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Spokane’s Top Valentine’s Day Dates

Tuesday, February 5th, 2013

There are myriad ways to celebrate with your sweetheart beyond dinner and a box of chocolates. Here is your inspiration guide—five fabulous ideas for a fun, memorable date.

Couples’ Massage

Enjoy a relaxing, side-by-side massage treatment that will leave you both feeling good. Northern Quest Resort and Casino’s La Rive Spa in Airway Heights has two couples options, one that includes a candlelight, in-room massage in your suite if you stay there, and one that provides massages for two in a private room. Call 509-481-6108 to book an appointment.

Brick House Massage and Coffee Bar in Spokane Valley is currently running “The Perfect Pair for Two” special, a side-by-side full body massage and classic or sports pedicure with candles, rose petals, lattes, truffles, and a take-home gift. Call 509-891-1999 to schedule.

Urbanna Spa in the Gonzaga University area of Spokane offers a candlelight couples massage. Book yours and receive a Valentine’s Day bonus of a free leg polish or hot stones on the back. Call 509-747-7-76 or book online.

Valenwine Weekend at Spokane Wineries

Wine, cookies, and chocolate? Yes, please! Saturday and Sunday, February 9 and 10, Spokane Winery Association wineries will be open from noon to 6:00 p.m. for wine tasting paired with sweets. You can also enter to win another great date—Spokane Symphony tickets—at all locations. Many wineries will offer discount specials for this event, so you can buy some great wine for celebrating again on February 14. Click here for a map of wineries. Tasting fees apply and are usually applicable to a wine purchase.

Date Pass at Riverfront Park

Get the new Date Pass from Riverfront Park and play in the park with someone special. For only $30 per couple, you will enjoy ice skating, mini-golf, and a beautiful Sky Ride over the Spokane River. The pass is good on Saturdays and Sundays through March 3. Walking through the snowy park and taking in river views are free and fun activities to complete your date.

Night Skiing at Mt. Spokane

Here is a healthy, exhilarating date idea. Mt .Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park is just 28 miles from downtown Spokane. Night skiing is open Wednesday through Saturday nights, 3:30–9:30 p.m., for only $20. Buy your tickets online ahead of time to save even more!

Take a Dance Class

Pick up a new, romantic hobby to do with your partner! Simply Dance Studio in downtown Spokane makes it easy to try out new dances, and they offer social dances for couples to practice their new steps. Saturday night salsa is an especially good choice for celebrating Valentine’s Day. Learn steps during a lesson at 8:15, then dance the night away until 1:00 a.m. Or if swing is more your style, come to a lesson at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, February 8, followed by open dancing until 11:00 p.m. Check the calendar for schedules.

Things to Do in Spokane: 2013 Calendar of Events

Saturday, January 12th, 2013

Spokane is a vibrant, fun, beautiful city to visit any time of the year. Something is always going on! Below is a list, by no means complete, of some of the most popular annual events that draw people from all over the region.

From Garden in the Sea, one of the films being shown at the 2013 Spokane International Film Festival.

Spokane International Film Festival, February 1–10

This is a golden opportunity to see some of the previous year’s best films from all over the world on the big screen. Some of them may not ever be available on DVD in the United States. Festival passes are available. Individual tickets go on sale online January 12 and range from $5.00–$10.00. Films will be shown downtown in the Magic Lantern Theatre and the Bing Crosby Theater. Click here for a list of this year’s selected films.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade, March 16

Spokane celebrates all things Irish as well as a sense of community with a festive parade through downtown Spokane. Marching bands, creative floats, school groups from around the region, and dancing are some of the sights to be had. Come early to stake out a good place to watch! Click here for the parade route.

