- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Manito Park
Categories: Active Life Parks Arts & Entertainment Botanical Gardens Public Services & Government Landmarks & Historical Buildings Parks, Botanical Gardens, Landmarks & Historical Buildings [Edit]
17th and GrandSpokane, WA 99203
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
24 reviews for Manito Park
Review Highlights
"It is tucked between the duck pond and the rose garden."
(in 7 reviews)
"It is the best sledding hill in town."
(in 2 reviews)
"The Japanese Gardens are the best."
(in 14 reviews)
Loading...
24 reviews in English
-
Review from Jennifer A.
Redmond, WA
10/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Gorgeous. Parking can be a little tricky if you want to be close to the popular gardens. The whole place is meticulously cared for. Plenty of trails for a casual stroll or a nice run. I've been twice - both times the roses were already seeing the effects of cold weather, but Duncan Garden and the Japanese Garden are beautiful. I wish a park of this caliber was down the street from me in Redmond!
-
Review from Bill E.
Spokane, WA
2/9/2012
I can't really understand all of the glowing reviews for this park. In my opinion, while the grass is just under the level of softness I usually prefer, the trees are what really ruin it for me; they are all at least 14 inches too short for my liking. Until this improves, I cannot recommend this swath of green people-pasture, and I would suggest feeding elsewhere.
-
Review from Andrew T.
5/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
I should visit during the summer and revise my hasty review, but this looks to be a very nice park. Lots of different things - a rose garden, a Japanese garden, a conservatory...unfortunately none of which were really at full tilt on the chilly May evening I stopped through. I can forgive them for that, it's a little early in the season. We should have taken the advice of our Gordy's waitress last August and visited when things were really going.
Either way, I just think it's cool the way the park nestles in amongst the neighborhood. Really nice, well manicured homes, just across the street from formal gardens and walking trails - would be a really cool place to live. I'm a little jealous. Hopefully I can visit again later in the growing season. -
Review from Michael B.
Spokane, WA
12/27/2010
A gem of an urban park with a variety of trees, a Japanese Garden, duck ponds, playground equipment, a little coffee/sandwich shop that hosts summer concerts and a botanical garden.
Also awesome - playing capture the flag over large swaths of this huge park with large groups of people. -
Review from Nick M.
Denver, CO
11/24/2010
Very likely my favorite place in Spokane. I have studied, ridden an ice block, taken a date, run, written, cried, fed the ducks, walked, taken photos, ridden my bike, gazed at flowers, and contemplated at Manito. It doesn't matter whether you are young, old, alone, or with a group, Manito Park is the perfect place to be.
Spokane does an incredible job during the Spring and Summer in keeping this park look gorgeous, and the history behind it is incredible. Ever heard of the Olmsted Brothers?
Grab a picnic basket and your latest lover, and go enjoy an afternoon in the park. Take in the Rose Garden and the Japanese Koi, and then walk over to the pond and feed the ducks and geese. When you're done, stroll the neighborhood because there are some beautiful houses surrounding the park. -
Review from Matt R.
Edmonds, WA
3/28/2008 1 photo
In Spokane and looking for a gorgeous place to jog or walk around? Then this is the place for you. They've got a rose garden, a filled to capacity greenhouse (complete with banana tree!), and a Japanese garden with a koi pond full of freakishly giant (and I suspect mutant) goldfish.
The most popular place in the park is the pond. It's large and at one point a wildlife officials counted over 260 ducks. On any given day there are normally a few swans and Canadian geese around also.
NOTE: Apparently the birds' excessive "droppings" have tainted the pond water in the past, so please don't feed the ducks multiple loaves of old moldy bread (see story #1 below). In addition, if you're lucky, you might get to take home some ducks as pets (read story #2)!
Duck pond story #1: http://www.spokesmanre...
Duck pond story #2: http://www.nwcn.com/st...Listed in: The Eastern Washington Guide, Various Parks
-
Review from angela p.
Spokane, WA
5/18/2009
My niece and I, who I take care of from 9am-2pm during weekdays, spend a LOT of time here. Playgrounds are nice, clean, and there are usually a lot of kids there she can play with. The rose garden is GORGEOUS in the summer, and the lilac garden is also super beautiful. Really well kept up, and the people who work there are always super nice and helpful.
