Rainy Day Adventures in Spokane
Fall and winter can be tough in Spokane. First there’s rain. Then comes frigid temperatures. And then, of course, snow and ice. A great combination if you don’t have kids and want to curl up under a blanket and read a book. But terrible when you have a toddler that’s hitting the front door, demanding to be taken outside.
What’s a family to do?
In Spokane — there’s plenty. Here’s a roundup of a few of our favorite places to hit up when the weather takes a turn for the worst and you’re tired of being cooped up inside.
This is the perfect space to let your little one take the lead. They can explore without fear. They can get their hands wet/dirty. They can be silly. Or serious. Best of all, they can have fun.
Our little one LOVES the water table and watching bigger kids blow bubbles. As parents, we like the toddler area. We can sit back and watch her discover new things, make friends and not hurt herself. The area is designed for little ones under 3-years-old. It is enclosed, which means you don’t have to worry about your little one making a mad dash to a new area. Really, there’s just a bunch of toys, a cushiony ground, a few other cushiony things to climb on and a rice table.
Be warned, it can get loud in here. But if you have a little one, you are probably really good at blocking out noise. I never thought I would be — yet, here we are. It can also get really busy when the weather is especially bad. All in all, just be ready for a little chaos.
The Details
Location: Lower Level of River Park Square
808 W Main Ave, Spokane, WA 99201
Under 12 Months: Free
Child: $8
Adult: $8
OR become a member for $125 and two adults in the same house and four children can get in at no cost. We have this option and LOVE it.
We have a lot of libraries in Spokane. And our city passed new funding recently, which means our libraries are proving more services and getting some upgrades. Wahoo!
If you haven’t been to a library lately — go! First, they usually have a bunch of weird, eclectic toys for kids to play with. We played with big cardboard blocks the last time we were there. Evie also loved a bin that was filled with dinosaurs.
There are also, of course, books! We camped out on a cozy couch and read and read and read. I let Evie pick them out and we had a blast.
Libraries usually have a story time, too. We haven’t made it to one yet. But I hear they are fun. A calendar can be found at https://www.spokanelibrary.org/calendar/.
The Details
Location: Everywhere
Hours: Vary — look them up before you head out
Cost: FREE!
This place has won my heart for so many reasons. The staff is very helpful and friendly. The facility itself always seems cleans (no weird gym smells). And you don’t have to be locked into a structured class.
We have really enjoyed the Friday night open gym. From 7pm-9pm, the toddler room is open and you can play on their equipment, jump on the trampoline or dive into the block pit. At 1 ½, Evie’s not ready to be in a class, so this option is perfect. I let her decide where she wants to play and she explores every inch of the room.
Have I mentioned how much I like the staff? Not only are they knowledgeable and welcoming — but they keep a watchful eye on the toddler room. For example, Evie was very tentatively trying out the trampoline. A bigger kid kept bouncing very close to Evie, trying to make her fall down. Before I even had a chance to ask them to be careful around littler kids, a staff person had already redirected the bouncy little kid.
The Details
Location: 2515 N. Locust Road
Spokane Valley, WA 99206
Indoor Playground Hours: Noon – 1pm on Mondays – Fridays
Indoor Playground Cost: $5 for members and $7 for non-members
Open Gym Hours: 7pm – 9pm on Fridays
Open Gym Cost: $10 for members and $12 for non-members
Trampoline parks tend to polarize people. You either love them or you hate them. Truthfully, I was very hesitant about letting Evie go. But — she LOVES it.
The toddler time is specifically designed for little ones. There aren’t big kids bouncing them off of the trampoline. It’s mostly toddlers running and falling down. Sometimes screaming with excitement.
The Details
Location: 4750 N Division St
Spokane, WA 99207
Hours: Toddler Time on Tuesday and Thursday from 10am-noon
Cost: $6 and one parent can jump for free
http://getairspokane.com/events
Indoor Play Structure are Northtown Mall
Sometimes you just need to get out of the house. The indoor play structure at Northtown Mall is a good option. There are slides and other little things to climb on and the floor is nice and cushiony.
This is a fun option when you don’t necessarily want to put a lot of effort into planning the day. Think of it like going to the park. That being said, you should note that while the structure is designed for little kids and there are height restrictions, there is no one enforcing it. Big kids will sometimes come in and play tag or be rough. So, you need to keep a watchful eye on what’s happening.
It can also get very busy on really crummy days. If we head over and notice that it’s looking like an ant hill, we just walk around the mall instead. Evie’s at an age where this is equally exciting.
The Details
Location: 4750 N Division St
Spokane, WA 99207
Hours: Same as the mall
Cost: FREE!
Bonus – Kid Friendly Cafes
These are a couple of cafes that we frequent. They have little toys/a play-ish area for kids and don’t seem to mind a little extra noise.
9910 N Waikiki Rd, Spokane, WA 99218
2901 W Northwest Blvd, Spokane, WA 99205
Do you have a favorite spot to hit up when the weather turns sour? Let us know in the comments.
