Living on the Edge

The MAC in Spokane

Although the Inland Northwest doesn't have too many museums, the ones we do have are pretty darn cool!  The Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, or MAC as it's called for short, not only focuses on a variety of arts, but also local history.

During Spring Break the MAC is having another one of its Living History Days.  On April 3rd, from 11:00-3:00, you can enjoy live historical reenactments of the Civil war and the early fur trade era.  You can explore exhibits on early firefighting, law enforcement, and the Hillyard neighborhood.  Participate in fun make-and-take art activities and meet "Billy the Kid" at this family-friendly open house.

Admission is only $10 for the whole family and includes. 

Many area schools take field trips here during the year.  They do a wonderful and active living history tour for school groups.  If you're asked to be a chaperone for your child's class field trip, don't miss it!  You'll enjoy it as much, if not more than the kids!

Paint Up Some Fun!

One of my girls' favorite things to do is arts and crafts. If I'm scrapbooking they are scrapbooking. If I make cards, they are next to my elbow using my scraps and making their own cards.  When I paint a room...they run the other way. (Can't fool them that it's an artsy thing to do--oh well!)

But we discovered a really cool thing to do here in the Inland Northwest:  Painting Pottery.  I remember doing this as a little girl.  They were figurines and piggy banks and things like that.  We didn't have a place to do it where we moved from, but quickly we discovered that there are many places to do it here.  And the assortment of things to choose from is so much better!  Plus they fire the piece now and make it look really professional!

One of our favorites--it's the closest one to our home--is Polka Dot Pottery.  There are no studio fees and there are many paints for you to choose from.

They have two locations now, one on the North side of Spokane and a second one now in Spokane Valley. 

The location in Spokane Valley is offering fun kids classes.  Give them a call to find out more....and we may just see you there!

2714 W. Northwest Blvd. Spokane

509-327-5437

118 S. Pines Road  Spokane Valley  509-924-2292

Hours:  Wed-Fri  10-8pm (Pines location opens at 11) Sat: 10-5   Sun: 12-4

www.polkadotpottery.com

Although our we have our favorite studio, there are a number of others in the area, both in Idaho and Washington.  If you know of one that I haven't metioned, let me know.

Color Me Mine

River Park Square, 808 West Main Suite 225, Spokane  509-838-3037

Hands-On Art Studio

3115 N Government Way, Ste 3, Coeur d'Alene  208-765-8203

Here are some other studios I've found.  I haven't been to these places, but if anyone knows anything about these places, let me know.

Thrown

1109 1/2 E. Sherman Ave, Coeur d'Alene  208-651-5735

Whimsical Wheel

2718 E 57th Ave ste 103b, Spokane  509-443-6719

Glazed by Design

Spokane Valley, 509-891-4179

Custom Clay Prints by Kathy Taylor

Coeur d'Alene, 208-691-3811

Pottery in Motion

Sagle, Idaho  208-265-8212

The Garland Theater

We love to go to the movies.  It's fun now that the girls are older, we don't have to go to only the animated films anymore.  I can actually get out to see a 'chick flick' from time to time.  But it is amazing how expensive it is to go to a movie these days.  We tend to just rent something from Blockbuster with our monthly free coupon and pop some popcorn in the microwave.  No lines for the bathroom in our house--well at least they're shorter.

But Spokane does have a good discount theater.  There used to be one over in Hayden, Idaho too, but I read recently that that theater had to push its prices back up (oh well).  The Garland Theater in Spokane manages to keep prices down, even with the pressures of Hollywood.  And right now on Wednesdays they have $1 day where all the movies are only $1!  Now that makes it easy for a family to get out to the big screen.  They also have FREE popcorn Tuesdays.  You get a free small popcorn with every paid admission.

The Garland Theater 

924 West Garland, Spokane  509-327-1050

To add to their bargains...during Spring Break they are even offering a FREE MOVIE! Yup, from March 31 through April 4th you can see the newest veggie tales flick: "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything" (rated G)for free.  The show starts at 9:30 am each day and the doors are open at 9:00.  They just ask that you don't bring any outside food in with you.  I think that's fair!

The other movies showing during spring break are:

Alvin and the Chipmunks (PG)

27 Dresses (PG13)

National Treasure: Book of Secrets (PG)

and coming April 4th is JUNO!

Mobius Kids

Mobius Kids is a very fun hands-on children's discovery museum.  Right now they have a traveling exhibit called "It's a Nano World."

It includes twelve fun and interactive stations that introduce kids to the biological wonders and tools of the 'nan-sized' world!  Did you know that a nanometer is 100,000 times thinner than a strand of hair.  Now that would be an easy ruler to keep in your back pocket wouldn't it?  With this exhibit, kids as well as their parents can discover the nanotech boom from Berkeley, where researchers there are working to unlock the potential of nanoscience to battle global warming and disease.

It's not just in the science fiction movies any more!

Spring break is a great opportunity to come visit Mobius Kids!  My kids still like hanging out there on a rainy day....and they are 10 and 11.

