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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copyright Brett Sports and Entertainment

Thirty-eight home games with fun for the whole family!

As summer approaches, Spokane baseball fans are getting excited for a fantastic season of cheering for the home team. The season opens on June 18 with a home game against the Tri-City Dust Devils, which will be followed by a fireworks show. The Spokane Indians, the Short-Season Class “A” affiliate of the Texas Rangers, thrill audiences every year with their combination of baseball and showmanship. Home games are played at Avista Stadium, which is considered the best stadium in the Northwest. As always, there will be audience participation games, contests, giveaways, $1 family feast nights, and, my favorite, fireworks nights throughout the season. As co-owner Bobby Brett said, “On a fireworks night, we will have 4,000 baseball fans and 3,000 fireworks fans.”

copyright Brett Sports and Entertainment

Whether you are in Spokane on business or pleasure don’t miss the opportunity to catch a talented, award-winning team that still maintains the fun atmosphere of small-town baseball that began with the first professional baseball game played in Spokane on May 3, 1890. Originally named only by the city, the team became the Spokane Indians in 1903 and has been entertaining baseball fans ever since, save for a few periods when the team was shut down due to national events. Indians stars from the past include Hall of Famers Stan Coveleski, George Kelly, Duke Snyder, Hoyt Wilhelm, Don Sutton, and manager Tommy Lasorda.

One of the best features of Spokane Indians baseball is affordability. Individual tickets are only $5–$10, or even less if you purchase a seven- to twenty-one-game package. To purchase ticket packages, go to the Spokane Indians website. To purchase single game tickets, go to TicketsWest.

If you can’t be there in person, the next best thing is to listen live online or on the radio at 1510 KGA Sports Radio or www.spokaneindiansbaseball.com.

If you are staying in the Spokane area for business, or traveling through do take in an Indians baseball game and check out Stratford Suites Hotel. It is clearly the best lodging value in Spokane! All rooms feature full kitchens, 50” hi-def. televisions, high speed wireless internet, and pillow-top mattresses and room to spare.

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Spokane River Centennial Trail, mile 29

Spokane River Centennial Trail: This completely paved trail, which is part of the 37-mile Centennial Trail that extends into North Idaho, generally follows the contours of the Spokane River, beginning at the Idaho state line and ending at Nine Mile Falls, WA. There are numerous parking areas along the trail, and it is ADA accessible and open to walkers, joggers, skaters, and bicyclists. Among its many highlights, the trail winds through 100-acre Riverfront Park in downtown Spokane and through Riverside State Park (see description below).

Riverside State Park: This 7,655-acre natural area offers visitors an in-the-woods experience without driving to a national forest. It is a wildlife watchers haven, with a diverse population of birds as well as moose, deer, bobcats, and cougars. In addition to the Centennial Trail, there are dozens of hiking, bicycling, equestrian, and off-road vehicle trails to explore, from easy to strenuous. Be sure to check out ancient Indian rock pictographs in the Little Spokane Natural Area, which is located about 6 miles northwest of downtown Spokane at the head of a pretty, easy trail along the lazy, meandering Little Spokane River. A moderate difficulty hike can be accessed across the road from the Indian Painted Rocks parking area. Another popular attraction is the Bowl and Pitcher, which features a 1930s-era swinging suspension footbridge over the Spokane River and spectacular views of the surrounding geologic wonders, located about 5 miles northeast of downtown Spokane. There is an easy seven-mile hike from here.

View from Mt .Spokane State Park

Mt. Spokane State Park (13,919 acres) is a favorite amongst local hikers, mountain bikers, and huckleberry pickers. The view from the top of the 5,883-foot elevation includes surrounding states and Canada. The forested park features stands of old-growth timber and granite rock outcroppings. Twenty-five miles northeast of Spokane, the park is beautiful and primitive and boasts 100 miles of hiking trails, 90 miles of bike trails, and 100 miles of horse trails. Trails tend to be challenging, with big pay-offs in gorgeous views of the surrounding areas.

Duncan Gardens at Manito Park

Manito Park is a 90-acre botanical paradise located in Spokane’s South Hill neighborhood. Here you can enjoy five 1800s style gardens, a greenhouse conservatory, and a large duck pond. Arguably Spokane’s most beautiful manicured park, Manito Park offers walkers, joggers, and bicyclists fragrant roses and lilacs, topiary shrubs, a picturesque stone bridge, lush lawns, and the peaceful Japanese Garden.

