Sister-tested-and-approved tourist stops in Spokane, Post Falls & Couer d’Alene

How to survive four days with your sister: Play nice and have many activities to distract you! Here is a view from the Sky Ride in Riverfront Park in Spokane.

My sister and I have been chasing down our dreams in different states for many years. In September we celebrated her new doctor hood with a road trip to visit family and play tourists for four days.

She and I were born in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and had spent many Christmases, summers and Thanksgivings in the Post Falls, Idaho, and Spokane, Wash., areas visiting family.

Alison and I made a new choice for this trip – we stayed with family one night, and rented a condo on VRBO for two nights. Staying with family on a trip saves some major cash. But for the first time my sister and I did not stay with my dad. We rented a nice condo in downtown Coeur d'Alene right in the heart of the action. And I have to say, we loved the freedom it provided. We didn’t get in anyone’s way or make our family members feel like they had to entertain us. Major wins in my book.

So, we played tourist! Here are 10-sister approved activities for a girls getaway in Spokane, Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene:

1) Have a fancy cocktail in the Davenport Hotel Peacock Room Lounge. The photos don't do it justice. This 5,000-piece stained glass ceiling was unique and made me feel like Greta Garbot sipping a cocktail after prohibition ended. The drinks were creative and refreshing after hours of driving. I had The Duchess, a fancy cosmopolitan, and Alison had the Basil Bo. The crowd was older, but we also visited at 4 p.m. on a Thursday…

2) Grab a camera and head to Riverfront Park. Alison and I rode the carousel and there is a reason they strap you in - it was the fastest carousel ever! Not for the faint of heart. We also did the scenic river Sky Ride over the Spokane Falls. It was a slower, peaceful ride with lots of photo opportunities. This ride could also be a romantic date activity with your honey.

3) Make a wine tasting stop at Barrister Winery. Tucked back on the side of an old brick building by the railroad tracks is a gorgeous Italian-style outdoor patio and with a rustic tasting room. The wine is mostly red and delicious. The gal behind the bar was friendly and knowledgeable. I bought one bottle of its most popular wine.

Barrister Winery had a most unexpected beauty right in the heart of downtown Spokane.

4) Arbor CrestWine Cellars' reviews were very mixed online. But I had to go for the views. Alison and I drove up the big hill (that would be very snowy, icy and treacherous during Spokane winters I imagine) and enjoyed the view tremendously. A couple was having engagement photos taken there that day. Special note: they are definitely not pet-friendly. Alison and I chose the middle of the road tasting and the wines were great. We even got chocolate to cleanse our palates.

5) Have a family dinner at The Cellar in downtown Coeur d'Alene. The food was great and it was 2 blocks from our rented condo – an easy walk. I had duck and risotto that was on point and an interesting and delicious take on a Tom Collins cocktail. They had a choose your own wine bar, which I did not , but looked curious. It was a bit loud so grandpa had trouble hearing. A great Friday night festive dinner spot for sure.

6) Take a morning hike on Tubbs Hill on the Lake Couer d'Alene waterfront – the air was crisp in mid-September and the hike was just 2.2 miles. There were plenty of runners and hikers out so we felt safe. Good shoes are a must as the ground can be really uneven. But time flew by and I was able to talk my sister's head off.

7) Downtown Couer d’Alene shopping was decent. Lots of little home stores to poke our heads into. I spent the most time at Christmas at the Lake. I bought firefighter and Chinese food carton ornaments for darling husband. They had an entire Christmas tree display devoted to dogs, too! Only 96 days until Christmas, everyone!

8) Walk a lot so you can stop at Crafted Tap House + Kitchen for lunch - best soft pretzel I have ever had! More of a brioche bread than the standard concession stand fare and the honey-pepper dipping sauce was divine. The iPad at our table helped us choose beers. We shared a pretzel, had two beers each and had Mama T’s chicken sandwiches, washed down with amber and Octoberfest-style beers. We needed to roll back to the condo after that and nap. So we did. Napping is also a sister-approved activity.

Yup! That's the pretzel. I need to find a recipe to make it at home.

9) In search of more beer on our way to stepmother's house for dinner, we stopped by Selkirk Abbey in Post Falls. We shared a sampler and I learned what a dubbel was – a meal replacement beer than monks drank during Lent. The lighter beers (Chapel) and the stout were my favorite and the atmosphere was very cozy - like a monk’s library in the abbey. I didn't take any beer home but I would definitely stop in again.

10) A walk along the Coeur d' Alene Resort floating boardwalk was quick and fun. Alison and I took some selfies and sent them to mom and even got to see a sweet outdoor wedding. It doesn't cost anything and you need to walk off that beer and pretzel so go!

Final special note: We tried to hire CDA Parasailing to take us out on Saturday, but they are closed Saturday! Make sure you book this activity for a Friday or Sunday if you are in town for a long weekend.