The first thing we heard in Spokane wasn’t traffic or music, it was the roar of the falls, right in the middle of downtown. You don’t expect a waterfall that loud in the heart of a city, but that sound is exactly why I wanted to come here in the first place.
If you have just one day to explore Washington’s second-most populous city, this is the exact guide that will help you navigate all the top things to do, without feeling like you’re racing a stopwatch.
We hit Spokane as the final big stop on our Eastern Washington road trip from Seattle, driving all the way east while covering a few spots in between like Lake Wenatchee, Chelan, Palouse Falls, Vantage, and Grand Coulee. This post is dedicated entirely to Spokane, but you can click through each destination link to see everything we did along the way.
About Spokane
Spokane sits on the eastern edge of Washington, right where the flat, basalt-scarred plains of the Columbia Plateau start rising toward the timbered Selkirk Mountains and the Idaho border. The whole landscape here was shaped by drama: at the end of the last ice age, the Missoula Floods, unleashed when a giant ice dam holding back Glacial Lake Missoula burst, came tearing across the region, carving out the Channeled Scablands and leaving behind the rocky gorges and outwash plains the city is built around. That geology is why the Spokane River cuts straight through downtown and drops over the falls in such spectacular fashion.
Long before any of that history had a name on a map, this was the home of the Spokane people, the SpokanĂ©, whose name is often translated from Salish as “children of the sun” or “sun people.” They lived along these rivers and falls, fishing and gathering, for thousands of years; archaeological evidence in the area dates human presence back at least 8,000 to 13,000 years. The city, the river, and the county all carry their name today.
The Spokane you visit now is the economic and cultural hub of the Inland Northwest, home to roughly 230,000 people, which makes it the second-largest city in Washington after Seattle. It’s nicknamed the Lilac City (more on that later), it’s the birthplace of Father’s Day, and it goes by “Hooptown USA” for hosting the world’s largest 3-on-3 basketball tournament. Much of the walkable, waterfall-hugging downtown you see today came out of Expo ’74, the first environmentally themed World’s Fair, Spokane was the smallest city ever to host one, and the fairgrounds became Riverfront Park once the fair wrapped up.
Things to Do in Spokane
We were here for only a day, so we mainly stuck to the top spots and activities. One thing we realized while planning was that most of the highlights are clustered in and around Riverfront Park, so that basically became our home base for the day. I’d love to come back and dig into the more unique corners and food spots, but here’s everything we managed to fit into our Spokane day excursion.
Riverfront Park
We entered the park via N Howard St trail, which led us straight to the Rotary Fountain. We stopped here for a while just watching kids and dogs splash around and cool off, a nice, low-key way to ease into the day. From there we followed the Centennial Trail toward what looked like an ongoing festival, and ended up playing a little pickup basketball game. Fitting, honestly, in the city that hosts the massive Hoopfest.
We also caught a lovely view of the Spokane River with the historic Great Northern Clocktower, a leftover from the city’s railroad era, standing in the backdrop. Walking on through the Sister Cities Garden, we checked out the sculptures dedicated to Spokane’s sister cities around the world, then reached the Howard Street Middle Channel Bridge, which connects the main park to Canada Island.
From there we walked up to Inspiration Point for a view of the Gesa Pavilion framed by the river. Stunning spot, and there were birds everywhere in the water.
Next we crossed the bridge toward the Washington Water Power Post Street Substation, which got us up close to the roaring Upper Falls. Absolutely breathtaking. This is one of the main reasons I wanted to visit Spokane in the first place, and it did not disappoint.
đź“Ť 507 N Howard St, Downtown Spokane
Numerica SkyRide at Riverfront Spokane
From the falls, we walked over to the Numerica SkyRide, a gondola that’s absolutely worth it if you want a bird’s-eye view of the Lower Falls, which is the taller of the two drops. The ride was just $15 per person, and it turned out to be a great way to dodge the heat on a sunny day while still getting the best angle on the waterfall.
The gondola passes right under the historic Monroe Street Bridge, so you get a genuinely unique perspective and some dramatic views you won’t get from anywhere on foot. Steal deal for the payoff, if you ask me.
đź“Ť Near the Monroe Street Bridge
Edwidge Woldson Park
Our next spot was more of a quick stop-and-go to grab a view of the city skyline. The river isn’t visible from here, but we got a lovely look at downtown Spokane with the foothills of the Selkirk Mountains, and, on a clear day, Mount Spokane, rising in the distance to the north.
