Hello!

I am going to fly into Spokane and drive into Montana on Labor Day weekend. Any suggestions as to places to stay, eat or see in these places?

Hello from Northwest Montana!
Glacier National Park is located approx. 4 hours from Spokane.
For more info try
www.travel.state.mt.us/ (Montana)
www.discoveringmontana.com (Montana)
www.nps.gov/glac/home.htm (park)

If you get off I-90 into downtown Spokane there are alot of hotels. The best is the newely renovated Davenport.
Also suggest the Hotel Lusso. Both great hotels. Lusso more boutique-like. Davenport more luxurious old hotel feeling. If you want something less expensive there is a Doubletree downtown, a Travellodge and others of this genre.
Good restaurants in downtown Spokane are Clinkerdaggers, Steam Plant Grill, and Shenanigans. Also restaurants like Cucina Cucina, and Olive Garden there. 2 things to see downtown Spokane: go to Riverpark Square, which has great shopping, restaurants and cinemas: secondly go to Riverfront Park, site of the world's fair. Beautiful to walk around and see the Spokane River and Falls.

I was just in Spokane for a convention. I agree with Brenda regarding Riverfront Square. I stayed at the Ridpath. The lobby was nice, but I've stayed in nicer rooms at a Best Western. It was ok, but next time I think I'll be staying at the Davenport down the road.

I stayed at the Ridpath in downtown Spokane last summer, but have a different opinon than "Lady." We used our Entertainment Card for a 50% discount on a 1-bedroom suite. It was absolutely beautiful and the price was right. We paid around $75 per night. The room was newly renovated, had a kitchen, separate bedroom and a fabulous jacuzzi tub. The supposed "heated" pool was pretty crummy and freezing cold in June. Great location. I also second a visit to Riverfront Park. Be sure to walk the bridges over the falls. It was absolutely amazing!!!

Is Glacier National Park the portion of Montana which is closest to Spokane? What city/town in Montana is closes to Spokane?

If you are looking for a budget place to just spend the night there are a lot of places to stay that is not downtown Spokane. The Lusso and the Davenport are excellent hotels but pricey. If you have a entertainment card you can get a place to stay for 65 or so a night which are very nice hotels. More budget places on the way to Montana. The valley of Spokane offers many places to stay and tends to be less pricey then downtown Spokane. Coeur d' Alene is also very nice to stay in and about an hour from the Spokane airport. You have to pass through Missoula and then Kalispell one way to go. Another way is through Sandpoint then Kalispell. You can go one way there and one way back. Yes, Glacier is the closes portion to Spokane. Sandpoint offers some hotel most are still summer prices over Labor Day and it can be expensive up there for an ok hotel. If you were coming over Memorial Day weekend Coeur d'Alene has a fun parade on Sat of Memorial Day weekend. Labor Day is a very busy time at Glacier Park so you will need to get reservations soon for anywhere in the park. I like Many Resort the best but the rooms are small and you pay a lot of money for location. A lot of hiking to do in Glacier and bring you bells there are Grizzly Bears guaranteed. Great suggestions on food in Spokane area given to you by BrendaM. Hope this answers some questions.
Lis

Wearing bells while hiking is like a dinner bell to a Grizzly!!!!!

Yes, the bells seem to be the debate recently but we still use bells and bring our spray with us. Some use bells some try to talk the whole time. Others just use spray. I guess I have been lucky if you think bells are "dinner bells".

There are also some nice but less expensive hotels available of North Divison St. Some closer to downtown, others further out. A very nice mederately priced hotel is Inn on the Park, which is right next to Riverfront Park, and the Spokane River, within blocks of downtown Spokane. I would highly recommend Riverfront Park, former location of Expo'74, and take in an Imax movie, the only Imax in the interior Northwest. I also, recommend Riverpark Sqaure and AMC 20 Theatres located there. Great restaurants all over downtown area. Indian Restaurant on N. Divison, excellent Moroccan restaurant called Marakesh, on N.W. Blvd. If renting a car, I recommend whats called "city drive" you will see all over town, and you must see Manito Park, and greenhouse on the South Hill. I hope you like my town. Enjoy!
Sincerely,
Tom509