Best Things to Do in Spokane on a Weekend Trip

Standing in the land of Spokane, but still not figuring out the best things to do in Spokane with your family or friends? This guide brings a list of things that will help to make your trip memorable.

Spokane is a perfect destination with history and nature, offering a unique hiking and biking experience that combines the spirit of adventure with the richness of local culture. When you visit the city, you can explore the waterfalls, local cuisine, and experience the seasonal festivals. Adventurous lovers can also enjoy their trip by camping at the Riverside State Park under the stars, and hikers love to hike the hills and forests. Let’s pick all the Spokane attractions and do all the fun activities in the city.

10 Top Things to Do in Spokane, Washington

Visitors often come to Spokane to explore its parks, gardens, and to perform fun activities. The list provides the best 10 attractions of the city that offer exciting things to do in the city.

1. Family Activities in Riverfront Park

The Riverfront Park is the center of attraction of the Lilac City. It features waterfalls, the Clock Tower, and several family-friendly spots in the city. From skyrides to the carousel horse ride, the park offers everything for all ages.

Things to Do in Riverfront Park

• Experience the Scenic View of Spokane Falls: The waterfall is one of the largest urban waterfalls in the USA. The waterfalls and bridges make it one of Spokane’s top photography spots. It is also considered one of the best urban waterfalls in Washington.
• Ride the Spokane Falls SkyRide: Adventurous lovers will love to experience the Spokane Falls SkyRide. The 15-minute ride gives visitors an aerial view of the Spokane Waterfalls and the Riverfront Park area.
• Ride the Looff Carousel: The Looff Carousel horse ride will be one of the most fun things to do in Spokane with kids.
• Go Around the Clock Tower: The clock tower is surrounded by parks, walking trails, and photography spots.

2. Walk Through Downtown Spokane

When you are in Spokane, you must experience the local culture and atmosphere of downtown. It offers historic buildings, local shops, and lively streets. The streets feel wonderful with local Spokane restaurants and cafes that offer international and local foods.

Things to do in Spokane Downtown

Shopping is one of the fun activities to do in Downtown Spokane. The downtown offers local beauty shops, bookstores, and shops with local products, handmade items, and different gifts. Visiting all these shops gives visitors a chance to experience local culture and take some memorable gifts for family and friends.

Food to Taste in Spokane, Washington

Spokane has numerous local restaurants and cafes offering local food and a variety of cuisines. Restaurants in Downtown Spokane also have restaurants that come with delicious international dishes.

• Cochinito Taqueria: The restaurant is well known for offering the best Mexican food and street tacos, and craft margaritas.
• The Flying Goat: It offers the best Neapolitan-style pizza and casual dining.
• Versalia Pizza: It offers the best wood-fired pizza and Italian-style dishes.
• The Wonder Building: It is famous for trying multiple dining options in one place.
• The Scoop: It is popular for ice cream, desserts, and sweet treats.

3. Explore the Floral Beauty at Manito Park

Manito Park is one of the best Spokane tourist attractions, offering five botanical gardens. They are a perennial garden, a rose garden, a lilac garden, a Japanese garden, and the Duncan Garden. Manito Park is free to visit, which makes it one of the best free things to do in Spokane.

Things to See in Manito Park

• The Nishinomiya Tsutakawa Japanese Garden is one of the top attractions in Manito Park. The Spokane Japanese Garden is designed in a Japanese landscape, arranged with flowers, stones, and water areas decorated with beautiful flowers.
• Duncan Garden is the iconic destination in Manito Park, as it provides a European-Style design that attracts most of the visitors.
• Visit the Perennial Garden and explore its perennial flowers and all floral displays.
• Walk through the trail to experience the blooming roses in the Rose Garden.
• The Lilac garden offers a peaceful environment with beautiful lilac flowers.
• Manito Park also offers a mirror pond, playground, walking trails, and picnic areas.

Manito Park Hours

The Manito Park hours are generally 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, but seasonally, the hours may vary. So, before visiting the park, you should check the opening and closing hours of the park.

4. Camping in Riverside State Park

It is one of the best destinations for travellers who are planning to visit the city on weekends. The state park provides the best area for hiking, camping, and exploring nature. Riverside State Park camping is one of the best things to do in Spokane this weekend for adults. It offers 3 campgrounds: Bowl and Pitcher Campground, Equestrian Campground, and Lake Spokane Campground. If you are in Riverside State Park and thinking about camping under the sky, then we would recommend choosing Bowl and Pitcher Campground.

Things to do in Riverside State Park

• Walk through the bridge to enjoy the river views and rock formation.
• You can do night camping at Bowl and Pitcher campground, which is considered the best camping area.
• Go walk through the forest trails and riverside areas to experience the best views of nature.
• The area also offers trails for cycling and mountain biking.

