Roll Through Summer In Spokane
When it comes to finding entertaining things to do this summer, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. The good news is they already invented that, either in 3,500 B.C. in Mesopotamia or by the 4th century B.C. in Greece, depending on whether you include pottery wheels in that definition. We’re feeling generous, so we’ll award it to the Mesopotamians. Celebrate wheels this summer — from the ones on the bus that go ’round and round, to the one in the sky that keeps on turning — by taking part in all sorts of wheeled activities, from bikes to cars to electric scooters.
Downtown Spokane's Spinner Wheel is Back in Action
The downtown spinner wheel was a bit depressing during the pandemic, what with so many proposed activities shut down. But lockdowns and public spacing rules seem a distant memory now — at least at the time of publication. Solve your indecision by grabbing hold of the spinner on the wall at Wall Street near Riverfront Park and giving it a whirl. Maybe you’ll land on “Ride the Skyride in Riverfront Park” or “Feed the Garbage Goat at Riverfront Park” or “Explore Mobius Discovery Center.” Fortunately, no matter how lucky you get spinning this wheel, there’s no “bankrupt” wedge. Nobody wants a repeat of the 2008 Wall Street debacle.
![](https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/inlander-blog-content/INL_RiverfrontPark082219_MG_0224A.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=d0105f7f6217881246f5c26e92b084ba 320w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/inlander-blog-content/INL_RiverfrontPark082219_MG_0224A.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=2aa00219247b7f2b1b9e9ad86c489239 540w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/inlander-blog-content/INL_RiverfrontPark082219_MG_0224A.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=5c06e642fcd655232b9108db643bac0a 768w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/inlander-blog-content/INL_RiverfrontPark082219_MG_0224A.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=4b3f9cb8cd1da444028f1599b0029a14 1024w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/inlander-blog-content/INL_RiverfrontPark082219_MG_0224A.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=346f3cf6e9742eee106c6adc290e90ef 1200w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/inlander-blog-content/INL_RiverfrontPark082219_MG_0224A.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=81d0636bba5ee42c5951f46953d0db0f 1440w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/inlander-blog-content/INL_RiverfrontPark082219_MG_0224A.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=6c84c80c1ece48179b1753b90a94ee69 1920w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/inlander-blog-content/INL_RiverfrontPark082219_MG_0224A.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=10e8a1da40364de09fe45729cfd26bd4 2000w)
Scooter Through Spokane
Years later, our community is still filled with the detritus of the early days of the pandemic, when the virus was still a scary mystery. So you’ll still see signs warning that riders of Lime scooters should stay 6 feet apart, “wipe shared surfaces,” “use a mask and gloves,” “wash hands before and after riding,” and “use only for essential travel.” Now, of course, we aren't as concerned about public distancing and that riding a scooter or bike outdoors in the open air is one of the safest ways to get anywhere (when it comes to viruses, at least).
You probably should still wash your hands after using the bathroom, but we’re not going to be a narc or anything. We can keep your dirty little secret.
![Spokane petting zoo this summer](https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/inlander-blog-content/alpaca-gdac2e1b42_1920.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=1daa13be5c2af957e6f359253fa867c2 320w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/inlander-blog-content/alpaca-gdac2e1b42_1920.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=2e1c5aefbb697dc2594ef8094d706522 540w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/inlander-blog-content/alpaca-gdac2e1b42_1920.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=92fe838da74d94d761afb1dd3df724ca 768w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/inlander-blog-content/alpaca-gdac2e1b42_1920.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=ca74d5cfadf7aee0d2b7a661c68d5073 1024w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/inlander-blog-content/alpaca-gdac2e1b42_1920.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=2ba8bb5f3211f6bfa01aed67825cbcf0 1200w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/inlander-blog-content/alpaca-gdac2e1b42_1920.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=c3dc4ef5e4afcde2efabfb7abd0bc925 1440w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/inlander-blog-content/alpaca-gdac2e1b42_1920.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=e638f927e4ea9ae4e39ede60b22d8ffe 1920w)
Take The Kids To a Petting Zoo on Wheels
Everybody loves roller skates. Everybody loves cute animals. On Sunday, July 24, from 1-5 pm, Spokane Valley’s Roller Valley roller rink — owned by Ukrainian refugee Zhanna Oberemok — is combining both phenomena, holding a petting zoo at the roller rink to help local animal nonprofits. Tickets are $8 — bring donations like dog food, cat food, bird cages and reptile beddings and you’ll get a free cup of petting zoo food. Here we’re imagining a llama wearing roller skates, which, if that isn’t already in the plan, they should definitely make happen.
![](https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/outdoors/bikes.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=857523c5699d55e24707ae963d7f91d9 320w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/outdoors/bikes.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=3d67392aab0884214a46d7a74be1cce7 540w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/outdoors/bikes.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=2b0e6b4e6fdd6277ab4be58ca5f30544 768w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/outdoors/bikes.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=3e76354800d31a13dc6518c3e00b62b4 1024w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/outdoors/bikes.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=0ecbd8bfb186d609b577771e75501a0e 1200w)
Join Spokane's 'E-Skate' Group
So you have an electric unicycle, but nowhere to ride it? Meet up with the “E-Skate Group,” a roguish gang of eclectic longboarders, one-wheelers and electric scooter riders who go out for a group ride from the Riverfront Park fountain on Fridays at 6:30 pm and Sundays at 12:30 pm.
“Our rides are usually less than 15 mph, and we do frequent stops to collect stragglers. We usually ride about 7-8 miles, then go out for something to eat, and a charge up. We frequently meet at Gerardo’s Authentic Mexican or David’s Pizza,” group member Christopher McNeal says. “Helmets are encouraged!”
Like I said: rogues.