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! 

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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

[rachelorston]

These are fantastic recommendations @valentinesking !  Thanks for taking the time to share and I look forward to seeing you in July! 

[BethCrook]

And if you are traveling on your own or open to having others join you, use the tag #SoloPandas to find others join along! I've met some of my favorite Community members now friends through SoloPandas! 

[ljones13]

Thanks this is helpful!! What I also wanted to find out..what is the dress code like for the conference days?  Slacks, jeans what?  Also for the evening party is it dress up?  Would love to know what to pack. Thanks in advance

[valentinesking]

Howdy @ljones13 

Great questions. Comfy shoes, you'll be doing a lot of walking. Often a jacket/cardigan is helpful in conference sessions because you never know, if you'll need it. 

You can definitely dress up for the party if you want! Some other folks dress up in theme costume for the party (I guess Yeti, Swamp Thing, Ghost, Wizard, Witch, Royalty, anything of Lore?). It's a fun conference.

For early risers, don't forget there's a 5k Walk/Run on Wed and Yoga on Thursday - so that might mean some workout clothes.

Here's the most important thing to make sure you bring - just you (there are other things that might be helpful, too and we'll probably have a last minute packing blog post closer to INSTcon25)! What I mean, is you can come as you are- how you feel most comfortable representing yourself and your institution.

Hopefully that helps.

Val

[DiannaDK]

What a great list, Val!  I am looking forward to visiting somewhere new.  We fly in on Sunday, the 20th and out the following Sunday, so we have some extra time to explore and enjoy.  I'm looking forward to connecting with others in The Lilac City!