As someone who was raised in Seattle, I heard quite about the dangerous city in the eastern part of Washington, referred to as “Spo-Compton”. Having never actually visited Spokane, WA, I wasn’t sure how true the nickname rang. A few weeks ago I got the opportunity to change or confirm the opinion. One thing I surely did not expect to encounter was the beauty of Spokane’s Parks.
Manito Park
Tucked away outside of the bustling city center is Manito Park. This 90-acre public park is situated in one of the oldest residential areas in Spokane.
While open year-round, the spring and summer seasons bring out the parks natural beauty. You won’t see many flowers in the winter time but you will find families sledding down the hills and snowmen littered about.
If snow covers the parks greens turning everything to a pale white, you can always find the color in the Gaiser Conservatory, a greenhouse where flowers bloom in all seasons. The conservatory’s tropical plants may help you forget about the freezing weather outside.
The conservatory is open to the public and best of all, it is free of charge.
Riverfront Park
In an urban city, it’s rare to find a waterfall that isn’t in a hotel lobby or incorporated into man-made sculpture. Spokane took a different approach to decorating its city with a water feature. They just built the city around a massive river and called it good.
Riverfront Park is situated on the Spokane River, upstream from Spokane Falls (They don’t spend a lot of time being creative with names up here).
The Riverfront Park’s claim to fame was being home to the World Fair Expo ’74. Why the World’s Fair was held in the small city of Spokane is beyond my knowledge, but rest assured, the city will not let you forget this crowning achievement.
Wander around the park and you will find bits of history related to the world fair including the remaining metal framework of the US Pavilion.
Heading downstream of the Pavilion you will see Upper Spokane Falls. While impressive, the better view is of the Lower Falls. Head further downstream and cross the river at the second bridge. Then cross the street to continue following the river’s edge. You will find yourself on the Spokane River Centennial Trail. This trail is 37 miles and continues all the way to the Idaho border. Don’t worry you don’t need to go that far to see the lower falls. Just continue a few hundred feet and look for some stairs that lead down to the viewing platform.
Final Thoughts
Spokane seems to get a bad wrap. While maybe not the crown jewel of Washington, the city offers a heaping dose of unnoticed character. Its old-school architecture and industrial design mixed with heavy natural influences create a fascinating mix that lends itself to be worthy of exploring, especially Spokane’s parks.
Chad can be summed up by his idea of a perfect day: Waking up early to watch the sunrise over the mountains, warm cup of coffee in hand then grabbing his camera and fly rod, hitting the trail to explore some uncharted territory followed by cold beers and campfire steaks. Chad is often joined on his adventures by his wife, Tori, and their dog, Kona.
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