New Moon Art Gallery

If you’re an art lover who enjoys whimsical designs and would like to explore more of the Spokane arts scene, consider stopping by the New Moon Art Gallery. Just a quick 10-minute drive from our hotel, New Moon showcases the work of dozens of talented artists and artisans from across the Inland Northwest. Among the many handcrafted pieces in the shop, you’ll find paintings, prints, sculptures, cards, woodwork, pottery, jewelry, and many other eclectic treasures. The gallery regularly hosts special exhibitions, as well as a variety of workshops for all skill levels, from the total beginner to the advanced student. Currently, New Moon is exhibiting the work of husband-and-wife duo Chuck and Alice Harmon. Chuck specializes in majestic landscape painting while Alice likes to experiment with playful designs and bright splashes of color to delight the eyes. Whether you’re looking for that perfect piece to add to your collection, or you just want to browse, New Moon Art Gallery is a great afternoon destination for art lovers in Spokane.

Address: 1326 East Sprague Ave, Spokane, WA 99202

A Stroll through Manito Park and Botanical Gardens

One of the most beautiful outdoor recreation and leisure areas in all of Spokane, Manito Park and Botanical Gardens is located less than 15 minutes by car from the Best Western Plus Peppertree Airport Inn. The name of the park derives from the Algonquin word manitou, which refers to a fundamental life force animating all things, and with 90 acres of immaculately tended terrain, encompassing an arboretum, conservatory, and botanical gardens, Manito Park is just what you need to refresh and revivify yourself this year. Enjoy the various walking and biking paths, multiple playgrounds, enchanting flowers, and topiary shrubs. Among the several elaborate gardens, our favorites are probably the Duncan Garden, with its stately granite fountain and symmetrical design, and the Nishinomiya Tsutakawa Japanese Garden, an oasis of tranquility and a testament to the kinship of Spokane and its sister city, Nishinomiya.

Walk About an Arboretum

Tucked in amidst the Ponderosa pines and winding Garden Springs Creek leaves is a waving canopy called the John A. Finch Arboretum. A suburban oasis, the park is located southwest of Spokane's downtown area, set on 65 acres of rolling hills. The Arboretum is home to notable trees and plants that have been labeled for horticulturalists and visitors alike. In spring, the forest is lush with low-growth thickets and cool, shady glens. You'll see rhododendrons in bloom and brave wildflowers popping up in the protection of old-growth trees... and soon there will be more! The City of Spokane's Parks and Recreation and Urban Forestry Departments are working to further protect the arboretum and grow it to become an even more attractive place to bring families for the afternoon and to top tourists' must-see lists. It's free to enter all year long, just download a Walking Guide for a self-guided tour!

Latah Creek Wine Cellars

Only a handful of the growing number of vineyards in the fertile valleys of Washington boasts a start as early as the 1980s. Latah Creek Wine Cellars is one such operation, tapped into being by Mike and Ellena Conway. Just a 15-minute drive east of Spokane, the celebrated winery has delighted wine lovers from near and far for more than 30 years. Now co-lead by Mike and his daughter Natalie, the winery produces new varieties every season to complement their award-winning perennial favorites. Visit for a taste or glasses to share. Stay for a tour and a bite to eat. Matriarch Ellena shares her recipes online. The winery and gift shop are open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. While you're at it, check the calendar on the winery website to learn if your visit will coincide with any of the winery's planned events.

Ski Under the Lights at Night

If you've skied one mountain, you've skied them all, right? Wrong! And it couldn't be truer than when you trade sunlight for darkness and race down the mountain after dark. Night skiing draws crowds on trails the world over. This winter, Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park invites you to see what all the fuss is about and give it a try. Barring high winds or extreme lows, the mountain will stay open late Wednesday through Saturday nights from mid-December until March 14th. Night skiing begins at 3:30 pm with final runs before 9. And your five and a half hours is a bargain to boot, at just $23 a person! So bring a friend and show-off under the lights before refueling at the full-service cafeteria down below. Finish with a hot chocolate at the Foggy Bottom Lounge as you toast to one of winter's best bets in sparkling Spokane.

Happy Birthday, Beethoven!

Celebrate the New Year by celebrating a musical genius. Beethoven would have turned 250 in 2020, and the Spokane Symphony is dedicating to the month of January to him. Saturday, January 18th at 8 pm and Sunday, January 19th at 3 pm, Grammy Award-winning violinist, Augustin Hadelich will play Happy Birthday to the tune of Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony. Spokane Symphony describes the piece as "rhythmic and celebratory" while Beethoven himself is known to have called it his, “most excellent symphony.” Hadelich will perform the concerto that's bound to have you swaying in your seat as the melody winds through emotional depths before rising in the end to a spirited crescendo. Visit the Spokane Symphony website to purchase your tickets, check out the venue, or peruse the rest of the year's calendar. Right in the heart of Spokane, the Spokane Symphony makes for a 'classical' night out on the town.

