a $3.50 handling fee for phone transactions.) Quantities are limited and will be on sale until July 1, 2010 based on availability.

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Father’s Day: A Tradition that Started in Spokane

Written by Jack on June 17th, 2010

Spokane Celebrates 100 Years of Father’s Day June 20!

June 20, 2010, marks the 100th Father’s Day, a holiday that began right here in Spokane, WA. Local resident Sonora Smart Dodd, who is often referred to as the “Mother of Father’s Day, was inspired to propose a day to celebrate fathers after hearing a sermon on Mother’s Day in 1909. Dodd’s mother had died in 1898, so her father raised her and her five younger brothers alone on a remote farm in Eastern Washington. With help from her pastor at Old Centenary Presbyterian Church (now Knox Presbyterian Church), Reverend Dr. Conrad Bluhm, Dodd made a proposal for Father’s Day to the Spokane YMCA. That organization, along with the Ministerial Alliance, endorsed the idea and celebrated the first Father’s Day on June 19, 1910, with sermons honoring fathers presented throughout Spokane.

The rest of the nation eventually caught on: in 1924, President Calvin Coolidge recognized Father’s Day and urged the states to do likewise; in 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a proclamation calling for the third Sunday in June to be recognized as Father’s Day; and in 1972, President Richard M. Nixon signed a proclamation permanently observing Father’s Day on the third Sunday in June. Today Father’s Day is celebrated from Antigua to Zimbabwe in over fifty countries around the world.

Traveling to Spokane for Father’s Day? You can book your luxurious, affordable suite at Stratford Suites today and enjoy a 50 inch hi-def. television and pillow-top mattresses in every room.

Here are just a few Father’s Day event highlights in Spokane, WA:

Father’s Day 100th Anniversary Tour by Group Coordinators

Numerous options are available for a fun-filled tour that Dad will love. On Friday, June 18 and Saturday, June 19, group tours will be given for wine tasting, beer tasting, Spokane Symphony at the Fox performances, Spokane nightlife, golfing, and more. Check out the options at groupcoordinators.com/sonora-dodd.php. Reservations can be made by calling 509-455-4354 or emailing julie@groupcoordinators.com.

Dad/Daughter Style Class

Saturday, June 19, 11 a.m.
Workshop for dads to learn more about styling their daughter’s hair for picture day and special events, because mom isn’t always available.

Haute Headz
1505 N. Ash
Spokane, WA 99205

Reservations: 509.838.2280; $30 for one daughter; $5 for additional

Garage Mahal Tour

Saturday, June 19, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Take Dad on a one-of-a-kind tour that ends with a feast from Longhorn Barbeque. Sights include the oldest flying Boeing at Felts Field, the new Pullman train car museum at the Spokane County Fair & Expo Center, a behind-the-scenes tour of McKay Manufacturing, and Gary Hite’s custom motorcycle shop and museum with motorcycles by Harley Davidson, Merkel, and others spanning more than 100 years of technology.

Get your tickets at the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture or Longhorn Barbeque. For more information, go to the museum’s website.

Spokane Indians Baseball

June 20, 3:30 p.m.
The Spokane Indians will salute fathers while playing against the Tri-City Dust Devils by wearing light blue jerseys, running light blue bases, and holding a silent auction benefitting Bat for the Cure.

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Spokane Parks Concert Season is Here

Written by admin on June 2nd, 2010

copyright 2010 Riverfront Park

Catch Some Great Live Music Under the Stars

Spokane, WA typically has warm to hot summer nights that are perfect for outdoor concerts. If you are visiting the area for business or vacation, be sure to check out some quality live music in Spokane’s two best-known parks: Manito Park and Riverfront Park. Great music is worth travelling for, and if you are coming to Spokane for a summer show, you can make a fantastic trip by staying at Stratford Suites affordable luxury hotel. Every room has pillow-top mattresses, a full kitchen, leather furniture, and a 50” hi-def. television. Ask about our shop and stay packages, which include a gift certificate to River Park Square mall.

