travel spokane » Recreation

Night Skiing at Mt. Spokane Now Just $19!

Stephanie — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:47:59 +0000

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).

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.

Fun Holiday Events in Spokane for Families

Stephanie — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 00:50:22 +0000

The holiday season is upon us, and there are plenty of fun things to do around Spokane with the kids that will create great memories, help keep everyone from succumbing to cabin fever, and maybe even start new holiday traditions in your family. Here are just a few great family outings that will entertain everyone without blowing your budget.

Copyright Northwest Museum of Art and Culture

Campbell House Holiday Tours

The MAC Museum of Art and Culture is putting on living history performances in its largest exhibit, the Campbell House, during the two weeks around Christmas when most kids are out of school. The Campbell House is a turn-of-the-20th-century English Tudor Revival mansion designed by renowned Spokane architect Kirtland Cutter. You can see the house decorated for the holidays and learn about the times in which it was built and the daily life of the Campbell family from December 21 through January 1 on the days the MAC is open (the MAC is right next door to the Campbell House) from 12–4 p.m.

New for this year: Check out the just-opened Interpretive Center to create your own Campbell House experience and connect the past and present with interactive computers and hands-on exploration, and you can also take a horse-drawn carriage ride. Admission is free for MAC members or $7 adults/$5 students and seniors, which includes both museum entry and a tour of the Campbell House. For more information, call the admissions desk at 509-363-5355. The MAC is located in Spokane’s gorgeous historic Browne’s Addition neighborhood at 2316 W. First Ave.

Mt. Spokane Tubing Hill

A friend with three children in elementary school shared this story:

My kids had been out of school on break for three days and they were driving me crazy—fighting, not listening, whining, throwing tantrums. Suddenly I realized that for the past two months it had been go-go-go, with football practice, dance lessons, after-school activities, and homework every day, and now they suddenly had nothing to use up their energy. So I loaded them into the Suburban and took them to Mt. Spokane to go tubing. Those kids played HARD and wore themselves out and had a great time. They couldn’t stay awake on the ride home, and after that, I recognized my children again and things were back to normal.

Enough said? The hill has been moved and newly constructed this year at Lodge 2, just north and downhill of the parking lot and Ski Patrol building. With several lanes, a new tow-rope to haul tubers back up the mountain, a limit of 50 participants per session, and plenty of snow, the Children’s Choice Tubing Hill is great for families and safer than uncontrolled sledding in parks. The hill is open weekends and holidays (except Christmas and Christmas Eve), for the remainder of the season, with sessions beginning at 10 a.m. and the last session starting at 2:30 p.m. One-and-a-half hour sessions are $10 for everyone 42” and over. Kids under 42” are free but must ride with a paid adult. Check conditions before you come up. Mt. Spokane is 28 miles from downtown Spokane; click here for directions.

Horse and Carriage Rides through Downtown Spokane

Through Christmas Eve, the Downtown Spokane Business Improvement District and Spokane Teachers Credit Union presents free old-fashioned horse and carriage rides through the streets of downtown. Just show up on Wall Street at Main Avenue on Fridays 3–8 p.m., weekends 12–5 p.m., or Christmas Eve 12–3 p.m. This is a great outing for family from out of town! Rides are given on a first-come, first-serve basis. After your ride, you will receive free candy canes and coupons for hot chocolate and coffee at participating downtown businesses. Click here to see a video preview of the ride.

Ice Skating in Riverfront Park

The Ice Palace, one of the nation’s best outdoor ice skating rinks, is open all winter long under the Pavilion in the heart of Riverfront Park in downtown Spokane. Lessons and drop-in hockey are available. Click here for hours. Admission is $4.50 for adults and $3.50 for youth/seniors/military, and skate rental is $3.50. Thursday nights are Inlander appreciation nights—get your ticket from the Inlander, a free weekly publication, to skate for $1. The Spokane Falls SkyRide, IMAX Theatre, and Looff Carousel are also open all winter if you want to spend more fun family time in the park.

