When most people think of visiting Washington they think of Seattle, but there’s a whole lot more to the state to explore! We live in Spokane, and I think it’s a hidden gem that needs to be on your travel radar for 2025. In Spokane you’ll find an abundance of delicious food and drinks, outdoor recreation opportunities (without the crowds!), and fun activities for all ages. Below are our local expert recommendations for how to spend 24 hours in Spokane, Washington. We also share what you need to know before planning a visit.

What to know about Spokane, WA before you visit 

Spokane is located in far Eastern Washington in a region referred to as the “inland northwest” or “inland empire.” Spokane is also VERY different from the Seattle metro area and I5 corridor (aka the “west side”), which sometimes surprises visitors. Below are some things to know about the culture and weather of Spokane before you plan a visit:

• Spokane experiences the four seasons, and is less rainy than Seattle. According to the City of Spokane, the area averages “16.5 inches of annual precipitation, 48 inches of snow during the winter, and 80-90 degree temperatures during the hottest summer months.” In general, we get significantly less rainfall than the west side, which means far more sunny days. We also get to truly enjoy the four seasons, with beautiful fall colors in October, snow in the winter months, lovely spring flowers, and hot and dry summers.
• Spokane is a hidden gem that punches above its weight as a tourism destination. Spokane is a relatively small city, with about 230,000 people (about the size of Boise)! Despite this, we have amazing food, tons of urban green space (we have over 87 parks covering over 3,800 acres!), vibrant neighborhoods like the Perry District, and a beautiful waterfront, making Spokane an ideal destination for a weekend getaway. We have a lower cost of living than Seattle metro, which means your tourism dollar will stretch further. We also don’t have much traffic (though longtime residents will argue that point!).
• Spokane, WA is politically diverse. It’s worth noting that Eastern Washington is much more conservative than the west side of the state. Despite this, we feel safe and welcome as a liberal LGBTQ+ couple living in Spokane, and we enjoy living here!

itinerary for 24 hours in Spokane, Washington

Below is the perfect 24 hour itinerary for Spokane, Washington! We’ve included all of our favorite places to eat, grab a drink, and explore, regardless of the season.

Grab coffee and breakfast at Indaba 

Indaba Coffee Roasters is known for their award winning roasted coffees, and it’s one of our favorite places to take out of town visitors! A local institution, they really emphasize the flavor and craft of their beverages and beans. Their drinks rival those of our favorite roasters in coffee-obsessed Portland, Oregon, and I love that they aren’t too sweet! Our favorite drinks from Indaba include their house butterscotch latte (I recommend adding black sea salt to your drink!), their pour overs, and their matcha lattes. .

Indaba has several locations in the city. For the purpose of this itinerary I highly recommend their new North Monroe location, which is light and bright and has tons of cozy spots to sit and chat. As a resident of Spokane’s East Central neighborhood I’m crossing my fingers they open up a location nearby some day soon!

Go for a short hike at Bowl and Pitcher

After grabbing breakfast at Indaba head to Bowl and Pitcher in Riverside State Park, which is just a short drive away. At over 9,000 acres, this state park is a great spot for camping, fishing, hiking, and biking, and its proximity to downtown Spokane is truly remarkable. You’ll feel like you’re worlds away from the city!

I recommend hiking the 2.1 mile Bowl and Pitcher Loop Trail, which is an easy stroll along the river and through the forest. It’s appropriate for people of all ages, but does require navigating a suspension bridge, some rocky trail segments, and some steps. If you’re not up for a hike you can enjoy a short walk down to the bridge, which offers great river viewing opportunities.

Note: you’ll need to purchase a Discover Pass to recreate here. You can buy a $10 day use pass or $30 annual pass.

Hiking essentials checklist

Below are our 6 major hiking essentials, which we almost always have with us on the trail!

