Spokane is Washington State’s second largest city. It is located on the eastern side about 20 miles from the Idaho border. My daughter recently moved here for college and we will be making more trips over the years. I have visited twice within the last three months and enjoyed the city each time. While there are many activities, here are five free things to do in Spokane.
1. Enjoy Nature
Spokane has many green spaces and Manito Park and the Finch Arboretum are two of the can’t miss places to visit. Manito Park has been around since 1904 and is made up of five gardens: The Nishinomiya Tsutakawa Japanese Garden, Duncan Garden, Rose Hill, Lilac Garden and Ferris Perennial Garden. Check out this Walking Tour of Manito Park. The Duncan Garden is a highlight of the park with its colorful display of florals.
This is a wonderful place to visit all year. We were here during Fall and a day after its first snowfall of the season. We loved seeing “two seasons in one” especially at beautiful Mirror Pond. This was a great area for a stroll and to watch ducks. There were plenty of families using hillsides for sledding and playing in the snow.
The park also has the Park Bench Café which is open seasonally. The playgrounds are popular with families. Don’t miss the Gaiser Conservatory for revolving floral displays and exhibits. Check out this walking tour of Manito Park.
The John A. Finch Arboretum is a 65-acre public arboretum that was founded in 1949. It has over 2,000 shrubs, plants and a collection of trees. Many of the plants and trees were planted along the Garden Springs Creek.
As a testament to the beauty of this place, there were many people doing photo shoots using the colorful trees as backdrops during our visit. There is also a Touch and See Nature Trail great for kids.
Check out the self-guided walking tour of the arboretum.
2. Explore Centennial Trail
There aren’t many trails around the country that span two states so this is definitely worth checking out. The Centennial Trail is about 40 miles of paved mixed-use trail made for pedestrians and non-motorized vehicles. It spans from Nine Mile Falls in Washington to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Go on any part of this trail for a little hike or stroll to enjoy the outdoors and explore interesting sights along the way.
Along the trail, visitors can stroll or ride along the Spokane River, through pine forests and cultural and historic heritage sites like the Great Northern Railroad depot clock tower or the Slaughter Camp Monument. It winds through historic downtown Spokane which makes it convenient for a stop along the way to shop, refresh, sightsee or eat.
We love the stretch of the Centennial Trail between Kendall Yards and Riverfront Park. It offers fantastic views of the river, downtown and even the top of Spokane Falls. The beautiful changing leaves really make this area one of the best places to enjoy the autumn season and the explosion of colors.
3. Visit Spokane Falls and Riverfront Park
The city’s most notable attractions are Riverfront Park and Spokane Falls. There aren’t many cities which can offer a flowing waterfall through its downtown area. Spokane Falls was considered sacred by the Native American tribes who once considered this area home. There are many vantage points to enjoy this urban waterfalls especially in April – June when it’s at its peak of power.
There are various vantage points to see the waterfalls and some of them really get you up front and center. There are two pedestrian suspension bridges next to the Washington Water Power Building for opportunities to feel the mist. Walking the Centennial Trail gets you under the Monroe Street Bridge which takes visitors near the waterfall’s base.
Huntington Park is located between the Mobius Science Center and City Hall and offers the best views of Spokane Falls. They offer the best viewing areas of the lower falls along the basalt rocks. There are exhibits with Spokane’s waterpower history, some sculptures and benches to enjoy the panoramic views and area.
We loved hanging out at Riverfront Park. It was a popular area for both visitors and residents filled with several attractions and many of them on an island. If you’re traveling with teens, my kids found many Snapchat and Instagram-worthy spots.
Some noteworthy stops are the Spokane sign in letter blocks, the large Radio Flyer red wagon whose handle doubles as a slide, the steel Garbage Goat sculpture that eats small pieces of trash, several interesting sculptures, the 1909 Looff Carousel, green spaces and beautiful flower beds. Though the highlights of this urban park are the giant 1902 Clock Tower and the wire-mesh looking Pavilion. The Pavilion lights up at night in various colors.
4. See Some Art
Spokane has many interesting places to see art. Luckily, a few of them are free. Gonzaga University’s Jundt Art Museum has a permanent collection of almost 5,000 objects in addition to rotating temporary exhibitions from artists in the local region and around the world. The collection also includes works by renowned artists like Picasso, Rembrandt, Goya, Warhol and for those who are familiar with his glass masterpieces, Dale Chihuly.
Chase Gallery is located in Spokane’s City Hall lower level. Check out the public exhibits for contemporary and traditional works of art in various formats. Other universities like Whitworth University and Eastern Washington University also have art departments with several exhibitions and artist talks throughout the year. The New Moon Art Gallery is another wonderful place to visit to see works of local artists and artisans.
The downtown area is home to some interesting art pieces. “The Joy of Running Together” is a group of 40 life-sized figures in various poses of running. It was created in honor of the annual Spokane Bloomsday Run and is by the race’s finish line to motivate the runners. Follow this Sculpture Walk to see many more art pieces at Riverfront Park and Centennial Trail.
5. Do Self-Guided Tours
Spokane is a great city to do some self-guided tours whether you want to walk or drive. If you’re in the downtown area, there are three walking tours, divided into west, east and central, to explore and learn about the historic buildings with a total of 55 stops. See the walking tours here. If you’re an architecture buff, there are also tours on craftsman or modern buildings around the city.
The Spokane City Drive will take you to many of the city’s major attractions through a self-guided driving tour. It starts at Riverfront Park with 21 stops along the way and five optional excursions. It’s a great orientation to the city and see many of its popular attractions and historic neighborhoods.
Download the city drive guide here and get on your way.
Free Bonus Trips
If you’re here especially during fall and summer, take a drive to the Green Bluff area. This is an area filled with independent farmers and always has something growing no matter what the season is. It is one of the best places for a scenic drive and stop at any of the farms. There are also numerous lakes and rivers around the area for swimming, wading and relaxing during the warmer months. Spokane truly is a city full of outdoor adventures.
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