When people think of the State of Washington, many will automatically assume that Seattle is the only place worth visiting. However, a small drive across the mountains will help you get to one of the best kept secrets of Washington State, Spokane.
Spokane is a city bursting at its seams with activities to do and sights to see. With a population of a little over 200,000, Spokane has a large enough of a population to have plenty of recreational options for your vacation, while at the same time keeping the atmosphere and laid back attitude of a smaller city.
For your first visit to Spokane, you can’t miss spending the day in River Front Park. River Front Park at one time was nothing more than a train yard until Spokane hosted the 1974 worlds fair. At that point, the city invested a large amount of money to create one of the most beautiful parks in North America. From its trademark tented pavilion that hosts a multitude of amusement park rides in the summer and a outdoor skating rink in the winter, to its state of the art I-Max theater, there is always something to keep everyone in the family entertained.
If that is not enough for you, there is also the 1909 Looffs Carousel where the young, and the young at heart, can ride the genuine antique horses designed by famous craftsman Looff himself. Once you have had your fill of the horses, just step out the doors to the river and have some fun feeding the ducks, swans, and geese that call this park home. If you are a little more adventurous, try out the river gondolas. This relaxing ride takes you directly over the Spokane Falls where you will get up close and personal with the raging waters that still help power Spokane’s homes. You can also take a quick hike down below the falls if you feel like getting wet.
Want to get away from the traffic? Then try Manito Park on Spokane’s South Hill. Manito Park is one of the few parks in the United States that hosts seven different gardens, each with a different theme from around the world. From its renowned rose gardens with Grecian pillars and more rose breeds than you could ever count, to it’s Japanese garden complete with a pond full of Koi fish, this is the place to go if you enjoy beautiful flowers, or just need some time to think.
Once you have gotten your fill of the gardens, head on back to Spokane’s downtown area. There are truly enough bars and restaurants to keep you full for weeks without ever eating or drinking at the same place twice. There has also been a new wave of urban renewal in Spokane’s downtown area resulting in the spring up of high end malls, shops, theaters, and hotels everywhere you look. This town truly has something for everyone.
Whether you’re traveling as a couple or traveling with kids, an adventure nut or an avid gardener, a shopper or a theater and music fanatic, everyone will find something to love in Spokane Washington.