Lilac Bloomsday Run, May 5

The first Sunday of every May, runners, walkers, and people using wheelchairs trek 12 km (7.46 miles) in and around downtown Spokane, WA in one of the nation’s largest annual foot races. Elite runners competing for the championships come from all over the world, but many more people are there for the fun of it. Flamboyant costumes, creative team themes, and great on-course entertainment are guaranteed to help distract you from the physical exertion. You can register online anytime through April 21 for $17 plus $1.69 online processing fee. Beginning March 1, mail-in forms will be available at various locations around town (must be postmarked by April 16).

Spokane Lilac Festival, May 18

Spokane is known for its gorgeous, though short-lived, lilacs that bloom in the spring. Each year, at around the time the lilacs are blooming, the community celebrates with a big torchlight parade, a car show, and several other events featuring the Lilac Royalty (princesses and a queen). The main events are on Saturday, May 18. The Cruzin’ the Falls Classic Car Show runs 10 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. downtown on Spokane Falls Boulevard, and the 75th Spokane Lilac Festival Diamond Anniversary Armed Forces Torchlight Parade starts at 7:45, also downtown. Click here for a full list of Lilac Festival events.

IRONMAN Coeur d’Alene, June 23

Coeur d’Alene’s IRONMAN triathlon course is one of the most scenic in the nation. Competitors swim two loops (2.4 miles total) in beautiful Lake Coeur d’Alene, cycle two loops (112 miles total) through rural, scenic North Idaho, and run two loops (26.2 miles total) parallel to the lake. Spectators cheer on the athletes during the running course. There will be 50 qualifying Age Group slots to the IRONMAN World Championship on offer at the 2013 IRONMAN Coeur d’Alene. About 2,800 people participate.

This very popular event is already sold out for general entries, but there are still Ironman Foundation entry fee spots available ($1,250, half of which goes to the Ironman Foundation). Come and support a competing athlete you know or just watch this incredible feat of endurance!

Hoopfest, June 29–30

This is the largest 3-on-3 street basketball tournament in the world, with over 7,000 teams and almost 28,000 players in 2012. People of all abilities can put together a team and register, but the youngest players must be entering the third grade in fall of 2013. From the 3BA Elite Division to occasional players, there is a bracket for everyone, and prizes are awarded to the winners in each bracket. Registration opens March 15. If you want to be actively involved without playing, volunteer! Hoopfest is made possible by 3,000 people who volunteer their time.

Independence Day Festival, July 4

Music and other live entertainment, food, vendors, community booths, and fireworks at dusk at Riverfront Park.

The Dirty Dash

The Spokane Dirty Dash,  July 13

At the Riverside State Park Equestrian Area on July 13, you can stomp in puddles all you want, whether you are 8 or 80, and no one will care that you are ruining your shoes and splattering everyone around you. In fact, it’s actually the point of the event to get just as filthy as you possibly can while negotiating a slippery, 3.5 mile obstacle course of walls, mud hills, pipes, giant slip ‘n slides, and more features. There is even a “Beer Chug Obstacle” (root beer also available) where you will chug a beer before attempting the challenge (for beer, you must present your ID and get a wrist band before the race starts). There is also a shorter Piglet Plunge for ages 2–12 (must be accompanied by a parent, $20 to register), a 1-mile course with kid-friendly obstacles and features like the “Hog Wash” and the “Pig Sty.”

Register as a team or an individual. Costumes, bad mustaches, and outrageous hair are highly encouraged, and you might just win prizes for them, along with other creative categories. Cost is $35.00 through January 31, then it goes up gradually until July 10, when it is $55.00.

Pig Out in the Park, Labor Day Weekend

Don’t miss one of the best free music festivals in the Northwest, held in Riverfront Park. This huge, six-day celebration begins on the Wednesday before Labor Day. Three stages plus roving entertainment provide something for everyone. Of course, there are also about 54 food booths offering up all kinds of cuisine, from foot-long hot dogs to samosas. Local and regional bands as well as national headliners play.

Spokane County Interstate Fair, September 6–15

It’s all here—farm animals, amusement rides, rodeo, live music, art, crafts, giant produce, wickedly good junk food, trinkets, antique machinery, and much more. The fair ushers in the fall; it’s the last big summer weather event. Watch the website for details of the 2013 fair as they become available!

