Best Things to Do in Spokane With Kids

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