The Ultimate Spokane, Washington Travel Guide for a Perfect Weekend Getaway

A Spokane, Washington itinerary for 2 days makes for a perfect weekend getaway, with endless outdoor activities, the world’s largest urban waterfall, eccentric neighborhoods, and amazing craft beer and wine. Utilize this Spokane, Washington, travel guide to help plan a perfect two-day itinerary to ensure you experience everything this beautiful city offers!

Getting to Spokane, Washington

Flying

Spokane International Airport is a convenient option when flying into the city as it is only 15 minutes from downtown and has flights out of many major cities.

Getting Around Spokane

A car is not necessary for downtown activities, but if you want to explore the parks and nature trails outside of the city, you will need to either rent a car or use Uber. We decided to Uber from downtown to the Rocks of Sharon hike and had no issues. However, I would be wary of more secluded areas due to cell service and a lack of nearby drivers.

Where To Stay

• Davenport Hotel
  • The Davenport Hotel is iconic in Spokane, Washington, due to its history and extravagance. Originally built in 1914 and commissioned by Louis Davenport, it was established for businessmen to dine and bring guests into the city.
• Montvale Hotel
  • Built in 1899 as an affordable housing option, the Montvale Hotel has been transformed into a boutique hotel with historic flair.
• Hotel Indigo
  • Similar to the Montvale Hotel, the Hotel Indigo was originally built in 1911 as an affordable housing option, which was later converted into an eclectic hotel in 2020.

Spokane, Washington Itinerary: 2 Days

Follow this Spokane, Washington, travel guide for a day-by-day breakdown of the must-see activities. If you are looking for some other activities to fill your trip to Spokane, Washington, check out my list of unique things to do in Spokane, Washington.

Day 1

Start Your Day With a Coffee and a Hike

A great way to start your day is by grabbing a coffee and venturing out to admire the beautiful scenery of Spokane. There are so many natural areas and parks to choose from that the decision can be daunting. Listed below are a few good options that are pretty close to downtown.

Spokane Coffee Shops

There are SO many amazing coffee shops in Spokane. Listed below are a few that I was lucky enough to try and recommend:

• Ladder Coffee
  • There are two locations, and I went to the Brownes Addition location twice for a delicious honey lavender latte and avocado toast.
• Indaba Coffee
  • Another shop with multiple locations. Delicious coffee and a great place for quick bite options. I once again had a yummy bacon avocado toast.
• Cafe Coco
  • Such a cute coffee shop that was super close to my hotel. I grabbed a quick coffee, but the food here also looked delicious.
• The Kitchen Engine Shop and Coffee
  • A fun combination coffee shop and a kitchen appliance store in Kendall Yards.

Hiking Options in Spokane

Spokane is truly such a cool area with so many opportunities to get out in nature. Listed below are a few options close to downtown that allow you to explore the scenery of Washington state and potentially spot some wildlife.

• Rocks of Sharon 6.6-mile loop trail
• Rimrock Drive, Palisades Park 2.9-mile loop trail
• Mt Kit Carson Trail, Mt Spokane State Park, 5.9 miles out and back

Check out The Unique neighborhoods and districts

Wherever I am, I love to wander around the city and explore its different neighborhoods. Spokane has some very unique neighborhoods with different mixes of architecture, culture, and activities.

Downtown

Downtown is where the majority of attractions are located. Depending on what your idea of fun is, there are some great things to do, including:

• Fox Theater
  • Home of the Spokane Symphony, the historic Fox Theater was built in 1929 with an art deco style.
• River Park Square
  • If you want to do some shopping while in Spokane, the River Park Square is a large mall and outdoor shopping area where you can find a wide range of shops.
• Auntie’s Book Store
  • For all the book lovers like me! This is such a cute little book shop with unique gifts.

Downtown Restaurants

• Wooden City
  • American cuisine also features wood-fired pizzas.
• Gilded Unicorn
  • American cuisine with a German flair.

Brownes Addition

Spokane’s oldest neighborhood has a mix of historic and modern buildings. Some places to check out within Browns Addition include:

• Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture
  • Art museum with collections highlighting regional history, American Indian, and other archives.
    • Admission
      • Adults (18+) $15
      • Seniors (65+) $12
      • Children/Students (6-17) $9

Brownes Addition Restaurants

• Ladder Coffee (previously mentioned)
• Elk Public House
  • Pub-style food with a vintage atmosphere.