First Night Spokane New Year’s Eve Celebration

By far the biggest New Year’s Eve party around, First Night Spokane is a huge, alcohol-free festival of the arts in downtown Spokane for the entire family. This year’s theme is “Dawn of Time” Year of the Dinosaur. At venues within a walkable area of downtown, you can enjoy live music, theatre, dance performances, film, dance parties, art, comedy, and a fireworks show. There are plenty of activities for kids, including face painting, bookmark making, magic shows, free ice skating and carousel rides, and rolling video games. Click here for the schedule of the night’s event’s, which get started at 7 p.m.

If your family is making a resolution to exercise more, start early with the 5k Resolution Run! Runners line up at 6:30 p.m., and the run begins at 6:45 p.m. An optional bag drop makes it easy to get your coat and purse afterward. Fill out and bring the waiver form before you go. Click here for a map of the course. Admission buttons are just $12 in advance or $15 on New Year’s Eve. Kids 10 and under are free with a paid adult. Purchase tickets here or at various participating Spokane businesses.

On New Year’s Day, celebrate First Day Spokane and get free admission to the MAC Museum of Art and Culture with your First Night button plus discounted passes to play in Riverfront Park.

The Ice Palace is Open for the Season!

Stephanie — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 02:15:29 +0000

It’s getting cold outside, but that’s no reason to stay indoors. We have one of the best outdoor skating rinks in the country right here in downtown Spokane, and it is open through February 26, so grab your hat and gloves and get out there! The Ice Palace is located under the pavilion in Riverfront Park. It’s a perfect activity for kids, dates, and anyone who wants to exercise and have fun. This year, there are improvements in indoor seating and the food café menu as well as more new skates for rental.

If you don’t know how to ice skate and would prefer proper lessons to the rather embarrassing, yet popular, learning method of clinging to the wall, you can sign up here for lessons at the Ice Palace (search under Riverfront Park in the Complex drop-down menu). There are classes for kids, adults, and parents with tots.

The IMAX Theatre, Black Light Mini-Golf, historic Looff Carrousel, and Spokane Falls SkyRide are all open at Riverfront Park as well.

The Ice Palace is open Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is $3.50 for youth, seniors, and military, and $4.50 for everyone else. Skate rental is $3.50. Season passes are available. Check the website for deals and hours, for example, Thursday nights are Inlander appreciation nights, when you can skate for $1.00.

Gear Up at the Bigger Than Ever Ski SWAP, Then Pray for Snow: 47th Annual Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol Ski Swap, October 28–30

Stephanie — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 22:32:48 +0000

The NOAA National Weather Service says La Niña is back, with above-average precipitation predicted for the Pacific Northwest this late fall/winter. La Niña often brings colder winters to our area. In other words, snow is on the way, and over 6,000 skiers and snowboarders are expected to attend the Pacific Northwest’s largest equipment swap, the Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol Ski Swap, to sell their old gear and/or find some great deals on new and used gear for the coming season at the Spokane Fair and Expo Center. Items for sale include skis, bindings, boots, poles, snowboards, gloves, clothing, and accessories. This year’s SWAP, a season kick-off tradition, will be larger and better: “We have expanded into Bay 1 this year, giving us more room for more equipment and more people!” said Dan Edwards, Director of the 2011 MSSP SWAP. “The new space has allowed us to reconfigure the floorplan, which will improve traffic flow through the various departments and create a more efficient check-out system.”

There are several advantages to shopping the SWAP instead of the stores. First, you will get the best selection (over 22,000 items) and deals. Second, you can sell your old equipment for the very reasonable rate of 50 cents per item for registration plus 20% of the selling price to a huge, eager pool of buyers. Third, over 130 experienced members of the Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol will be on hand to help you find the best equipment for your skill level and price range, in addition to the participating retail shop representatives, so beginners need not fear they will be doomed to wander alone and confused amongst endless rows of seemingly similar items. Fourth, all proceeds go to offset costs for operation of the non-profit Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol, including facilities overhead, first aid and medical supplies, training costs, and administrative functions. (These are the nice people who check on you when you wipe out and lay sprawled on the hill, skis and poles scattered, which always seems to happen right under the chair lift–oh wait, maybe that’s just me.) Fifth, it’s fun to shop and mingle with other ski/snowboard enthusiasts!