The only minus is that one of the gardeners told me something I found a bit disturbing. Apparently under the duck pond there's some sort of toxic sludge that is super dangerous. He told me because my niece and I were tapping the catfish on the head in the pond and thus our hands were in the water. He suggested that the water was so bad that I should go wash her hands immediately. Um, maybe there should be warning signs about this, park management?
Anyways, other than that it's a great park and we spend hours exploring beyond the playgrounds, too. -
Review from Ted M.
San Bruno, CA
10/19/2006
The Japanese Gardens are the best. Lot's of photo opps everywhere. Casual hiking trails, and large areas for frisbee, soccer, etc.
The duck pond is kind of dirty / messy, depending on when you go there, but sometimes you can see tutrles.
Parking on weekends and holidays can be crowded, but if you drive around you can usually find a spot soon.
Great place to relax and have a picnic in the spring to fall. -
Review from Laurie R.
Spokane, WA
12/14/2008
A quintessentially Spokane neighborhood.
The park is the jewel of the South Hill and with bakeries by bicycles and tree lined streets, the Manito neighborhood complete with historic brick homes make this Spokane's version on the Norman Rockwell home resides near around the park.
The Park is the perfect place for a simmer picnic and the best place to go sledding in the winter. -
Review from Narnia P.
Seattle, WA
7/13/2010
This park is beautiful. The roses are beautiful, the Japanese garden is peaceful, the pond is tranquill, and the lilac garden smells great. Bring a picnic and eat at one of the many tables or on the grass.
The first few times I went here, I had a hard time knowing exactly what was accessible by driving and parking, versus what I would have to walk to. I suggest looking at a map .pdf online. -
Review from Lauren H.
San Francisco, CA
8/30/2006
Manito Park epitomizes everything that is wonderful about Spokane. I grew up just a few blocks north of the park, so I know every nook and cranny. Now, when I go back to visit, I stay with my grandma who lives just a few blocks south of the park.
The park is 90 acres and over a 100 years old (it used to have a zoo and you can still see the old water troughs for the horses along Grand Blvd). If you want to see what Spokane is all about, spend a day enjoying this park. It has everything:
Duck pond: They used to have swans, which sadly are gone, and some bad storms took down a lot of the trees a few years ago, but they have been fixing it back up. This was the closest park of the park to my old house, so I went there a lot. We would always take our old bread to go feed the ducks. I even fell into it once when I was about 5, and my mom freaked and rushed me home to the shower because she was worried that I would catch something from the murky water.
The rose garden: Pretty much what it sounds like. It is up on a little hill and is full of different roses. My favorite part as a kid was the sundial.
The Duncan Gardens: The formal gardens are beautiful and full of bright flowers arranged in interesting patterns. The fountain in the middle is a popular photo spot and I always loved watching weddings here.
Lilac garden: If you happen to be there in May when the lilacs are in bloom (Spokane is the Lilac City), you must go here. The smell is amazing. The rest of the year it is pretty boring, but for a few weeks, it is incredible. It is tucked between the duck pond and the rose garden.
Japanese Garden: I had so much fun playing here, running around on the pathes and jumping over the little waterfalls. Sadly, it isn't quite the same these days and they have closes a lot of the paths and removed one of the bridges. But still, it is worth a stop. This is also the place to get your prom picture taken.
The Park Bench: Where to stop and get coffee or lunch. For the past five years, family friends have operated it. I can't go there without running to friends.
The park also two playgrounds: one by the duck pond and one in upper Manito by the wading pool. I have also had many picnics and BBQs at the covered group picnic area. Oh, and there are tennis courts, but I don't play tennis and so I forget about those.
During the winter, the place to be is the big sledding hill next to Grand. They have finally figured out that they need to put up barriers so that kids don't go flying into the road. It is the best sledding hill in town. I have bad memories though. I didn't end up into the road, but i did steer myself right into a tree when I was little and completely bent up my sled. During the summer, the hill is a great place to go ice-blocking.Listed in: Spokane Parks
-
Review from Kristoph B.
Spokane, WA
8/2/2010 1 Check-in Here
I've been coming to Manito park for over 10 years. I've learned to navigate around year round to enjoy as much as possible better than my own closet.
There is a local Drum Circle location east of The Park Bench on the road heading south next to the duck pond; and south of the children's playground off of Grand Blvd.
Great place for the whole family. Meeting friends. Animals. frisbie, sports.
in one of the fields, i'm not sure about the details, there are people who dress up in armor and do safe combat. -
Review from Little C.
