Spokane is a vibrant city full of natural beauty, the arts, and shopping, dining, and entertainment venues. Located in eastern Washington, right on the Spokane River and between the Cascade and Rocky Mountains, Spokane offers an easy, relaxed pace, and a wide variety of recreational opportunities. Spokane is also home to The Gallery at Spokane, a senior living community featuring independent living, assisted living and memory care! Here are 20 fun things to do near The Gallery at Spokane for residents and their loved ones.
Outdoor Adventures
Spokane is known for its picturesque landscapes and incredible scenery. With all four seasons, you have plenty of outdoor adventures to choose from, including:
- Explore Riverfront Park. This beautiful park follows the Spokane River and features one of the largest urban waterfalls in the United States. Enjoy the SkyRide for unmatched views of the falls, river, and surrounding areas. Or just wander the walking paths, which also lead to a playground, skate park, and carousel–great for visiting grandkids or young relatives!
- Enjoy Manito Park and Botanical Gardens. You can view a wide variety of different plant displays, as well as Mirror Pond (with its residential ducks and geese!), the Gaiser Conservatory, and the Park Bench Cafe (open seasonally).
- Walk or bike Centennial Trail. This paved trail is nearly 40 miles long, and continues into the Coeur D’Alene area of Idaho. You can walk, bike, or hike sections of the trail, which is clearly marked with numerous trailheads. Difficulty level of the trail varies by section. Scenery is incredibly varied as the trail meanders through downtown Spokane, along the Spokane River, through forested areas, and into Idaho.
- Spokane has many great fishing holes in and around the city. Take your boat out, rent one, or just fly fish from the banks.
- Hike, camp, ride bikes, ski or snowboard, and more on Washington’s largest mountain, Mount Spokane.
- Catch a game at Avista Stadium, home of the Spokane Indians minor-league baseball team.
Arts & Culture in Spokane
Home to Gonzaga University, arts and culture are alive and well in Spokane. Here are a few of our places for seniors to visit.
- Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture is an eclectic destination featuring regional history, art, and a mansion tour of Campbell House, which was built in 1910. The museum is very child-friendly, but also has many exhibits seniors will enjoy, including one of the Expo ‘74, a world’s fair hosted by Spokane.
- Located within Gonzaga University, the Bing Crosby House Museum is free, open to the public, and houses a large collection of Bing Crosby artifacts and memorabilia. It’s the site of Bing Crosby’s childhood home!
- Marmot Art Space is a fun and funky place to visit. It’s in the hip Kendall Yards neighborhood, and has a rotating gallery of local artists. The space also hosts Artist’s Talks periodically, and is near great restaurants and shopping. The Marmot is not to be missed if you are visiting Spokane!
- Catch a performance at The Fox, a 1931 Art Deco theater home to the Spokane Symphony, as well as comedy performances and visiting performing artists. Despite this theater’s age, both the air conditioning and the acoustics are great, and there’s not a bad seat in the house.
- See a play at Stage Left Theater, with great seats and great prices along with jaw-dropping performances of plays like Macbeth, Sweeney Todd, and Julius Caesar.
- Explore the grounds of Gonzaga University, built in 1887. The campus has plenty of grounds and gardens, art installations, and a unique mix of 19th-century Romanesque Revival and modern architecture. The Gonzaga Bulldogs men’s basketball team is legendary, so make sure to stay for a game at the McCarthey Athletic Center.
Restaurants & Wine
Spokane has many wineries, tasting rooms, and wine cellars where you can experience a broad range of local wines. There are also some truly special restaurants here! These are just a few of many.
- Clinkerdagger is a can’t-miss dining experience. It’s an old-fashioned steakhouse that literally overlooks the Spokane River–a view of the river you can’t get anywhere else. While you might come for the views, the food is truly remarkable too. Reservations are encouraged, as this is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike.
- Arbor Crest Wine Cellars also features spectacular views, as well as award-winning wines and beautifully landscaped grounds. They even have great food as well, and host events all year long, like their Fireside Dinner and Music series.
- Frank’s Diner serves up fabulous all-day breakfast in an authentic 1906 presidential railway car. Seating is limited, so expect a wait, but the eggs Benedict are legendary!
- Chap’s Diner and Bakery is a quaint place to grab lunch, breakfast, or dessert. It’s an adorable little farmhouse venue, with amazing food to match the ambiance.
- Barrister Winery hosts routine musical performances with no cover charge, and also offers a downtown tasting room, as well as tours of the barrel room located in this historic warehouse.
Community Events in Spokane
There’s always something happening in Spokane! Community events include:
- First Friday features the downtown art and retail scene, with artists, musicians, food and beverage deals, retailer sales, and more. This takes place the first Friday of every month.
- Thursday Market is a farmer’s and maker’s market held in the South Perry district of Spokane, every Thursday afternoon.
- 33 Artists Market is held on the 3rd Saturday of each month in the Wonder building, the site of a historic Wonder Bread bakery. Like it sounds, this market showcases 33 artists and their works, including jewelry, paintings, clothing, ceramics, stained glass, and more. It’s a family-friendly event with a DJ and artisanal foods.
- Every winter since 2014, Liberty Lake has been home to Winter Glow, a free community light show and art installation. It’s a great way to celebrate the winter holidays in Spokane!
As you can see, there’s something for everyone in Spokane. It’s a beautiful city full of outdoor recreation, wine and fine dining, community events, and arts & culture. Seniors and their families will enjoy celebrating life in the Pacific Northwest at The Gallery At Spokane. Considering The Gallery? Tour this beautiful, state-of-the-art senior living community today, and make time for at least a few of these fun things to do in Spokane while you’re here!