There is a $5 admission fee for the show (12 years and under free). Hours are Saturday, October 29, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, October 30, 9 a.m. to noon. If you have gear to sell, drop it off Friday, October 28, from 3–8 p.m., and pick up your check/unsold gear on Sunday from 2–4 p.m. Plenty of free parking is available onsite. Cash, checks, and debit/credit cards are all accepted. There is just one central check-out area, although the gear comes from over 20 retail shops plus individuals. This year, wait times should be shorter due to improvements to the scanning and point-of-sale technology. Sunday, select items will be 25% off, but if you are looking for kids’ gear and clothing, don’t wait and get in line early on Saturday because it goes fast.

There are six ski resorts within a three-hour drive from Spokane: Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park (50 minutes), Silver Mountain Resort (1 hour), 49 Degrees North Mountain Resort (1 hour 45 minutes), Lookout Pass Ski Area (2.5 hours), Schweitzer Mountain Resort (2 hours), and Red Mountain Resort (3 hours).

Music, bicycling, wine tasting, and more at Valleyfest, September 23–25

Stephanie — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 23:59:56 +0000

This year’s annual Valleyfest kicks off Friday night, September 23, at 7:30 p.m. with the Hearts of Gold parade. Creative floats from local businesses and schools as well as outlying communities, dancers, classic cars, hot rods, animals, and more will travel from the New Life Church (10920 E. Sprague) east to Chase Bank (12005 E Sprague). Come early to claim a good spot for viewing!

Valleyfest 2011 is based at Mirabeau Point Park in Spokane Valley off I-90 exit 289. There is plenty to do for all ages, including hot air balloon viewing, a run for diabetes, a family trail ride, music and other live entertainment, and a car show. Click here for a map of the park. Here are a few of the main attractions.

The Spokane Astronomical Society will let you look through telescopes at solar flares and sunspots (don’t worry, they have special safe filters) on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., plus they will host a night sky gazing session Saturday night from 7 to 10 p.m. You can also check out the planetarium in the Great Room at CenterPlace from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Taste of the Valley, 6–8 p.m. Saturday night at CenterPlace, is an evening of wine tasting with hors d’oeuvres from Red Rock Catering and live music and entertainment. Afterward, you can stroll outside to watch the hot air balloon “Night Glow” show. Click here to buy tickets ($40 each).

Although registration is now closed for the Valleyfest 5K/10K Run for Diabetes, which starts Saturday morning at 9 a.m., everyone is welcome to take part in the Family Trail Ride on Sunday, with four routes to choose from. Click here for a video and click here to register. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children.

Saturday and Sunday, a variety of performers will provide free entertainment, including local bands, hula dancing, skits, comedy, and more. Click here for a full schedule of all the fun!

Grab your kids or borrow someone else’s for Fishing at the Falls. Kids 14 and under can learn how to fish in the stocked pond at the park starting Saturday morning at 10 a.m.

Balloons Over Valleyfest is an excellent reason to get out of bed early this weekend. Right after sunrise Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings, 80-foot hot air balloons will launch and fly over the Spokane Valley. You can also see the balloons lit up at night on the back grass of CenterPlace just after sunset Saturday night.

Low Fees, Great Views, and Easy Tee Times: Golfing in Spokane

Stephanie — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 19:31:58 +0000

Qualchan Golf Course

Spokane boasts a number of scenic golf courses with prices that are lower than in other cities. There are a variety of options—public, private, and municipal—to choose from. This is not a comprehensive list and only includes 18-hole public courses in the immediate Spokane area. For a more comprehensive list, try GolfLink.

Spokane Parks and Recreation operates four golf courses: Downriver, Esmeralda, Indian Canyon, and Qualchan. Standard fees are $27–$29, $20 for Mon.–Thur. 9-hole, and $12–$22 for juniors (but see the $15 deal below!). If you plan on going several times, discount cards are available. By comparison, Seattle Parks and Recreation golf courses are $32 to $37 for standard rates.

