Travel Blog: Spokane, Washington
Growing up in the Tri-Cities, Spokane was the closest thing to a bustling metropolis that I had experienced on a regular basis. Spokane was where the fun happened. And where the back to school shopping happened. And where, my mom and I could have a little break from life.
As a child, I loved Riverfront Park and the historic architecture of downtown. I loved the fat rock chucks that scurried along the boulders beside the river. I loved the delicious food and quaint street markets tucked between old buildings. I loved pretending that I was a city girl, living in a flat with exposed brick walls, that overlooked the city through its floor to ceiling windows.
To be honest, I still love all those things...and I still let myself daydream about being that girl with the industrial downtown flat, living a city life.
So when my husband, Travis and I were looking for a fun place to celebrate our 11th wedding anniversary, Spokane seemed like the perfect choice! The last time I'd been to Spokane was when I was a teenager though, and I was certain a lot had changed since then. And obviously, as an adult, there were new things to do and different things to see!
First things first--accommodations!
When Travis and I travel, we look for a few things in regards to hotels/airbnbs.
Our must haves are:
- Walkability: We try to take in as much of the local scene as possible, and we feel like we miss out on a lot of it when we drive around new places, so we prefer to walk. Plus, parking is a hassle and is typically an added expense. So not only do we enjoy being able to walk directly from our hotel to wherever we're going, but we feel like it's also economical. Walkability is probably one of the most important factors to us, outside of it being clean and safe.
- Pool/Access to Water: I grew up in a desert oasis, surrounded by three rivers at all times. Plus, I enjoy being outside! Water is important to me. And if I am outside, I want access to it! And we usually bring our son with us, and every kid deserves a fun pool/ocean/lake to play in!
- Hotel Restaurant/Bar: One of our favorite things to do after a long day of fun is to head down to the hotel bar or restaurant and wind down. It's a luxury we don't always get, but when it's available, we'll take it!
- Affordability: Ninety-nine percent of the time, we book the cheapest room wherever we're staying. Our priority is adventure, and we'd rather spend our money doing the things we want to do instead of paying a high price for a room we won't be spending a ton of time in. Our mindset is: cheap room = more room in the budget for fun.
While I was researching accommodations, I came across a hotel I recognized almost immediately.
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| PC: agoda.com |
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| PC: The Centennial Hotel |
Another perk, there were plenty of Lime scooters and bikes available to use if we didn't feel like walking! We've never used them before, so we decided to give it a try!
WE HAD A BLAST!
Let me tell you, if you've never ridden an electric bike in a dress and heels on your way to an anniversary dinner through a bustling city--DO IT! If you're like me, you will laugh until you cry, enjoy the wind in your hair...and panic as that very same wind goes up your dress, as you try to steer and ends up with you flashing unsuspecting pedestrians.
It happened...but it was worth it.
Additionally, The Centennial offered a great pool, and an AWESOME restaurant/bar with outdoor seating. Outside of the walkability factor, this was probably my favorite part. As I mentioned before, I love being outside. And what is more perfect than sitting outside, enjoying a uniquely crafted cocktail and diving into a new book?
The answer is simple: NOTHING. Nothing is better than that!
Travis and I loved taking in the local scene, exploring Riverfront park and taking full advantage of the plethora of breweries! Since we were kid free on this trip, we really didn't have an agenda. We wanted to take our time doing whatever we felt like doing!
DAY ONE
And when I say *flavor* I don't just mean the architectural kind. Their selection of beers on tap was significant, and I wanted them ALL. Knowing this was our first stop of many, I didn't want to overdo it, so I decided to do a flight.
This way I got to try five tasty brews!
Brickwest Beer Tasting Flight
- Helping Hand // New England Hazy IPA
- Jimmy Walters // Dortmunder Export Lager
- Big Heart // Wheat Beer Hefeweizen
- Sweet Success // Brown Ale
- Luna Maria // Stout
Each beer was excellent! I am glad I tried a wide variety of their beers. Since I don't have a picky pallet, I feel like I am pretty easy to please. The flavor profiles of each of the beers I tried was truly incredible. I am always amazed at the craftsmanship (and science) it takes to create something so unique and delicious! It was fun sipping, relaxing and enjoying some downtime together! We will definitely be back with our son and dog in tow!
Next up, MORE BEER!
We walked a few blocks to IRON GOAT BREWING, and inside we found a cozy taproom, friendly staff, families mingling and, best of all, an awesome, private patio complete with a mural of Spokane's infamous Iron Goat.
I only had one beer here, but the next time I visit, I will be enjoying more of their delicious brews. However, I did enjoy the one beer I had--Brewski's Blonde. It was smooth and light, which went down perfectly in the dry, eastern Washington heat! I gave it a 4.25 out of 5 stars on Untappd. Also, their food looked absolutely divine! I was bummed that we'd already eaten because everything that came out of the kitchen was drool worthy.