Pacific Grove, CA
8/19/2007
Another amazing park for the Spokane (yes, it doesn't compare to Central Park or Versailles)---my favorite part of the park is the rose garden and greenhouse. The Japanese garden is pretty, but kind of weird (its hard to explain)--and theres always graffiti everywhere which makes me sad.
Great place to play baseball, frisbee, hell, any sport, and afterwards you can head over to Rockwood Bakery and get some tasty lunch and coffee! -
Review from Jae C.
Los Angeles, CA
9/10/2007 3 photos
My first time in Spokane and I was lucky enough to find this place. About 10 minutes from the airport, this park has hiking trails, a rose garden, a japanese garden, greenhouse, scenic roads, clean bathrooms, and plenty of parking spaces. The park is big, like 80 acres, so make sure you plan enough time to explore it when youre there.
I like this park better than the El Dorado Park Nature Center in Long Beach because it's cleaner and more scenic. -
Review from Aquila B.
Colbert, WA
2/16/2010
Manito is beautiful any time of the year! The gardens are well maintained, and the playgrounds are nice. I often bring my dog up there to walk and look at the geese and ducks and kids.
I've always been impressed by the fact that dog owners (for the most part) clean up their messes. Either that or the park maintenance does, but either way it's very impressive.
The only negative is the ill-mannered dogs we encounter EVERY TIME we go. I know this is no fault of the park, but it's definitely a detriment to the park experience. I think a few well-placed "dogs must be on leash," or "keep your dogs off people's cars" signs would be a good addition. -
Review from Priscilla R.
Seattle, WA
12/26/2007
With a rose garden, Japanese garden, duck pond, recreation area and picnic area this park has something for almost everyone. This is a huge park so even in the summer you don't have to worry about crowds. Definitely one of the most beautiful sights in Spokane.
-
Review from Don H.
12/17/2006
The biggest park in the city, it's an enormous expanse of trees and ponds and grass. There's a popular sledding hill in the winter, and the Japanese gardens are beautiful. I've only ever explored a rather small amount of it, but it's impressive that the city actually blocked off that much space for a park, and I'm glad it's there.
-
Review from Amber S.
3/5/2008
This is a great park to take an afternoon stroll. There is plenty of parking and a garden for everyone.
-
Review from L N.
Spangle, WA
7/22/2010 5 Check-ins Here
Everyone with time for a stroll should visit this lovely park and view the 1000's of varieties of flowers. It is really a treat with places to sit and peruse a book, or a reflecting pool or visit the tropical display building.
-
Review from Vicki S.
Spokane, WA
11/23/2008 3 photos
My favorite park in Spokane! All the gardens are spectacular! A must see for anyone visiting Spokane and locals should enjoy this beautiful place as often as possible.
-
Review from Dee Y.
Spokane, WA
11/3/2008
WOW! I fell in love with Manito today. I'm exploring Spokane's nature for the first time and Manito was my first pick. The fall colors red and yellow draped over the trees and plenty of squirrels were running around them. I didn't go in the Duncan Garden, no access for a stroller just many stairs, but it's definitely my favorite of the whole park. There weren't any roses in the rose garden, since it's November, but there were plenty of other gardens to enjoy. I stayed mostly at the duck pond today but next time I'll definitely explore the Japanese garden. I saw many joggers and fellow mommies with strollers. I can't wait to see it when everything is blooming.
-
Review from Vu N.
San Diego, CA
8/6/2009 5 photos
What a beautiful park. The park has very well groomed grass with magnificent trees. There are a few gardens like the rose garden and the lilac garden. There is a pond that is very nice but the water is a bit murky. If you have kids this would be a perfect place to have a family picnic. I've been there only once and plan to go back to explore other parts of the parks.
-
Review from Arianna B.
New York, NY
2/12/2009
A good place to kill an afternoon, and is located in a historic part of the city. I love Spokane for its turn of the (last) century architecture, and this park fits right in. Great place for kids to go sledding in the winter.
-
Review from Hannah H.
Spokane, WA
6/14/2008
Honestly one of the most beautiful parks I know. So much effort goes into this place. I walk my dog here everyday and I am still amazed that I continue to find new little areas by making a slightly different turn than the day before. I love the sense of pride I feel in the upkeep. "Friends of manito" seems like a great organization because the park is always looking spectacular. Don't miss Duncan gardens and the japanese gardens.
