People tend to sidestep when they see hot poop on Main Street in Anywhere, USA. However, folks from all over the world have traveled to Walla Walla just to march right through Hot Poop. Not the dog stuff but the record store… where did you really think I was going with this?
It’s fast, it’s furious but it has nothing to do with cars. Spinning wheels for sure but the only engines running at Roller Valley are powered by rage and an intense competitive spirit. After an extended time away from the oval due to Covid 19, The Lilac City Roller Derby is back in action.
Tucked in Browne’s Addition just across from Coeur D’ Alene Park sits one of Spokane’s most elaborate mansions. Built in 1897 by famous architect Kirtland Cutter for the Clark family, this mansion was built in a Moorish style and is filled with Tiffany glass and wood carved accents.
We’ve all been there. The dread, the woe and the living hell that is arguing with your partner about whether you want a leather or cloth sofa. Sure, the cloth is comfier, but the cats will have a field day scratching up the side that your guests will see most frequently. On the flip side, maybe the leather just doesn’t feel right. Regardless, if you’re me then you’re wrong and you just go with what the wife decides anyway.
Spokane has a great gardening culture. People come from all over the world to explore our award winning public gardens and they’re known as calm places of serenity. Whether it’s the manicured English style garden, a traditional Japanese garden or even a near vertical climb of a garden, Spokane has a park for everyone.
Spokane is full of oddities. When you look at our history, you might be tempted to tell Austin or Portland to take a back seat to Spokane’s own style of weird.
You might not know this, but Spokane has an epic pizza scene. If you’re a fan of a beautiful crust, savory sauces and toppings that seem to have been placed by God almighty himself then a trip to Spokane is absolutely the destination for you.
Runners can find just about any type of race to participate in these days. Whether you’re a princess on the go, a spartan looking for a conquest or you want to run 5 kilometers naked through the woods. Yup, I said it. How did this happen?
Spokane has some amazing ice cream spots. If you want some epic homemade ice cream and a trip through a nostalgic toy museum, then look no further than Doyle’s Ice Cream. It’s kind of like a twofer for the price of a single scoop. Get the waffle cone…seriously it’s worth it.
If you’re more of a soft serve fan, then it’s honestly hard to beat Dairy Queen. Sure it’s a chain but seeing that there’s a constant line around the building, I don’t think Spokanites mind so much.
However, if you’re looking for a unique experience AND the best dang frozen treat this side of the Magic Kingdom… yeah that one. Seriously… then look no Further than Dick’s! Again, seriously. I know it sounds weird, Dick’s is the place for a great burger and the best people watching in Spokane. Never would I have considered getting an ice cream cone there. These days, I make special trips just for the golden frozen delicacy that is Pineapple Dole Whip.
I’m not alone. Upon my last visit, I extolled the virtues of this pineapple flavored soft serve with another customer, and he said that he had made a special trip just for the treat. So did I. Dole Whip even has a massive cult-like following. So much so that you can literally express your love of the whip in an official shirt sleeve. I wear an XL by the way. For a true fan, a special trip isn’t really that big of a chore.
Pineapple Dole Whip gained its fame on the Disney properties. Of course, in the Polynesian resort as well as inside the parks. A pineapple Dole Whip was always a highlight of the trip. I’d wait 45 minutes in line just to get a taste. I was never alone; many-a-fan of the “whip” would make a pilgrimage to the Enchanted Tiki Room just to get soft served. While there are several flavors of Dole Whip, pineapple is the only one that matters.
Imagine my surprise when I went to get my Whammy, no onions, fries and soda only to see the Dole Whip sign. I was shocked. Never before have I gotten away with buying the whip without paying an admission fee and seeing families in matching t-shirts. At Dick’s it just cost me $2.15 for a large cone and instead of people wearing matching shirts, apparently they never bothered to put up the no shirts no service sign at the home of the Whammy.
Are you vegan? Lactose intolerant? No worries. Pineapple dole whip is vegan and Dairy free. Despite that, it’s also amazing.
Now here comes the bad news. Even with the large volume of cones flowing through the order window, the end is nigh. Unfortunately, Dick’s only carries the whip seasonally. With the summer coming to an end, you only have a few weeks left. The manager told me that they would most likely quit selling Dole Whip at the end of August. Until next year that is. I guess that’s the silver lining of this golden treat.
So quick, get to Dick’s and get that soft serve. It’ll melt in the heat so EAT! EAT! EAT!
Summers in Spokane are tough to beat. The long days during the summer provide an excellent way to enjoy this city in many ways. If you’re a golfer, you can enjoy one of the four nationally recognized municipal courses.