Most people visit Silverwood Theme Park for a single day of roller coasters and water rides, then head straight home, but this corner of the Inland Northwest is built for more than a quick stop. Within just a short drive of the park, you can turn the trip into an easy summer road loop that starts in Spokane, heads east for the adrenaline and water rides at Silverwood Theme Park, continues into Coeur d’Alene for jet skis, lakefront evenings, and classic summer stops, climbs into the mountains at Kellogg, and finishes in the historic mining streets of Wallace before circling back through the Inland Northwest.
Spokane
If you’re making Spokane your first stop, there’s no better place to lean into the city’s history than The Davenport Hotel. Opened in 1914, this iconic hotel feels like stepping into another era with soaring ceilings, ornate chandeliers, marble details, and timeless old-world charm. Even if you’re not staying overnight, it’s worth wandering through the lobby, grabbing a drink, or simply soaking in the atmosphere before beginning your Inland Northwest adventure.
Before heading toward Idaho, fuel up with a stop at Muggies. This coffee stop is the perfect place to ease into the day with a quick caffeine boost before hitting the road. And if you’re a matcha lover like me, this is absolutely a stop you need to add to your itinerary.
For something playful and a little unexpected, swing by Kitty Cantina. Part café, part cat lounge, this quirky stop lets you sip themed drinks while hanging out with adoptable cats (and yes, taking approximately a million cute photos). It’s a fun way to slow down before the adrenaline rush of roller coasters and adds a memorable, feel-good stop to the Spokane portion of the trip.
Before hitting the road east, take time to wander through Riverfront Park, a downtown landmark where river views, walking paths, and open green space make it the perfect place to stretch your legs and ease into the start of your trip. You can ride the park’s iconic giant red Radio Flyer wagon slide, a Spokane favorite for both kids and nostalgic adults, or take in views of the roaring Spokane Falls from the SkyRide gondolas and scenic bridges scattered throughout the park.
Coeur d’ Alene
The next stop on the road trip is Coeur d’Alene. One of the best ways to experience the lake is with Lake Coeur d’Alene Cruises. The boats leave right from downtown and give you that beautiful North Idaho scenery. They run a variety of trips depending on the kind of experience you want, including 90-minute daily scenic cruises, Sunday brunch cruises, and sunset dinner cruises.
Coeur d’Alene also has no shortage of unique places to stay, depending on the kind of trip you want. If you want to be right in the middle of everything, the Coeur d’Alene Resort sits directly on the lake with unbeatable views and immediate access to downtown and the marina. Travelers can tee off at the world-famous floating green golf course before unwinding at the lakeside infinity pool. For something more playful and low-key, the Flamingo Motel offers individually themed rooms just blocks from the water, giving it a retro, road-trip feel. If you want a quieter escape that still keeps you close to town, Lake Village Lodge feels tucked between the lake and the mountains, almost like a small basecamp for exploring the area. For something more historic and experience-driven, the Roosevelt Hotel leans into its old-world charm with events like themed murder mystery dinners that make staying there part of the entertainment. And for a more boutique, design-focused stay, The Blackwell stands out as a beautifully restored historic property that feels intimate, polished, and full of character.
If you want something a little more adrenaline-filled than a relaxing lake cruise, jet ski rentals on Lake Coeur d’Alene are one of the most thrilling ways to experience the water. Instead of sitting back and drifting, you’re flying across open water with the mountains and shoreline whipping past you, weaving through coves and cutting across the lake. It’s fast, loud, and chaotic in the best possible way, the kind of activity that turns a calm lake day into a full-on adventure. Local rental companies make it easy to get out on the water, and once you’re out there, the lake feels twice as big and a lot more exciting than it does from shore.
