Nobody goes to Spokane on purpose. That’s what a friend told me before I booked my ticket last July, and honestly, I almost listened to her. Seattle gets the glory, Portland gets the quirks, and Spokane gets… overlooked. Which is exactly why you should go. I spent five days in Washington’s second-largest city last summer and came home already planning my return trip. With the World Cup bringing fan zones to Spokane in summer 2026 and the city landing on just about every “best places to visit” list this year, the secret is getting out fast. Here’s everything I wish I’d known before arriving.
Spokane Falls Will Rearrange Your Expectations
Most cities have a river. Spokane has a roar. The Spokane River drops through the middle of downtown in a series of churning rapids and dramatic falls that you can hear from blocks away. Riverfront Park, built on the site of the 1974 World’s Fair, wraps around the falls and gives you a dozen different vantage points to stand there with your mouth open. I’m not exaggerating when I say these falls rival anything I’ve seen in a national park, and they’re literally surrounded by coffee shops and restaurants. The Spokane SkyRide, a gondola that glides over the lower falls, was one of those touristy things I almost skipped — don’t make that mistake. The perspective from above, especially during the golden hour when the basalt rocks glow amber, is genuinely stunning. If you’re carrying camera gear, bring a solid waterproof camera backpack because the mist off the lower falls will reach you whether you expect it or not.
The Centennial Trail: 40 Miles of Perspective
I’m a casual cyclist at best, but the Centennial Trail made me feel like an athlete. This paved path stretches nearly 40 miles from downtown Spokane eastward through the Spokane Valley and all the way to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. You don’t have to ride the whole thing — I covered about 15 miles round-trip from Riverfront Park to the eastern outskirts and that was plenty for a half-day adventure. The trail hugs the river for most of its length, passing through pine forests, over historic bridges, and past some surprisingly secluded swimming holes that locals apparently like to keep quiet about. If you’re not traveling with your own wheels, several shops downtown rent hybrid bikes perfect for this terrain. Pack a good insulated water bottle because the eastern Washington sun hits different in July, and there are long stretches with zero shade.
Manito Park and the Japanese Garden
Here’s the thing about Spokane: it keeps surprising you. Manito Park, on the city’s South Hill, is a 90-acre oasis that would feel right at home in a city three times this size. The Nishinomiya Tsutakawa Japanese Garden alone is worth the detour — a meticulously designed space with a graceful footbridge arching over a koi pond, stone lanterns tucked among maples, and a waterfall that drowns out every thought in your head. I spent an hour on a bench there doing absolutely nothing, and it was the most restorative hour of my entire trip. The park also houses a rose garden with over 1,500 bushes, a conservatory filled with tropical plants, and wide-open lawns where locals spread out blankets and let their kids run wild. If you’re visiting with a partner, the European-style perennial garden at sunset is borderline romantic. For fellow travelers who like to capture these moments, a lightweight compact travel tripod will help you get those long-exposure shots of the garden’s water features.
The Food Scene Hits Harder Than Expected
Before visiting, I assumed Spokane’s dining would be functional at best. Wrong again. The farm-to-table movement has taken firm root here, anchored by restaurants that source from the incredibly fertile Palouse region just south of the city. The first Friday of every month, dozens of galleries, restaurants, and shops in downtown and the Perry District open their doors for the First Friday art walk, which basically doubles as a progressive dinner party. I ate some of the best elk I’ve ever tasted at a bistro that seats maybe 40 people, and the bartender knew the ranch where the animal was raised by name. The craft beer scene is equally impressive — no surprise given Washington’s hop country heritage. I lost count of the breweries I visited, but craft beer enthusiasts will want to dedicate at least an evening to the downtown brewery district. My advice: bring a packable tote bag for the farmers market on Saturday morning, because you will want to bring local honey, huckleberry jam, and fresh bread back to wherever you’re staying.
Day Trips That Elevate the Whole Trip
Spokane’s location is its secret weapon. Within 90 minutes, you can be at Coeur d’Alene, Idaho — a resort town with a lake so blue it doesn’t look real. If you’ve read about Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and its wild coastlines, Coeur d’Alene gives you that same untamed water-energy with an Idaho twist. Head north from Spokane and you hit the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, where I saw more sandhill cranes in a single morning than I’ve seen in my entire life. For something more adventurous, the basalt formations at Riverside State Park offer rock climbing, whitewater kayaking, and hiking trails that feel wonderfully remote despite being minutes from downtown. I brought my trusty 20-liter daypack on every excursion and it was the perfect size for water, snacks, and layers.