The Spokane, WA area offers a wide variety of urban, forested, and rural trails. For more information, go to these websites:

Inland Northwest Trails Coalition

2009 Spokane Regional Bicycle Map

Experience Spokane

Washington State Parks

When you are travelling to Spokane for business or pleasure, consider the affordable, luxury at Stratford Suites Extended Stay Hotel, guaranteed the best lodging value in Spokane. This Spokane hotel is located just minutes from downtown Spokane and the Spokane airport. All one or two bedrooms suites have full kitchens, pillow-top mattresses, high-speed wireless Internet, granite-top appointments, and all-leather furniture.

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The show features over 300 exhibitors and plenty for the whole family to do, including many fun activities for kids like fishing for real trout and laser shot shooting simulators. Vendors, guides, and non-profit organization come from all over the United States and Canada, Mexico, South America, and Africa. Highlights include the DockDogs Northwest Cup where you can watch dogs compete for the longest jump (see the video here), the Great Cats World Park Show with exotic cats from small to big, Fishing World with 5,000 live trout in indoor lakes, a rifle range, an antler trophy competition, and shooting and fishing simulators.

If you are an exhibitor or visitor to the show and need a Spokane area hotel, Stratford Suites Extended Stay Hotel.

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Hoopfest Spokane

The city of Spokane, WA is preparing for one of its biggest events of the year. Teams can soon register for Hoopfest, the world’s largest 3-on-3 street basketball tournament, which will be held on June 26th and 27th, 2010, in downtown Spokane. This wildly popular annual summer sports event welcomes players of all abilities and almost all ages (players must be in at least third grade) to compete for awards in each bracket.

The Spokane Hoopfest Association’s mission is simple: To create the best basketball weekend on Earth. The incredible success of Hoopfest indicates that the mission has been accomplished! Since the Association gathered the support needed to convince the city of Spokane to shut down streets in the heart of downtown for two days of basketball in 1990, Hoopfest has grown into a huge, national sports event that draws 6,700 teams, 3,000 volunteers, 200,000 players and fans, and 428 courts spanning forty downtown city blocks. It has become an outdoor festival with concerts, food, and interactive entertainment for the entire community.

With people coming from forty-two states to participate, Spokane area hotels fill up fast! To avoid a last-minute hassle, book your comfortable, spacious room at Stratford Suites Extended Stay Hotel now. Our one and two bedroom suites with fully equipped kitchens are ideal for families travelling with children, offering privacy and the option of eating in.

Hoopfest players

According to a 2006 survey, Hoopfest brought 30 million dollars to the Spokane economy. The largest 3-on-3 street basketball tournament in the world also provides other benefits to the community: Since 1990, Spokane Hoopfest Association has donated over $1,200,000 to organizations such as Special Olympics, YMCA, YWCA, and other youth sports programs, as well as its court construction program. Hoopfest has built or renovated over twenty outdoor basketball courts in area neighborhoods so local residents have an opportunity to play year-round. If your business or organization would like to help, consider sponsoring. Few sponsorship opportunities in Spokane offer such high visibility for your business name.

When Hoopfest won the 2003 Agora Award for Business Excellence, the judges said, “No other single event (here) brings together people of such diverse cultures, economic conditions, and ages for a common purpose. And this common purpose is not just basketball. It is cheering for one another, working together, competing fairly, and celebrating Spokane.”

Remember; book your rooms soon for best prices and availability!

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Bloomsday has been a member of the ARRA and PRRO Circuits of major U.S. running events, and in 1996 Bloomsday hosted the first PRRO World Road Running Championships. Over the years, the race has been featured in Runner’s World and The Runner magazines, as well as on television on ESPN, Fox Sports Northwest, and the Outdoor Life Network. The first race took place in 1977 with over a thousand runners, and 112 “perennials” have been in the race every single year.

First Bloomsday poster, designed by Bob Runkle.

Last year, Bloomsday counted 51,259 participants. Over 20,000 of these racers were from out-of-town, so it is a good idea to book your Spokane hotel room early. Stratford Suites has beautiful one- and two-bedroom suites available to comfortably accommodate Bloomsday travelers. Our pillow-top mattresses and down feather pillows feel great after the big run!

In addition to the famous road race, Spokane’s Bloomsday hosts one of the nation’s largest free trade shows devoted to fitness, health, and running. It is free to the public and open Friday, April 30 and Saturday, May 1, next to Bloomsday Check-In at the Spokane Convention Center (Group Health Exhibition Hall), 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd (just east of the DoubleTree Hotel Downtown City Center). Business travelers enjoy Stratford Suites Extended Stay Hotel’s many amenities, including high-speed internet, executive style shuttle service, video conference room, all-leather furniture, and fine kitchenettes. Our hotel is located just five minutes from the airport, with easy access to downtown Spokane.