Money-Saving Tip: Take advantage of the $15 August deal (golf cart rental $22) at the four Spokane Parks and Recreation Golf courses. The special is good at Esmeralda Mondays 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Downriver Sundays 2 p.m. to dusk and Mondays 1 p.m. to dusk, Indian Canyon Sundays and Mondays 1 p.m. to dusk, and Qualchan Sundays and Mondays 2 p.m. to dusk. Call pro-shop for tee times.

Downriver

Built in 1916, this heavily treed 18-hole course lies along the Spokane River and is bordered by Riverside State Park, a natural area with great hiking, fishing, and bicycling opportunities. To schedule a tee time, call 509-327-5269.

Esmeralda

Excellent for seniors and beginners, this northeast Spokane course offers open space and flat fairways lined with over 2,000 trees. Call 509-487-6291 for tee times.

Indian Canyon

This place, designed in 1930, has been selected by Golf Digest as one of the top 25 public courses in the U.S. You can enjoy a view of the city among towering pines from the west entrance of Spokane while enjoying a diverse playing environment that hosts many major tournaments, including the Rosauers Open. Call 509-747-5353 for tee times.

Qualchan

Spokane’s newest golf course, Qualchan sits in a natural setting that is a sanctuary to many protected birds and wildlife species. A creek meanders through the course, and there are five ponds, wooded and hilly areas, and beautiful open areas. Call 509-448-9317 for tee times.

Hangman Valley (Spokane County operated) is a public municipal golf course along Spokane’s lovely Latah Creek. The same low standard fees as at the Spokane Parks and Recreation golf courses (see above) apply here; discount cards are available, and through the end of August, tee times after 3 p.m. are 20% off.

Wandermere opened in 1929 and is located in the peaceful Little Spokane River Valley just north of Spokane off Highway 395. This scenic course offers some of the most challenging golf in the area. Standard fees are $25–$29 or $19 for 9-hole on weekdays. Punch cards are available for a slightly discounted price. Call 509-466-8023 for tee times.

Sun Dance is a challenging and rewarding course in Nine Mile Falls, just twelve miles from the center of Spokane. Standard fee is $24. Call 509-466-4040 for tee times.

The Fairways is located ten minutes west of downtown Spokane just off of I-90. Here you can play through natural wetlands and native grasses, with panoramic views of the surrounding hill country, making it an excellent place to be around sunset. Standard rates are $17–$27. Call 509-747-8418 for tee times, or reserve online.

With beautiful Spokane weather and numerous great choices for affordable golfing, you may just want to take a golf mini-vacation and get away from home for a couple of days. If you do, be sure to check out Stratford Suites’ beautiful rooms with full kitchens, leather furniture, pillow top mattresses, and 52” hi-def. televisions. Located minutes from downtown Spokane, close to the airport with easy freeway access, Stratford Suites Hotel is perfect for your getaway.

Live Auto and Motor Bike Racing at Spokane County Raceway

Stephanie — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:17:37 +0000

Love watching car or motorbike racing? Get in on the live action at Spokane County Raceway. Jet cars, local drags, funny cars, and bikes roar all summer and fall, including a NASCAR weekend in September.

This weekend, you can watch or participate in the Super Chevy Show, with races (Chevy-bodied or Chevy-powered only), a car show, and a swap meet to find and trade parts, racing paraphernalia, cars, or whatever. This is a great show to take Dad to or for a date with a Chevy fan. The show runs July 29–31 (but the evening of July 29 is scheduled for $4 Friday night stock car racing). See the schedule for details. Spectator tickets are $25 per day or $40 for a weekend pass. Kids 12 and under are free with a paid adult.

August 20 is the Napa Night of Fire, where you can see jet car racing at night. Click here for a video. September 2 and 3, NASCAR comes to Spokane for the K&N Pro Series West, and the WMDRA Fall Nationals will be held on September 24–25. In between, there are Wednesday and Friday night drags plus a full schedule of other racing events. Visit the website for schedules for drag, road course, and oval track racing. Generally, tickets are available at the gate, but for special events, like NASCAR, tickets may be purchased in advance.

