The Post-Cruise Port of Call was Spokane, Washington which was two hours by bus from Clarkson where we disembarked from the American Empress, the end of our seven day riverboat cruise. We were provided a light lunch at Manito Park, a 78-acre garden of native and cultivated landscape with 20 acres of world class botanical gardens. They are considered the crown jewel of Spokane City Parks. The name “Manito" is a Native American world meaning “a supernatural force that pervades nature.”
Our next stop was the home Bing Crosby grew up in. We toured the inside of the house which contained many of his memorabilia and awards such as the Academy Award he received for Best Actor in “Going My Way,” in 1944. Our friend Nelson, who comes from a family of golfers met Crosby on the 1st Fairway at Pebble Beach in 1975 and got his autograph.
After our bus tour was over we saddled up at the historic 1909 Looff Carrousel at Riverfront Park, the former grounds of Expo ’74, the environmentally themed world’s fair. It is considered one of the Ten Best Carousels in the United States. We bought two red carousel T-shirts for our granddaughters Lyla and Emmy. We checked into The Davenport Grand Hotel.
Later we explored the rest of the 100-acre Riverfront Park, branded as Riverfront Spokane that is a public urban park in downtown Spokane situated along the Spokane River and encompasses the Upper Spokane Falls, which is the second largest waterfall in the United States, and, when combined with the Lower Spokane Falls, creates the largest urban waterfall in the country according to Wikipedia. The site of the park and surrounding falls were a Native American gathering place.
After resting up a bit, we had dinner with Susan and Nelson Bye at Anthony’s Restaurant in the heart of downtown Spokane and that overlooks the Spokane River and upper falls. The view of the cascading river gushing over the Spokane Falls provided a rustic and romantic backdrop for a wonderful and memorable time. While waiting for our outdoor seating to free up we enjoyed Fresh Huckleberry Daiquiri featuring hand-picked huckleberries from Mount St. Helens and Mount Adams in the Cascades that are naturally organic. For dinner we enjoyed Anthony’s Award-Winning Clam Chowder, Tempura Green Beans with orange saffron aioli, Northeast Seasonal Salad, Roasted Scampi Prawns, Crab cakes, Fresh Halibut and Grilled Silver Salmon with Cornbread and cooked Huckleberries. To cap off the evening we had ice cream with huckleberries, continuing with the theme for the evening.
Postscript: Bing Crosby died October 14th from a heart attack doing what he loved just a few yards away from the clubhouse while playing golf near Madrid, Spain.