See Gaiser Conservatory Light Up

Every plant, from poinsettia to prickly pear, gets wrapped in the brightest lights, and you're invited to see all 30,000 of them in Gaiser Conservatory at Manito Park. This year, from December 7th to 31st the Christmas Lights Show shines for conservatory visitors, free of charge. The greenhouses feature tropical, sub-tropical, and temperate plant specimens from around the world, with some displays changing by the season. Though the greenhouses open at 8:00 in the morning, the lights don't go on until noon (allowing time for plants to dry after a morning shower). But from December 7th to 16th, they'll stay lit until 7:30 pm. From December 17th through the 31st, it's lights out at 3:30 pm. For more details on what you'll see and for a schedule of conservatory events for the rest of the year, check out the Gaiser Conservatory website. Keep in mind, the Conservatory is closed on Christmas day.

Cat Tales Zoological Society

It's not your traditional zoo. In fact, Cat Tales Zoological Society has gone to great lengths to earn its title as a Big Cat Sanctuary and Wildlife Rescue. The non-profit Omak sanctuary invites curious animal lovers to see what roams in their world while also giving them a chance to care for them. Your entrance fee helps pay for the animals' hefty grocery bills while a monthly donation could afford you 'adoption' rights. So who lives here, exactly? Since animals can come and go with the seasons, Cat Tales staff won't promise which animals you could see on any given day. But during 2019, their animal tenants have included a number of big cats, a few bears, a year-old puma, an African lion, two tigers, a bobcat, and more. Visit Tuesday through Sunday and stay long enough to feed a lion or tiger with one of Cat Tales' expert zookeepers—you won't regret it!

Second Annual Fall Fest

It's Fall Fest in Spokane! On October 5th from 11 am to 5 pm, swing downtown for an afternoon free family fun. Three venues offer different activities. Stumble into an urban pumpkin patch on Wall Street, be dazzled by the lights at the Country Carnival, or sit and sip at the German Cultural Beer Garden. Inside River Park Square there's a craft patch for the kids and a space primed for the perfect photo op for everyone. At Riverfront Park, try your hand at a chalk art contest, or let the experts compete while you find your way through the straw maze. Need an incentive? Food Alley waits at the exit! No matter where you land, there's live entertainment to keep you going, with everything from sing-alongs and science shows to roaming dancers and impromptu street performances. There's parking nearby so you can get back to the Best Western in time for dinner!

Spokane River Centennial Trail

Spokane River Centennial Trail is a nearly 40-mile stretch of paved road that's perfect for walkers who'd rather trade their wheels for woods. The long, beautiful, riverside trail is car-free and stretches beyond the Washington state border into Idaho. To find the start, make your way to Sontag Park in Nine Mile Falls, northwest of Spokane's city limits. Pass through the city taking a scenic route, and once you reach the eastern state border, watch the trail change names to the North Idaho Centennial Trail. From the border, the trail winds 24 miles through Post Falls, Idaho to finish in Coeur d'Alene. Well-marked along its entire length, it's easy to navigate and plenty wide enough for walkers, bikers, and runners alike. The path is open to snowshoers after the snowfall, but September is spectacular for a slow and scenic stroll. Look up into the trees for a brilliant display of the region's colorful leaves.

Pow Wow at the Falls

It's a tradition that goes way back to when the native nations of the Pacific Northwest traveled to Spokane Falls for large salmon fishing. While today there are no more jumping salmon, the youngest native tribes still celebrate the legendary spectacle. Every August, on the weekend before Labor Day, you're invited to the GATF, or "Gathering at the Falls" pow wow, where dancers and singers from more than 200 native and first nations communities from across the country commemorate their shared histories in Riverfront Park. Opening ceremonies Friday evening are followed by a weekend full of drumming, singing, and traditional dance exhibitions with competitions for a range of tribal performers. Traditional and fancy regalia is sure to color your imagination and wow the judges as they take on the task of naming a winner in the Powwow Royal Pageant. Saturday features an art market for the adults, and Sunday features activities for the kids.

ROW Adventure Center

Ready to leave the dusty trails? Check out ROW Adventure Center's popular half-day and day-long nature outings. It's rated one of the most popular companies for outdoor fun in the region. Perhaps you've already spotted ROW adventurers in your travels, on rafts paddling down the Spokane, Clark Fork, Lochsa, Moyie or St. Joe rivers. Or maybe you've seen their interpretive guides leading biking tours through Spokane. Regardless of what you've seen, it's your turn to sign up! Savor the splash in a river raft tour, put on your waders to go fly fishing, don your helmet for a bike tour, or skip the rapids for a smoother path in your very own kayak. If that's not enough, most of the staff are Certified Interpretive Guides. That means you'll get to learn about the nature around you as you go. There's something for everyone, and sunny July is the month to do it!

Take a Hike for Wine

Get out and walk! With 37 miles of trail to explore, the Spokane River Centennial Park Trail invites afternoon strollers and overnight hikers alike. The trail runs from its historic west-end near Riverside Park all the way to the Idaho border. The trails themselves are a combination of the converted roadway, former timber company double tracks, and old railway routes. Within the first two miles of trail near exit 299 on Interstate 90, you'll find the Horse Slaughter Camp monument. It was on that spot, back in 1858 more than 700 Native American horses were slaughtered along the riverbank. Carry on and things start looking up! Follow the trail for Denny Ashlock Bridge, cross the bridge and explore the trail to the east to get stunning views of Antoine Peak. And that mansion you see atop the cliff? It's an active winery. We told you it got better, didn't we?

