When the weather heats up and melts the snow-covered landscape of Spokane, Washington, it’s a perfect time to step outside and enjoy all kinds of activities. Whether you enjoy exploring natural vistas, getting some exercise, or learning more about the area, there’s a perfect spring activity for you to participate in. Keep reading to learn more about eight activities you must do during the spring in Spokane.
1. Enjoy Spokane Falls
One of the best times of the year to visit Spokane Falls is during the spring. As the country’s largest urban waterfall, the falls crash over basalt rock formations found at Riverfront Park. May is the best time to visit the falls as mountain snow runoff is at its peak. It boasts upper and lower falls, and the area surrounding the falls was converted to a city park for fairgrounds at the 1974 World’s Fair.
You can choose among so many viewing points, including Huntington Park and the pedestrian suspension bridges. At the park, meander through gravel paths and view at the base of the falls The Salmon Chief, which is a sculpture to honor the native tribes that gathered at the falls annually to fish. If you prefer an aerial view, head to 507 N. Howard Street and hop aboard a Numerica SkyRide gondola for a 20-minute bird’s-eye view of the falls. Ticket prices are $9.95 for adults and $6.95 for children age 3 through 12. Children ages 2 and under are free.
2. Smell the Flowers at Manito Park
Considered one of the best parks in Spokane, Manito Park sits in the South Hill neighborhood at 1702 S. Grand Blvd. This 90-acre public park has spacious lawns, walking and biking paths, playgrounds, picturesque gardens, and a greenhouse conservatory. Walk through the 2-acre Duncan Garden, which was created in a classical European Renaissance style. Its Ferris Garden has more than 300 perennial plants, and Rose Hill is an award-winning rose garden with 150 different varieties. One of its highlights is the Lilac Garden with more than 100 cultivars from 23 species. Admission is free.
3. Take a Spokane Party Trolley
What better way to explore downtown Spokane than by hopping aboard a trolley that you power by pedaling. The Spokane Party Trolley, found at 17 W. Main Ave., provides a safe, fun, and environmentally friendly way to do just that. It has partnerships with several local businesses and charities, so be prepared to make several stops during your excursion. The trolley travels about 4 mph, but it can reach speeds up to 12 mph.
Each trolley can carry up to 16 passengers plus a guide. To rent the entire trolley, two-hour weekday rides are $320, and two-hour weekend rides are $360. If you don’t have at least eight people riding, you can purchase single-seat fares for $30 each.
4. Walk Around the John A. Finch Arboretum
Located at 3404 W. Woodland Blvd., the John A. Finch Arboretum sits on 65 acres of wooded hills. It houses a collection of trees and plants, many of which have labels so researchers can study them. Much of the collection contains native and cultivated plants, and it houses an area full of rhododendrons. Admission is free, and the arboretum is open year-round from dusk to dawn. You can download a walking tour for a self-guided tour of some of the arboretum’s collections and trees.
5. Stay a Few Days at Quartz Mountain
For a truly stunning view, head to Mount Spokane State Park and hike up to the rocky summit of Quartz Mountain. From the top of the third-highest summit in the park at 5,129 feet, you can view Idaho and Canada. Its pathways are easy to traverse. Stick around for a couple of days and rent out the 14-by-14-foot lookout. Its wood-frame structure with wrap-around windows and deck give you an amazing view. From May 15 through September 15, prices are $99 per night, while April 1 through May 14 prices are $69 for weekdays and $79 for weekends and holidays.
6. Mountain Bike at Camp Sekani and Beacon Hill
Just a few miles outside the heart of downtown Spokane, Camp Sekani and Beacon Hill boast more than 30 mountain biking trails that wind through 1,000 acres of public and private land. Because of its high desert geography, these trails have a sandy quality that you won’t likely find at other biking areas in Washington. As a result, make sure your bike has plenty of traction. The highest point sits 2,604 feet above sea level, so there are several steep ascents and declines to navigate.
In addition to the typical bike trails, Camp Sekani has a skills park and dirt jump area. The skills park features ladders and drops of varying difficulty, so you can become accustomed to riding across irregular terrain. The dirt area allows you to catch some air on your ride.
7. Visit the Green Bluff Growers
Once spring hits, head out of the bustling city into the country. The Green Bluff Growers is an association of more than 35 small family farms and food stands each independently run. Within its 12 square miles, the association has two loops for you to explore: the West and East. During Mother’s Day weekend, these farms host Blooms on the Bluff. Featuring beautiful blowers and plants, this weekend event encourages guests to come out, see blooming trees, and enjoy some fresh air.
8. Hike the Centennial Trail
A 37.5-mile-long hiking and biking trail, the Centennial Trail starts at the Washington and Idaho state line and finishes at Nine Mile Falls in Washington. Part of the trail goes through downtown Spokane along Riverfront Park before heading to more rural areas. The trail underwent construction that coincided with the Washington State Centennial in 1991, and now it has more than 40 historically significant sites dotting it.
What do you think of this list compiled by Wendle Ford? Did we miss a favorite place you like to check out in Spokane during the spring? If so, please let us know so we can make sure to add it to our list.
Featured Image via Flickr by Ian Sane
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