Best Things to Do in Spokane With Kids

Destination Spokane

After a tiny glimpse of Spokane’s kid-friendly fun during our family’s #vanlife experiment, we were ready to return — to really explore this Eastern Washington city and experience all it has to offer.

Many Seattle-area families know Spokane as a stopover spot or gateway to adventures in Idaho and Montana. But the city itself is packed with amazing things to do with kids, making it a getaway spot all on its own. Turns out, Spokane is a super-fun family destination.

First stop: gondola ride

Fall for Spokane Falls

Where can you see a stunning waterfall right in the middle of town? Spokane, of course. Referred to as “Stluputqu” (meaning “swift water”) by the Spokane Tribe, Spokane Falls offered rich fishing grounds for Native American people before dams prevented the return of Chinook salmon. Today, the falls (which are still swift) provide hydroelectric power to thousands of regional customers.

You have several options to see the falls up close, whether from a walkable viewpoint or soaring over the falls in a gondola cabin via the Numerica SkyRide. The gondola ride is about 20 minutes long and makes a great “rest” time if you’ve just arrived in town.

Next up: riverside play

Play all day by the river

Spokane’s incredible Riverfront Park offers — count ’em — three play spaces, two splash areas and a carousel!

Start by testing your bravery on the epically tall slides at the 40,000-square-foot Ice Age Floods playground, just completed last year. The darkest blue tube slide is pitch black in the middle, which scared me and a few other parents, but not the kids excitedly spiraling down. Learn about the floods that shaped this area while digging for fossils or frolicking at the splash pad.

Next, head to the iconic “Childhood Express,” a gigantic Radio Flyer wagon sculpture. Capture the perfect photo op as your kids slide down the handle.

Did you spot some litter on your walk? The Garbage Goat is just around the corner — this quirky iron sculpture was installed as part of the 1974 World’s Fair and will eat any trash you feed into its vacuum mouth.

We loved our ride on the historic Looff Carrousel, built in 1909. (Yes, they spell it with a double “r”!) Choose a hand-carved horse on the outside loop if you want to reach for colorful plastic rings to toss into the Garbage Goat façade on the perimeter. A rare and lucky bronze one will win you a free ride.

Stop off at the Rotary Fountain if it’s a hot summer day; this and the other splash pad are open seasonally from May through September. But your year-round destination is Providence Playscape. The first inclusive playground in Spokane, this fenced-in play area offers accessible teeter-totters and swings, musical moments and the most glittery play sand I’ve ever seen.

Next up: get moving

Get moving in Spokane

Spokane’s riverfront location means you’ll have beautiful water views almost everywhere you roam.

Miles 20–23 of the 40-mile-long Centennial Trail wind through downtown Spokane. Take a leisurely stroll along the river or bring your bikes or scooters to cruise through Riverfront Park — a much quicker way to access all those playgrounds! Spoke ’n Sport offers reasonable rates on bike rentals (including kid trailers) if you don’t bring your own.

Summer days get pretty toasty in Eastern Washington, so a day on the water is a great way to cool off. My kids and I loved our late summer scenic float with Wiley E. Waters. We munched on snacks and watched fish swim beneath us as we coasted over “splash and giggle” rapids (very appropriately named, judging by my kids’ reactions). Run by local dad Josh Flanagan, the company earns rave reviews and welcomes kids as young as 3 years old on the Spokane River or Clark Fork.

If you’d prefer to take the paddle into your own hands, Fun Unlimited rents kayaks and stand-up paddleboards from its location under the West Division Street bridge.

Still have energy to burn? Strap on your roller skates and visit the Numerica Skate Ribbon. Rather than a monotonous oval, skaters can practice their best moves on a wavy track. From around Thanksgiving to late February, the space transforms into an Ice Ribbon for wintery ice skating.

Next up: indoor adventure

Adventure indoors

Whether the weather ends up scorching, rainy or snowy, it’s nice to have some indoor activities up your sleeve.