Spokane Oktoberfest

Spokane Oktoberfest, September

The exact dates have not been announced yet, but in the second half of September, the 4th annual Spokane Oktoberfest will be held in Riverfront Park. This 21-and-older event features a large variety of Washington state beers for tasting. Live music, German concession food, and an Oktoberfest costume contest are all part of the fun.

Green Bluff Growers Festivals, May through December

Green Bluff, home to a few dozen farms, is located about 15 miles north of Spokane in the scenic foothills of Mt. Spokane. During the summer and fall, you can visit growers and buy food directly where it is grown. You can even pick your own berries, tree fruits, pumpkins, and more. On festival weekends, farmers and shops offer live music, farm-fresh cuisine, tours, and more. Some farms have play areas for kids, petting zoos, wagon rides, and corn mazes. There are even wineries and candy makers to visit.

Green Bluff farms open up to the public beginning with the Blooms on the Bluff (flowers, plants, crafts) on Mother’s Day Weekend. At the end of June and beginning of July, you can enjoy some super fresh, sweet, local strawberries during the Strawberry Festival. Next is the Cherry Festival, two weekends in July, including the Cherry Picker’s Trot annual fun run. The Peach Festival runs late August through Labor Day, and the Apple Festival is late September to the end of October. You can even come back for holiday shopping during Holiday Memories November 23 through December 24 and cut your own Christmas tree or pick up unique, local food gifts. Each farm has its own hours and events. Click here for the growers’ map, from which you can access information pages for each farm

Do Your Snow Dance and the Skiing Will Come!

Thursday, November 29th, 2012

Copyright Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park.

I’ll just get the bad news out of the way. The latest snow forecast from AccuWeather.com predicts below normal snowfall for the Northwest. So it probably will not be an epic powder season. The good news is that there are six ski resorts to choose from within three hours of Spokane, and if you don’t feel comfortable betting on a season pass for any individual resort, many offer great deals on smaller ticket packages.

Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park is less than an hour’s drive from Spokane, which has become a more important feature as gas prices have continued to rise recently. In addition to a terrain park with almost a mile of progression-oriented kickers, hits, and jibs for all skill levels and five chairlifts for 45 runs, Mt. Spokane is known for its plentiful night skiing (50 nights, 16 runs, only $20) and the Children’s Choice Tubing Hill (open on weekends, $10 per 1.5-hour session and free for kids under 42” tall). This year, you can enjoy the newly updated lodge, which now offers 100 more seats, a new deck, and four big screen TVs.

Looking for a deal? Through December 31, you can purchase a stocking stuffer package of three adult lift tickets, four college student lift tickets, or five youth lift tickets for $99. Click here for season pass prices and the special deals you receive at other area resorts with your purchase.

49 Degrees North Terrain Park. Copyright 40 Degrees North Mountain Resort.

Silver Mountain Resort is a wonderful family getaway destination only an hour from Spokane. Skiers and snowboarders will appreciate the two mountains of terrain, with a terrain park and 73 runs to choose from. The mountains average 300” of snow per year. You don’t have to drive up a long, winding road to arrive, but instead are transported from the base village up to the slopes on a scenic, 3-mile gondola ride. Silver Mountain also features a four lane snow tube park. Click here for lift ticket and tubing prices. If you stay at the resort’s Morning Star Lodge, you’ll have access to Idaho’s largest indoor waterpark, which is always a cozy 84 degrees.

49 Degrees North Mountain Resort also averages 300” inches of snow per year. This family friendly resort is about one hour and 45 minutes from Spokane. 49 Degrees North has seven lifts, 82 marked trails, a terrain park, and cross country and snowshoe trails. With a wonderfully easy bunny hill and 30% of its trails appropriate for beginners (40% intermediate, 25% advanced, 5% expert), this is a great place to learn to ski and to bring the whole family. New this season is the opening of the Angel Peak double chairlift to serve the seven runs and nearly 200 acres of glade terrain added three years ago to Angel Peak. Check out the events calendar for fun special days like women’s snowshoe day and a few night skiing sessions. Click here for season ticket prices.

