Padding Your INSTcon25 trip to Spokane, WA: Things to Do, See & Eat

[valentinesking]

 

 

Planning (more fun into) Your INSTcon25 Trip

As we near the end of early bird registration, I'm sharing a few activities in or near Spokane, WA aka "The Lilac City" - host city of InstructureCon 2025 (basic agenda). You might be thinking of adding a few days before the conference or afterwards to round out your trip, like I am. I go by Valentine or Val King and I love getting to know the local culture of a place when I travel. I've been a Canvas user for over 8 years & attended several INSTcons. Best time of the year. I'm looking forward to meeting up with other attendees and falling in love with Spokane!

Just don't forget there are Pre-Conference Sessions (Tue. 7/22 from 8:00am-4:30pm PT), the INSTcon25 main conference event, and then the free Unconference sessions (Fri. 7/25 8:30am-1:30pm PT). for your participation consideration!

Spokane Local Attractions

• Auntie's Bookstore (indie bookstore)
• Jundt Art Museum (Gonzaga University)
• Knit Like Granny (for emergency yarn)
• Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture (aka MAC)
• Riverfront Park (includes so much like the Looff Carrousel, Public Art Sculptures, SkyRide, Havermale Island w/the Pavilion & more!)
• Uncles Games Puzzles & More (for game night supplies?)

Live Spokane Events

• Fri. JUL 18 - Storytime at the Carrousel (Family Event)
• Fri. JUL 18 - Macy Gray (Live Music)
• Fri./Sat. - Drag (nYne Bar & Bistro & Globe Bar & Bistro)
• Sat. JUL 19 - Cody Jinks w/Tanner Usrey (Live Music)
• Sun. JUL 20 - Soul Proprietor (Live Music)
• Tue. JUL 22 - Dropkick Murphys (Live Music)
• Thu. JUL 24 - James Berkley (Live Music)
• Sat. JUL 26 - Spokane Velocity FC vs. Sacramento Republic FC (Footie/Soccer)
• Sat. JUL 26 - Brit Floyd (Music & Light Show)

Eat Your Way Through Spokane

Legit, I could include a few selections here... but there are so many quality choices!

• Coffee: Atticus Coffee & Gifts or First Avenue Coffee
• Diner: Knight's Diner (it's a railcar) 
• Brunch: Bruncheonette's 
• Fries w/Tartar: Zips Drive-in
• Tacos: Chochinitos
• Misc: Indigenous Eats
• Pizza: Market Street Pizza
• Dessert: search for anything Huckleberry

Check out these additional ideas and resources from Visit Spokane, National Geographic on Spokane (2024), and Atlas Obscura Spokane! 

---

Have you visited Spokane before or are a local? Share your must-go-tos and must-dos!

Val King, the ID
Sr. Instructional Design Project Leader
The Wharton School at UPenn