This post covers things to do in Spokane with kids, but have you noticed that my husband and I often travel without our kids?
It’s not that we don’t love them. And it’s not that we don’t love the family bonding time and the opportunity to show our kids the world.
It’s that there really isn’t anything budget-savvy about traveling with kids!
And while we do occasionally go on big trips with kids in tow—like to Disneyland and Bariloche—we more often enjoy family activities around home.
This guide on things to do in Spokane with kids isn’t based on our family vacations. Spokane, Washington, is our home, and with three kids ranging in age from toddler to teenager, we’ve become experts on all the things to do in Spokane with kids, especially on a budget!
Things to Do in Spokane with Kids | Riverfront Park
A trip to Riverfront Park in downtown Spokane is a popular activity for locals and tourists alike. The combination of the river, open areas to play and numerous walking paths, make Riverfront Park a prime Spokane destination even if you don’t explore its various tourist offerings. The park recently underwent a major overhaul and offers several family-friendly activities.
Looff Carrousel
This recently-updated carrousel operates year-round and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Rides on the Looff Carrousel are only $2.50 and an unlimited day pass is $5.50.
SkyRide
Take a ride in an enclosed cable car over the Spokane River and see views of the “Spokane Falls”—they are impressive and shouldn’t be missed! The SkyRide operates year-round. Adult tickets are $7.75 and children (2-12) ride for $5.75.
Skate / Ice Ribbon
This skate/ice ribbon serves two functions at Riverfront Park, allowing it to be accessed all year. During the winter, it’s used for ice skating, which is one of the most popular things to do in Spokane with kids when it’s cold outside. Ice skating costs adults $6.95/hour and children $4.95/hour. Skate rentals are $4.50/visit. Budget-savvy tip: Visit on Mondays to get free skate rentals!
Once the ice thaws, the ribbon is used the rest of the year for skating and admission is free! Roller skates and scooters are available to rent but visitors are welcome to bring their own, too, making this a great free thing to do in Spokane with kids.
Giant Red Wagon
This popular free attraction is the world’s largest Radio Flyer red wagon replica. Complete with a large slide, it can’t be missed—literally!—when visiting Riverfront Park. It’s a great spot for a fun family photo.
Visit Mobius
Mobius is a children’s museum with separate science center that offer year-round, indoor fun for kids of all ages.
Mobius Children’s Museum
The large Mobius Children’s Museum is located in the downtown mall, Riverfront Square. We’ve been taking our kids to there since they were little, as it’s the perfect place to bring kids up to about age 8. There are age-appropriate educational activities and a separate baby/toddler area for the youngest visitors. Admission is $10 for all ages (<12 months are free) and tourists can receive $1 off their admission by showing their hotel room card.
Mobius Science Center
The Mobius Science Center is geared towards older kids (6+) with fun educational demos and lab activities. Located across the street from the children’s center and next to Riverfront Park, the science center is a great place to visit in Spokane with kids! Admission is $10 for all ages (<12 months are free) and tourists can receive $1 off their admission by showing their hotel room card, just like at the Children’s Museum.
Savvy tip: If you’d like to visit both museums, purchase a “bounce pass” for only $12 (or $11 with showing your hotel room key!).
Manito Park & Botanical Garden
This 90-acre park located two miles south of Riverfront Park is a free park open to the public year-round. Manito Park & Botanical Garden offers two popular playgrounds for children including a splash pad that is perfect for hot summer days! There are also five major garden areas (including both Japanese and rose gardens) and walking paths.
Savvy tip: As Manito Park & Botanical Garden is massive, be sure to follow this walking tour brochure to know where you are going!
Things to do in Spokane with Kids | Attend Sport Games
We are a big sports family, and luckily Spokane has several sports teams that play games year-round. With the exception of Gonzaga basketball games, all of the teams offer budget-friendly pricing options, making these great things to do in Spokane with kids.
Spokane Chiefs Hockey
The Spokane Chiefs are part of the Western Hockey League (WHL), a major junior hockey league that funnels players into the National Hockey League (NHL). The WHL season is September to March, with playoffs lasting into May. Individual game tickets for children 12 & under are only $11 (3 & under are free) and adult tickets start at $18.
And who knows, you may end up watching a future NHL player while at a Spokane Chiefs game! Tampa Bay Lightning star Tyler Johnson hails from Spokane and played for the Chiefs during his WHL days.
Spokane Indians Baseball
The Spokane Indians play throughout the summer, giving families a reason to head to the ballpark June through August. Attending a Spokane Indians game is perfect for kids because there are team mascots walking around the ballpark for photo ops, free bounce houses, and even wiffle ball games that kids can play in! Individual game tickets for children 12 & under are only $5 (3 & under are free) and adult tickets start at $7.
Eastern Eagles Football
Attending an Eastern Washington University football game at the one-of-a-kind red field (the “Inferno”) is a fun experience for sports fans of all ages. If you are visiting Spokane during the fall, be sure to check the EWU football schedule to see if the former NCAA FCS National Champions are playing at home. Ticket prices start at $15.