Last but definitely not least--WHISTLE PUNK BREWING! First of all, I really like the name of this brewery. A childhood nickname of mine is "punk," so in a weird way, I felt right at home here!
Located in Spokane's historic Railroad Alley, walking up to this brewery reminded me of walking through those quaint alley markets I mentioned earlier. I felt like with each corner I turned, there was more to be discovered! Once inside, we found a cool, rustic little brewery that reminded me of an old timey pub. Real wood beams, an earthy smell, brick walls, the whole shebang! I could tell right away that Whistle Punk had its regulars, and to me, that is always a great sign. That, and dogs, of course!
Here, I had their Vienna Lager, which was really good! When I go brewery hopping, I really like finding beers that are light, yet still have a lot of flavor. The Vienna Lager did just that! It was malty and smooth, while still on the lighter side. I gave it a solid 4 out of 5 stars on Untappd.
For dinner, we found ourselves in PURGATORY...the whiskey bar and restaurant, that is! There, we had what I can only assume was Heaven on a celestially gluttonous plate of steamy, BBQ, angelic goodness.
Yea...it was THAT good.
Seriously though, we had these BBQ fries that took us to Purgatory and back with each bite.
Which makes me wonder...maybe...just maybe, I am exposing Spokane's best kept secret--BBQ fries at The Purgatory.
Go there, fill your sinful belly, order another round, tell them Lindsay sent you. They have no idea who I am, but just do it--you will not regret it!
We ended our night at FLATSTICK PUB where we found ourselves in the clutches of a competitive duffleboard tournament. And to be fair, I had no idea what duffleboard was until we got there. But to put it simply, it's the perfect hybrid love-child of shuffle board and golf. It was really fun!
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| PC: Flatstick Pub |
There was also a 20 year high school reunion happening there, and we got confused for old classmates, which I am not even going to pretend I'm not offended by haha! But we played it off and they still have no idea we weren't apart of their graduating class...or their high school in general!
DAY TWO
I don't know about you, but sleeping until 9am on a plush king bed, where Travis and I can sprawl out like fresh roadkill on a country road is GLORIOUS. And that's exactly what we did.
It was our actual anniversary that day, so Travis made brunch reservations for us at BARK RESCUE PUB. We walked a few blocks from our hotel and found it easily. I was so excited to brunch at Bark because a portion of all their proceeds go toward their partnership with the Spokane Humane Society. AND THEY ALSO HAVE CATS. And dogs too!
But first, we had to eat!
I ordered my favorite: Eggs Benedict. It came with a side of cheesy breakfast potatoes that were so good! It was the perfect carby meal to soak up the previous day's adventures. And in typical Lindsay fashion, I ordered a mimosa flight!
Bark Rescue Pub Mimosa Flight
- Grapefruit Mimosa
- Pina Colada Mimosa
- Passion Orange Guava Mimosa
- Huckleberry Mimosa
The grapefruit mimosa was definitely my favorite! I personally enjoy the taste of champagne, so I don't need a lot of sweet juice in my mimosas. I think the mildness of the grapefruit paired nicely with the brut champagne! They also offered a bloody mary called "Hair of The Dog" that I was so tempted to get instead of my flight...but it honestly terrified me! It was big enough for at least four people and included an entire meal on top. I knew that if I indulged in that, there would be no indulging in my future.
After we were done with brunch, we did the BEST THING EVER...snuggle KITTENS! I honestly could've stayed there all day. The kittens were so sweet and playful, and most importantly, up for adoption! If you or someone you know is in Spokane, tell them about Bark Rescue Pub.
Have a boozy brunch and adopt a furry friend!
That afternoon we took a long walk through Riverfront park, rode the gondola and took in the gorgeous scenery! We found an awesome park on the waterfront that we'd like to take our son to when we come back for a family trip! It was so fun walking around, remembering little memories from my childhood and sharing them with Travis. Some things have definitely changed, but a lot of it was still the same.
The rest of our trip was low key! We had a nice anniversary dinner at Anthony's, which offered gorgeous views of the Spokane River, and made us feel like the fancy people we wish we were. Overall, in Spokane, we were able to slow down and relax. I loved reading by the pool without interruption, enjoying time with no real plans, drinking new beers that we can't find on the west side, and just being together exploring a familiar, yet new (to Travis) part of our state!
I am really looking forward to bringing our son back with us, and adventuring through Spokane in another great way! Thank you, Spokane for having us! You really are a hidden gem.
xo
Lindsay
**This post was not sponsored**
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