Free Live Music Friday Nights at Manito Park All Summer Long

Starting Friday, June 4, you can relax in the beautiful ambiance of Spokane’s South Hill botanical wonder, Manito Park, and enjoy free live music. The concerts are held at the Manito Park Bench Café (between Mirror Pond and Duncan Gardens) every Friday at 6:00 p.m. Delicious food is available as well as many refreshing summer beverages, including beer and wine. This summer’s lineup includes a diversity of music, including classical guitar and pop/rock, with performances by Paul Grove, Sidhe, Trailer Park Girls, Just Plain Darin, and Matt Russell. For the full schedule, view the poster here.

Mozart in Manito July 13th and 14th

It is hard to imagine a more idyllic setting for listening to a great performance of Mozart than Spokane’s Manito Park on a summer evening. Connoisseur Concerts will present the 20th annual Mozart On A Summer’s Eve, on Tuesday, July 13 at 7:00 p.m. with a repeat performance on Wednesday, July 14 at 7:00 p.m. on the lawn east of Duncan Gardens in Manito Park. Connoisseur Concerts’ Wind Ensemble, directed by Verne Windham, Music Director of Mozart On A Summer’s Eve, will perform, with special guest artists to be announced.

Tickets are $25 for table seating, which includes a gourmet dessert and coffee provided by Luna Restaurant. Tables for eight can be reserved for $200. Tables will be set up at 5:30 p.m. for ticket holders who wish to have a potluck or picnic before the show. Tickets for lawn seating for those who bring their own blankets or chairs are $10 per person and are for the concert only with no food or beverage service. Tickets are available at TicketsWest outlets, by phone at 325-SEAT (1-800-325-SEAT outside Spokane), or online at www.ticketswest.com

Live Music at Riverfront Park This Summer

Riverfront Park, Spokane’s sprawling, magnificent park located downtown on the Spokane River Falls, hosts a wide array of musical acts throughout the summer in their spacious grass meadows. While you are there, be sure to allow some extra time to stroll around the park and explore its numerous attractions, including the historic Loof Carousel, Spokane Falls Gondola Skyride, IMAX Theater, and amusement rides. Below is a listing of some musical highlights in the next couple of months:

Friday, June 18, noon: KPBX Kids Concert with the Spokane British Brass Ensemble, free.

Sunday, June 20, 6:00 p.m.: Slightly Stoopid Concert, $20.00–$35.00.

Saturday, July 3 and Sunday, July 4: live music all day, check http://spokaneriverfrontpark.com/ for schedules.

Sunday, July 25, 9:00 p.m.: Allegro’s Royal Fireworks Concert, on the floating stage, fireworks to George Frederick Handel’s Musick for the Royal Fireworks, 1749, free.

Wednesday, August 18, 7:00 p.m.: The Doobie Brothers, classic rock, $39.50–$49.50.

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Come to ArtFest 2010 and Celebrate Summer!

Written by admin on May 27th, 2010

copyright Northwest Museum of Art and Culture

June 4–6, Browne’s Addition, Spokane, WA

Don’t miss the 25th annual Northwest Museum of Art & Culture ArtFest on June 4–6 in beautiful Coeur d’ Alene Park (located just west of downtown Spokane on 2nd Ave.).

Much more than your usual arts and crafts fair, this event draws 30,000 people to enjoy quality artistic works in several mediums, artisan food (plus a beer and wine garden), music, and many activities. In addition to seeing and purchasing some fine art from talented regional artists, you can see how the art is made through live artist demonstrations of soldering stained glass, pottery wheel throwing, yarn spinning, making art with recyclable materials, watercolor, and mixed media techniques. Who knows, it might inspire you to take up a new hobby! Fourteen great music acts will keep ArtFest hopping, with styles ranging from Celtic to blues to Latin.