Gonzaga Bulldogs Basketball
In many ways, Gonzaga University basketball put Spokane, Washington, on the map. The Bulldogs have participated in 21 consecutive men’s NCAA basketball tournaments, being the seeded #1 three times since 2013.
Catching a Gonzaga men’s basketball game is truly an incredible experience that both kids and adults enjoy when visiting Spokane November through March. Unfortunately, due to the team’s popularity, single game tickets are hard to get, but can be found on third party sites like Stubhub…if you’re willing to pay well above face value. Not a budget-savvy choice, but if you’re a diehard basketball family, the experience is worth it.
Things to do in Spokane with Kids | Indoor Trampoline Parks
Indoor trampoline parks seem to be popping up all over everywhere and Spokane is no exception. There are several trampoline parks for parents to choose from if you are looking for an indoor activity for kids to release their energy. Pricing for one hour of jump time ranges from $11-$16, depending on which trampoline park you visit.
Savvy tip: Check out Groupon before heading to one of these trampoline parks to see if there are any discounts available!
Spokane-area options:
- Get Air. Pricing: $11/hour or $7/hour for kids under 46” with limited access.
- Altitude. This is our personal favorite! Pricing: $13/hour and $10/hour for ages 5 and under.
- Flying Squirrel. Pricing: $16/hour and $11/hour for ages 6 and under
Theme Parks, Water Parks & Family Fun Centers
Silverwood Theme and Water Park
I covered Silverwood in my post on Things to do in Sandpoint, Idaho, since it’s located about 30 minutes south of Sandpoint. But Silverwood is also located only 45 minutes from Spokane, making it a great family-friendly day trip regardless where you are visiting!
Silverwood is typically open May through September. It’s also open through Saturdays in October as “Scarywood”—a haunted version of itself! When purchased online, tickets during the summer are $48/adult (ages 8+), $27/youth (ages 3-7), and kids 2 and under are free.
Wonderland Family Fun Center
Wonderland has indoor and outdoor attractions for year-round family fun. Packed with mini golf (both indoor and outdoor), laser tag, batting cages, bumper boats, go karts and an arcade, Wonderland is one of the most popular things to do in Spokane with kids.
All-day passes range in price from $26-$37 depending on height (as some activities have height requirements) and whether you’re participating in the outdoor attractions or not.
Splash Down Water Park
Splash Down, largest water park in Spokane, is a great option for hot summer days. Admission is $15 for those over 48” and $10 for under 48”; kids 3 and younger are free. Tuesday and Thursday nights from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. are “family nights” where everyone gets $10 admission, regardless of height. Trust me, when it’s 100 degrees in Spokane, this is the best use of $15 you’ll ever spend.
Spokane County Family Aquatics Facilities
Taking the kids to one of the two family aquatic facilities is more of a “locals” thing, but visitors to the area are welcome to enjoy these water parks, too! Ran by Spokane County, the family aquatics facilities are modern and very clean (and this is coming from someone who is typically skeptical of public pools and water parks). The target age group is probably kids ages 8 and under; older kids will get bored after an hour or two with the one large water slide, lazy river, and zero-depth activity area.
The best part about the Spokane County aquatics facilities is the admission price. Kids 2 and under are free, ages 3-5 are $2.50 and 6+ is only $5! That’s what I call a budget-savvy activity for kids in Spokane.
Things to Do in Spokane with Kids | Snow Sports
After all the talk about water parks in the summer, it’s time to discuss all the snow activities available during the long winter months in Spokane.
Skiing
Spokane is rich in ski mountains; we have four that can be visited as day trips. Mt. Spokane, 49 Degrees North, Silver Mountain and Schweitzer are all great options for taking kids skiing. Lift tickets for kids 6 and under are usually free (or $5 at 49 Degrees North) and all of the mountains offer ski lessons for kids and even “ski camp” that includes both lessons and child care (so parents can hit the slopes, then the bar!).
The closest mountain is Mt. Spokane, which is about a 30-minute drive from downtown. It’s also one of the most affordable options for lift tickets and lessons. Our older boys actually learned how to ski through lessons at Mt. Spokane and I highly recommend their children programs!
Snow tubing
With the exception of 49 Degrees North, all of the ski mountains I mentioned above offer snow tubing as an alternative for families who do not want to ski. Tubing is fun for all ages and is a great excuse to go play in the snow!
My favorite snow tubing in Spokane is not affiliated with any of the ski resorts. It’s the locally-owned Bear Creek Lodge, located just outside Mt. Spokane State Park. While Bear Creek Lodge is slightly old-school (check out their website to see what I mean), I can honestly say that after experiencing the snow tubing that is offered at the area ski resorts, this one is the best. As annoying as it is, it’s worth calling ahead to make a reservation because this place can get packed with locals. Admission is $17 (cash) and kids smaller than 42” are $12, but must ride with an adult.
So whether you are considering a move to Spokane (do it!), visiting family who live in the Inland Northwest, or in Spokane for one of our major events like Bloomsday, Hoopfest, or a sports tournament, there are lots of things to do with kids to keep you and your family entertained throughout your stay.
If you are coming to Spokane and are looking for any other recommendations (where to eat, where to stay, who has the best craft beer, etc.), please leave a comment below and I will get right back to you!
Cheers!