They also have a schedule of creative classes at Mobius throughout the week.  Be sure to call Mobius for class times and prices.  509-624-KIDS

Spring Break 2008 Camps

March 31 -  Crystals Week!- Make sparkling pattern pictures

March 31 - Creative Concoctions:  Flubber, goop, or slime. Make this fun goo that goes by many names.  Also create ooblek, a fluid that acts as a solid and a liquid!

March 31     Stuck on You! - Come and see the amazing things you can do with glue! Make goop and create a fun art project with some colorful glue. Parents stay with their little ones during this class.

Ages 2-4

April 1    3-D Collage Camp - It's a jungle out there! Create 3 dimensional Jungle or Ocean collage using paints, shells, leaves, and more! Parents stay with their little ones in the 2-4 year old class.   

two classes:  Ages 2-4   and  Ages 5-8

April 2    Finger Painting Frenzy! - Throw the brushes out! Budding artists can explore their creativity using just their hands. Take the art home, leave the mess here! 

Ages 2-4

April 3    Put a smile on that mug! - Create a fun & useful masterpiece when you paint your very own mug that you can use for your favorite drink. Paint is safe & non-toxic.

Ages 5-8 

April 3    Balloon-a-palooza! - Have you ever wondered how to make a balloon animal? Find out how when Ryan from Balloon Bonanza teaches you how to transform balloons into animals, flowers, and much more. Take some balloons home to make more animals for your friends!

Ages 5-8

April 4    Bubbleology! - Is that you in a bubble? Have a blast as you create bubbles of all shapes & sizes, put your arm through a bubble with out popping it, and even stand in a giant bubble!

Ages 3-6

April 4  Super Sleuth Camp - Sharpen your private investigation skills during this hands-on detective camp! Learn how to lift and examine finger prints and use clues to figure out "Who done it?"

Ages 5-8

Ski FREE During Spring Break

The snow has continued to collect at the area ski resorts even though spring has officially arrived.  So here's the perfect opportunity to save gas money and do a local vacation.  GO SKIING!  Mt. Spokane will be having its last day on March 30th, but Silver Mt., Schweitzer, and 49 Degrees North will all be open. 

Silver Mt. and Schwietzer both have ski and stay packages that include free lift tickets for the family.  Check out their websites for more details.

49 Degrees North in Chewellah, Washington has the best deal around.  FREE skiing for everyone, ALL WEEK!  And there's no limit to how many times you head up there!  They just had over a foot of new snow last weekend, the days are still cool and the nights too so the snow isn't going anywhere too soon.  Lifts run from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm daily through April 6th.

See you on the mountain!!

Are the Kids Climbing the Walls?

If the kids are literally climbing the walls for something to do, here is a place in Spokane that is a lot of fun.   

Wild Walls

It's located at 202 West 2nd Avenue in Downtown Spokane. 

Phone: 509-455-9596

Call for their special Spring Break activities.  They regularly have Rock Climbing classes for kids, College Night for the 'starving' college students, Women's Nights, and an Armed Forces discount.  The prices vary depending on the activity you choose and they have discounts if you buy multiple visit punch passes.  They told me that Gonzaga and the Air Force Base sell discounted passes as well.

Inside Gym and Playplaces

Here are some gyms in the Inland Northwest.  I know there are more out there.  But not all of them have open gym times.  But there is lots of fun to be had for children of all ages.

Funtastics

There motto is:  Encouraging the "CAN DO Attitude!"

6360 Sunshine Street, Coeur d'Alene   208-772-9443

My Gym Spokane

Indoor fun for children ages 6 weeks through 13 years.

615 N Sullivan Road Suite B, Spokane Valley   509-892-7455

Jump-N-Party

Indoor party and play center with 5 HUGE inflatables including an 18 foot slide!

1605 E Lyons Ave, North Spokane    509-482-3000

Spokane Elite Gymnastics

Play includes a blow up castle, trampoline, foam pit, climbing wall, cargo net and zip line.

5615 E Broadway, Spokane Valley   509-533-9646

Kids Athletic Club

This is the world's 1st athletic club specifically for kids!

320 W Centa Drive, Hayden, Idaho      208-762-7262

These are just a few places to visit, depending on where you live.  If you know of a great indoor gym, not on the list, please post it in my comment section! 

Spring Break in the Inland Northwest

Spring break is just around the corner.  Depending on the weather, it can be a blast or a bummer.  Will the kids be whining about being bored all week? Or will you find some fun things to keep them busy? Will you win the battle between activity and slothfulness in front of the television and the video games? 

It's not an easy task and by midweek they may be driving you crazy...and you may be tempted to drive THEM somewhere, anywhere and drop them off....just for a little while...really....you'll be back for them later.  To save you all the trouble I brought SpokaneMama to the Inland Northwest.  It's the Mama resource for women and families in the Inland Northwest.  In addition this blog is full of information that doesn't quite fit on the website.

I'm posting as many places and ideas that I can think of between now and the end of the month.  So book mark me and keep checking back.  Also, if you have something to add, please feel free to post a comment!  We moms need to stick together you know!!