ArtFest 2010 is a family friendly event, with marvels including magicians, stilt walkers, and “bubbillusionists” as well as the ever-popular Make It Art area (geared for ages 3+), where kids and kids-at-heart can have their faces painted and create and take home crafts such as fish windsocks, flower leis, jewelry, and fish prints. If you will be travelling to this event from out of town with children, remember that Stratford Suites Spokane Area Hotel will make your family comfortable and happy with private bedrooms, full kitchens, and 50-inch high-def. televisions with cable and DVD players.

copyright Northwest Museum of Art and Culture

ArtFest 2010, one of the Northwest’s most respected and dynamic art fairs, runs on Friday from noon to 8:00 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., but on Friday and Saturday nights, the music will keep playing and the beer and wine garden will keep serving until 10 p.m.

Are you looking for a great hotel in Spokane? Whether you are travelling to ArtFest to display and sell your art or to experience it as a visitor, Stratford Suites offers you the best lodging value in the Spokane area and is just ten minutes from Coeur d’Alene Park. Call 509-321-1600 or 888-705-8877 for reservations.

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Museums in Spokane, WA

Written by admin on May 20th, 2010

Visit Spokane’s museums to learn about the history of the region, view some excellent art, and have fun with the family. The museums listed below offer entertainment for residents and visitors alike. If you are on vacation with children, Stratford Suites Extended Stay Hotel is a convenient, comfortable choice for lodging. Two-room suites are available to provide plenty of room and privacy for families, and all of the large, beautifully appointed rooms have a full kitchen, so you can save by eating in.

Northwest Museum of Art and Culture

Northwest Museum of Art and Culture and the Campbell House

Known as the “MAC,” the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture houses an impressive array of historical and modern art exhibits. Summer 2010 exhibits include Ruben Trejo: Beyond Boundaries, Aztlán y más allá (Trejo, who recently passed away, was one of the region’s most important and respected artists); Living Legacy: The American Indian Collection; Harold Balazs (one of the region’s best-known artists); and Mestizo: Collections and Cultural Fusions.

Campbell House. Copyright Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture

Right next door to the MAC, the historic turn-of-the-20th-century Campbell House is an English Tudor Revival beauty, with fully restored luxurious rooms that give you an insight into the life of the wealthy who made their fortunes in the region’s lucrative mining industry. Forty-five minute guided tours inform visitors of the life and times of the house’s original inhabitants.

Where: 2316 W. First Avenue

Cost: $7, $5 for seniors and students, children under 5 free.

Mobius Kids

Got kids? Take them to Mobius Kids Museum and let their imaginations run wild as they engage in exciting activities with high educational value. Kids can learn about far-away cultures by bargaining at a Filipino rural town store, take control of city traffic signals to learn about traffic and bicycle safety, listen to guest storytellers in the Globe Theatre, create original art, and more! The museum averages over 65,000 visitors annually and is a top-tier children’s museum in Eastern Washington.

Where: 808 W. Main, River Park Square Mall, lower level

Cost: $5.75, babies under 12 months free (and yes, there is plenty of fun to occupy babies and crawlers)

Spokane Valley Heritage Museum

Visit this cultural museum to get a feel for what it was like to live in a growing Western town over 100 years ago. The Spokane Valley Heritage Museum chronicles 150 years of the city of Spokane Valley, WA, from its first settler in 1849 through today.

Irrigation Brings Life to the Valley Exhibit

Located in the last remaining township hall in the state of Washington, this museum features historic photos, inspiring exhibits, and fascinating artifacts.

Where: 12114 E. Sprague Avenue

Cost: $4–$6

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the essential guide to spokane :: presented by stratford suites

copyright 2010 Riverfront Park Catch Some Great Live Music Under the Stars

copyright Northwest Museum of Art and Culture June 4–6, Browne’s Addition, Spokane, WA

Northwest Museum of Art and Culture Northwest Museum of Art and Culture and the Campbell House

Mobius Kids

Spokane Valley Heritage Museum

copyright 2010 Riverfront Park

Catch Some Great Live Music Under the Stars

copyright Northwest Museum of Art and Culture

June 4–6, Browne’s Addition, Spokane, WA

Northwest Museum of Art and Culture

Northwest Museum of Art and Culture and the Campbell House