Spokane

Bennidito's Pizza

A local jewel. The pizza and calzones are fantastic. Always some good beers on tap, or you can get a bucket full. Recommended: garlic cheese bread, beer buddies, chicken wings, pesto ranch dressing, hot Italian sausage, saxon pizza, New Yorker calzone.

Bing Crosby Collection

Legendary singer (he sang the classic song "White Christmas"), Academy Award winning actor and Gonzaga alum Bing Crosby who moved to Spokane when he was 3 (born in Tacoma, Washington) has a Crosby Collection display at Gonzaga University. There are about 200 items including records, photos, and books.

Mon-Fri 9AM-4:30PM; Sat 1-3PM·Free

Bing Crosby House

Has items on display from the legendary singer. This was the childhood home of Bing Crosby and the home was built in 1913.

Free

Dick's Hamburgers

A Spokane institution, serving up the quickest and most efficient cholesterol-delivery systems in the state. No relation to the Dick's chain in Seattle.

Didier's Yogurt & More

Quality fast food from a family-owned business. Great burgers and frozen yogurt. On the north side near Whitworth College.

Ferguson’s Cafe

This restaurant was featured in three Hollywood movies, Benny & Joon, Vision Quest, and Why Would I Lie? Opens early for breakfast, and well known for its "blue plate specials."

Finch Arboretum

Contains about 2,000 trees and shrubs, including 65 groups of lilacs, as well as a rhododendron grove, conifer and maple collections, and a nature trail.

Free

Gonzaga Bulldogs

The sports teams of Gonzaga University, officially nicknamed "Bulldogs" but affectionately called "Zags", are one of the city's great institutions. While the Zags have teams in nine men's and nine women's sports (though not football—the school dropped that sport during World War II), by far the biggest attraction is men's basketball, which has developed into a national power in the 21st century, making the championship game in 2017 and 2021. The McCarthey Athletic Center, home to basketball, always sells out for men's games and often for women's games (the capacity is only 6,000). Usually, one men's game a year is played at the much larger Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, and a second men's game is taken to Seattle. Most other Zags teams play on campus, and tickets are much easier to get than for basketball.

High Bridge Park

Much of the park is forested. There is an 18-hole disc golf course, a grass field, picnic shelter and playground.

Huckleberry's Natural Market

Huckleberry's is the only natural grocery store of its kind in Eastern Washington. Large wine and bulk foods selection. Some Rosauers Grocery Stores and Super 1 Foods also have a smaller Huckleberry's Market (without a bistro) inside the store. The 9th Street Bistro inside this grocery store is a bustling cafe that serves $4 breakfast specials. Vegetarian friendly deli. Enjoy a toasted bagel with lox from the meat counter, or some freshly rolled sushi.

7AM-10PM

Jack & Dan's Bar & Grill

Classic sports bar owned by the father of former NBA & Gonzaga University star John Stockton. Sitting on the edge of Gonzaga University, it naturally caters to the students and is packed to watch basketball games. Children are welcome in the restaurant until 10PM.

Manito Park

Its steep hills make it a popular and well-used wintertime sledding spot; be careful of the trees, however. A zoo until 1933, Manito is now a year-round home to a friendly flock of geese, ducks, and turtles. Visit the park's Rose Garden in the Summer, the formal Duncan Gardens near the greenhouse (open until dusk), the Japanese Gardens on the Bernard Street side of the park. There are two playgrounds, one for smaller children near the duck pond and the main entrance, another with a waterpad near the ball fields on the south end (25th Avenue). A small restaurant operates in the summer in an old stone building near the perennial gardens, open for lunch and maybe breakfast. Parts of the park are rustic and undeveloped; tennis courts are near the main entrance. The park, like all those in the city, closes at 10PM and is patrolled periodically.

Mary Lou's Milk Bottle

Built for the now-defunct Benewah Dairy Company in mid-1930s, this small restaurant serves burgers and shakes. The building consists of a stuccoed milk bottle several stories high. A similar structure (not open to the public) is visible from the I-90 westbound off ramp to Maple St. (#280A), and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Cash only.

11AM-8PM

Monroe Street Bridge

This bridge was built in 1911 and is the largest arch bridge in the United States. It is one of the finest examples and also one of the last remaining bridges among the several dozen bridges that once crisscrossed the falls and made Spokane world-famous as the "City of Bridges" during the latter half of the 19th century (i.e, Spokane had the largest number of bridges of any city in the world at the time). Take an inspiring walk across the falls of the Spokane River while admiring the buffalo head sculptures adorning the covered observation decks across the span. The Monroe St Bridge is in the heart of Downtown immediately west of Riverfront Park, the former site of the old train station and rail yards (locals know it well, just ask one). It was restored in 2003-05.

