Today’s post is all about exploring Spokane with kids! If you’re looking for a place to take your family on their next vacation, consider Spokane. This city in eastern Washington is surrounded by natural beauty but still features all the urban conveniences and amenities you’ll ever need.
With a history of being an important railroad hub in the Western expansion of America, one of its claims to fame is being the smallest city to host the World’s Fair.
Explore Native American culture, stroll through the 1920s industrial downtown, or enjoy a cable car ride above Spokane Falls.
Exploring Spokane with Kids
Are you bringing kids along on your trip? Spokane has plenty of activities for the young and those still young at heart.
Mobius Discovery Center
Treat your kids to the Mobius Discovery Center for an engaging experience of hands-on activities sure to grow their sense of wonder and discovery.
They can spend time exploring STEAM lab experiments, making artistic masterpieces, observing reptiles, launching rockets, and building bridges. If you have toddlers in your travel party, check out the Enchanted Forest play space with them.
Waterfront Activities
To get to Riverfront Park from the Mobius Discovery Center, all you and your kids have to do is cross a single street. Even though it’s so close, you might want to allot an entire day to this place alone.
It’s gorgeous every season of the year and also within walking distance of downtown. Kids love the classic 1909 Looff Carrousel and skating the Numerica Skate Ribbon. If you’re here on a weekend after the sun goes down, the Pavilion Light Shows are mesmerizing and free of charge.
The Numerica SkyRide is a chance to see Spokane Falls from above. Liberty Lake is your chance to take Mico Moon Zip tours over the canopy for everyone age 6 or older. Want to get on the water itself? Check out Peak7 for kayak and stand-up-paddleboard rentals.
Something for the Animal Lovers
Visit Cat Tales Wildlife Center for a unique animal rescue and sanctuary for foxes, large cats, wolves, bears, and other species.
Alternatively, visit the underwater world at the Blue Zoo for hands-on education about reptiles and stingrays and the chance to witness seahorses, shares, and plenty of fish species.
Hyper Kids? This Might Help!
Riverfront Park also has numerous playgrounds where the kids in your family can burn off energy. Providence Playscape has nearly two dozen distinct features that make playtime a physically and socially inclusive activity for all walks of life.
Standing at 12 feet in height, the Childhood Express is the biggest Radio Flyer wagon anywhere on the planet. Other activities here include basketball, a wheels park, and climbing structures with an Ice Age theme.
Between Activities
There are many walking and biking routes that will take you to various attractions throughout the city. When walking or biking with children, always take caution. While Spokane is considered a very walkable city, sadly there were 163 pedestrian accidents in the city in 2021.
As you can see, it’s easy to fill your Spokane vacation schedule full of activities for kids, but you also need to be prepared to take care of your children in between all the fun.
Preparation and patience are crucial to a smooth journey, and you should start with involving your kids in the trip planning so they can start setting expectations and getting excited about things.
However, not all travel goes according to plan, so have backup plans ready for delays, closures, and other interruptions. Also, have activities or attractions to do and visit while en route to Spokane or back home.
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