Atlas Boiler & Equipment Co

Basketball lovers in Spokane (and from around the world) hoop it up every last weekend in June for Hoopfest. This fun and highly anticipated festival was established in 1989 and is the largest 3-on-3 basketball tournament in the world. Participants can range from everyone from kids to NBA players. The event attracts more than 40,000 people every year.

One of the most popular tours in Spokane is a walking tour known as Sculpture Walk. Begin by stopping in to the Visitor Center at 201 W Main to get your map. The Sculpture Walk winds through Riverfront Park and moves along the Centennial Trail. The original starting point is Washington State University's downtown campus and extends out to the southeast corner of the Monroe Bridge. See some truly intricate sculptures along the way, while getting some good exercise in the process.

The Spokane River offers plenty of water sports and recreation activities, but one favorite is river rafting. The water's intensity varies with the time of year, as during the cooler months the conditions are more amenable for whitewater rafting and in the summer, when the river's volume is low, you can choose to float which is less intense but still quite enjoyable.

Sometimes, the two of you can enjoy some quality time just by making a quick escape to a romantic place that offers something truly special for you to focus on. One such place is the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture. Considered to be one of the most impressive cultural institutions in the Pacific Northwest, this is anything but your average museum. On your date, you can casually stroll through the five galleries to take in the famously eclectic works and exhibits. The building itself is a work of art, as it features impeccable landscaping, an outdoor amphitheater, a museum store, and a great cafe where you both can get a cup of coffee and talk about the many artistic high points of your time together.