Spokane, WA

For years, Spokane has boasted the tagline “Near Nature, Near Perfect.” It’s true, there are hundreds of outdoor activities available within less than 50 miles of city limits. Water sports and sailing on dozens of lakes and rivers, premier skiing, hiking, and camping. It’s an outdoor paradise.

Here at downtown Spokane we’d like to take it a step further, we’re not only near nature, we’re sitting right smack dab in the heart of it. Just as much as downtown boasts a vibrant nightlife, growing national and local retail, fantastic tasting rooms, and world class dining, downtown also offers a wide variety of options to get out and explore nature in an urban setting.

Dance

If Gene Kelly can dance his way home in the rain, then we hope that downtown will dance its way into your heart. All summer long, grab your dancing shoes and a partner for free Community Swing on Sunday afternoons at the Tribal Gathering Place, noon to 2pm. isn’t that just the cat’s meow?

Yoga

New this summer to the tribal gathering Place at City Hall, you can now do your sun salutation while overlooking the nation’s largest urban waterfall. Presented by The Union Yoga Studio and Downtown Spokane on Wednesday evenings, with help from Lulu Lemon. Grab a mat and head on down for this free relaxation experience.

Run

Odds are you can probably find a running club to join in Spokane, weather you’re Irish at heart or a techie there’s a place for you. If you’re training for Bloomsday or one of the many annual races and marathons that wind their way into downtown each year.

Bike

Stretching from Nine Mile Falls to the Idaho border the Centennial Trail offers fantastic views and a bike path accessible to any level of bike rider. Bordering the Spokane River and running through Riverfront Park, the trail is a great destination for tourists to rent a bike for the day and explore. For locals, the addition of bike lanes to, and through, downtown increase safety for the bike commuter, while reducing the hassle of finding parking.

Paddle

Last September, Spokane Parks and Rec added a new boat launch on the north side of the Spokane Convention Center underneath the Division Street Bridge. Launch a canoe or paddle board and explore a new view of downtown. This summer, Fun Unlimited of Post Falls is offering paddle board rentals during good weather. So next time someone tells you to “go jump in the river,” it’s probably intended for a good time.