travel spokane

Spokane Chiefs Hockey Reclaims the Ice

Written by admin on January 25th, 2010

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.

Posted in Spokane, Sports | 1 Comment »

Valentine Special at Stratford Suites

Written by admin on January 22nd, 2010

Stratford Suites is proud to be offering a special package for Valentine’s Day. Whether your looking for a way to surprise a special someone or if your not even sure when Valentine’s Day is, this package will be sure to do the trick.

February 12-14, 2010

Includes: Luxury Suite, Flowers, Chocolate Truffles, Bottle of Wine or Martinellis & $25.00 gift certificate at Rusty Moose.

$129.00 per night

(509) 321-1600 or (888) 705-8877

More Stratford Suites Packages

Posted in Deals, Holiday, Spokane | No Comments »

Watch for Stars in Spokane!

Written by admin on January 12th, 2010

Sasha Cohen

Spokane, WA area hotels are filling up fast as the superstars of the skating world and fans from all over flood the city in advance of the 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, which will be held January 14–20 at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena and other downtown Spokane venues. There are still tickets left for the championships (go to http://www.spokane2010.com/2,tickets or call 1-888-SK8-2010 to purchase) and the Spokane area’s best extended stay hotel, Stratford Suites, still has some great rooms available, so what are you waiting for? This is a great time to be in Spokane if you are an ice skating fan! Keep an eye out for some of the most famous skaters in the nation, including Sasha Cohen, Caroline Zhang, Ryan Bradley, and reigning world and Olympic silver medal ice dance duo Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, all of whom will be vying for a chance to compete in the Olympics in Vancouver next month.

The championships will mark Sasha Cohen’s much anticipated comeback after taking a hiatus from competitive ice skating. In an interview with the Going for the Gold podcast series, she said, “I think coming back defines me—I am a fighter . . . I want to push myself, set goals, improve, and I have nothing to lose.” You can watch the full interview at the Passport to Gold website.

In addition to the superstars of the skating world who will compete in the championships (1500 skaters total will participate), all of the former U.S. Olympic gold medalists in figure skating will be in Spokane for the final performance of the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and will participate in a presentation during the Smucker’s Skating Spectacular on Sunday, Jan. 24. The Olympic champions who are scheduled to appear are: Dick Button (1948, 52), Tenley Albright (1956), Hayes Jenkins (1956), Carol Heiss Jenkins (1960), David Jenkins (1960), Peggy Fleming (1968), Dorothy Hamill (1976), Scott Hamilton (1984), Brian Boitano (1988), Kristi Yamaguchi (1992), Tara Lipinski (1998), and Sarah Hughes (2002).

River Park Square, Spokane Wasington

FanFest in downtown Spokane’s River Park Square will begin at 4 p.m. on Friday, January 15, and continue throughout the competitions. Free and open to the public, FanFest is the community gathering place for the event, with the most current information, autograph sessions, a food and beverage booth provided by Safeway, a sponsor, the Spokane Victory Ceremonies, and other fan events. KHQ and 92.9 FM will provide entertainment and live news and radio broadcasts. But the biggest draw will be the figure skating stars showing up to sign autographs and take pictures with their adoring fans!

Whether you select the all-event 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships package or attend just one or two events, Stratford Suites is a great place to make your headquarters for relaxation and watching the championships from the comfort of a luxurious suite on a 50” hi-definition television. Don’t forget to ask about our convenient shuttle service!

Posted in Events, Spokane, Sports | No Comments »

Start the New Year with an All-Over Makeover!

Written by admin on January 11th, 2010

Copyright 2005 Creative Edge Marketing and Event Management and its licensors.

Pamper Yourself at the Health Beauty Spa Show January 16–17, Spokane Community College Lair

Recover from the holidays with a relaxing massage and sample all the latest beauty treatments at Spokane’s popular Health Beauty Spa Show, sponsored by Northwest Woman Magazine. This unique, big event is the best (and cheapest!) way to try out all the spa treatments you have been curious about—from anti-aging facials, microcurrent face lifts, and the hottest new make-up to aroma therapy massage, bio-feedback, and vibration therapy.

Over sixty exhibitors with a wide variety of services and products are participating. If you travel to the event, choose the Spokane area hotel Stratford Suites to make a luxurious weekend out of it with heavenly pillow-top mattresses and down pillows, leather furniture, full kitchen, and 50” hi-definition televisions in every room.

Tips if you go:

Sample treatments are $5 each. If you are in a hurry and have your heart set on trying a specific service, arrive in the morning to avoid waits as many treatments are very popular.
The show is accepting non-perishable food and hygiene items for the YWCA, and if you bring an item to donate, admission is only $5 (regular price is $7).
Go to the website before you go to get a coupon to bring mom free and to buy three treatments for only $10.
Flying in for the show? Stay at Stratford Suites extended stay hotel and ask about our executive style shuttle service.

Posted in Events, Shows, Spokane | No Comments »

Celebrate the New Year with 30,000 Friends First Night Spokane, December 31, 2009

Written by admin on December 30th, 2009

The biggest, most happening New Year’s Eve party around starts at 6:30 p.m. in downtown Spokane with an opening ceremony at the Riverfront Park Fountain. For one low admission price, you can attend all the arts events you can handle, including tango lessons, great local music, comedy, a masquerade disco ball, Rail Jammers performing skiing and snowboarding stunts in Riverfront Park, live visual arts demonstrations by local artists, and a lot more! This family-friendly Spokane event is great for revelers of all ages and tastes. If you would like to make a complete night of it, book a room now in a Spokane hotel. Stratford Suites is one of the best hotels in the Spokane, WA area, offering one- and two-bedroom suites, and you can take advantage of their Lincoln Towncar shuttle service to avoid the hassle of driving.

