travel spokane » Sports

Spokane Indians Baseball Kicks Off Season June 18 with Fireworks

admin — Wed, 12 May 2010 16:32:39 +0000

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.”

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.

Trails in Spokane, WA

admin — Mon, 03 May 2010 21:48:38 +0000

Spokane’s motto is “Near nature. Near perfect,” and it is a fitting description. With seventy-five parks in the city limits and seventy-six lakes in a 50-mile radius, the Spokane area offers abundant outdoor recreation opportunities. The sunny, warm spring and summer months invite hikers, campers, fishers, boaters, kayakers, canoeists, cyclists, and bird-watchers out to play. There are trails for walkers, hikers, and bicyclists of all abilities. Whether you are just visiting for business and want to take an evening stroll through a beautiful rose garden or have time for a challenging day hike adventure, you will discover many options. Below are a just a few excellent, scenic trails.

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.

Spokane Shock Football Opening Night April 2

admin — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 21:14:03 +0000

Spokane Shock 2009 ArenaCup Champions. Copyright Spokane Shock.

Spring is here, and it’s time for the 2010 arena football season. The Spokane Shock, Spokane’s award-winning arena football team, will open the season on April 2nd as new members of the newly resurrected Arena Football League (AFL), which is back after a one-year hiatus and reorganization of its business plan. The 15-team league will play a 16-game schedule leading into the playoffs and the Arena Bowl the third weekend in August. Membership in the AFL will make this the most exhilarating season yet because it gives the Shock the opportunity to play against teams in bigger cities and a chance to test itself against AFL teams who have won championships at the highest level of indoor football. The Spokane Shock will　play at HOME against big cities like Chicago, Phoenix, Cleveland, Salt Lake City, and Jacksonville.　These games will definitely be worth travelling for.

Rob Keefe, former player and Shock’s all-time leading tackler (career), is the new head coach, replacing Adam Shackleford. Keefe is entering the season with high spirits and recently told the Spokesman Review “In six, seven months we truly put together an AFL team; a top tier team is what we believe we are.” (link)

ArenaCup 2009 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas

In addition to winning their second ArenaCup Championship since 2006, last year the Inland Northwest Sports Writers and Broadcasters named Spokane Shock the Team of the Year. This is the second time the team has won the award in its five-year existence.

The Shock will open the season on Friday, April 2nd, 8 p.m. against the Milwaukee Iron on Spokane Tribe Field at the Spokane Arena. Single game tickets can be purchased through TicketsWest. Season tickets can be purchased by calling 509-242-7462. Travelling to Spokane for a game or two? Book your hotel room now at Stratford Suites, featuring luxury one and two-bedroom suites with fully equipped kitchens and 50″ HDTVs.

Hoopfest Registration Opens March 12

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:15:25 +0000

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!

March Madness in Spokane – NCAA 2010 Division 1 Men’s Basketball March 19th and 21st

admin — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:38:22 +0000

NCAA Spokane, WA

March Madness will storm into Spokane on Friday, March 19 with the first and second rounds of the NCAA 72nd annual Division 1 Men’s Basketball Championship, hosted by Washington State University. Two sessions will be held on Friday and one session on Sunday, March 21, 2010 (six games total) at the Spokane Arena. If you are traveling to Spokane, WA to be a part of the excitement, Stratford Suites Extended Stay Hotel is accepting reservations for the weekend of the event now and has some great shop-and-stay packages.

Pairings will be announced Sunday, March 14, 2010, at 6 pm Eastern time on CBS.

After the first and second rounds, regionals will take place at the end of March, leading to the Final Four on April 3rd and 5th for the championship in Indianapolis.

Stratford Suites’ luxurious rooms all include kitchenettes and 50” hi-definition televisions so you can kick back on our comfortable leather furniture and keep up on the results of the other March Madness games happening across the country.

March Madness is Coming to Spokane

admin — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:37:59 +0000

The 1st and 2nd Rounds of March Madness will be in Spokane on March 19th and 21st, 2010. Be sure to book your stay at Stratford Suites early to get your room. In-between Spokane games, keep up with games across the country on a 50″ HDTV in your room while enjoying leather furniture, and kitchens.

