Spokane Washington is what I would call, the best of both worlds. It is a beautiful city situated right on the Spokane River with beautiful outdoor recreation areas for families and individuals alike. Home to the largest urban waterfall, the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture and hundreds of hiking trails within an hour of the city there is something for everyone!
We were lucky enough to spend a long weekend here in June, and we got lucky with some great weather (we all know how moody the PNW likes to be)! Our visit was short but sweet and we are already planning a trip back to hit all of the food and hiking we missed the first go around.
I have built out our itinerary step by step to give you an accurate idea of what you can fit in during a long weekend in Spokane. Of course feel free to substitute any of these activities for something more of your liking, I will provide a small list at the end of other options!
Disclaimer: This was a sponsored trip in partnership with Visit Spokane but all words, feelings and opinions are my own.
Without further ado let’s jump in!
Day 1:
Arrive in Spokane by car or by plane (if you are coming from the west coast take an early morning flight, east coasters try to get a red eye to maximize your time). After picking up your rental car, head to Italia Trattoria for brunch!
Then explore Browne’s Addition or the Downtown Spokane Market to get some walking in. The best way to see a new city in my opinion!
Once you are feeling hungry again, grab lunch at Downriver Grill. Their salads are to die for!
Now here is where your itinerary might change from ours. We decided to camp at Riverside State Park, just 15 minutes outside the city! They have beautiful campsites right by the river with tons of hiking and biking nearby. I highly recommend trying it once if you can. We flew with our camping gear (thanks Delta for the 2 free checked bags), but you can also rent gear locally or stop at the REI in town.
If you would prefer to stay in a hotel this visit, no worries! There are plenty of great options to choose from right in downtown near the action, with the State Park being a short drive away.
After you get checked in and situated, take a stroll on the Riverside Bowl and Pitcher Hike. Make sure to get a photo opt on the beautiful bridge over the river.
Grab a quick dinner at Cascadia on your way to Mt.Spokane for sunset. I highly recommend the pretzels for an appetizer.
At Mt. Spokane, hike Quartz Fire Lookout for some great sunset views or explore some of the shorter hikes if you are low on time. Just the drive out there is beautiful!
Once back at camp, roast some marshmallows before passing out early to get ready for your next full day.
Day 2:
Wake up early to try and grab a seat at The Bruncheonette for brunch (we did not make it in time haha) If you miss out try The Yards or Wall Street Diner.
Make the drive to your first hike of the day, The Rocks of Sharon. Make sure to bring bear spray with you as there are usually some sightings every once in a while on this trail. If you are lucky you’ll climb into the clouds which makes the rocks seem even more magical and mysterious.
To refuel before your next hike, grab some smoothie bowls at Wellness Tree. They also have juices, smoothies and wellness shots.
Nearby is the Rim Rock Short hike overlooking downtown, this is a flat and easy hike for anyone with great views!
Go back to camp to relax for a bit before dinner at Versalia in downtown. Literally the best thin crust pizza I have ever had in my life, plus a super cute patio with a view of the river! Also their homemade lemonade is a must have.
Get some ice cream from The Scoop a few doors down and head back to camp to turn in for the night.
Day 3:
Feel free to wake up early again to try and snag a spot at The Bruncheonette or The Yards, but our favorite was breakfast at Ferguson’s. The cutest local diner where everyone knows everyone and the food is home cooked and so yummy.
Then head out to hike Deep Creek in Riverside State Park or one of the many hikes in the Dishman Hills Natural Area.
Check out of your campsite (or hotel).
Grab lunch at Cochinito or Purgatory in downtown then walk around Riverfront Park and Centennial Trail along the River. Make sure to check out the waterfall and maybe even take the gondola across to get a closer look. There are multiple amazing parks and splash pads in the area that we were highly impressed with. We can’t wait to take our little one back when she’s big enough to enjoy their downtown!
Full List of Restaurants We Visited:
Italia Trattoria
They might be Italian but they serve a great brunch! Try the French toast or classic Italian breakfast.
Downriver Grill
Great fresh, local options for lunch or dinner!
Cascadia
Upscale bar with great outdoor seating and yummy choices for everyone.
Wellness Tree
Smoothie bowls, smoothies, juices galore!
Versalia
Literally the best thin crust pizza I’ve ever had, and their homemade lemonade was to die for.
Ferguson’s
The cutest local diner! You can never go wrong with anything here.
The Purgatory
The best soft pretzel I’ve ever had. Plus their whiskey selection is huge!
Wall Street Diner
The second cutest local diner haha still so yummy no matter what you get.
We were also so pleasantly surprised by how many hikes there were so close to downtown! Made for very easy trip planning. Here are the hike details of the ones we made it to.
Hikes:
Riverside Bowl and Pitcher
2 miles
124ft elevation gain
Rated easy
A great hike for the whole family, especially if you are camping in the area! The swinging bridge over the river is very cool to see as well.
Rocks of Sharon
3.3 miles
800ft elevation gain
Rated moderate
Hike into the clouds! Was such a cool experience to see the rocks surrounded by thick fog. Bring snacks and beware of recent bear activity in the area.
Rim Rock Short Hike
2.7 miles point to point, can turn around to head back to car at anytime though
100ft elevation gain
Rated easy
A great running trail or just to stroll along with views of the downtown!
Dishman Hills Natural Area
There are multiple hike options in this park, most under 5 miles and rated easy to moderate. Great diversity for the whole family! Check out their website for more info. https://dishmanhills.org
Bonus:
Quartz Mt. Spokane Fire Lookout
4.5 miles
685ft elevation gain
Rated moderate
Great sunset views if the clouds aren’t around!
Other activity options in the area:
Historic Flight Museum
Mica Moon Zip Line Tours
Fun Unlimited Inc for kayaks and paddleboards
Willy E Waters Rafting Adventures
Mobius Discovery Center
Tons of art galleries and performing arts centers
Spokane Indians Baseball
Spokane’s Chiefs Hockey
5 ski resorts within 2 hours of Downtown Spokane
And so much more! Make sure to check out the Visit Spokane website to get up to date information on all activities.
