Spokane, WA

This past week we were looking for a way to beat the heat. We had heard about the Northside Aquatics Center sponsored by the Spokane County Parks & Recreation Department, but had yet to visit it, so off to the north part of Spokane County we went. The Northside Aquatics Center is located at 18120 N. Hatch Rd.

A couple weeks ago, I got the urge to play some really nice guitars, and check into a trade in for my Guild electric acoustic that just doesn’t have the same ring that it used to. So I headed over to Replay Music at 1927 W Northwest Boulevard. I’ve been there a few times, and the owner Len Volpe has always greeted me with a smile and great service. He’s given me a great deal on a hard case before, and thrown in some picks for free. He’s a knowledgeable professional about all kinds of music, but on that day, I found out he’s a great guitarist as well.

Not having very much and trying to save our money for an upcoming weekend getaway we decided to head to Five Mile Pizza for a beer and pizza date night. Five Mile Pizza is located at 6409 N. Maple Street across from the Five Mile Shopping Center. Their phone number is 328-4764

Five Mile Pizza is not only a great place to take your date, it is also very family friendly. When you walk in can place your food order and then take a seat and wait for you number to be called. We decided to order individual calzones.

We took our cold drinks and limped sorely to the car, and drove west to High Drive. Along the drive there is ample parking on the west side of the road. We parked the car and limped our way down to the trail just over the hillside. We never got very far, but we had already done our exercise for the day. We were happy just to watch those who were jogging and walking their dogs, and wander around the trail, taking in the breathtaking view of a misty Latah Valley. The surrounding hills were beginning to swallow the valley in shadows, darkening the hues of green. The friends from out of town were impressed with the view, made perfect by a train gracefully making its way across the valley. We watched golfers enjoying the end of their round at Qualchan Golf Course below.

Highbridge Park is a great little secret nestled just west of Browne’s Addition, underneath the high train bridges (hence the name). The course is quite challenging and fun, and includes some great hiking. It isn’t the most well-marked progression of holes, so if you want to play disc golf, go with someone who knows the trail, or just show up and you’re sure to find some friendly disc golfers who will show you the way, or even let you join their group. Also, Highbridge Park doesn’t have the best reputation for safety after dark, so go in groups and keep it confined to daytime. Other than that, this place is a gem for disc golfers, picnickers, and families looking to enjoy a great summer day near downtown Spokane.

However, last week I was visiting A Stamp For All at 2929 N. Monroe, Spokane Washington and saw that they were hosting a scrapbooking crop on Friday night. I have never been to a crop, but for $15 I was excited to attend my first crop.

It was a weekday evening and my husband and I wanted to go get some dinner that wasn’t the same old fast food joint. A friend at work had told me about this sushi restaurant she had gotten a to-go order from a few days before. She raved about the food so we decided to try it out. The restaurant is on the South Hill (57th & Regal) and it is called Okane on the Hill.

I am a huge fan of garage and yard sales and one of the things we did this Spring in April 26th and 27th was attend the Camelot Community Garage sale held once a year. The first day I forgot my camera but my daughter and I who was expecting her sixth baby and over due went back the next day and hit some of the sales we had missed on the first day. The first day cars were lined up along highway 2 and people were pulling wagons, pushing strollers and walking from one sale to the next.

Holmberg Park located at 9615 N. Wall Street just a few blocks north of Wall and Country Holmes, has so much to do I decided to venture to the game.

We did well watching softball for about 30 minutes. After that we were off and running. It was a good thing there was a play structure, swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball courts and lots of open green grass. We first made a beeline for the toys, which were fun if mom played too. The toy structure is definitely geared for older kids, but with a little help from mom we were able to go down the slides and climb the ladders.

Downriver Disc Golf course, like other local courses, is maintained with the support of the Spokane Disc Golf Association, a great bunch of people who like to have fun, walk in the forest, and can really throw these tiny discs a long way, with precision. If you play at Downriver, make sure the only thing you leave behind is the occasional disc you accidentally lose into the water—keep our courses free of litter. Now, get out there, and let those discs fly!