What to see and do in Spokane, Washington (2024)

Sandwiched between the Cascade Range and the Rocky Mountains in eastern Washington State, Spokane is a ruggedly handsome city that owes much of its current character to an early-20th-century construction boom and the legacy of the environmentally themed 1974 World’s Fair (widely referred to as Expo ’74). While the building rush endowed the city with an attractive assemblage of Romanesque revival architecture, the World’s Fair lives on in downtown Riverfront Park where various trails, sculptures and pavilions overlook the spectacular waters of Spokane Falls. Bringing the natural world into the city's downtown core, Riverfront Park exemplifies the diverse charm of Spokane. From long riverside bike rides in the morning to elegant pre-theatre drinks in the evening, here's how best to explore Washington State's most underrated city.

What to see and do in Spokane, Washington (1)

What to see

The focus of downtown Spokane is the lush Riverfront Park centred on Upper and Lower Spokane Falls, where visitors can loop around a network of interlinked bridges and trails, or take the Numerica SkyRide gondola over the falls themselves. Other eye-drawing attractions include the beloved Looff Carousel, a hand-carved fairground ride dating from 1909, and the huge, cone-shaped Spokane Pavilion, a nexus for year-round light shows and summer concerts.

Beyond the park, Spokane’s downtown entertainment district nurtures a strong cultural tradition. Broadway shows feature regularly at the First Interstate Center for the Arts, while the 110-year-old Bing Crosby Theater hosts musicals, comedy shows and tribute bands. Crosby grew up in Spokane and his former home has been made into a museum on the grounds of his alma mater, Gonzaga University.

The city also has an under-appreciated architectural tradition. The best place to immerse yourself in its splendour is the grandiose Browne’s Addition neighbourhood. Here you’ll find the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, a showcase for Native American artefacts, where the largest exhibit, Campbell House, is an exquisite Tudor revival mansion with a lovingly restored Victorian interior.

What to do

Spokane is a short drive from Washington’s two largest state parks, Mount Spokane and Riverside. The former hosts a low-key downhill ski area with 52 wide, intermediate runs. In summer, 100 miles of multi-use trails are unveiled, with options to either hike or drive to the top of 1,794m Mount Spokane for 360-degree views of the inland Northwest.

Riverside Park is only six miles northwest of downtown Spokane and protects large tracts of ponderosa pine forest crisscrossed with trails. A park focal point is the Bowl and Pitcher, a shallow gorge containing huge boulders and swirling with angry water. A wooden suspension bridge, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression, crosses the river linking to a campground on the other side. The holy grail for cyclists is the 40-mile-long Centennial Trail that tracks the Spokane River from Riverside State Park through downtown to the Idaho border.

Spokane is also distinguished in the sporting domain, hosting a huge outdoor basketball tournament called Hoopfest, and one of the largest mass-participation running events in the world, the annual Bloomsday.

What to see and do in Spokane, Washington (4)

Where to stay

Spokane is home to one of the finest hotels in the nation. The 284-room Historic Davenport Hotel dates from 1914 and was built by prodigious local architect Kirtland Cutter in a striking retro style known as Renaissance revival. While the exterior is relatively restrained, the gilded interior is unashamedly lavish. Even if your budget doesn’t stretch to an overnight stay, it’s worth taking a peek into the ornate lobby or stopping for a cocktail in the genteel Peacock Room Lounge with its extravagant stained-glass ceiling.

Supplementing the Historic Davenport Hotel is the Davenport Lusso, a deluxe downtown haven of warm earthy tones and elegant furniture. Nearby, Spokane’s oldest historic boutique hotel, the Montvale Hotel, which opened in 1899 to house itinerant miners, mixes antique design features with snazzy modern touches to lure in 21st-century guests. At the more economical end of the market, the Hotel Ruby in the downtown entertainment district is an upgraded former motel embellished with funky art and cool splashes of colour.

What to see and do in Spokane, Washington (5)
What to see and do in Spokane, Washington (6)

Where to eat

Once a proud meat-and-potatoes kind of place, Spokane has diversified over the past two decades to become a melting pot of envelope-pushing international cuisine. This growing sophistication can be sampled in pioneering chef-led establishments such as Inland Pacific Kitchen, which marries intense flavours with creative presentation, and Zona Blanca Ceviche Bar, revered for its Baja-style fish and formidable cocktails.

Of older provenance are perennial favourites such as Wild Sage, an American-style bistro where local ingredients form the culinary bedrock; Frank’s Diner, a hub of no-nonsense breakfasts dispatched inside a 1906-vintage railway carriage; and Steam Plant Restaurant & Brew Pub, whose homebrewed suds and homespun handhelds, such as burgers and tacos, can be enjoyed in an ex-industrial facility — another of Kirtland Cutter’s creations.

