Riverfront Park

Riverfront Park is the beating heart of Spokane and the best single answer to the question of what to do first. It sits on the islands and banks where the Spokane River tumbles over its falls right in the middle of downtown, and it was reshaped for the 1974 World's Fair, Expo 74, which is why the skyline here carries a few unmistakable relics: the red brick Clocktower that once belonged to a railway depot, the white tent-like roof of the Pavilion, and the old Washington State Pavilion building that now hosts concerts and shows. What visitors remember is how much water there is. Paths and footbridges cross the river at several points, and from the Lower Falls and Upper Falls viewpoints you can feel the spray on a spring morning when the snowmelt is running hard. The park rewards a slow lap. Start at the Looff Carrousel, a hand-carved merry-go-round more than a century old that still turns on a vintage horse-and-chariot ring and is the park's signature family stop. Nearby you will find the giant Radio Flyer red wagon slide, a quirky favorite with children, and the Garbage Goat, a sculpture that has become a local mascot. A gondola, the SkyRide, carries passengers out above the gorge for a view straight down onto the falls, and in winter a covered ice skating loop opens for the cold months. Because the park is open to walk through at no cost, you can pay only for the rides you actually want and still have a full, satisfying afternoon.

Think of Riverfront Park as three experiences in one. The first is the scenic walk: a flat, paved loop of a mile or two that crosses the river on the Monroe Street Bridge side, rounds the islands, and passes public art and water features. The second is the amusement side, where the carousel, the gondola and the winter ice skating are the paid extras that most families want.

The third is the event calendar. The Pavilion area and the open lawns host festivals, concerts and the big annual civic gatherings, so a quick look at the schedule before you arrive can add a show to the day or warn you about a crowd.

Practical planning is easy. The park is right on the edge of downtown, so you can walk from most hotels and many restaurants, and the Centennial Trail begins nearby if you want a longer stroll or a bike ride. Come in the morning for quieter paths and softer light on the falls, or in the early evening when locals jog and families gather. In peak spring runoff the river is dramatic; by late summer the falls are gentler and the lawns are busy with picnics.

Dress for wind near the gorge, bring a layer for the gondola, and wear shoes you can walk in. Pair the park with a bite at a downtown cafe, the Northwest Museum, or the Spokane Falls walk for a full first day. Most visitors say the best surprise is how much of this vivid green space is simply free.

A few insider habits help. Walk the loop clockwise on a first visit so the falls arrive as a payoff rather than a starting point, and stop on the footbridges rather than only at the rails. If you are traveling with children, let them choose the order of rides, since the carousel line grows after lunch.

If you are visiting in the colder months, bring gloves for the gondola and check whether the ice loop has opened for the season. Food trucks and vendors appear on busy days, and downtown restaurants are a short walk in any direction, so you never need to plan a picnic unless you want one.