Schweitzer Mountain Resort is one of the largest ski resorts in North America. It’s about two hours from Spokane, near beautiful Lake Pend Oreille. An efficient network of nine lifts service 2900 acres offering 92 trails plus open bowl skiing and three terrain parks. This is a great place for experienced skiers, with 10% beginner, 40% intermediate, 35% advanced, 15% expert terrain.

Night skiing and night tubing (great date idea!) are open Fridays, Saturdays, and holidays for pretty much the whole season. Tubing and zip line rides are also available during the day on weekends. Click here for the schedule. Zip line rides are 700 feet long and offer scenic views of Lake Pend Oreille. You can also enjoy cat skiing and guided snowmobile tours. Average snowfall is 300”. Click here for ticket prices.

Lookout Pass Ski Area is located on the Idaho/Montana border two and a half hours from Spokane. It’s safe to say that this resort will be more insulated from the below average snowfall impact than the resorts listed above. From the Lookout Pass website: “Forest Service and NOAA records confirm that Lookout Pass is blessed with light, dry powder earlier and more often than any region in the state—an average of 400 inches a season! And because our slopes face northeast, all that great snow is protected from wind and weather. Lookout has NEVER closed due to inclement weather!” It has three terrain parks for freestyle snowboarding, including a beginner’s level park and an all-natural park in which all features are made of trees that needed to be cut down. Lookout Pass offers a free ski/snowboard school for kids 6–17 years old on Saturdays from January 12 through March 31. Four chairs serve 34 runs.

Rossland, British Columbia.

Red Mountain Resort is worth the drive to Canada. Three hours from Spokane, Red Mountain Resort is famous for champagne powder (average 300” a year) and incredible gladed tree skiing. New this year, adventurous skiers can take a snowcat ride to the new expansion area, Grey Mountain, for advanced ski experiences on un-groomed slopes and glades. On the other two mountains in the resort’s expansive boundaries, there are six lifts and 88 runs. Five different backcountry peaks are easily accessible from the resort’s boundary.

Just this year, Red Mountain Resort was ranked by POWDER magazine as the number four best resort in North America, by the SBC Resort Guide as the third best terrain in Western Canada, and by Skiing Magazine as the most underrated ski resort. Since it is a bit of a drive, you may want to get a multi-day pass and spend a few days here. The charming, friendly ski-bum town of Rossland is just a few minutes down the highway.

You can save with the Vertical Value Card, available only through December 24. For $55–$79, you get your first, fourth, and seventh days free, plus value pricing on full day tickets for another five visits. Click here for lift ticket prices.

Fun for All Ages at Valleyfest, September 21—23, 2012

Thursday, September 20th, 2012

This weekend, the City of Spokane Valley will host its biggest celebration of the year, with a parade, hot air balloons, gourmet food and wine tasting, bicycling and running events, live music, and more. Valleyfest began in 1990; its mission “is to showcase the talent that enriches our community and give exposure of the visual and performing arts, education, science, and recreation to those families who might otherwise not have the means to experience them.”

Float at Hearts of Gold ParadeFriday night, bring your family to see the Hearts of Gold parade, which starts at 7:30 p.m. at Sprague Avenue at Appleway Florist and travels east to the Spokane Heritage Museum. The parade will feature lighted floats, mascots, dancers, classic cars, and fire trucks.