In 2021, the Mobius Discovery Center combined its children’s museum and science center into one fabulous space where kids can learn STEAM concepts through play. My kids loved launching paper rockets into the air, blowing giant bubbles and experimenting with the life-like digger truck during our visit.

Just down the road is the newly remodeled Central branch of the Spokane Library. The aquatic-themed River Rumpus play space features play structures like a submarine (complete with a periscope) and whimsical carpeting. Cozy up with a book on the rowboat’s giant pillows or peer at Spokane Falls through the bookish window decals.

Next up: Take a side trip

Take a side trip

Savor the changing seasons on a trip to the Green Bluff Growers area. Located about 30 minutes north of downtown, you’ll find U-pick fruits like cherries and peaches that don’t grow in our wetter Western Washington climate.

We loved the tractor ride to the juicy peaches at Walter’s Fruit Ranch. Several farms, such as Beck’s Harvest House, up the ante in the fall with pumpkins, fresh doughnuts and corn mazes.

From late April through September, drive an hour east into Idaho to Silverwood Theme Park, the Northwest’s largest amusement park. You’ll find over 70 rides, plus a water park that’s included with admission. Most of the bigger rides have a 42-inch height minimum when riding with an adult. My just-barely-tall-enough preschooler loved zipping down his first big wooden coaster, while my 6-year-old preferred the super-soaker water rides.

Next up: where to eat in Spokane

Where to eat in Spokane

When in Spokane, you don’t have to choose between kid-friendly food and good food.

The brewery scene here is unmatched. Relative newcomer Uprise Brewery is owned by parents, so you won’t be surprised that there’s a large dedicated play area for kids with ball mazes, dollhouses, books and games — in addition to corn hole on the patio. Juicy and flavorful braised pork fills a sandwich or taquitos (get the sauce on the side for dippable fun).

Other brewery stops include Humble Abode, whose kid-friendly features center on foosball and house-brewed root beer, or No-Li Brewhouse, which offers river views from the patio.

If a classic burger-and-milkshake dinner is what you’re after, hit the ATM for some cash and head to Mary Lou’s Milk Bottle. For family-style Ethiopian dining, enjoy a combo platter from Queen of Sheba. This spot is located conveniently close to the Ice Age Floods playground.

To fuel up for a play-filled day, we loved our breakfast at Crimson Hearth. Kids can choose their favorite classic lunch box full of toys before chowing down on a teddy bear hot cake (kids’ meals are only $4!).

Before heading out of town, save room for tacos from Cochinito. My kids loved their perfectly grilled quesadilla, but I went more gourmet with a trio of tacos packed with fillings like maitake mushrooms, pork belly and octopus.

Next up: tips for your family trip to Spokane

Tips to make your Spokane getaway a success

• Choose central accommodations if you can. Parking in this growing metropolis is challenging and most of your activities will likely be centered around Riverfront Park anyway. We loved the outdoor pool (including a kiddie pool) at the Centennial Hotel, plus it’s across the street from the Ice Age Floods playground.
• Speaking of parking, devote a little of your budget to it. We settled for a spot in the River Park Square mall garage to save time. It’s a spendy $1.50/half hour (with a measly $1 off if you spend $20 at a participating retailer and validate your parking), but we wanted to enjoy our limited time in Spokane without circling the block forever.
• Bring your ID or membership card if you’re in the military, a AAA member, or are traveling with seniors or college students. While not advertised on the website, you’ll get a 10-percent discount on the Numerica Sky Ride, Skate Ribbon and the Looff Carrousel.
• It wouldn’t be a road trip without stops! Spokane is about a four-and-a-half-hour drive from Seattle, so some stretch breaks with kids are likely. The Wild Horse Renewable Energy Center near Ellensburg offers an engaging visitor center where kids can learn about wind and solar energy and even peek one of the huge windmills. Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park is also along the way from Seattle to Spokane — take a short hike along the Trees of Stone trail or visit the (air-conditioned) interpretive center to examine our state gem in person. And don’t forget your Discover Pass to park.