Spokane County Raceway is located in Airway Heights (750 N. Hayford Road), just minutes from the Spokane Airport. If you are travelling to see the races, Stratford Suites, the Spokane area’s best lodging value, is located very close by and features silent air conditioning and 50” hi-def. televisions for a comfortable stay.

Cool Water Parks for Hot Days in the Spokane Area

Stephanie — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 02:12:09 +0000

It finally feels like summer here in the Inland Northwest. Kids are out of school and looking for some summer fun activities, and grown-ups love summer outdoor fun, too, so it’s time for splashing, playing, and sliding through the water in the sun. Here is a list of some of the best water park and pool options in the Spokane, WA area, whether you just want to spend an hour or two at a city facility or would like to make a full day’s trip to one of the bigger parks. Most are open daily, but check the websites for specific hours. Note: Wild Waters in Coeur d’Alene, ID is closed for the season.

New Ricochet Rapids slide at Boulder Beach

Boulder Beach at Silverwood Theme Park in North Idaho

A brand new slide just opened today at Boulder Beach! Ricochet Rapids is a family raft ride that includes side-to-side sliding through a 20-foot diameter tube and sharp turns and drops aboard a raft with five other people. The park also offers two large wave pools, a 650-foot raft slide, tube sliding, high speed water slide towers, a slow-moving tube creek ride, and two play areas just for smaller children. Ticket price includes admission to the many attractions at Silverwood: $41.99 general admission and $21.99 youth 3–7 and seniors over 65. Keep in mind that Silverwood does not allow outside food and drink in the park. Restaurants and concessions are on site. Silverwood and Boulder Beach are located in the same large complex just north of Coeur d’Alene on Highway 95 in North Idaho.

Money-saving tips: Buy your admission tickets before you go at Costco. As of this writing, they were $34.99 for general admission. If you want to make a weekend of your trip, stay in the area (Stay in Coeur d’Alene or, if you want to stay in Spokane, Stratford Suites, near the Spokane airport with easy freeway access, offers beautiful one- or two-bedroom suites with full kitchens for families) and go to the Silverwood side of the park one day and the Boulder Beach park one day. Silverwood offers a 20% discount for two-day passes, but they must be used on consecutive days.

Spash Down in Spokane Valley

A long-time local favorite, Splash Down (11127 E. Mission) has been a fun place for families for 26 years. New this year is “Splashketball” basketball competition in which the loser gets soaked, new barbeques (you can bring your own picnic food and drink!), and Frisbee golf. You can also soak your friends in “Water Wars” with water balloon launchers. Several different water slides provide plenty of thrills, including the “Fast Ball,” which clocks your speed as you freefall down six stories. Splash Down also features an area just for small children with kiddie pools and small slides. Bonus: Thursday evenings, there is live music! Local reports indicate that the lines at Splash Down move quickly, so you won’t be standing around in a wet bathing suit waiting for each slide.

Admission is $13.99 for juniors 48” and under, $16.99 for those over 48”, and free for seniors 65+ and little ones 3 and under. Chaperones who just want to watch can turn in their dry admission wristbands at the end of the day for a $7 refund. Concessions are on site.

Southside Aquatic Center on Spokane’s South Hill

This water park has just one big slide, but it has plenty of interactive play structures (like playgrounds for pool areas and VERY fun), plus water cannons, spray tubes, a lazy “river” with geysers and rapids, and a heated swimming pool to keep kids of all ages happy all day. In addition to having a blast playing in the water, the surrounding 8-acre Prairie View Park gives you more things to do, with a playground, a BBQ and picnic area, and a basketball court.

Admission is only $2 for kids 3–5, $4 for 6 and over, and free for 2 and under. The water park center is located at 3724 E. 61^ston Spokane’s South Hill. Note: If you are looking for a water park on the north side of Spokane, check out the Northside Aquatics Center (18120 N. Hatch Road in Colbert). This water park has a smaller slide and less activities than the Southside center, but it does have fun amenities that put it head and shoulders above a standard pool.