CenterPlace Regional Event Center will host several fun activities on Saturday:

  • Start your day with a pancake breakfast from 7:00 to 10:30 a.m. Volunteers will be preparing and serving a hot breakfast of pancakes, eggs, sausage, and bacon, plus your choice of coffee, juice, or milk. The price is $7 for adults, $3 for kids 3–6, and free for kids 2 and under. Click here for a $1 discount coupon!
  • Parents and expectant parents can attend educational workshops and movies and visit baby-themed exhibitions at BabyFest 2012. BabyFest runs from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is free.
  • Look at the stars under a roof at the Stargazer Planetarium from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  • At Taste of the Valley, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., you can sample regional wines, enjoy hors d’oeuvres, and listen to live music on the patio. Tickets are $30 and must be purchased by Friday.
  • Valleyfest Car Show will be held on the grass outside CenterPlace. Registration is 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. and is $10.00 per vehicle. Lowco’s car club is hosting and judging the event, with awards given at 3:30 p.m.
  • Throughout the day, the CenterPlace patio stage will offer live music and comedy. Click here for a schedule.

Mirabeau Point Park, located next to the CenterPlace Event Center, will have plenty of fun things to do and see:

  • The Spokane Astronomical Society will be around all day Saturday to hand out free DVD’s and other prizes and to let people look through telescopes of all different sizes. You can view sunspots and solar flares with special telescope filters, and in the evening, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Saturday, the group will host a night sky viewing. Come see the galaxy and learn what you are looking at in the night sky!
  • hot air balloonWeather permitting, Balloons over Valleyfest will launch hot air balloons from the park at 6:40 a.m. on Friday. At 5:00 a.m., you can come and view the “Morning Glow” of the lit balloons before takeoff. Saturday and Sunday, the balloons will launch at 6:35 a.m. Saturday night at 8:00 p.m., the lit balloons will be on display for “Night Glow.”
  • Sunday, bring your bike for the Spokane River Centennial Trail Bike Ride. Meet at the Mirabeau Point Park North Centennial Trail Head at 11:00 a.m. for check-in ($10.00 for ages 11 and over and $5.00 for ages 10 and under). The ride starts at noon, and you can choose from four routes ranging from 6.8 to 15.6 miles. All routes are loops that finish back at Mirabeau Park. Pre-register here.
  • If walking is more your style, you can register for the Step up for Down Syndrome Walk, which starts Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at the Discovery Playground at Mirabeau Point Park. Or race in the 5k/10k Run for a Cause on Sunday at 8:30 a.m., which benefits education, research, and advocacy programs for Down Syndrome. Registration for the run is $15 before Sept 20 or $25 if registered after September 20, 2012.
  • Saturday and Sunday, the Family Stage will feature performers of various kinds, including music and dancing. Click here for a schedule.
  • The Meadow Festival Stage will also feature live music and dancing Saturday and Sunday. Click here for a schedule.
  • All weekend long, there are fun activities for the whole family, including toy making, fishing for kids, the Go Green Zone, an Oreo stacking contest for kids, and a free outdoor movie.

Get Away without Going Far: Lakeside Fun at Coeur d’Alene, ID

Tuesday, July 31st, 2012

Lake Coeur d’Alene

You don’t need to spend a lot of time and money traveling to far-flung destinations to enjoy a relaxing or adventurous getaway. Coeur d’Alene in the summertime is a wonderful place to visit, and it is just 38 minutes east on I-90 from Spokane. You can either make it a day trip from Spokane or take a few days and stay in the lakeside resort town. If you are staying in Spokane, or want to go to Coeur d’Alene as part of a staycation in the Spokane area, stay at Stratford Suites, located close to the Spokane airport, and enjoy the comfort of an upscale furnished townhouse at an affordable rate. Use the money you might have spent on plane tickets or gas for more play!

 

You can spend a couple of days just hanging out at the waterfront of Lake Coeur d’ Alene. Play in the water at the sandy city beach, stroll the world’s longest floating boardwalk at the Coeur d’Alene Resort, and hike at Tubbs Hill, a 120-acre waterfront preserve on the downtown waterfront. Board a daily scenic lake cruise or make your own adventure with a kayak, stand-up paddle board, or jet boat/jet ski—all are available to rent.

This city also has excellent shopping, restaurants, wine bars, and art galleries, all located in the very walkable, quaint downtown area.

