A few weeks ago we loaded the kids up and headed east to Spokane, Washington for a few days. The main purpose was to visit my grandma and some extended family – who we just don’t get to see enough. We stayed right in downtown Spokane and walked everywhere we needed (with the little one in a stroller). The city is really well laid out and it was easy to get around on foot.
Spokane is an amazingly family-friendly and frugal city! I had no idea and we enjoyed ourselves so much that I just had to tell you all about it. This is just a small sampling of the many fun events in Spokane, I recommend checking out VisitSpokane.com for more information, current events and specials – it is really well organized and full of helpful information!
I thought it was cool that Spokane has maps painted on the street corners! Makes it easy to see where you’re headed! And the whole downtown area was so clean – I was really impressed! We walked everywhere we went.
RIVERFRONT PARK
We spent the most time at Spokane’s Riverfront Park because it’s easy to access, inexpensive and very family friendly. My son and husband check out the Riverfront Park map – there is a lot to do and a lot of areas to explore.
The flowers were amazing in the park, so I took advantage of some picturesque backgrounds and snapped some photos of my kids in between the fun. There are also lots of ducks and birds, you can sit back and watch. Bring sketch books and the kids can draw the different birds or plants they see!
LOOFF CARROUSEL
One of the highlights of our trip was the Looff Carrousel. It was magical, it was FUN, it was fast, it was perfectly nestled in the Riverfront Park. My kids LOVED it and we all went on it twice. At $2 a ride (or 8 rides for $10), I think the Looff Carrousel is worth every penny. It was built in 1909 – so it’s whimsically old and even on the National Register of Historic Places. Kids can try and catch a golden ring as the carrousel goes around, if they are lucky enough to get it – they get a FREE ride!
GARBAGE EATING GOAT
A fun FREE thing you can do in Riverfront Park is feeding the Garbage Eating Goat! Right outside the Looff Carrousel you can feed a steel goat your garbage! That’s right – it’s part art, part practicality- the goat sucks up anything you put in front of it! My son enjoyed this and I only wish I had more garbage in my purse for my son to feed the goat!
SPOKANE SKYRIDE
Then we went on the Skyride, also located right in the Riverpark! The kids LOVED this ride that goes across Spokane Falls – it’s just the right length and speed to keep everyone comfortable. Tickets are $7.50 for adults and $4 for kiddos. You need to watch the Skyride website, during hot months they close the Skyride during the middle of the day because the trams get too hot. We went at 10 a.m. when it opened and it was just right – plus, no line!
The view from the Skyride is SPECTACULAR!
If you only did two things at the park, I recommend the Carrousel and the Skyride – which would be $10 a person for both! If you plan to do more than a few of these activities, you should check into the Riverfront Park Day pass for $16.95.
On sunny days you can probably catch a rainbow at the base of the waterfall!
RIVERFRONT PARK PLAY AREA
Another FREE thing to do in Riverfront Park is to stop at the playground! Swings, slides, climbing toys – perfect for toddler aged kids. We had to drag our kids away from the playground and onto other things.
MOBIUS CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
Right across the street from the Riverfront Park in the big mall building there is the Mobius Kids Museum. It was full of exhibits and activities that our kids enjoyed. Tickets are $6 for adults and kids – or if under 12 months they are FREE. You can get a “jump pass” that allows you to go to the Kid’s Museum and the new Mobius Science center which saves you a dollar if you plan to go to both!
DINING
We had planned our trip for a few weeks, at least, so we watched Groupon: Spokane for dining deals! We ended up buying two $7 Groupon vouchers for Taco Del Mar – right next to the Riverfront Park and ended up paying $14 for a $28 dinner – we basically doubled our money by going through Groupon. They had lots of local restaurant Groupons, as well – which is a great way to try local businesses and save. The restaurants downtown look amazing!
RED LION HOTEL AT THE PARK
Although we didn’t have the pleasure of staying here, I think we will definitely stay at the Red Lion Hotel at the Park on our next trip! It borders Riverfront Park, which means easy access to all the frugal fun activities I’ve covered so far – and it’s right on the Spokane River! Along with lots of other features this hotel features a fitness center, indoor pool, whirlpool – and an outdoor pool complete with waterside and waterfall to enjoy in the summer! I know my kids will LOVE this feature. 🙂
ENTER TO WIN!
Now for the fun part! We had so much fun we want you too as well! We are giving away a Spokane, Washington vacation package, courtesy of VisitSpokane.com and Red Lion Hotel at the Park, so you can enjoy everything we did, plus more! All of this is valued at nearly $440! Basically you’ll get two FREE nights at at Red Lion Hotel, funds to dine and FREE passes to all sorts of activities!
Here’s what one lucky Queen Bee reader will get:
- Two (2) night’s stay at Red Lion Hotel at the Park (Spokane)
- $50 to spend on dining at: The White House Grill, The Oval Office Bistro & Martini Bar or the West Wing of the White House Grill.
- $16 Groupon voucher to spend at Scout restaurant – expires Feb. 6, 2013
- Four (4) complimentary tickets to the Looff Carrousel – expires Jan. 1, 2013
- Four (4) complimentary tickets to Imax Exclusive Feature – expires December, 31, 2012
- Four (4) complimentary admission to Mobius ScienceCenter OR Mobius Kid’s Children’s Museum – expires Jan. 1, 2013
- Five (5) complimentary tickets for Skyride – expires December 31, 2012
How to enter – There are a MAXIMUM of four (4) entries possible. Please leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry – because each comment is considered one entry. Do not comment in the Facebook comment area (I’m trying to remove that), but where it says Leave a Comment below.