No-Li Brewhouse

Northern Lights Brewing Co.

Fresh local beer on the banks of the Spokane River. This is a true brewpub, offering sampler trays (and pints, of course) of its fine locally made ales, including its famous Crystal Bitter and Chocolate Dunkel. Also has an ambitious food menu.

Main Pub: daily noon–8PM; Bier Hall: Thu-Sat noon–10PM, Sun-Wed noon-9PM

Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture

Museum covering the history and native cultures of the inland northwest.

Wed-Sun noon-4PM·$10/adult, $5/student, $7.50/senior

Numerica SkyRide

Gondolas take you for an up-close view of the falls from a suspended height.

Daily 10AM-7PM

O'Doherty's Irish Grille

This is a place to gather, chat, tip a pint and enjoy a little Irish flavor. Guinness and Harp on tap. Live Irish music on Tuesday nights. After you've been there a while you'll probably want to become a member of the O'Doherty's family by standing on the bar, singing a song for the entire bar, and stapling a dollar on the wall. Children are welcome in the restaurant until 10PM.

River Park Square

Renovated shopping center in the center of downtown, just across from Riverfront Park. River Park Square is home to a 20-screen movie theater. Upscale stores such as Nordstroms, Williams Sonoma, Macy's and Restoration Hardware. A diverse collection of specialty stores selling items ranging from walking sticks to chocolates. Satisfy your hunger at the fast food court or at one of its many sit down restaurants. River Park Square is also a great place for kids with a children's museum, bookstore and toy store. Skywalks connect River Park Square with the rest of downtown.

Riverfront Park

The host of the 1974 World's Fair. A few of the pavilions still exist, and the park is beautifully maintained. The park has fun features: the river and its waterfalls, the dam, two suspension footbridges, a rare, beautiful, and priceless hand-carved Looff Carousel (complete with rings and a target; sit on an outside horse if you want to participate!), the rather frightening gondolas over the falls, a small amusement park, bike rentals, an IMAX theater and game room, concert areas, and annual events including concerts, plays, "Pig Out in the Park", powwows, Battle of the Bands, and children's activities. The striking clock tower is the only remnant of the ugly train yards that once occupied the parkland, and a good place to meet up if you get separated.

6AM-midnight, Skyride 10AM-6PM

Riverside State Park

Bowl and Pitcher is basalt rock formations in the middle of the fast flowing Spokane River. Overlook and suspension bridge on east side is a great way to experience Spokane's motto: Near Nature Near Perfect. Be careful on the sharp rocks, though.

Summer: 6:30AM-dusk; winter: 8AM-dusk

Spokane County Courthouse

Worth a visit. This interesting courthouse was completed in 1895 in 16th century French Renaissance style.

Spokane Plains Battlefield Monument

Marks the site of a battle on Sept 1, 1858 where the US military decisively defeated a confederation of the Spokanes, Coeur d’Alenes, Yakamas, Palouses, and other tribes.

Steamplant Brewery

A larger restaurant and bar in a former steam plant. They brew several beers and offer their flights in a steamplant-shaped holder. They have a happy hour daily.

Tue-Thu 4PM-9PM, Fri Sat 4PM-11PM

The Elk Public House

Eclectic to standard food, large selection of microbrews on tap. Outdoor seating in the historic Brownes Addition.

The Knitting Factory

One of the Northwest's premier concert houses. It is a 1,500-capacity concert venue, and features top performers from around the world and dance club nights hosted weekly.

The Rockwood Bakery

Great for a mid-day coffee or pastry after a day in the park.

The Two-Seven Public House

On the South Hill, has the same menu as The Elk (and their two sister pubs in north Idaho). Full bar, microbrews, specials, outdoor seating in summer, TV but you can get away from it if you want, and great service.

$8-21

Twigs Bistro

Twigs is first a martini bar and second a restaurant. However, their breakfast, which is only sold on the weekend, is superb. Their Creme Brule French Toast is wonderful. Dinner is a typical menu, burgers, pizza, etc. Their drink selection is very good.

10AM-11PM

Bare Buns Fun Run

Largest clothing-optional timed road race in the U.S., since 1984. 5 km run/walk on pressed gravel. Family-oriented code of conduct applies. Drive with caution on the narrow, winding road, which becomes unpaved at the end of the lake shore.

Last Sun in July