Kendall Yards

This is a perfect place to walk along the Spokane River and catch the sunset. There are several restaurants and fun shops in this neighborhood.

Another great activity in Kendall Yards is the night market, which occurs every Wednesday from 5 pm-8 pm from May 21st to September 17th. At the market, you will find vendors selling produce, crafts, artisan foods, and local artwork.

Kendall Yards Restaurants

• Umi
  • Amazing sushi restaurant.
• Maryhill Winery
  • Cute place for wine tasting and great flatbreads. This a perfect spot to enjoy a view of the Spokane River.

University

Spokane, Washington, is home to Gonzaga University. I suggest strolling around the campus and admiring the beautiful architecture. Within the university area, there are some fun coffee shops, bars, and restaurants.

Another Spokane attraction in the university area is the Bing Crosby house and museum. Admission into the museum is free, and it is a great activity to learn about the famous singer from the mid-1900s.

University Restaurants

• Logan Tavern
  • Elevated bar food and drink with a laid-back vibe.
• Caruso’s Sandwiches and Pizza
  • Italian style sandwiches and personal pizzas.

Day 2

Your second day can be adjusted based on your interests, but the main activities will be exploring the Riverfront area and Spokane’s main attraction: the Spokane Falls.

Spokane Falls

A Spokane, Washington travel guide would not be complete without visiting Spokane Falls, which is the main attraction in the area. There are so many viewpoints of the falls within Riverfront Park. First, I would walk along the three different bridges to get the viewpoints of the falls. Then I would walk over to Huntington Park for a beautiful view of the largest section of the Spokane Falls.

For the adventurous souls, another great way to see the falls uniquely is by taking the gondola ride. This way, you can get up close and personal to the 130-foot-high waterfall for $13.95. For more information about the gondola, you can visit Numerica SkyRide’s site.

Riverfront Park

The Riverfront Park is a popular attraction in Spokane, Washington, with the Spokane River winding through, and many unique activities. Listed below are the must-visit activities in the riverfront park.

Manito Park

Manito Park is 74 acres with beautiful gardens, blooming flowers, playgrounds, and a conservatory. A car may be necessary as Manito Park is 1.8 miles from downtown. Luckily, admission into the park is FREE.

Wineries and Breweries

A great way to end your Spokane, Washington 2-day itinerary is by settling down with a glass of wine or beer. Spokane has both a cork district and an ale trail where you can discover the various wineries and breweries around downtown.

There are also some beautiful wineries just outside of Spokane in the countryside that are worth checking out if you don’t mind the extra drive.

Downtown Wineries

• V du V Wines
• Terra Blanca
• Barrister Winery
• Cougar Creek
• Robert Karl Cellars
• Barili Cellars
• Helix Wines
• Tempus Cellars
• Overbluff Cellars
• Vino!
• Maryhill Winery
• Outwest Wines

Wineries Outside of Downtown Spokane

• Arbor Crest Wine Cellars
• Latah Creek Wine Cellars
• Winescape
• Liberty Lake
• Trezzi Farm and Wine
• Wildland Cooperative

Other Nearby Activities To Add To Your Spokane Washington Travel Guide

If you have more time on your Spokane, Washington 2 day itinerary or are planning to add more destinations to your trip to Washington, then check out these recommendations!

Coeur D’Alene

A resort town 33 miles (35 minutes) from downtown Spokane, Coeur d’Alene is known for its picturesque lake with hiking, water activities, and relaxation.

National Parks near Spokane, WA

Listed below are national parks all under 7 hours from Spokane. A great idea would be to tack on some national parks to your trip and explore the beautiful scenery these parks offer.

• North Cascades: 4 hours 30 minutes
• Mount Rainier: 5 hours 30 minutes
• Olympic: 6 hours 19 minutes
• Banff: 6 hours 37 minutes
  • Banff has a special place in my heart as this is where my husband proposed to me! If you are planning a trip to this beautiful national park, check out my guide for How to Spend 4 Days in Banff National Park.

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Thank you for reading my post. I would appreciate your thoughts about Spokane, Washington, and how this blog post helped you plan your trip.