- REQUIRED ENTRY – Leave a comment on this post. Tell me what you think you’d enjoy doing most in Spokane. Maybe you have a favorite I didn’t mention – please share!
- Sign up for Queen Bee Coupons daily email and leave a comment telling me you did this. If you already subscribe, leave a comment saying so.
- Like Visit Spokane on Facebook and leave a comment telling me you did this. They share all kinds of helpful, interesting information on the Visit Spokane Facebook page, I bet you’ll like it!
- Follow Queen Bee Coupons on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway. Tweet something like: @VisitSpokane @RedLionHotels @QueenBeeCoupons – Enter to win Spokane Vacation package valued at $440! – http://wp.me/pFgsr-jk9
Leave a comment and let me know you tweeted.
This giveaway will end Friday, August 31, 2012 at 9 p.m. PST. Pay special attention to the email you use, because this is how I will contact the winner. I will select one random comment after the giveaway closes August 31 and I will contact the winner by email. You will have 48 hrs to respond to my email. I will also post the winner info here on the site.
Disclosure: VisitSpokane.com provided complimentary tickets for my family for the Looff Carrousel, Imax, Mobius Kid’s Museum and the Skyride so we could experience them and share them with you! All photos (expect of Red Lion), reviews, kids and comments are mine. They graciously provided the tickets and dining credits for this giveaway. The Red Lion Hotel at the Park is graciously providing the two night stay for your homebase while you explore downtown Spokane!
michele almeida says
The slide and pool at the hotel 🙂 maybe some warm sun! Never win these but it sure is fun to enter and daydream 😉
serena adkins says
following Queen Bee on twitter and here is my link to my post: https://twitter.com/SerenaAdkins/status/240336391186284544
serena adkins says
Liked Visit Spokane on Facebook
serena adkins says
Already Signed up for Queen Bee Coupons daily email
serena adkins says
My family would enjoy the complimentary tickets for Skyride. We love skyrides and go on one whenever an opportunity arises.
Becki Kellcy says
It all looks fun!
Becki Kellcy says
Oops…got too excited about going to Spokane:) we’re always looking for new places to go that are family friendly!
Becki Kellcy says
Never been to Spokane…would love to explore a new place!
Becki Kellcy says
Never been to Spokane…would love to explore a new place!
Patsy L Cox says
I would truly love to see all of these places! We have friends there too that we would love to visit, but on our very Tight Budgeted Retired Income, I don’t see it happening, unless we won something like this. What a Blessing that would be! Wow! Thank you!
God Bless!
patsy Cox
Amie R. says
I am new to twitter, but I copied and pasted what you wrote above and tweeted it. I think that worked 🙂
Amie R. says
I liked VisitSpokane on face book
Amie R. says
I subscribe to your daily emails
Amie R. says
I would love to do the skyride with my family if we went to Spokane. My kids would LOVE that!
Glenda says
I love going to the White Elephant store in Spokane. they have soooo many toys, both current and older ones
Stephanie St. Clair says
Visited the visitspokane page on facebook
Stephanie St. Clair says
I would visit family!
Ariel says
I subscribed to queen bee email updates
faith says
The sky ride would be fun to ride
Ariel says
I liked visit Spokane on fb
Ariel says
I want to go on the skyride
faith says
I already subscribe to daily emails.
Ardelle Gotcher says
I think the carousel sounds fun and so does the sky ride thing.
faith says
I liked Spokane on facebook
Ardelle Gotcher says
I liked Visit Spokane on FB.
Erica Pearson says
visited visitspokane.com webpage have been researching affordable roadtrips in washington
Ardelle Gotcher says
I already subscribe to the daily emails.
Erica Pearson says
think the skyride would be our favorite 🙂
Erica Pearson says
already subscribe to email 🙂
Melissa Belle says
I follow via twitter @sweetmelbelle31 and tweeted
https://twitter.com/sweetmelbelle31/status/240321334406705152
Kelly Letourneau says
What I’d do first would be slide down the water slide at the hotel, followed by dinner at Luigi’s and finally i along with my daughter would go to the children’s hospital and take coloring books, puzzles and stuffed animals .
Melissa Belle says
I liked visit spokane via facebook. Melissa W***
Melissa Belle says
Email subscriber using sweetmelbelle31 at yahoo dot com
Melissa Belle says
I would enjoy Riverfront park!
sweetmelbelle31 at yahoo dot com
Miranda says
I subscribe to Queen Bee emails.
Miranda says
I would LOVE to go on the Skyride! Also, I have friends who live there that I would like to visit.
Hallie Lindal says
I follow you on twitter and tweeted! 🙂
Hallie Lindal says
I liked Spokane on FB! 🙂
Hallie Lindal says
I signed up to get your emails! 🙂
Tana says
I love downtown
Aj says
If I won the trip, I would go visit my sister and her kids over there.
Katy says
I am subscribed to emails <3
Susan says
Subscribed to save!!!
Katy says
I liked visitspokane on facebook 🙂
Steve L says
I also liked Visit Spokane of Facebook
Steve L says
I would go to Manito Park!
Katy says
I think the thing I would enjoy the most is actually going on a vacation with my hubby and kids. We have not done much since he was diagnosed with heart failure.
joy says
I liked Visit Spokane on FB!
jen says
eating out is always fun!!!
Courtney says
This is my hometown, and I would love to go and see everyone!