1. America the Beautiful Pass. An annual America the Beautiful pass covers your entrance fees at all national parks. It also covers fees at other federally managed public lands, such as forest service and BLM sites. This pass is a great investment for people who love national parks and outdoor recreation!
2. Good hiking boots. Waterproof boots with good traction are essential, and a quality pair can last for years. We highly recommend Lowa’s Renegade hiking boots.
3. Water and a water filter. We love the Katadyn BeFree 1.0 Liter Filter Bottle for water filtration, and usually use a Nalgene water bottle or a HydraPak Water Reservoir for water storage.
4. Sun protection. We recommend the Sahara Sun Hoodie (for women and men), which is a sun shirt that offers UPF 50+ sun protection. For sunscreen we like Dermatone’s sport sunscreen and Skin Protector Balm (for winter).
5. A headlamp. The Black Diamond Storm 400 Rechargeable Headlamp is lightweight, compact, waterproof, and USB rechargeable.
6. A comfortable day pack. We recommend the REI Trail 25 (unisex), the Gregory Juno daypack ​for women, or the Gregory Inertia daypack for men.

Have lunch at the Grain Shed

For lunch I recommend going to the Grain Shed in the South Perry District. The Grain Shed is known for their locally sourced ingredients and their fantastic breads and baked goods, which they make fresh every day. They have lots of delicious food and sandwich options, and can accommodate a variety of dietary preferences and needs. Their prices are also extremely reasonable (or, as my friend from Washington D.C. exclaimed upon seeing the cost of a sandwich, “that’s all it costs?!”).

I highly recommend their purple Egyptian barley brownie, as well as the “O.G.,” which is a vegetarian sandwich with fresh greens, focaccia, smoked gouda, and veggies (pictured above). Grab extra napkins, though, as there’s a lot of olive oil!

Stroll through Manito Park

Established in 1904 and occupying 78 acres of Spokane’s Manito/Cannon Hill neighborhood, Manito Park is one of my favorite places in the city! There are five distinct gardens in the park, which are each fun to explore: Nishinomiya Tsutakawa Japanese Garden, Duncan Garden, Rose Hill, Lilac Garden and Ferris Perennial Garden. The Japanese Garden is beautiful in fall; and in spring and summer I love visiting the Ferris Perennial Garden, which has a wide variety of flowering plants and grasses. There are also play structures and areas for kids, a duck pond, and several public restrooms, and the park is free to visit! You could easily spend a short time or several hours here! 

Explore downtown Spokane

After Manito Park, head downtown to explore the city! The real gem of downtown is the Riverfront Park. I recommend checking out the Numerica SkyRide, which is a 15-20 minute gondola that takes you high above the river (and the largest urban waterfall in the United States!) for a unique view of Spokane. There’s also an informational audio tour you can listen to on your phone. As of writing this, tickets are $13.95 per adult. 

In addition to the gondola there is an enjoyable walking plaza along the river, where you can view the Spokane Pavilion (built for the Expo ’74 World’s fair). Here you can visit one of Spokane’s most famous residents  – the garbage goat! Make sure to bring some trash with you so you can feed the goat. There’s also lots of shopping and restaurants near the waterfront, making this a great spot to grab a souvenir or a snack before heading to dinner!

Parking: most of the parking in the downtown core of Spokane is metered. However, if you’re willing to walk a few extra blocks, there is free parking near the children’s hospital. 

Enjoy dinner and drinks at Dry Fly Distillery, followed by a cider flight at Locust Cider

Dry fly distillery

After a full day of exploring it’s time to kick back and relax with dinner and a drink! Start your evening at Dry Fly, an award winning distillery situated right in the heart of downtown Spokane. Dry Fly uses locally-sourced grains from the Spokane area to craft delicious, award-winning spirits. We often use their gin and whiskey at home in cocktails, and the distillery is a great way to try out their spirits. The distillery in downtown is open every day of the week and serves up delicious food and craft cocktails featuring their liquors. We especially enjoyed their classic old fashioned, and their creamy feta dip, which includes fluffy, house-made pita, tangy pickled garlic, and hot honey. While you relax you can enjoy a view of their state-of-the-art distillery area! 

Locust Cider

After Dry Fly head a few blocks east to Locust Cider’s Spokane Taproom. Founded in 2015, locust specializes in small-batch hard ciders made with simple ingredients. They have a roster of unique cider flavors you’re unlikely to find anywhere else, including chai (a seasonal favorite of ours), dark maple, vanilla bean, pineapple coconut, and honey pear. I recommend getting a flight or two so you can try all of their offerings! If you’re still hungry they also offer delicious house-made flatbread pizzas.

I hope you found our 24 hours in Spokane itinerary helpful. Let us known if you end up recreating our adventure! You can find more Washington itineraries as well as some of our favorite hikes in Spokane on our blog, and more Pacific Northwest travel content on our Instagram.