Spokane

1. Manito Park

You can see people picnicking, kids playing baseball, and bird watchers peeking into the trees of Manito Park any time of the year. In the spring, summer, and fall, this 90-acre park in Spokane’s South Hill neighborhood is a beautiful place to visit and smell the roses, visit the Japanese garden or the dahlia garden, stroll along the paved paths, or sit on a bench and relax.

Ducks and geese are frolicking in the pond and the conservatory is full of exotic desert and tropical plants that thrive year round. In the winter when the flowerbeds are covered in snow, kids take over and enjoy sledding down the hills. Manito Park has been around since 1903, and it continues to provide Spokane residents with a peaceful, well-tended oasis and a space to enjoy the nature. Manito Park is one of the best things to do in Spokane, Washington.

1702 S. Grand Blvd., Spokane, Washington, Phone: 509-625-6200

2. Spokane Falls

Located in the central business district of downtown Spokane, the Spokane Falls are waterfalls and dams that add to the beauty of the city and are one of the top Spokane attractions. At one time there was a large Native American population living here, and they called the falls Stluputqu or “swift water.”

The falls are divided into two parts: the Upper Falls is the site of the Upper Falls Dam built in 1920 while the Lower Falls features the Monroe Street Dam, which was built in 1890 and generates hydroelectricity for the city. The Friends of the Falls is an organization that protects and preserves the falls and the nearby river gorge.

3. Riverfront Park

Riverfront Park is one of the most spectacular American urban parks.

It covers 100 acres of land and includes an island, the magnificent Spokane Falls and River, the 1902 Clock Tower, the Expo '74 Pavilion, the 1909 Looff Carrousel, and so much more.

Kids can play in the giant red wagon, cool off in the huge Rotary Fountain, or take a long hike through the meadows and wild conservation areas. If you are wondering what to do in Spokane with kids, this is a great place to visit.

You can spot ospreys, marmots, beaver, ducks and geese. If you are not big on walking, try the Spokane Falls SkyRide for a bird’s eye perspective.

507 N Howard St., Spokane, Washington, Phone: 509-625-6601

4. Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox

The Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox started its life in 1931 as a Fox movie theater. Renowned architect Robert Reamer designed the beautiful Art Deco building. At the time, with 2,300 seats, the theatre was the largest in Spokane.

It featured the most advanced modern movie technology and was the only air-conditioned Spokane building at the time. Spectacular murals by Anthony Heinsbergen decorated the mezzanine and auditorium. The theater also hosted many stage performances by stars such as Frank Sinatra and Catharine Hepburn.

In 2000, the theater was slated for demolition but was saved and renovated mostly by the efforts and funding of Martin Woldson and his daughter. Today, the theater is home to the Spokane Symphony and offers a wonderful stage for the performing arts in Spokane. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

1001 W. Sprague Avenue, Spokane, Washington, Phone: 509-624-1200

5. Downtown Spokane

Downtown Spokane is made up of several areas that provide dining, shopping, and entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. The Entertainment District includes the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox, the 20 screen AMC theater, the Knitting Factory Concert House, and many bars and restaurants. The Cork District and the Inland Northwest Ale Trail provide two ways of sampling Spokane’s wines and brews.

The Spokane River runs through the city, and some consider it to be the most beautiful city river in the United States. If you are wondering what to do in Spokane, Washington today, this is a great place to start exploring. Spokane’s Riverfront Park is home to scenic meadows, an IMAX theater, the 1909 historic Looff Carousel, and other rides and attractions.

6. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture

The Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, located on West First Avenue in the Browne’s Addition neighborhood of Spokane, is a museum with collections of art and artifacts related to the history of the local region, Native American Indian culture, and other cultures and works of fine art.

Known locally as MAC, the museum features five underground galleries, an auditorium, an education center, an outdoor amphitheater, and a store and cafe. Formerly known as the Cheney Cowles Museum, the museum also owns and conducts tours of the nearby historic 1898 Campbell House, which is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

The museum also boasts the Joel E. Ferris Research Archives, which contain books, maps, photographs, and more.

2316 West First Avenue, Spokane, Washington, Phone: 509-456-3931

7. John A. Finch Arboretum

Located on West Woodland Boulevard on Sunset Hill along Garden Springs Creek in Spokane, the John A. Finch Arboretum is a 65-acre public arboretum. Founded in 1949 and named after a Spokane businessman, the arboretum features over 2,000 shrubs and trees. It is known for its collections of conifers and maples, as well as its rhododendron grove and its many lilacs.

The arboretum is also the home of a nature trail called the Touch and See Nature Trail, which is owned by a local Girl Scout organization. Tours of the arboretum are conducted, and there are events and activities held there throughout the year.

3404 West Woodland Boulevard, Spokane, Washington, Phone: 509-624-4832

8. Mica Moon Zip Tours

Mica Moon Zip Tours is an exciting way to see some of the wild nature around Spokane from high above the treetops. The tour lasts about two and half hours, and starts at the Liberty Lake Portal about halfway to Mica Peak.

From the lake, you will drive a UTV along scenic trails to the top of the company property, where you will be strapped into a safety harness and given instructions on safe ziplining.

Mica Moon tour takes you over forest glens, across a valley, over a mountain stream, and over Mica Moon historic prohibition-era moonshine camps. You will see most of these attractions as you hang from a line high in the treetops, but the tour also includes two trail hikes, giving you the opportunity to spot hawks, elk, and other wildlife.

23403 E. Mission Ave. Suite 100, Liberty Lake, WA 99019, 509-587-4020

9. Riverside State Park

Located on West Charles Road about nine miles northwest of Spokane in Nine Mile Falls, Riverside State Park is the largest state park in the state of Washington. The park consists of several areas such as the Bowl and Pitcher, the 1,500-acre Little Spokane River Natural Area, and the 600-acre Nine Mile Recreation Area.

There are many activities in which visitors to the park can partake, including biking, bird watching, boating, canoeing and kayaking, as well as camping, fishing, swimming, and picnicking. The area also features the Spokane River Centennial Trail, a 37-mile long trail, and visitors can learn about Spokane Indians, early pioneers, and fur trappers and traders at the Spokane House Interpretive Center.

10. ROW Adventure Center

ROW Adventure Center is an outdoor activity tour company that offers whitewater rafting and other activities in Spokane. Spokane is special in that it has a scenic river flowing through it, and it is popular with visitors to the city; the Riverfront Park, the gorge, and the Spokane Falls are very scenic areas. The Spokane River Rafting tour offered by ROW Adventure Center begins downstream from the city.

There is an eight-mile stretch of the river that is very dramatic in appearance, and features rock cliffs, Ponderosa pine forests, and wildlife such as osprey and eagles. When the water levels are low, the company provides rafters for visitors to float down the river.

209 South Washington, Spokane, Washington, Phone: 208-770-2517