Where the Wine Country Meets the Wild
This one caught me off guard. The greater Spokane area sits at the northern edge of Washington wine country, and the AVA (American Viticultural Area) that surrounds the city produces some genuinely excellent wines. Several tasting rooms operate within city limits, meaning you can sample award-winning Rieslings and red blends without ever leaving downtown. The Columbia Valley and Walla Walla regions are accessible as day trips, and more than one winemaker told me that Spokane’s cooler climate is what gives their grapes a complexity you won’t find further south. For wine lovers planning their own tasting route, a good insulated wine travel bag is essential for safely transporting bottles home. The Olympic National Park region gets all the attention in Washington, but the inland wine scene deserves a spot on your itinerary too.
The Architecture and History You Don’t Expect
Spokane’s downtown is a living museum of early 20th-century architecture. The Davenport Hotel, opened in 1914, is a sprawling Renaissance-style landmark where the lobby alone is worth a walkthrough — marble columns, gilded ceilings, the works. I stayed there for two nights and felt like I’d time-traveled to an era when travel was genuinely glamorous. Beyond the Davenport, the Browne’s Addition neighborhood west of downtown is packed with Victorian and Craftsman homes that make for a fantastic afternoon walking tour. The historic steam plant, now a restaurant and climbing gym, is the kind of adaptive reuse that cities twice Spokane’s size struggle to pull off. If you’re a history buff, the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture offers deep dives into the region’s Indigenous heritage and the story of how the railroad shaped the inland Northwest. I’d suggest bringing a pair of comfortable walking shoes because you’ll cover serious ground exploring these neighborhoods on foot.
World Cup 2026: Spokane’s Moment
Seattle is an official host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and Spokane has been designated as an official Fan Zone — meaning the city will be hosting viewing parties, cultural events, and soccer-related festivities throughout the tournament. If you’re planning to attend matches in Seattle but haven’t sorted out accommodations, consider basing yourself in Spokane instead. Hotels in Seattle are already pricing like it’s the Super Bowl, while Spokane offers comfortable lodging at a fraction of the cost with a direct connection via the Empire Builder train or a quick flight. The World Cup host city guide we published covers all 11 American venues, but Spokane as a base camp is a strategy most travelers haven’t figured out yet. Booking a luggage scale before the trip will save you from overweight baggage fees on the way home — trust me, you’ll buy souvenirs.
Practical Tips for Your First Visit
When to go: June through September is prime time. July and August are warm without being punishing — expect highs around 85°F with low humidity. Spring can be gorgeous but unpredictable, and winter transforms the area into a surprisingly solid ski destination.
Getting there: Spokane International Airport (GEG) has direct flights from most western hubs. If you’re coming from Seattle, it’s a four-hour drive through stunning mountain passes. The Amtrak Empire Builder also stops here on its Chicago-to-Seattle route.
Where to stay: Downtown gives you walkable access to everything. The Davenport collection (there are three properties now) is the splurge option. For budget travelers, several solid independent motels line the Sprague Avenue corridor east of downtown.
Getting around: You’ll want a car for day trips, but downtown Spokane is genuinely walkable. The city also has a surprisingly functional bus system and ride-share coverage is solid. A dash-mounted phone holder makes navigating the area’s winding river roads much easier.
Why Spokane Belongs on Your 2026 List
I’ve traveled through most of the Pacific Northwest at this point, and Spokane occupies a rare sweet spot: it has the dining and cultural scene of a much larger city, the outdoor access of a mountain town, and a price tag that feels like it belongs to a decade ago. It’s the kind of place where you can kayak rapids in the morning, drink locally sourced cocktails at a speakeasy that night, and wake up to a farmers market the next day — all without fighting crowds or breaking the bank. Whether you’re pairing it with a cross-country road trip or making it a standalone long weekend, Spokane delivers more than it promises. And isn’t that exactly what you want from a destination? Go before everyone else figures it out. Though, honestly, that window is closing fast.