From digging for fossils to spotting abundant wild turkeys, the northeast corner for Washington offers up quirky sights and activities.
Cider Country
Come autumn, the town of Marcus hosts CiderFest, a community event featuring a pancake feed, food and craft vendors, and a massive portable press that turns apples into fresh cider by the bucketful.
Concrete Playground
Kettle Falls’ pro-caliber skate park boasts two full-size half pipes, a 10-foot-deep bowl and a half sphere for pulling complete verticals. The official town population is 1,599, plus one acknowledged grouch—the honor is bestowed upon the winner of an annual fundraising competition.
Fun With Fossils
At the Stonerose Interpretive Center in Republic, along SR 20, ancient plants, insects and fish have been immortalized as fossils. Visitors can rent chisels and hammers on-site to dig for their own timeless treasures.
Turkey Time
Starting in the spring, wild turkeys gobble it up in Colville and the surrounding area. The region has more wild turkeys than the rest of the state combined, and hunting season lasts from April 15 to May 31, with another season during the first week of October.
Dam Development
Head to the Charles Road Bridge to see spring runoff cascading through the spillway at Nine Mile Dam, just north of Spokane. The dam was completed in 1908 during the streetcar era and is now on the National Register of Historic Places.
Slam Dunk
Spokane hosts Hoopfest, the biggest 3-on-3 street basketball tournament in the world, the last weekend of June. More than 24,000 players dribble and dunk it out on the courts, which occupy more than 40 city blocks.
Alpine Adventure
Chewelah’s 49°North Mountain Resort is known for its legendary tree skiing, with 170 acres that have been selectively thinned for glade runs. Those who prefer less harrowing terrain can appreciate the desert-dried snow and groomed, wide-open trails instead.