# Weekend getaways from Spokane with kids Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/spokane/weekend-getaways/ > The best trip within about five hours of Spokane for each of the next 6 weekends, chosen for kids under 6. Every event links to the official page we checked it on. Some weekends only have something farther out, and those are marked as a long drive. After the weekends there are 3 day trips that work any weekend. Last checked: 2026-10-29. ## Weekend of Oct 30–Nov 1 Nothing verified within reach is worth the drive this weekend. ## Weekend of Nov 6–8 Nothing verified within reach is worth the drive this weekend. ## Weekend of Nov 13–15: Seattle (about 5 hr 15 min, long drive) WildLanterns at Woodland Park Zoo, 4 to 9pm with last entry at 8:30. Tickets are dated, so pick your night before you drive over. - **WildLanterns**, Fri Nov 13, 4–9pm (last entry 8:30pm), Woodland Park Zoo. Dated tickets; price on the ticket page. Opens 11/13; runs through 01/17. Low Sensory Nights are Nov 15, Dec 1 and Jan 10. Official page: https://zoo.org/wildlanterns/ ## Weekend of Nov 20–22: Seattle (about 5 hr 15 min, long drive) Santa is at the Seattle Christmas Market in Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center. Weekend hours run from 11:30am, so you can go before nap. - **Santa at the Seattle Christmas Market**, Fri Nov 20, Weekdays 4–9pm and weekends 11:30am–9pm through Dec 13; Dec 24 10am–7pm, Seattle Center, Fisher Pavilion. Market ticket required; price on the ticket page. Opens 11/20; runs through 12/24. Official page: https://www.seattlechristmasmarket.com/ ## Weekend of Nov 27–29: Seattle (about 5 hr 15 min, long drive) The Winterfest train and village at the Seattle Center Armory is free, 10am to 6pm, and Snowflake Lane runs in Bellevue at 7pm. - **Cookies with Santa on the Christmas Ship**, Fri Nov 27, 2pm sailings, Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship. Cruise ticket; price on the booking page. Opens 11/27; runs through 12/23. Kids on 2pm sailings get cookies with Santa. Every sailing has a choir and Santa reading ’Twas the Night Before Christmas. Official page: https://www.argosycruises.com/christmas-ship-festival/ - **Snowflake Lane**, Fri Nov 27, 7pm (about 25 minutes), Bellevue Way between NE 4th and NE 8th. Free; parking is free in Bellevue Collection garages. Opens 11/27; runs through 12/24. A free holiday show on Bellevue Way every night at 7. On Friday through Sunday, get there about an hour early. Official page: https://bellevuecollection.com/snowflakelane/ - **Winterfest Winter Train and Village**, Fri Nov 27, 10am–6pm, Seattle Center Armory. Free; donations accepted. Opens 11/27; runs through 12/31. A model train and holiday village inside the Armory. Kids can take a turn running the train between 10:30am and 5:30pm. Official page: https://www.seattlecenter.com/events/featured-events/winterfest ## Weekend of Dec 4–6: Seattle (about 5 hr 15 min, long drive) Seattle Center's Winterfest Winter Train and Village is free and open 10 a.m.–6 p.m., a daytime outing that fits around naps. - **Winterfest Winter Train and Village**, Fri Dec 4, Sat Dec 5, Sun Dec 6, 10am–6pm, Seattle Center Armory. Free; donations accepted. Opens 11/27; runs through 12/31. A model train and holiday village inside the Armory. Kids can take a turn running the train between 10:30am and 5:30pm. Official page: https://www.seattlecenter.com/events/featured-events/winterfest ## Other family getaways within 5 hours We don't post event listings for these places. Check the official page for hours and what's on. - **Leavenworth**, Leavenworth, WA (about 3 hr 45 min from Spokane). A Bavarian-style village in the Cascades, known for its Village of Lights. Official page: https://www.leavenworth.org/ ## Day trips any weekend - **Farragut State Park**, Athol (about 1 hr 15 min from Spokane). Beaches on Lake Pend Oreille, plus an 18-hole putt-putt disc golf course made for beginners and kids. Hours: Day use 7am–10pm; visitor center 9am–4pm in winter. Cost: Motor vehicle entrance fee due on arrival; the amount is on the Idaho State Parks pass page. Official page: https://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/parks/farragut/ - **Grand Coulee Dam Visitor Center**, Coulee Dam (about 2 hr 15 min from Spokane). Hands-on exhibits and a short film tell the story of the dam, and the dam itself is right outside. Hours: Daily 8:30am–5pm Pacific; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Cost: Free. Official page: https://www.usbr.gov/pn/grandcoulee/visit/gcvc.html - **Palouse Falls State Park Heritage Site**, LaCrosse (about 3 hr 30 min from Spokane). The Palouse River drops 200 feet into a basalt bowl, and kids can watch it from the viewpoint above. Hours: 8am to dusk in winter, 6:30am to dusk in summer; trails into the canyon are permanently closed. Cost: Discover Pass required: $10 for one day or $45 for a year. Official page: https://parks.wa.gov/find-parks/state-parks/palouse-falls-state-park-heritage-site ## FAQ **Where can we go for a weekend from Spokane with little kids?** Over the next 6 weekends our picks from Spokane are Seattle. Each one is chosen for what's on that weekend, with the dates, times and prices checked on the official pages. **What are good day trips from Spokane with kids?** Farragut State Park in Athol (about 1 hr 15 min), Grand Coulee Dam Visitor Center in Coulee Dam (about 2 hr 15 min), Palouse Falls State Park Heritage Site in LaCrosse (about 3 hr 30 min). Hours and prices are on each card, checked on the official pages. **Which cities are within an easy drive of Spokane?** None of our other cities are within 5 hours, so we only list longer drives in the same region. The map also shows family getaways closer in that we don't post events for. **What other family getaways are within 5 hours of Spokane?** Leavenworth (about 3 hr 45 min). We don't post event listings for these, so check the official page for what's open before you go. **Why is the same city picked more than once?** Sometimes one city really does have the most going on two weekends in a row, like a holiday lights opening followed by a show. We don't rotate cities just for variety. **Are the times and prices current?** They're what each official page showed on Oct 29, 2026. Tap through to the official page before you go.