If you want to lean even further into Coeur d’Alene’s unexpected side, there are a couple of animal experiences that feel completely different from the lakefront energy. Seven Stars Alpaca Ranch sits up on a quiet ridge just outside town, where you can walk through pastures filled with alpacas, llamas, goats, and miniature horses while learning a bit about life on a working ranch. It’s calm, hands-on, and surprisingly peaceful once you’re out there with the animals and mountain views. And down closer to town, Big Red’s Barn adds a totally different twist. With this indoor animal experience, you can meet everything from exotic animals to farm favorites, including capybaras that have quickly become one of the most talked-about parts of the visit.
Or do what almost every visitor eventually does: stop at Dockside Restaurant and order a Gooey. The resort’s legendary oversized ice cream dessert has basically become a Coeur d’Alene tradition, piled high with ice cream and enough toppings to feel completely unreasonable in the best way possible. It’s messy, over-the-top, impossible to finish alone, and somehow tastes even better after a long summer day at the lake.
Kellogg
After the lakefront energy of Coeur d’Alene, Kellogg feels like the road trip shifts into mountain mode. Tucked into the Silver Valley about 40 minutes east of Coeur d’Alene, Kellogg trades marinas for pine-covered mountains, old mining history, and slower small-town energy. It’s the kind of place where people still walk into restaurants wearing hiking boots, and nobody seems in much of a hurry.
The centerpiece of town is Silver Mountain Resort, home to one of the longest gondola rides in North America. Instead of climbing into a ski lift for a quick ride uphill, the gondola carries you slowly above the forest and mountains for several miles before reaching the resort at the top. In the summer, the mountain transforms into a hub for hiking, mountain biking, scenic overlooks, and alpine trails. Even if you’re not planning a huge outdoor adventure day, the gondola alone is worth doing for the views over the valley.
Wallace
If Kellogg feels like a mountain town, Wallace feels like stepping directly into the past. About 15 minutes farther east, Wallace is one of the most unexpectedly fascinating stops anywhere in the Inland Northwest. Nearly the entire downtown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means the old brick buildings, vintage storefronts, faded signs, and historic hotels have all been preserved instead of modernized away. Walking through town honestly feels less like visiting a tourist destination and more like wandering through a movie set that somehow never changed – probably because it was used as the backdrop for the film Dante’s Peak.
One of the best ways to experience Wallace’s history is with the Sierra Silver Mine Tour. Instead of just reading about the town’s mining past, the tour actually takes you underground into a real silver mine with retired miners as guides. You ride a trolley through downtown before heading into the mine itself, where guides explain how hard-rock mining shaped the entire region and what life underground was really like. The combination of local storytelling, mining demonstrations, and the underground tunnels makes it feel much more immersive than a normal museum stop.
And if you really want to lean into the retro-road-trip atmosphere, stay at Stardust Motel. The restored vintage roadside motel feels perfectly matched to Wallace itself – neon signs, classic motor lodge energy, and a nostalgic aesthetic that somehow feels both old-school and modern at the same time. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to park the car for the night, walk downtown, and pretend your phone doesn’t exist for a while.
In the end, this isn’t just a trip built around Silverwood Theme Park, it’s a full Inland Northwest experience stitched together by four very different stops that each bring their own kind of charm. From the city energy and historic charm of Spokane, to the lake days in Coeur d’Alene, the mountain backdrop of Kellogg, and the timeless streets of Wallace, every leg of the journey adds something different – but together, they create a loop that feels effortless, nostalgic, and unforgettable. It’s proof that Silverwood isn’t just a destination for a day of thrills – it’s the centerpiece of a summer road trip worth slowing down for, exploring fully, and coming back to again.
About the Conductor
Hi there! I’m Salem Gray, and I’m so excited to be a Conductor here at Silverwood! By day, I work as a Deputy Coroner, which keeps me on my toes and always learning new things. In the spring, you can also find me on the tennis courts, coaching high school students. I love witnessing their growth and cheering them on!
When I’m not working, I’m all about adventures. Traveling, exploring new places, and discovering fun theme parks with my husband and my mom is one of my favorite ways to spend time. There’s just something magical about the smell of popcorn, the thrill of a roller coaster, and the smiles of happy guests that makes my heart so full.
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