In case you were wondering, the name “Bloomsday” was given to the race by founder Don Kardong, a local runner who competed in several national class road races before and after his participation in the 1976 Olympic Marathon. The name joins Spokane’s favorite flower to the word used by author James Joyce scholars to describe the day of events in the novel Ulysses. According to Kardong, a road race is an odyssey, not unlike the one Ulysses endured in his return to Ithaca after the Trojan War, a journey described in great detail by the Greek poet Homer. In 1917, James Joyce wrote Ulysses about one day in the life of a man (Leopold Bloom) in Dublin, Ireland. Bloom spends the day wandering through the streets of Dublin in a rough parallel of his Greek counterpart Ulysses, and that day (June 16) is celebrated worldwide by Joyce fans as “Bloomsday.”

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Book your room at Stratford Suites today for the best rates and to make sure there is still room available.  Our suites feature 1 or 2 bedrooms, kitchens, 50″ HDTV, Leather furniture and more.  Book online or by calling 509-321-1600 or 888-705-8877.

Don’t forget to register for Bloomsday too!

We also want to hear your favorite Bloomsday stories in the comments of this post.

Bloomsday 2010 - Sunday, May 2nd, 2010.

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Five ski resorts are only a short drive away from Spokane: Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park, Silver Mountain Resort, 49 Degrees North Mountain Resort, Lookout Pass Ski Area, and Schweitzer Mountain Resort.

Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park (fifty minutes northeast of Spokane)

copyright Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park

This nearby gem shares a mountain with a state park that boasts great cross country trails as well as backcountry snowshoeing. Mt. Spokane has five lifts and forty-five trails, plus a new tubing hill with a rope tow for those who just want to slide down the snow without a lot of work. For a moonlight adventure or a unique date, try night skiing or night tubing. For more information, go to www.mtspokane.com.

Silver Mountain Resort (one hour from Spokane, at Kellogg, ID)

If you or someone in your family likes to pull off tricks rather than smoothly flying down the slopes, this is your winter sports destination. Silver Mountain continually modifies the Quicksilver terrain park for a new adventure in jumps, rails, and hand tables every visit. Silver has seven lifts, seventy-three downhill trails, and tubing. If you stay at the resort’s Morning Star Lodge, you can even re-visit summer with Idaho’s largest indoor water park. Silver Mountain is easily accessible right off of I-90, and rather than dealing with hairpin turns up narrow mountain roads, visitors park and take a scenic three-mile gondola ride to the top. Go to www.silvermt.com for more information.

49 Degrees North Mountain Resort (one hour and fifteen minutes north of Spokane)

copyright 49 Degrees North

The largest resort expansion in Washington state this year looms over the charming little town of Chewelah. Angel Peak, a sub-peak of the Chewelah Mountain crest, has just opened at 49 Degrees North, bringing the number of downhill trails at the resort to seventy-five (with six lifts). The lower half of the new peak is accessible by lift, but if you are ready for a challenge, you can hike up to the summit at 5295 feet. In addition to fine downhill skiing, including a wonderfully gentle run for beginners, 49 Degrees North boasts twelve km of cross country trails and a fun terrain park. Go to www.ski49n.com for more information.

Lookout Pass Ski Area (one and a half hours from Spokane at the Idaho/Montana state line)

Here’s the salient point: Lookout Pass receives on average 400 inches of light Northern Rockies snow annually. This resort is known for legendary powder, early openings, and the longest seasons in the region. Officially, Lookout has thirty-four named runs, but that number only reflects part of the whole experience as skiers and snowboarders can play in acres of prime tree skiing and riding, and there are also twenty-five km of cross country trails. This popular winter destination has tripled in size since 2003, yet it is still the most affordable resort in the region. Go to www.skilookout.com for more information.

Schweitzer Mountain Resort (two hours from Spokane, eleven miles from Sandpoint, ID)

copyright Schweitzer Mountain Resort

From the top, you can gaze upon three mountain ranges, Canada, and three states. The scenery at Schweitzer is breathtaking, but so is the night skiing that is offered all season long. It is one of the largest ski resorts in North America. Nine lifts, ninety-two trails, thirty-two km of cross country trails, two terrain parks, plus open bowl skiing—what more could a snow lover ask for? Well, how about rare to non-existent lift lines? Or great events, including New Year’s Eve parties for adults, teens, and tweens? Schweitzer truly has something for everyone. Visit www.Schweitzer.com for all the details.