Riverside State Park Nearby Attraction

• Mount Spokane State Park
• Manito Park
• Spokane Falls
• Spokane River Centennial Trail

5. Do Hiking and Biking at Mount Spokane State Park

Mount Spokane State Park is one of the best destinations for hikers. Visitors can enjoy hiking, camping, spotting wild animals, and mountain biking. The park offers peaceful natural surroundings and beautiful landscapes for travelers of all ages.

Things to Do in Mount Spokane State Park

• Visit the Mount Spokane State Park Summit and experience the panoramic mountain views, a beautiful view of the green forest, and do wildlife photography.
• Go hiking in the dense evergreen forest and watch the local birds and wildlife.
• Vista House is one of the highest viewpoints in the area, which is known as a popular photography spot.
• Mount Park has several trails for mountain biking.
• Open picnic areas are also available for family gatherings.

6. Visit the Local Farms in Green Bluff

Green Bluff is popular for its local farms and seasonal fruit harvests, where visitors can pick fresh fruit and take it home. The bluff provides pumpkin patches, fruit markets, homemade jams, wineries, and harvest festivals. If you visit Green Bluff, then follow the Green Bluff map to easily cover all the top attractions of the area.

Things to Do in Green Bluff

• U-Pick Fruit Farms: It is one of the best activities to do in Green Bluff. Visitors can pick apples, cherries, strawberries, and raspberries, according to the season.
• Local Wineries: Green Bluff has several wineries that offer local wines and tasting experiences.
• Hayrides: Hayrides are one of the best outdoor activities to do in Green Bluff.
• Orchard Tours: Many farms allow visitors to walk through the orchards and pick fresh fruits.
• Seasonal Festivals and Events: Green Bluff hosts seasonal events such as harvest celebrations, fruit festivals, live music, and family activities. Cutting one’s own Christmas tree, which is a tradition for Spokane locals, is one of the fun activities to do in Green Bluff.

7. Explore the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture

Visit the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture to learn about Spokane’s history, arts, and culture. The museum has exhibitions, displays of art, and Campbell House, which makes it a wonderful destination for travellers who are interested in history, architecture, and local culture.

Things to Do in the Northwest Museum

• Visit the Campbell House, which is a historic building that tells about Spokane’s history and offers some of the historic architecture and the lifestyle of the Campbell family.
• Visitors can explore the exhibitions featuring regional and international art, historical collections, and cultural displays throughout the year.
• The museum is also known for one of the world’s largest collections of Plateau Indian art and artifacts

8. Hiking on the Spokane Centennial Trail

Spokane Centennial Trail is known as a walking and hiking spot in Spokane. The trail is well known for walking and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere along the Spokane River. The trail extends through Spokane County and connects with the North Idaho Centennial Trail at the Washington–Idaho border. Before planning your visit, check whether all trail areas are accessible and open.

Things to Do on the Spokane Centennial Trail

• Go for a walk and enjoy the river and forest views.
• Visitors can do cycling and biking on the Centennial Trail.
• Do photography of river landscapes and local wildlife.

9. Discover Spokane’s Historic Districts and Neighborhoods

Spokane’s historic districts offer the city’s historic buildings and cultural landmarks. These areas offer architectural buildings, local culture, and unique neighborhoods that show Spokane’s past and development. Walking through the historic districts allows visitors to enjoy beautiful architecture, discover local businesses, and experience the history that offers these unique things to do in Spokane, Washington.

Things to See in Spokane Districts

• Visit the Historic Districts: Explore the Browne’s Addition Historic District, Riverside Avenue Historic District, and experience their historic homes and museums.
• Explore the Neighborhoods of Spokane: Visit the West Central Neighborhood and experience its local culture and historic buildings.
• Experience Spokane’s Arts and Cultural Districts: Art lovers will definitely love the Davenport Arts District, which offers historic buildings designed with art.

10. Popular Festivals to Attend in Spokane

Travel Tips for Visiting Spokane

If you want to do all the best things in Spokane, then you should follow these travel tips for an enjoyable trip. You should know about the best seasons to visit, transport options, and local culture. These travel tips can help you make the most of your visit.

• Visit in spring or summer to experience the best weather and do the outdoor activities.
• Prefer to stay near Spokane downtown hotels for easy access to attractions and restaurants. (You can check all about the best hotels and their reviews on TripAdvisor)
• You can rent a car or a Washington Charter Bus for easy travel outside the downtown.
• Plan your trip during the Spokane festival to experience more about its local culture.
• Keep time for hiking and other cool things to do along the Spokane River.

Conclusion

The Lilac City’s botanical gardens, waterfalls, and exploration of the local culture make every trip memorable. Whether you are planning a weekend trip or a longer trip, the city always offers the best and most fun things to do. As Spokane offers so many things to do, it is listed as one of the best places to visit in Washington. We hope this guide has covered everything you were looking for to help you with your trip plan.