Book your suite today by calling 509-321-1600 or 888-705-8877

www.stratfordsuites.com

Register (And Book Your Room) for Bloomsday 2010

admin — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 18:22:38 +0000

The 34th annual Lilac Bloomsday Run will be held in Spokane, WA on Sunday, May 2, 2010. This huge road race, which is open to all runners, walkers, wheelchairs, assisted wheelchairs, and strollers, consists of a scenic 12 km (7.46 miles) loop that begins in downtown Spokane and travels northwest along the far west end of town. The course passes by Mukogowa Ft. Wright Institute and Spokane Falls Community College before heading up Doomsday Hill and back downtown. The deadline for registration is April 13; you can register online at the official website. The cost is $15, which includes a t-shirt for all finishers.

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.”

Bloomsday 2010 is Coming…

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:36:27 +0000

The Lilac Bloomsday Run is right around the corner on Sunday, May 2, 2010. The 12 kilometer (7.46 miles) race had 51,259 registrants last year, 42,477 of those finished and got their exclusive finishers t-shirt. The 34th annual Bloomsday Run is expected to be even larger and more fun.

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.

Hang with the Locals, Get the Inside Scoop on the Zags: “GU Coaches Show” Tuesday Nights at Tomato Street

admin — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:25:43 +0000

If you are staying at Stratford Suites extended stay hotel or another Spokane area hotel during the week and looking for a local insider sports hangout, check out Tomato Street Italian restaurant on Tuesday nights for a Zags radio show. As the friendly bartender who recently served me there explained, the “GU Coaches Show” is a radio show featuring interviews with the Gonzaga University Bulldogs men’s and women’s basketball coaching staff, with occasional appearances by head coach Mark Few and team players. It originates from Tomato Street and is broadcast on Sports Radio 1510 KGA every Tuesday from 7–8 p.m. Tom Hudson, the radio voice of the Zags, hosts.

Tomato Street is a 9,000 square foot family Italian restaurant with a full bar, located at 6220 North Division Street,

Spokane, WA. Kids are kept happy with fun and quirky touches like clay to shape and crayons to color the paper table coverings. Bonus: This is one of the few restaurants in Spokane to offer whole wheat pasta, and special requests seem to be no problem: a few people in our thirty-five person group (yes, they can accommodate large groups, call 509-484-4500 for reservations) needed dairy-free, and the server happily honored our requests for unbuttered bread and an off-the-menu pasta creation.

Spokane Chiefs Hockey Reclaims the Ice

admin — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:13:59 +0000

While Spokane has been in love with the stars of ice skating who have been in town for the 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, many hockey fans are longing for the return of the home team to the ice for a much less delicate winter sport. The Spokane Chiefs return to Spokane on January 29th for their first home game since January 9th, when they beat the Tri-City Americans 2-1. You can get your tickets for Spokane Chiefs hockey at TicketsWest, and if you are travelling and need a room, you can book a luxurious suite at the Stratford Suites Spokane area hotel at www.StratfordSuites.com.

Prior to a four-game stint on the road starting Saturday night (January 23) in Kennewick when they will take on the Tri-City Americans, the Chiefs spent a week practicing at Eastern Washington University’s Rec Center rink because the U.S. Figure Skating Championships took over their Spokane Arena home. Chiefs Head Coach Hardy Sauter said the team worked around the figure skating as well as they could, and he felt the week off was beneficial: “Guys that were hurt are now healed, we’ve put in a little bit of work, and mentally I think our guys are sick of practice and are now looking forward to a game.”

One player to watch right now is Dominick Uher (LW, #26), who has recently turned his game around with two goals and seven points in a five-game scoring streak since January 9th. In the twenty-two games prior, Uher had just one goal and four points. January 15th was his first career multi-point game with two assists in a win at Lethbridge. Uher is from the Czech Republic and was acquired by the Chiefs in the 2009 Import Draft. Coach Sauter said “Before Christmas, he was a new kid in a new country on a new team and was probably a little overwhelmed. Since he came back he has a new confidence and a sense of belonging. The numbers are a reflection of that.”

Stratford Suites extended stay hotel is the perfect place to stay when you are enjoying hockey and other exciting winter events in downtown Spokane. After cheering on the Spokane Chiefs live at the Spokane Arena, relax on our all-leather furniture and check in on the national sports scene on a 50” hi-def. television.