To sample the true soul food of the region, head over to Indigenous Eats in the Gonzaga district, which offers such salt-of-the-earth delights as ground bison tacos and frybread with a huckleberry sauce, all sourced from local Native American businesses. The restaurant first opened in 2022 and its recently added second location (also in Spokane) was voted the fourth-best new restaurant in the country for 2024 by USA Today readers.

Plan your trip
Fly from Heathrow to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (10 hours), then take a one-hour flight into Spokane. Bus services operate every 30 minutes (Bus 60) from Spokane International Airport to the downtown Spokane Transit Authority Plaza (an indoor bus station at Sprague Avenue and Wall Street). For more information, head to visitspokane.com

This paid content article was created for Visit Spokane. It does not necessarily reflect the views of National Geographic, National Geographic Traveller (UK) or their editorial staffs.

To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).

What to see and do in Spokane, Washington (2024)

FAQs

What is Spokane best known for? ›

Spokane is the economic and cultural center of the Spokane metropolitan area, the Spokane–Coeur d'Alene combined statistical area, and the Inland Northwest. It is known as the birthplace of Father's Day, and locally by the nickname of "Lilac City".

Is Spokane, WA worth visiting? ›

Spokane is creative by nature. The city is a meeting place for artists, performers, curators, and musicians, and offers plenty of museums, theaters, and historic buildings to explore.

What makes Spokane special? ›

With over 87 parks, 60+ miles of walking trails, and close proximity to 76 lakes, five ski resorts, and two dozen golf courses, it's no wonder our motto is "Near Nature, Near Perfect." Highlights include the 40-mile Centennial Trail, Mount Spokane for skiing and huckleberry picking, and a thriving arts scene with the ...

What is interesting about Spokane Washington? ›

2. Spokane is the largest city between Seattle and Minneapolis. As the crow flies, Spokane is the largest city for 1,656 miles! Spokane is also a hub for healthcare and has the largest concentration of hospitals, labs, clinics, health education, and research in the Inland Northwest and Northern Idaho.

Which is better Seattle or Spokane? ›

After placing 19th last year, Seattle ranked 36th on the 2022-23 list. Spokane came in at 98th, down from 78th.

When should I visit Spokane? ›

The best time to visit Spokane is from late June to early September. In Spokane, the summer months are warm, dry, and mostly clear.

Why do people go to Spokane? ›

When you visit Spokane, you'll find yourself at the center of a city that lights up with warmth, ambition, and creativity. All you need is your own two feet to explore an entire 1920s industrial downtown bursting with killer restaurants and venues, a diverse nightlife, and breathtaking nature.

What is great about Spokane? ›

Access to outdoor opportunities

Whether you are looking to hike, bike, ski, fish, climb, or simply enjoy nature, Spokane has it all. The city is surrounded by beautiful lakes, rivers, and mountains, providing endless opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Is the drive from Spokane to Seattle pretty? ›

If you opt to road trip from Seattle to Spokane, it's a straight shot on Interstate-90. The first part of the drive east from Seattle is incredibly scenic. You will drive by mountains including Snoqualmie Pass and Mount Si, plus Cle Elum Lake.

What food did the Spokane traditionally eat? ›

Living along the banks of the Spokane and Columbia rivers and scattered up the tributaries. Their primary diet consisted of what was taken from the water ways in the form of salmon, steelhead, eel, and shellfish which made up 60% of their diet.

Why is Spokane called the lilac city? ›

The idea to promote Spokane as “The Lilac City” came in the early 1930s when the local garden club was encouraged by community leaders to plant lilac bushes throughout the City. By 1938, there were 144 in Manito Park.

Why are Spokane street lights purple? ›

This adhesion failure resulted in cracks and delamination, where the phosphor layer detached from the LED chip. Without this layer, the LEDs emitted a blue or purple light instead of the intended white light.

Why is it called 5 Mile Spokane? ›

The name Five Mile Prairie was established to signify the distance from Spokane Falls in Downtown Spokane. Settlers planted many varieties of deciduous fruit tress that grew successfully.

Is Spokane an expensive city? ›

Spokane's housing expenses are 9% lower than the national average and the utility prices are 3% lower than the national average. Transportation expenses like bus fares and gas prices are 19% higher than the national average. Spokane has grocery prices that are 11% higher than the national average.

What language do the Spokane speak? ›

Salish-Spokane-Kalispel language is an Interior Salish language spoken in three dialects in Northern America, particularly in the northwestern areas of the United States.

Why is Spokane popular? ›

The Spokane river attracted settlers for its hydroelectric potential as well as its rugged beauty and life-sustaining qualities. Spokane was primarily known for its natural resources: farms, forests, fur, and mines, as well as being a railroad hub for shipping.

What is Spokane known for food wise? ›

Spokane has a thriving foodie scene with African, Asian, Italian, and classic American fare. This list of restaurants will guide you to the best places to eat in Spokane, allowing you to witness the history and character of the city while enjoying culinary experiences to suit all tastes!

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