Edwidge Woldson Park also has an art center and a heritage garden worth exploring if you have more time. But if you’re only here for the skyline view, this is the exact pin to drop.
đź“Ť W 7th Ave, South Hill
Manito Park
Manito Park was our final stop in Spokane, and what a place to end on, one of the most popular and beautiful parks in the city, with a whole collection of gardens including a Japanese Garden (the Nishinomiya Japanese Garden) and a lilac garden. We’d read so much about the lilacs, and given Spokane’s nickname as the Lilac City, we really wanted to see them, but unfortunately the trees weren’t in bloom anymore by the time we got there. (Speaking from experience: if lilacs are the goal, aim for May.)
So instead we hung out by the Mirror Pond for a while, soaking up a little shade and respite from the heat before wrapping up our day in Spokane.
đź“Ť 1702 S Grand Blvd, South Hill
Food & Drinks in Spokane
The food and drink scene in Spokane is genuinely good, but with only a day we managed to try just one of each, so we made them count.
For coffee, we picked New Love Coffee in Kendall Yards, the walkable riverside neighborhood just across from downtown. They’re known for their specialty drinks, and we tried two off the menu and loved both. I got a Siciliano cold brew that came topped with lemon foam, and my husband ordered a honey cinnamon latte. Both were excellent, but I’d pick mine over the honey cinnamon latte any day, the lemon and cold brew combo was so refreshing in the heat.
đź“Ť Where: New Love Coffee, Kendall Yards
For food, we headed to Shiki Sushi Bar & Japanese Grill at River Park Square mall and went for their specialty rolls. We ordered a Godzilla Roll and a Shiki Roll, both unique and delicious, with the Godzilla being my clear favorite. I would happily have eaten more since I loved the food and the ambiance, but I held back knowing we had a long drive ahead to Palouse Falls. Next time.
đź“Ť Where: Shiki Sushi Bar & Japanese Grill, River Park Square
Overall Thoughts
I didn’t get the time to go deep into Spokane’s vibe and quirks, but I genuinely enjoyed exploring whatever we could in the short time we had. I’d absolutely come back for a weekend to give the city the time it deserves.
If you’re looking for a quick getaway within Washington state, Spokane has real potential, the falls alone make it worth the drive. And since one day barely scratches the surface, here’s a list of other things you can add to your trip.
More Things to Do in Spokane
These are the spots we didn’t get to this time but have bookmarked for our return, a mix of history, art, gardens, and neighborhood wandering.
- Riverfront Park Looff Carrousel — A beautifully hand-carved 1909 carousel right in Riverfront Park. A charming, nostalgic ride that’s been delighting Spokane families for over a century.
- Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture (The MAC) — A Smithsonian-affiliate museum in the historic Browne’s Addition, with a strong collection of Native American artifacts and rotating art exhibits. The best place to understand the region’s deeper history.
- The Davenport Hotel — A lavish 1914 landmark hotel designed by architect Kirtland Cutter. Even if you’re not staying, step into the lobby to admire the old-world grandeur (and grab a famous Davenport peanut brittle).
- Bing Crosby Theater & Crosby House at Gonzaga — Spokane was Bing Crosby’s hometown, and Gonzaga University houses the world’s largest collection of his memorabilia. A fun stop for music and history lovers.
- John A. Finch Arboretum — A peaceful, tree-lined arboretum along Garden Springs Creek. Great for a quiet walk away from the downtown crowds.
- Riverside State Park (Bowl and Pitcher) — Just outside the city, this park’s dramatic basalt rock formations and swinging suspension bridge over the Spokane River are a hiker’s dream, and a direct look at the Missoula Floods’ handiwork.
- Garland District — A retro neighborhood with a vintage theater, quirky shops, and old-school diners. The place to go for a dose of Spokane’s local character.
- Green Bluff — A cluster of family farms northeast of the city where you can pick fruit in season, sip cider, and taste the Inland Northwest’s agricultural roots (it reminded me of grabbing fresh produce from roadside stalls back in India).
- Kendall Yards Night Market — A summer riverside market with local vendors, food, and live music. If you’re visiting on a Wednesday evening in the warmer months, don’t miss it.
Planning the rest of your Eastern Washington road trip? Check out our guides to Lake Wenatchee, Palouse Falls, Grand Coulee, and Lake Chelan for everything we did along the way.
Have you been to Spokane? or is it on your Washington road trip list? Drop your favorite spot (or the one lilac garden that was actually in bloom) in the comments! Follow along on Instagram @backpackingwithmylens for real-time trip updates.
