Last week my husband and I had the privilege of making a trip out of a work function and flew to Spokane, WA. While my husband attended training, I walked freely throughout the downtown area. Although it was raining two out of the three full days we were there, I was still able to walk about and photograph some beautiful parks and scenery.  

My first day there was wet but completely bearable. We stayed at the Davenport Grand Hotel, which conveniently was conjoined with the Spokane Convention Center... a plus! Across the street and caddy-corner to the hotel was a park called the Riverfront Park. Part of the park was blocked off for the Chinese Lantern Festival and looked really interesting. When I picture a lantern festival, I see hundreds of lanterns that float through the sky being lifted by a candle. This festival was not what I had thought. The Chinese Lantern Festival in Spokane, WA was actually filled with large lanterns in the shapes on animals and plants and featured family entertainment.

Nicole Brown Photography -Spokane Chinese Lantern Festival 1Chinese Lantern Festival in Riverfront Park, Spokane, WA. Nicole Brown Photography -Spokane Chinese Lantern Festival 1Chinese Lantern Festival in Riverfront Park, Spokane, WA. Nicole Brown Photography -Spokane Chinese Lantern Festival 1Chinese Lantern Festival in Riverfront Park, Spokane, WA.

Down another pathway in the park led you to the Spokane River, a river that flows right through the city and shows off it multiple waterfalls, known as Spokane Falls. The falls were wonderful! Luckily there were multiple bridges you could cross to see all the angles!

Nicole Brown Photography - Spokane FallsSpokane Falls rushing through Spokane, Washington's downtown business district Nicole Brown Photography - Spokane FallsSpokane Falls rushing through Spokane, Washington's downtown business district Nicole Brown Photography - Spokane FallsSpokane Falls rushing through Spokane, Washington's downtown business district Nicole Brown Photography - Spokane FallsSpokane Falls rushing through Spokane, Washington's downtown business district

Our second day in Spokane was the most beautiful day - the clouds broke letting the sun shine through and allowed me and my new friend Touba search for more beautiful parks. The park we had our eyes set on was called Manito Park and Botanical Gardens (a park recommended by our waitress at Soulful in downtown Spokane - they have awesome soup and beer bread!!). It was a hike to get there (45 minutes uphill to be exact) but totally and completely worth it! We arrived to a pond surrounded by trees with yellow and orange leaves. The signs throughout the park pointed us to a Rose Garden, an English Garden, and finally a Japanese Garden. All were stunning but the Japanese Gardens took the cake in my opinion! We were surrounded by leaves of every color in the rainbow. There was a small waterfall and a bridge hovering over a pond with Koi fish and lily pads... I could have stayed in that garden all day if it weren't so chilly!

Nicole Brown Photography - Spokane GardensManito Park and Botanical Gardens in Spokane, WA was stunning! Beautiful fall colors in every color, a must see! Nicole Brown Photography - Spokane GardensManito Park and Botanical Gardens in Spokane, WA was stunning! Beautiful fall colors in every color, a must see! Nicole Brown Photography - Spokane GardensManito Park and Botanical Gardens in Spokane, WA was stunning! Beautiful fall colors in every color, a must see! Nicole Brown Photography - Spokane GardensManito Park and Botanical Gardens in Spokane, WA was stunning! Beautiful fall colors in every color, a must see! Nicole Brown Photography - Spokane GardensManito Park and Botanical Gardens in Spokane, WA was stunning! Beautiful fall colors in every color, a must see! Nicole Brown Photography - Spokane GardensManito Park and Botanical Gardens in Spokane, WA was stunning! Beautiful fall colors in every color, a must see! Nicole Brown Photography - Spokane GardensManito Park and Botanical Gardens in Spokane, WA was stunning! Beautiful fall colors in every color, a must see! Nicole Brown Photography - Spokane GardensManito Park and Botanical Gardens in Spokane, WA was stunning! Beautiful fall colors in every color, a must see!

We decided it was time to defrost so we made our way to the next park, Cannon Hill Park. The neighborhoods in this area were charming and it looked like a neighborhood you would see in a movie; homes that were decorated just right and lined down a street with trees on either side scattered with yellow leaves. There were interesting bridges in the middle of the grass that were pretty picture perfect...

Cannon Hill Park in Spokane, WAThe grass is always greener on the other side (of the bridge).

Our last day arrived and sadly it was just too wet outside to bring my camera. We had a great time however, more walking and eating yummy food! This trip was a success! My husband learned a bunch from training and I captured some pretty great photos, gained a friend, and got a TON of exercise in! I think I walked 23 miles throughout this trip due to not having a rental car... I'm sure that balanced out all of the fattening and delicious food I had while we were there, right?! ;)