Coeur d’Alene is situated in a playground of the great outdoors, with great fishing, camping, and hiking very close by. Check the Forest Service website for more information.  For whitewater rafting, check out ROW Adventures’ trips on the Wild and Scenic St. Joe River.

The Coeur d'Alene Resort

There are numerous options for lodging, including lakefront vacation rentals, but if you want to treat yourself, the obvious choice is the luxurious Coeur d’Alene Resort. From here, you can walk to the beach and downtown. The hotel houses several fine restaurants and a spa, plus a posh golf course with the world’s only floating green. Summer rates average $199–$499. Click here for package specials that will save you money, especially for families.

If you have kids, or if you like to play like a kid, add a day or two to your trip for Silverwood Theme Park, just minutes north of Coeur d’Alene on Highway 95. This is also a popular day trip destination from Spokane. It’s the Northwest’s largest theme park, with huge roller coasters, water rides, and entertainment. There are two sides to the park—the dry and the wet. Boulder Beach Water Park offers slides, wave pools, and areas just for toddlers and kids. There is a lot to do, and you should expect to spend a full day on either side. Admission is $21.99–$42.99. If you purchase your tickets online, they are a couple of bucks cheaper, and a discount is given for multi-day passes. Costco also sometimes has discount tickets.

For more information to help you plan a vacation in Coeur d’Alene, go to Coeurdalene.org and CDAdowntown.com.

Do Something Extraordinary for Mom This Mother’s Day! Fun Spokane Mother’s Day Outings

Thursday, May 3rd, 2012

Mother’s Day Tour of the Rockwood Historical District

On May 12 or 13, 12–4 p.m., take Mom on a walking tour of six houses in the historic Rockwood neighborhood on Spokane’s south hill. The 23rd annual MAC (Museum of Arts and Culture) Mother’s Day Tour is presented by the Historic Preservation Committee of the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture. The nationally renowned Olmsted Brothers landscape architects designed the layout of this distinctive neighborhood. It is home to a variety of architectural styles from the first half of the 20th century. Architectural styles bridge the gap between the waning days of Spokane’s “Age of Elegance” and the new generation of designers and builders who left their imprint on Spokane’s built environment during the 1930s and 1940s. Tickets on sale now at MAC Admissions (Wednesday–Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and during the tour weekend (12–4 p.m.) at two of the houses on display: 527 E. Rockwood Blvd and 2105 S. Rockwood Blvd. Tickets are $12 for MAC members and $18 for non-members.

Mother’s Day Raft

Get your adrenaline rushing with a rafting trip on the lower Spokane River! Think of it as a great mother/child/partner/sibling bonding opportunity. For just $99 for two people (each additional person is $49), Spokane Parks and Recreation will take you and a special Mom you love (provided you are both at least 16 years old) on a memorable float on Sunday, May 13, 2–4 p.m. Register here and do it soon because there are only ten spots available!

Some of Barrister’s award-winning wines. Copyright 2012 Barrister Winery.

Spokane Winery Association Spring Release Weekend Take Mom on a tasting tour of Spokane’s many excellent wineries. For winemakers, spring is a time of celebration that typically marks the end of the winemaking season and the start of a new wine year. On Mother’s Day weekend, all 19 (yes, Spokane has 19 wineries!) Spokane Winery Association members, plus the Cougar Crest tasting room and Nectar wine bar open their doors and invite people to sample new wines along with current vintages and talk to wine experts. Every knowledge level is welcome; this is not a snobbish wine event! Hours are 12–6 p.m., May 11–13. Most wineries charge a $5 tasting fee, which is generally credited toward any bottle of wine that you like enough to take home. My family takes Mom to this every year and it is always a blast, even for Dad, who doesn’t really care for wine. See you there!

Take Her Out to the Theatre for Mother’s Day!