Drink Local At Spokane Brewers Festival

It's easy to get the flavor of a place when all of their best local brews are on tap under one roof! Spokane's fourth annual Brewers Festival is Saturday, May 18th inside the Veterans Memorial Arena. Taps open at noon and flow until 7. All you have to do is show up! Tickets are 25 dollars in advance and 30 dollars at the door, and a souvenir tasting glass (for seven four-ounce tastes) is included with the price of admission. Additional tastes are just two dollars each.

The local beers and ciders are accompanied by food trucks and live music, providing fun for the whole family. And if that isn't enough, this year's festival proceeds will benefit the Wishing Star Foundation. The oldest organization of its kind in the state of Washington, the Wishing Star Foundation grants nearly 40 wishes a year to children with life-threatening illnesses between the ages of 3 and 21, living in Spokane, the Tri-Cities, and local outlying areas.

Work-out at the Museum

Often when we travel we don't have time to do everything we want. But there's one stop on your visit to Spokane where it's easy to multitask. Visit the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture on Tuesday's during April and drop-in on a Pilates class at the same time!

Each of the afternoon exercise sessions will teach participants proper form and function a variety of Pilates’ movements. Led by Polestar-Certified Pilates instructor Larkin Barnett, the comprehensive fitness series will establish a strong foundation of the core Pilates principles while slowly molding a flexible yoga body. The design of Pilates is to build core strength without building muscle bulk. And by combining Pilates with yoga, you'll tone and tighten while improving balance and flexibility. Organizers ask participants to bring an exercise mat and water bottle. The hour-long class begins at 1:30 and costs 13.50 for non-members or 15 dollars for members.

Catch a Play at Spokane's Civic Theatre

If it's local flavor you're after, why not sit down to a performance by locals. It's one of the oldest traditions going in Spokane and considering it was incorporated back in 1947, the Civic Theatre is one of the oldest community theaters, not just across the state, but across the country.

While its stylish exterior refurbished in the late '60s fits right into the alpine landscape, actors and actresses deliver standout performances. This month, from March 22nd to April 14th, catch Broadway hit and Tony award-winning production, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. Or check out their Spring schedule here.

And if the night leaves you feeling inspired to get on stage yourself, Spokane Civic Theatre's Academy Program might be just the ticket! From age 5 to 95, any theatrical enthusiast is welcome. Instructors teach more than script rehearsal with lessons on accountability, discipline, team-building, and positive reinforcement.

Cheer for the Spokane Chiefs!

Want to feel the grace of ice rink aerobics without doing any of the work? Then buy you and yours a ticket to watch the Spokane Chiefs crush the pocket on a power play as they fight to take the U.S. division title. The Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena hosts the Chiefs half a dozen times this month. And the red, white, and blue athletes will give you something to cheer about even on the grayest winter days. Want to bring the kids? Boomer the Bear will make their experience a cute and cuddly one. Plus, auctions, theme nights, slap-shot competitions and "suite-stakes" are all possibilities for fun between periods of play.
Learn a little bit about the team before you go or dive into the Chief's fandom when you arrive. Buy the gear, grab something to eat, and take your seat. Or stand and cheer for your new favorite team!

Crawl the INW Ale Trail

We've told you about Spokane's spotlight brews, but now is the time to gather the troops and carve your path through the Inland Northwest Ale Trail to find them! A treasure hunt for craft connoisseurs, this path has its own map. Find the maps at most regional hotels, participating breweries, or Spokane’s Visitor Center kiosk. There are more than 36 highlighted breweries so you might consider planning your crawl in advance. And we did say crawl; it's not a race... but there is a prize! If you bring your map along to each brewery, one drink will earn a stamp from that brewery. Ask for a stamp in the taproom or from someone on the staff. Turn in a map with 12 stamps and win a 32 oz grunt. Filling it is up to you, however, so return to your favorite brewery and top it off with your favorite.

Skate through Spokane’s Ice Ribbon

From November to February, family and friends can enjoy Spokane's premier ice skating experience, the Ice Ribbon. This winter wonderland consists of 16' wide and 650' long pathway with a 3,500 square foot attached pond. All the ups and downs of the path are lined with a breathtaking view of the Northwest-inspired landscape.

All around the ice ribbon are cozy fire pits for spectators to sit and sip cocoa, and enjoy watching the skaters zip through the ribbon. Enjoy a list of programs and activities at the Ice Ribbon like free ice skating lessons, "cheapskate" nights, themed dress-up events, happy hours, and more.

This year's Ice Ribbon features an ice sculpture. In line with this year’s theme of “Fire and Ice,” the sculpture, depicting bricks and flames, will have actual flames inside of it. The Ice Ribbon is open daily, closed only on Thanksgiving and Christmas day.

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