Where to Stay for the 2026 Nike Bob Firman Invitational: A Guide to Race Weekend in Spokane Valley

The Nike Bob Firman Invitational is one of the most competitive high school cross country meets in the country. This year, it moves to The Course in Spokane Valley, WA. With that brings a new question for everyone traveling with a runner: “Where do I stay?”

Whether you’re a coach managing a 40-person roster, a parent juggling two travel-weary kids, or a freshman athlete trying to sleep the night before the biggest race of your season, where you stay changes everything.

CUT THE LOGISTICAL LEGWORK

The difference between a 5-minute drive and a 25-minute drive is huge on a race day. Spokane Valley hotels put teams just minutes from The Course, with direct I-90 access, free parking, and none of the congestion that comes with navigating a dense district.

That proximity pays off all weekend. Spokane Valley restaurants offer roomy dining spaces where teams can refuel together without splitting into smaller groups or scattering across town. Nearby, Spokane Valley Mall makes last-minute errands easy, whether someone forgot socks, sunscreen, snacks, or an extra sweatshirt for a cool September morning.

Many area hotels also offer complimentary breakfast, giving athletes quick access to familiar pre-race fuel without adding another stop to the schedule. At the end of the evening, hotel pools provide a relaxing change of pace: runners can loosen tired legs while siblings splash, swim, and finally enjoy an activity that does not involve course maps or split times. And when everyone is aching to venture out, Spokane Valley puts plenty of post-race recreation within a short drive.

FILL THE WEEKEND WITHOUT GOING FAR

Spokane Valley sits between Spokane to the west and Coeur d’Alene to the east, with I-90 connecting all three. That makes it the only place that puts you close to the venue and within easy reach of a weekend’s worth of activities. From your Spokane Valley hotel, downtown Spokane is about 15 minutes, while Coeur d’Alene is roughly 30 minutes. You’re not picking between them, you can do both.

SPOKANE VALLEY

VALLEYFEST

Spokane Valley’s free-to-attend annual community festival, ValleyFest, just so happens to be the exact same weekend at the invitational. Friday evening brings the Hearts of Gold Parade down East Sprague Avenue at 7:30 PM, with food booths, live entertainment, STEAM activities, and more, on Saturday and Sunday. Walking distance from where you’re staying, ValleyFest offers a low-stakes afternoon that doesn’t require you to drive anywhere new.

MICA MOON ZIP TOURS

Just outside Spokane Valley in Liberty Lake, Mica Moon Zip Tours is one of the region’s most talked-about outdoor adventures. It’s a 3-hour zip line canopy tour across 290 acres of Pacific Northwest forest, with 9 zip lines, a UTV ride through historic trails, and a skybridge, including one of the longest zip lines in the country at over 3,500 feet. It’s award-winning, it runs in all weather, and it will absolutely overshadow the race weekend for every sibling in the group.

CENTENNIAL TRAIL & APPLEWAY TRAIL

The Valley has two paved trails easy to access. The 40-mile Centennial Trail follows the Spokane River, running from Nine Mile Falls through downtown Spokane and east to the Idaho state line. The 6-mile Appleway Trail runs right through the Valley, built on an old railroad right-of-way. Both trails are flat, accessible, and perfect for a post-race family bike ride or walk.

SPOKANE

RIVERFRONT PARK

Spokane’s Riverfront Park sits right on the river and packs more into one space than almost any urban park in the region. There are pedestrian bridges, a historic clocktower, and the Ice Age Floods playground with climbing structures and slides. The Looff Carrousel, one of the oldest hand-carved wooden carousels in the United States, is a favorite for families with younger kids. And the Numerica SkyRide gondola carries riders high above the Spokane River for a view of the falls unlike any other.

GREEN BLUFF

About 15 minutes north of Spokane, Green Bluff is a community of family-owned farms that has been operating since 1902. Late September is prime harvest season: apples, pears, and pumpkins are all coming in, and the Fall Harvest Festival runs the last two weekends of September and every weekend in October. Pick your own fruit, walk the corn maze, grab cider. It’s a low-key, high-reward stop that works for every age.

RIVERSIDE STATE PARK

Seven miles northwest of downtown Spokane, Riverside State Park covers 9,000 acres along the Spokane River with 55 miles of hiking trails. The Bowl and Pitcher area runs a 2.1-mile loop, with a dramatic suspension bridge over the Spokane River and only 166 feet of elevation gain. It’s a solid Sunday morning recovery walk for athletes and a fun outdoor adventure for the whole family.

COEUR D’ALENE

LAKE CRUISE

The Lake Coeur d’Alene Cruise is the quintessential CDA experience, a daily scenic cruise that takes you out on one of the most beautiful lakes in the Pacific Northwest. Lake Coeur d’Alene Cruises operates both daytime cruises and sunset dinner cruises, with options for large groups and families. The daytime cruise passes forested shorelines, lake homes, and the world’s only floating golf green, with narrated commentary throughout. Meanwhile, the sunset dinner cruise, a 2-hour buffet on the lake, works well for parents who want an actual sit-down dinner with a view on Saturday evening.

TUBBS HILL

A 2.1-mile loop trail at the edge of downtown Coeur d’Alene, Tubbs Hill sits right on the lake with views that make the short climb worth it. The trail is easy, takes about an hour, and the trailhead is a short walk from downtown shops and restaurants. For athletes who want to move without taxing their legs, it’s a reasonable option. For everyone else, the lake views are the payoff.

DOWNTOWN COEUR D’ALENE

Sherman Avenue and the waterfront area have over 100 shops and restaurants with a walkable main-street character that pairs naturally with a lake cruise or a Tubbs Hill hike. It fits easily into a half-day trip from your Spokane Valley hotel without feeling rushed.

STAY FOR SUNDAY: ADD SILVERWOOD THEME PARK

If you’re up to make a day of it before heading home, Silverwood Theme Park in Athol, Idaho, is worth the detour. The Pacific Northwest’s largest theme park, with over 70 rides, attractions, and shows, is open Sunday, September 27 from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. It’s about 45 minutes from Spokane Valley, which makes it a full-day stop rather than a quick addition, but for families with kids or teens looking to cap the trip with something memorable, it worth the extra hours on the road. Check out Sunday morning, arrive at Silverwood around opening, and drive home from there

FIND YOUR SPOKANE VALLEY HOTEL

From familiar hotel chains to small boutique stays, the Valley offers a variety of accommodations for full teams and families, giving athletes and everyone supporting them a race weekend made for comfort, convenience, and adventure.

Book your stay today.