Mothers are often too busy to enjoy the pleasures of going out to a nice show. Treat her to a live play performance for Mother’s Day. Interplayers Professional Theatre is showing a comedy called Taking Steps through May 20 (no show on Mother’s Day Sunday but there are performances Wednesday through Saturday before Mother’s Day). Click here or call the box office at 509-455-7529 for tickets, which are $15–$24. Spokane Civic Theatre is showing “Premier!,” a comedy written by the author of Man of La Mancha and One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest through June 3. Click here or call the box office at 509-325-2507 for tickets. All tickets are $19.

Listen to Your Mother Spokane Live Reading

In honor of Mother’s Day, local mothers who write and publish online will take the stage and read on Sunday, May 13, 7:00 p.m., at the Bing Crosby Theatre. Listen to Your Mother is a national series of live readings directed, produced, and performed by local communities. Tickets are $12 through TicketsWest or $15 at the door (cash only).

Head to the Great White North for Affordable Late Season Powder: Red Mountain Resort

Wednesday, February 29th, 2012

Red Mountain Resort gets 300 inches of snow a year.

Did you know that one of the top ski resorts in the world is just a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Spokane? Red Mountain Resort is situated in the beautiful triangle of British Columbia known as “B.C.’s powder bowl” near Rossland, recently voted Canada’s #1 outdoor town by Explore magazine. Right now, you can experience Red Mountain’s prime conditions at a great discount with the spring 4-pack deal—buy a pack of four lift tickets at 25% off. The tickets are fully transferable.

Skiing at Red Mountain

Red has been called one of the Top Ten Resorts of North America by Forbes Magazine. The average snowfall is around 300 inches, and the area is known and loved for its champagne powder. You can explore 88 runs with six lifts that have short lines. There are plenty of runs for beginners and intermediate skiers, and Red also has some of the most challenging terrain found anywhere and world-renowned tree skiing.

If you stay at Red Mountain Resort Lodge, your kids 12 and under ski free with an adult lift ticket purchase. Also, from March 19–April 19, if you want to take a spring skiing vacation, you’ll get two free nights and two free days of lift tickets when you book three nights of lodging and three days of lift tickets. Room rates start at $213, and some have private hot tubs. Check the deals page for packages that include cat skiing for the more adventurous skiers.

Rossland, British Columbia

Rossland is a friendly, fun town and the hub of the surrounding vast outdoor recreation opportunities. There are four excellent cross country ski trail networks within an hour’s drive of the town and gorgeous backcountry snow shoeing opportunities. You can hang out between excursions for boutique shopping, great local coffee shops, pubs, and restaurants (Gypsy at Red and Rock Cut Pub are my personal favorites). The historic, charming downtown area makes for a pleasant, exploratory stroll.

Rossland is just a few minutes from Red Mountain Resort, which is located 10 km north of the border. Click here for directions.

Night Skiing at Mt. Spokane Now Just $19!

Wednesday, January 18th, 2012

Copyright 2012 Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park

It’s finally snowing here in Spokane, so now is the time to hit the slopes while the powder is fresh. Our closest resort, Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park, is offering cheap night skiing Wednesday–Saturday through March 10 (always call first, as dates and times are condition dependent). For just $19, you can ski under the lights from 4:00 to 9:30 p.m. Day lift tickets purchased Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, or Saturday include the night session when available, so you can ski all day and night for the price of one day lift ticket! Day lift tickets are $18–$47; click here for a list of prices.

Night skiing offers some unique perks besides being a bargain: less crowds, a fun date night, and sometimes live music at the lodge (click here for Mt. Spokane’s Foggy Bottom Lounge schedule).

Copyright 2012 Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park

Tips for Night Skiing

  • Have a ski buddy. The slopes are brightly illuminated, but the forested surroundings are dark, and someone should always know where you are.
  • Dress warmly and pile on more layers, as the temperature will typically decrease at least 10 degrees, plus wind chill, when the sun goes down.
  • Make sure your car battery and lights are fully functional to avoid a very dark, long walk down the mountain or a long, cold wait for AAA.
  • Bring ski goggles that are clear or yellow.