Spokane, Washington: A Hidden Gem for Your Travel List ❄️

It’s been so long since I last saw snow – and I’m absolutely thrilled! ❄️✨ ▪️ Spokane Falls Skyride 🚡 A short but sweet cable car ride (about 100 meters) that takes you from above the falls to below. The waterfall may be small, but it’s fed by an upstream reservoir. Nearby, there’s an ice-skating rink filled with kids having a blast, plus a charming indoor carousel housed in a glass pavilion. ▪️ Spokane Nishinomiya Garden 🏯 This Japanese garden looks expansive on the map, but it’s only open from April to October. Though I couldn’t go inside, I snapped a few photos through the gates – and the snow made everything look magical! ❄️📸 ▪️ Blue Zoo 🐠 A small, interactive aquarium located inside a shopping mall. You can feed cownose rays, stingrays, and even blacktip sharks! The rays were especially adorable – they’d swim right up to your hand to be petted. There’s also a large budgie room where dozens of colorful parakeets may try to nibble on your shoes – so fun! ▪️ Cat Tales Wildlife Center 🐅 A conservation-focused zoo that primarily breeds tigers. They have about 10 tigers of different species – some born here, others rescued. Unlike other zoos, the bobcats and pumas here aren’t shy – you can even join a feeding tour! The keeper provides meat or feed, and the animals are incredibly well-cared for: clean, fluffy, and full of personality. ▪️ Mount Spokane State Park 🏔️ Unfortunately, it was temporarily closed due to heavy snow. We drove up as far as possible but found foggy views and ice-covered roads. Lots of people were snowshoeing at mid-elevation, though the ski resort hadn’t opened yet. I’ve seen photos – the views from the top are supposed to be incredible! We also visited Gonzaga University – home to a beautiful chapel ⛪ – and strolled near the Spokane Arena, where several bridges and a clock tower make for great photos 📸. Food Highlights 🍽️ ▪️ Frank’s Diner (Yelp: 1271 reviews, 4.5⭐) Housed in a train car operating since 1902! I expected typical American diner food, but it was surprisingly delicious. The deviled eggs were a standout, and the root beer float was bottomless! Portions are huge – I couldn’t finish half of my meal. ▪️ Sushi.com (Yelp: 492 reviews, 4.0⭐) Incredibly fresh sashimi – no fishy taste, just sweetness. I usually only eat salmon, but here I loved every type! The ramen, however, was just okay. ▪️ Texas Roadhouse So flavorful, so generous, so good! 🥩 #Spokane #WashingtonState #SeattleDayTrip #Travel #HiddenGems