First Night Spokane is 100% fun and also 100% non-alcohol. Kids will never be bored with the many activities just for them, like Avista Kid’s Night Out “Land of Make Believe,” where kids can make crowns and hats for the masquerade parade, or Adventure Dynamics, with fun, challenging courses and fast-paced group games for the whole family. Oh, and your First Night admission button also gets you free ice skating and carousel rides in Riverfront Park all night long. Don’t miss the incredible fireworks show at midnight! There are just too many events to list, so check out the full schedule at www.firstnightspokane.org. You can buy your admission buttons at Spokane area Zip Trip locations as well as many local businesses for $12 in advance, $15 on New Year’s Eve; check the website for a full list. Kids under ten are free with a button-wearing adult.

Don’t forget your camera, because First Night USA, which builds support for First Night festivals all over the country, wants your photos. Send three to five of your favorite First Night Spokane images to info@firstnight.org. Photos will be featured on the First Night USA homepage and in the First Night USA gallery. Images must be in JPG format.

The concept of First Night started in Boston in 1976 when a group of artists decided to create an arts festival as an alternative to the usual New Year’s Eve parties. Now there are about seventy-five First Night celebrations in communities across the U.S. First Night organizers share a commitment to promoting the performing and visual arts as catalysts for unifying their citizens on New Year’s Eve (and beyond) through creativity, imagination, and participation. First Night, Inc. empowers these organizers to plan and produce festivals that reflect their particular constituents and celebrate their unique communities.

Spokane’s own First Night was launched in 2001 by the Arts Committee of the Spokane Chamber of Commerce. The first year was a huge success, with over 15,000 attendees and 200 volunteers. The festival has since grown and expanded, with more and larger venues and an ever greater variety of activities for all ages. Last year, there were over 30,000 attendees and 900 volunteers. The overwhelming public support of this winter arts festival has catapulted First Night Spokane into the mix of major regional events. Most recent achievements include “Arts Organization of the Year” by the City of Spokane Arts Commission, and “Event of the Year” at the Inland Northwest Tourism Awards. First Night Spokane 2009 is sure to draw more people than ever, so if you would like to stay at the luxurious Stratford Suites Extended Stay Hotel or another Spokane area hotel/motel, you should book your room as soon as possible.

Posted in Spokane | 2 Comments »

First Night Spokane 2010

Written by admin on December 29th, 2009

Don’t miss the Ninth Annual First Night Spokane 2010 as Spokanites welcome the New Year and a new decade! The party starts at 7PM on December 31st, when the whole city will celebrate with a family-friendly, alcohol-free event. First Night brings businesses, artists, entertainers, and families out late in Spokane to celebrate another year’s beginning. To join in the fun, buy a First Night button ($12-$15) at any local Zip Trip store, the concierge desk at River Park Square, Auntie’s Bookstore or Bergman’s Luggage. Children 10 and under can attend free.

Anyone who wants a great party on December 31st should visit Spokane for First Night. Make the most of your trip with a hotel stay at Stratford Suites, which offers both short term and extended stays. take advantage of our shuttle to avoid the downtown parking hassle.

When you get downtown, find the event you want to attend by checking out First Night’s website. For the event, Spokane will be divided into four Party Zones, each with their own schedule. Headliners are Brothers from Different Mothers, two hilarious prop comedians; Ashe, a West African music and dance troupe, and the illustrious Archduchy of Alhambra, Adrian Empire, who will mystify and educate with a special tarot reading.

River Park Square, the Convention Center, City Hall, Auntie’s Books, River Front Park, the STA, several downtown banks, the Spokane Public Library, the Bing Crosby Theater, and many other locations will be hosting events that range from arts and crafts for kids (Avista Kids Night Out at the Spokane Convention Center), to a gospel choir (STA, 2nd floor), bonfires (Spokane Falls Blvd.), free carousel rides (Looff Carousel, River Front Park), North by Northwest’s 48-Hour Film Festival (City Hall), and so much more!

Your First Night button will also get you free admission to the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture on January 1st from 10AM-6PM. You can enjoy the museum’s exhibits as well as special performances by a magician, a Bubblillusionist, and a dance company. Kids will have a blast!

Check out a full schedule and map at www.firstnightspokane.org. You can also enter to win many great prizes at the site, including a 32” HD flat screen TV.

Have a Happy New Year!

Posted in Events, Shows, Spokane | No Comments »

US Figure Skating Championship Packages at Stratford Suites

Written by admin on December 28th, 2009

Championship Skating
Luxury Suite
Town Car Shuttle

Experience the nation’s elite figure skating stars and enjoy Spokane’s finest extended stay hotel.

Package includes one night stay in a luxury 1 or 2 bedroom suite with full kitchen, 50″ HDTV, and a round-trip Lincoln Town Car shuttle.

(888) 705-8877 or (509) 321-1600

frontdesk@stratfordsuites.com

www.stratfordsuites.com

Posted in Deals, Shows, Spokane, Sports | No Comments »

Do You Love Snow?

Written by admin on December 21st, 2009

You don’t have to travel far from Spokane to experience a great day on the slopes! Whether you are just learning or are an advanced skier/snowboarder, the Spokane area has the perfect winter adventure for you. Spokane visitors are delighted by the excellent conditions and short lines that residents enjoy all winter long. Make Stratford Suites extended stay hotel your base of operations and enjoy a warm, luxurious suite after a long day of play. There is plenty of room for all your winter sports gear in our spacious, beautifully appointed rooms.

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)

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)

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)

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.

Posted in Recreation, Spokane | 1 Comment »

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the essential guide to spokane :: presented by stratford suites

Championship Skating Luxury Suite Town Car Shuttle

Championship Skating
Luxury Suite
Town Car Shuttle