State Bank Northwest

Address:

9727 N Nevada St, Spokane, WA 99218

Phone:

Equal parts surrealistic playground, oddball art museum, and interactive funhouse, City Museum is one of the most popular tourist attractions in 1. It is home of the 1, a circus troupe that performs daily, and an elaborate system of explorable caves and shafts that spans 10 stories. It also includes a live entertainment venue, massive outdoor playground, and rooftop Ferris wheel.

Best and Worst Times to Visit City Museum
Because of age restrictions (visitors must be 16 or older to experience many of the museum's attractions), school groups rarely visit City Museum. Plan your visit on a weekday during the school year and you will have plenty of room to explore.

Weekends at City Museum, especially during the June through August months, are extremely busy. If the Cardinals are in town, it's even busier. Try visiting after 6 p.m., when the crowds have thinned.

Must See/Do at City Museum
Don't just gape at the school bus jutting from the museum's roof into mid-air, but step inside it.

No City Museum experience is complete without careening down its legendary 10-story slide.

The allegedly haunted third story showcases a variety of artifacts and oddities, including the cross used in the real-life exorcism in St. Louis that inspired the movie "The Exorcist."

Admission to City Museum
General admission for visitors 3 and up costs around $12 throughout the day and a couple bucks less on Fridays and Saturdays after 6 p.m. Groups of 15 or more (with advance reservations) receive discounted prices as well. Certain exhibits, including the World Aquarium and the Roof, cost an additional five to eight dollars.

Parking and Public Transportation to City Museum
It costs about 5 bucks (cash only) to park in the large lot next to the museum, underneath the "Monstrocity" playground. A limited amount of metered street parking is nearby also.

From the Metrolink train, exit at Civic Center Station and walk north for 8 blocks, then a block west. Or, from the Civic Center, hop aboard the westbound Delmar bus and exit at 15th Street, a block south of the museum.

Food at City Museum
Samwiches in the City serves casual food (sandwiches, pastries, salads, etc.) in the $8-$10 range. The Baby Elephant Café offers circus fare (hot dogs, popcorn, nachos, etc.) for $5 and under. There's also a Mexican cantina on the rooftop and a barbecue stand outside. On weekends, the mid-priced Cabin Inn, a sit-down restaurant with a full bar, features live entertainment.

Insider Tip for Visitors to the City Museum
Even in summer, wear long pants and sneakers to City Museum. Sandals are easily snagged on objects and in tunnels, and shorts aren't conducive to sliding long distances and crawling around.

Also, avoid the Enchanted Caves and Shoe Shafts if you are claustrophobic or easily rattled, as they include quite a few tight squeezes.

Author's Bio: Marcus Whelchel lives, works, and writes in St. Louis, Missouri, with his wife, daughter, and endless stream of odd thoughts. Those who know him agree he would get along nicely with the sloths and gators at the World Aquarium in the City Museum. 

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