Liberty Aquatic Center

Extra Cool Spokane City Pools Made for Play [insert picture with caption “”]

In addition to large water parks, Spokane has several great aquatic centers throughout the city that feature fast water slides, play features, and separate pools for lap swimming and recreation swimming that are great for families and kids who need a place to hang out with friends for the afternoon. Here are the locations with great play facilities:

A.M. Cannon at 1900 W. Mission
Shadle at 2005 W. Wellesley
Hillyard at 2600 E. Columbia
Comstock at 600 W. 29^th
Liberty at 1300 E. 5^th

Admission is $2 for youth (4–17) and seniors (65+) and $4 for adults.

Now, go play! Don’t forget your sunscreen!

Make the Most of Hoopfest Weekend in Spokane (June 25–26, 2011): What to Do in between Rounds

Stephanie — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 16:24:16 +0000

Travelling to Spokane, WA for Hoopfest? There is plenty to do in between watching or playing basketball at the largest three-on-three street basketball tournament on the planet, and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. If you missed our article on saving money on vacation, click here for great ideas to travel on a budget.

Parking and driving around downtown can be a little challenging when Spokane is hosting 200,000 basketball players and fans, so you may want to consider taking the bus. On both days of Hoopfest, STA (Spokane’ bus system) is offering day passes for just $1.50, and there are two free park-and-ride lots. Check the website for more information on Hoopfest schedules—please note that the Plaza downtown will not be open to buses (to make room for Hoopfest!), so bus stops will be in alternate nearby locations.

In addition to loads of free live music and other entertainment at Hoopfest in downtown Spokane, including Hoopfest Saturday Night (DJ nightclub party) at the Lincoln Center (1316 N. Lincoln Street), here are some suggestions for making the most of your visit.

Catch a Live Show

Spokane has a thriving live music scene, with venues large and small, offering country, blues, rock, pop, and more. To pick out some good local live music, check out the Inlander’s live music calendar. There are also a couple of national acts in town on Hoopfest weekend. The infamous rock band KISS is performing at the Spokane Arena Friday night. Click here for tickets. The Judds play at Northern Quest Resort and Casino on Saturday night (see below).

Shopping with Local Flair

Riverpark Sqare in downtown Spokane is a great mall (and has a great movie theater with cushy couch-style seats), but think outside of the mall if you want a more uniquely Spokane shopping experience. If you are staying downtown or are downtown for the day during Hoopfest, walk east on Main Street to find a variety of locally owned businesses.

You’ll go by Auntie’s Bookstore, a large, wonderful, independent gem with a local gourmet café, Santé, in the same building. Closer to Division Street is Finders Keepers, a designer dress boutique, and Kizuri, a fair trade clothing and gift store, and more. Along the way, you’ll be tempted by local purveyors of food and drink.

Stroll up toward 2^nd Avenue for more independent, local shops: the Spokane Public Market (24 W. 2^nd Ave.), Sun People Dry Goods (32 W. 2^nd Ave.), Saunders Cheese Market (210 S. Washington Street, handcrafted artisanal cheeses), and Lolo Boutique (319 W. 2^nd Ave.) are some of the highlights. There are also numerous wineries to visit in the downtown area—go to the Spokane Winery Association website for details.

Just north of downtown at 621W. Mallon, visit the Flour Mill for great local shops and restaurants inside a historic flour mill: our favorites include the Kitchen Engine, the Chocolate Apothecary, Tobacco World (fine cigar shop), Wonders of the World, and the Queen of Sheba restaurant (click here for our review of this fabulous Ethiopian restaurant).

Leonardo da Vinci at the MAC

Be sure to check out the wonderful, interactive da Vinci exhibit at the MAC Museum of Arts and Culture, which just opened this month. A big bonus is seeing the huge old houses of historic Browne’s Addition neighborhood, just west of downtown Spokane, where the MAC is located. For more information, check out our blog post on it.

