The Joy of Running Together, Spokane

If you’re lucky enough to be in downtown Spokane, Washington, (to paraphrase an old saying), then you’re lucky enough.  And indeed you are.  Because if you have kids in tow, there’s more than enough to see and do — all in Riverfront Park downtown.

1.  Slide down the Red Wagon.

Who wouldn’t want to climb this 27-foot tall Radio Flyer and slide down the handle? Kids love it, but some grown-ups have been known to take the challenge, too! Designed by Ken Spiering, this Radio Flyer wagon is nine times the size of the original little one you may have owned as a kid — and way more fun.

   2.  Feed the ducks.

When you’ve had enough of the Red Wagon, go to water’s edge to feed the ducks.  Don’t be surprised if they come “atcha” all at once.  Ducks love food from kids and adults , and some of us love “honkin” back at those quackers! Be sure to take a look at the sculpture across the way and admire the bridge.  It’s just part of the prettiness of Riverfront Park.

3.  Ride the Looff Carousel.

In operation since 1909, the Looff Carousel has offered adults and kids the opportunity to ride colorfully painted horses, fierce tigers, and proud lions (oh, my), while a recording of the original Ruth & Sohn Band Organ plays in the background.  If you’re a teen or adult with long arms, try reaching out to grab the gold ring as you go by.  And maybe you’ll win a prize for that little one who wanted to ride this thing in the first place!

4.  Take pictures in City Hall Plaza

OK.  So your kid looks great today.  Having fun.  Happy and contented after a ride on the Carousel.  So what could be a better time than now to snap pics on the steps of City Hall Plaza?  Nice background, pretty flowers, lovely setting — don’t you agree?

5.  Stare at the falls.  (Or be daring — ride a gondola!)

Keep walking down the steps to Huntington Park where staring at the falls is all you’ll want to do.  Get close but not too close that the spray messes with your camera lens.  If you’ve got audio to put with your video, turn it on.  You don’t want to miss the roar of the falls and the joy of being right there with the action.  Or, if you dare, take a Gondola Ride lasting about 15 minutes for only seven bucks or so.  It’s a thrill your kids will write about in their back-to-school essay, “What I Did Last Summer” — for real!!

6.  Act like a kid in The Joy of Running Together

If you come back up through City Hall Plaza and look right, you just might see The Joy of Running Together, a sculpture of 40 life-size runners by David Govedare commemorating the annual Spokane Bloomsday Run.  (Click here for a previous post.) And if you look closely, you’ll see a kid or two lining up among the runners in imitation of their swing-arm, foot-raising action.  Oh, wait a minute.  Is that an adult doing that, too?  Wait another minute.  I want in.

An adult mimics the form of The Joy of Running Together

7.  Get wet in the Riverfront Park Rotary Fountain!

If you’ve waited this long to get wet, you may have waited too long.  No matter how hard you try to resist, you just may have to let your kids go.  Didn’t bring a towel you say?  Well, save this treat for last and just let ‘em run dripping to the car.   Kids of all ages love toe-dipping, arm-waving, and full-fledged, body-soaking action in the Rotary Fountain!

Have fun in Spokane — either with kids or as a kid yourself.  What a great place to visit! For more information: Visit Spokane: http://www.visitspokane.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/visitspokane For more on our travels through Idaho and Washington, click on the Inland Northwest page at the top of this blog.  Thanks!

A John Deere tractor waits for a run in Green Bluff, Washington

Green Bluff‘s roads loop around apple orchards and farms offering spectacular views of the fresh greens of spring and glorious cloud-dotted sky.  But you can also see the metal that makes it all run smoothly in the form of tractors, wagons, plows and so forth.

Even old farm implements whose productive farm time has ended are pressed into service as holders of colorful spring annuals.

Old farm implement planted with flowers

And at stop #6 — Harvest House & Orchard — several metal snare drums hold mixed arrangements ready to greet summer visitors.

Blue metal snare drum repurposed as flower pot at Harvest House

Our favorite metal, though, just might be this doughnut machine that Todd, the owner of Harvest House,cranked up just for us early-morning seekers of something sweet to go with our coffee.  That little metal machine spit out fresh, hot doughnuts  ready for the the cinnamon sugar cycle and our welcoming hands!

Ah, yes.  A porch-rocker morning on Green Bluff sipping coffee and downing a doughnut!

For more examples of the Travel theme: Metal challenge from Ailsa’s Where’s My Backpack blog, click here.

To learn more about Green Bluff — the growers and events — click here.

Interested in the places we’ve seen in the Inland Northwest?  Take a look at the page Inland Northwest at the top of this blog for more stories and photos.

New cable supporting the Spokane Falls Skyride is probably better constructed with stronger, more durable twisted wire, insulation, and sturdy sheathing.  Let’s hope so.  After all, that’s the last thing you want to worry about while enjoying an exhilarating ride across the falls!

For more interpretations of the word twist,  click here.

out a mound of hashbrowns on the griddle.” src=”http://ohtheplaceswesee.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/img_1287.jpg?w=375″ width=”375″ height=”500″ /> A cook at Frank’s spreads
out a mound of hashbrowns on the griddle.

Frank’s Diner” src=”http://ohtheplaceswesee.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/img_1297.jpg?w=500″ width=”500″ height=”375″ /> Corned Beef Hash and Eggs,
Frank’s Diner

Omelette with a side of hashbrowns” src=”http://ohtheplaceswesee.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/img_1296.jpg?w=500″ width=”500″ height=”375″ /> Meat & Cheese
Omelette with a side of hashbrowns

Frank’s gives you a front row seat for the cooking frenzy.” src=”http://ohtheplaceswesee.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/img_1284.jpg?w=375″ width=”375″ height=”500″ /> Eating at the counter at
Frank’s gives you a front row seat for the cooking
frenzy.

orders at Frank’s.” src=”http://ohtheplaceswesee.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/img_1298.jpg?w=375″ width=”375″ height=”500″ /> A waitress takes breakfast
orders at Frank’s.

waitresses never missed a beat.” src=”http://ohtheplaceswesee.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/img_1288.jpg?w=375″ width=”375″ height=”500″ /> Friendly, organized
waitresses never missed a beat.

Great #hashbrowns at
Frank’s Diner.  You betcha!

Frank’s
Diner

1516 West 2nd Avenue Spokane, WA 509-747-8798
http://franksdiner.com
“Voted Best Breakfast 14 Years
Running!” And where have you eaten great hashbrowns?
 Would love to hear from you.  Just leave us a comment at
the end of this post. For more posts on our trip to Idaho,
Washington, and Montana, click on the page labeled Inland
Northwest located at the top of this
post.