Flying into Spokane? Plenty to see here!

Spokane Washington

If you’re flying in for the retreat, you will most likely be flying in to the Spokane International Airport, and if you have some extra time, the city is worth a visit. It’s a smaller sized city, with a population of about 230,000. However, this gateway to some of the most beautiful country is worth a peek.

Spokane has botanical gardens and waterfalls/rivers rushing right through the downtown. It is the “gateway” to the INW, the Inland-North-West, and the flight entrance to expansive National Forests, as well as Glacier National Park. It is basically the first stop-flight and western-stop for tourists interested in Far North Idaho and North West Montana, so essentially an oasis for nature lovers, hikers, campers, etc. The area’s music festivals also bring in a lot of people.

Spokane is not a huge city, but that is part of its charm, and there is plenty to do despite its smaller size. The city of Spokane alone brings in about $2 billion each year just in tourist money. Summers in this area are full of out of state license plates from all over the country and Canada, as well as the winter because Schweitzer offers excellent skiing and Spokane is the gateway for that as well. Plus the locals are generally kind.

Parks and Recreation

Spokane Falls and Riverfront Park

The Spokane River and Falls run through the heart of downtown. Although no guided tours are available, it’s an easy walk to view the falls and the surrounding Riverfront Park. Scooters and bikes are also available to rent, as well as a 20 minute SkyRide tour for a beautiful, aerial view of the falls.

Centennial Trail is a 40 mile, paved trail, perfect for walking or bicycling, which takes you along the river and through downtown, eventually connecting into Idaho.

If walking along trails is a bit too tame, you can always hit the Spokane River rapids with a Wiley E Waters Whitewater Rafting tour.

Manito Park

Spokane has numerous parks, but this 90-acre, urban park is often considered Spokane’s best. Manito Park hosts a variety of different gardens, such as a Japanese garden, an English formal garden (Duncan Gardens), an informal perennial garden, an award winning rose garden, a lilac garden, a cafe, and more.

Museums

Do the kids need to let off some energy? Create bottle rockets and bridges, play with the water tables and harmonographs, or interact with reptiles and animals at Mobius Discovery Center, an inexpensive and interactive science museum.

If interested in more traditional museums, Spokane’s Campbell House gives a glimpse into the early 1900s lifestyle, while the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture offers local history.

Architecture

Spokane is home to some interesting architecture. Some choices include the Cathedral of our Lady of Lourdes, Campbell house, St. John’s Cathedral, Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox, Monroe Street Bridge, St. Aloysius Church, Gonzaga University, the Historic Washington Cracker Company Building, and Historic Wallace.