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Red Mountain Resort

If you love skiing or snowboarding and live or travel around Spokane, look to the north for a nearby Canadian adventure that will rival any other in North America. Take a scenic 2.5 hour drive from Spokane to experience some of the best champagne powder in the world at Red Mountain Resort. Red Mountain Resort has been named one of the Top Ten Resorts of North America by Forbes Magazine, and it is quickly becoming one of North America’s most sought-after mountain destinations. Red is the closest Canadian resort to the U.S. border, and it is situated in British Columbia’s “Powder Triangle,” an area revered for incredible snow that stretches from Red Mountain Resort to Revelstoke Mountain Resort to Fernie Alpine Resort.

Red Mountain Resort

Why is the snow at Red so amazing? According to Jim Greene, Vice President of Red Mountain Ventures, the miracle of the area’s snow is due to low pressure storm system paths coming across Seattle and travelling across Washington and counterclockwise up into Canada. By the time the storm systems reach the powder triangle, are pushed up by mountains, and dump massive loads of snow, the snow is dry champagne powder, light and bubbly. Red receives about 300 inches of it annually.

Red offers an abundance of experiences for all levels of skiers and snowboarders, with five lifts and eighty-three runs on 1,800 acres and nightly slope grooming. But it is also a gateway to back country paradise, with lift service to 7,000 acres to explore right behind the resort. Coming up January 15–23, the 2010 Canadian Open Freeskiing Championship will be held at Red Mountain. Visitors are welcome to come out and watch!

Red Mountain Resort

In addition to world-class skiing and snowboarding, Jim points out that Red offers something that many other ski resorts in the region do not: “The big difference is that we are five minutes away from a real town, Rossland, with fun nightlife, shopping, and, above all, a big local population of skiers who are friendly and enjoy showing visitors around.” Rossland, population 3,200, is a historic mining town with plenty to do for the whole family: local artists’ shows, festivals, live music, golfing, museum and historic mine tours, and fine dining.

If you are staying in Spokane for a winter recreation vacation, check out the fully furnished comfort of Stratford Suites extended stay hotel, located close to downtown Spokane and the Spokane International Airport. Our spacious, luxurious rooms have everything you need for your base of operations.

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If you plan to visit during winter, remember to bring your skis and ice skates. Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park is just over an hour drive from Stratford Suites and features a terrain park and tubing hill, so the whole family can have fun playing in the snow. If you prefer ice skating rather than hitting the slopes, spend a day at Riverfront Park’s outdoor Ice Palace or Eagles Ice Arena.

If your visit will be during a warmer season, your recreational options range from water-sports and cycling to hiking and backpacking. The Centennial Trail provides 37 miles of wide pathway for cycling, jogging, hiking or walking. It stretches along the Spokane River from Nine Mile Falls to North Idaho. Maps of the trail can be purchased at the Riverside State Park office.

The Little Spokane River Natural Area is another great place for hiking, as well as canoeing and kayaking. Blue Herons nest in this area, and you may even see some ancient pictographs.

If slides and attractions are a must, try out Splash Down Waterpark in Spokane Valley. The waterpark features fast, tall, and twisty slides for older kids and adults as well as three pools and four “kiddie slides” for little ones.

Finally, when you need a day a little closer to Stratford Suites, don’t miss out on Manito Park. It has something to offer all year round. In spring, the lilacs are blooming and the trees around the pond are blossoming; in summer, Rose Hill and Duncan Garden are sights to behold; in autumn, the Nishinomiya Japanese Garden displays a vibrant array of colors; and even in winter, the Gaiser Conservatory provides a chance for visitors to escape the cold and enjoy the beauty of nature’s fine flowers and cacti.
 

Find these Recreation hot spots:

Eagles Ice Arena
6321 N Addison St
Spokane, WA 99208
Map it!

Little Spokane River Natural Area
Information and Map
Map it!

Manito Park
1702 S Grand Blvd
Spokane, WA 99203
Map it!

Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park
29500 N Mt Spokane Park Dr
Mead, WA 99021
Map it!

Riverfront Park (Ice Palace)
507 N Howard St
Spokane, WA 99201
Map it!

Riverside State Park
9711 W. Charles
Nine Mile Falls, WA 99026
Map it!

Splash Down Waterpark
11123 E Mission Ave
Spokane Valley, WA 99206
Map it!

this article written by Nita Sporseen

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