Garland District

The Garland District is a quick drive or bus ride from downtown Spokane, and it is a great place to hang out and escape the crowds downtown during Hoopfest for awhile. Right away you’ll see the historic Garland Theatre at Maple and Garland, Spokane’s only independent “encore” theater, which runs second-run movies for just $3.50 all the time, so you can catch a flick in a beautiful old theatre for very little money. Stroll up and down Garland for great little locally owned shops and cafes, including the 1950s-style Ferguson’s Café and the Milk Bottle, a former ice cream parlor turned café that features a two-story milk bottle for a store-front. Other quirky local gems include the Blue Door Theatre, a family friendly improv. comedy group that performs every Friday and Saturday night, and Drop Your Drawers, a unique clothing consignment shop with everything from old sweaters to outrageous costume platform shoes. For nightlife, you can enjoy an old-fashioned drink at Bon Bon, the hippest bar on Garland, located inside the Garland Theatre building with an old-fashioned soda fountain/candy store feel and fixtures made from old movie reels.

Northern Quest Resort and Casino

This large resort near the airport has a lot more than just 46,000 square feet of gaming space. It also boasts the Inland Northwest’s only cigar room, several restaurants with casual to fine dining (if you’re vegetarian, try Fatburger’s veggie burger), a night club with entertainment seven nights a week, a sports bar with a 30’ x 10’ HD screen, and a full-service spa. The Judds are playing at Northern Quest’s new outdoor concert venue on June 25 at 7:30 p.m. Click here for ticket information.

Japanese Gardens at Manito Park. Copyright City of Spokane Parks and Recreation.

Find out Why We Say Spokane Is “Near Nature, Near Perfect”

Walk or bike through Riverside State Park to get into the woods without leaving the city and admire the beautiful Spokane River. You can also enjoy great views of natural areas of the Spokane River on the Centennial Trail, a paved walkway/bike path. Or simply take in the beauty of one of our gorgeous city parks—Manito Park, Finch Arboretum, and the Moore-Turner Heritage Gardens are all uniquely Spokane and uniquely beautiful.

Don’t Miss the Planet’s Largest 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament June 25–26

Stephanie — Fri, 20 May 2011 22:38:31 +0000

There is no event like Spokane Hoopfest. At this hugely popular annual 3-on-3 street basketball tournament, players of all experience levels and all ages (minimum age requirement for kids is to be entering the third grade in fall of 2011) can compete for the chance to win prizes while experiencing the exhilaration of playing with new people and being a part of a famously fun weekend that includes 14,000 basketball games and over 20,000 players from all over the country. Anyone who wants to play basketball is welcome, from beginners to those who qualify for the 3BA Elite Division, which often features former CBA and European professionals. Prizes are given to winners in each bracket. Games are played on courts set up across forty downtown city blocks.

If you want to play but missed the official deadline, it’s not too late! Registration will remain open as space allows, so go to the Spokane Hoopfest website to sign up before all the spots are taken. If you are not playing, odds are good that you know someone who is. In addition to cheering on your friends and family, you can see concerts and other entertainment, shop, browse booths from local organizations and businesses, watch the Marine Air Slam Dunk Contest, play games for prizes at the kid-friendly Safeco Zone, and enjoy delicious food and drink at the Washington Dental Service Foodfest in the west meadow of Riverfront Park.

Hoopfest is able to run so smoothly because hundreds of volunteer court monitors and other volunteers make it happen. If you are interested in volunteering, submit an application to earn the right to say “I helped run Spokane Hoopfest 2011.”

Spokane Hoopfest is an enormous festival and one of the city’s largest events, so parking downtown will not be easy. A better option is to take the Spokane Transit Hoop Loop. Every ten minutes during the festival, a bus will arrive at each park-and-ride lot to transport people to and from downtown Spokane. At only $1.50 per day to use the system and free parking at the park-and-ride lots, it’s a bargain. Go to the STA website for more information about times and locations.

Coming to Hoopfest from out of town? Watch this blog in the next few weeks for tips on making the most of your stay and saving some time and money!