Three Weeks in Spokane, Washington: RV Repairs, Wrestling & Exploring the Inland Northwest

Our three weeks in Spokane, Washington, looked a little different from most of our stops.

We didn’t necessarily choose Spokane as a destination. Our RV needed some major warranty work that required us to take it to Blue Compass in Post Falls, Idaho, and we had to hand over our home on wheels for three full weeks in June, 2026.

That meant packing up most of our belongings and moving into an Airbnb in Spokane.

It was stressful, to say the least.

We have lived full-time in our RV since April 2024, and this was the first time since moving in that we had been out of it for an extended period. Moving five people (+a dog and cat) —and all the things we needed for three weeks—out of the RV and into a house was an experience in itself.

We rented an older home in the Spokane area, and although the transition was a little chaotic, we ended up really enjoying our stay. The owners were kind and handled any issues we had promptly. The neighborhood had beautiful older homes, established landscaping, and a really unique feel. We had access to walking and biking trails, along with local coffee shops and natural food stores, and the area felt fairly walkable.

We did notice that some areas farther north felt a little more rundown and had a more visible homeless population, but overall, the area where we stayed had a really cool vibe.

We didn’t spend our three weeks checking off every tourist attraction in Spokane. Honestly, we spent a huge portion of our time wrestling. The kids trained at two different wrestling clubs and attended two separate wrestling camps while we were there.

But between practices and camps, we did manage to explore a few places in Spokane and nearby Coeur d’Alene.

Hiking Tubbs Hill in Coeur d’Alene

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/idaho/tubbs-hill

One of our favorite days was spent exploring Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

We started near the downtown park area, where there was plenty of parking, big open grassy spaces, bathrooms, a restaurant, and a large playground. We paid to park and headed toward the Tubbs Hill trail, which begins just beyond the park and was easy to find.

The hike was about two miles and absolutely beautiful.

The trail wraps around a small peninsula along Lake Coeur d’Alene, giving you gorgeous lake views for much of the hike. All three of our kids handled it easily, and we brought Willie along with us, who also loved it.

I wouldn’t consider the trail accessible, but it wasn’t particularly difficult either. It was mostly an easy hike with some uneven terrain. In several places, you could leave the main trail and make your way down toward the water, which the kids thought was really cool.

For much of the hike, you’re higher up along the hillside with views looking out over the lake. The scenery alone made this trail worth doing.

The trail was fairly busy when we visited, but it never felt unbearably crowded. There was also a suspension bridge along our route that the kids had a lot of fun crossing.

After finishing the hike, we headed back to the playground. It was packed with families enjoying the warm weather, and there was also a splash pad. Between the playground, biking and walking paths, downtown, and the lake, the entire area felt very family-friendly.

If you’re visiting Coeur d’Alene with kids, I think Tubbs Hill paired with some time at the park is an easy way to spend a really enjoyable day.

Exploring Riverfront Park in Downtown Spokane

Another highlight was exploring Riverfront Park in downtown Spokane.

One of the most unique things about Spokane is having such a beautiful river and waterfalls running right through the middle of downtown. You can walk across several bridges to see the Spokane Falls from different viewpoints, and we spent a lot of time just walking around, taking photos, and enjoying the area.

The falls were roaring when we visited, which made them even more impressive.

There are also some really large playgrounds in the downtown riverfront area. They were absolutely packed when we visited, but our kids didn’t seem to mind one bit.

The entire area was busy, which is to be expected for a downtown park on a beautiful day, but it was still enjoyable to explore. We brought Willie with us and found the area to be very dog-friendly. We saw plenty of other people walking their dogs as well.

The weather was beautiful, the kids played, we took a ton of photos, and overall, we had a great time exploring this part of Spokane.

The falls were probably my favorite feature. There aren’t many cities where you can walk through the middle of downtown and have something like that right there.

Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live for Father’s Day

For Father’s Day, we did something completely different and took the kids to the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow-N-Fire show.

This ended up being such a fun family experience.

I would say the show is primarily geared toward younger children, but even our older girls thought it was pretty cool. We did the early meet and greet experience, which was one of the highlights because the kids were able to get up close to the monster trucks and meet some of the drivers.

We also happened to get picked for a special behind-the-scenes VIP tour. We were able to check out one of the newer trucks, hear firsthand from some of the drivers, and meet one of the motocross performers—which was especially exciting for Forest.

During the actual show, the monster trucks competed in different events, doing jumps, wheelies, donuts, and other tricks.

But I think the motocross riders may have stolen the show for our kids.

During intermission, they came out and performed huge jumps and tricks, including front flips and backflips. The kids thought that was probably the coolest part of the entire event.

The promoters did a great job keeping the energy high and making the experience exciting for the kids. There was plenty going on throughout the show, and they really worked to keep the crowd engaged.

For families with younger kids—especially kids who love monster trucks, dirt bikes, or anything with an engine—I think it makes for a really fun experience.

Our Three Weeks in Spokane

Spokane wasn’t a typical stop for us.

We arrived because our RV needed major warranty repairs, moved our family into a house for the first time since we started full-time RV living in April 2024, and spent a huge portion of our visit driving back and forth to wrestling practices and camps.

In some ways, it felt less like a vacation and more like temporarily living in Spokane.

But that also gave us a different perspective on the area. We got to experience the neighborhoods, find our regular stores and coffee shops, spend time in the local community, and settle into a routine that we don’t normally have when we’re passing through somewhere for a week.

We definitely didn’t see everything Spokane and the surrounding area have to offer, so I wouldn’t consider this a complete guide to the city. But we enjoyed the things we did get to experience. Riverfront Park and Spokane Falls were absolutely worth seeing, and I loved how such a beautiful natural feature was right in the middle of downtown. Our day in Coeur d’Alene and hiking Tubbs Hill was probably my favorite day of exploring, and the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks show made for a really fun Father’s Day experience with the kids.