From a cover story about what it would be like to go rock climbing on Mars to a first-person account of Sasquatch-hunting in the Blue Mountains, Out There’s Founding Publisher Jon Snyder always aimed to keep magazine content interesting. Even if it “strained from the formula,” he says. “If I couldn’t have fun doing the magazine, I didn’t want to do it.” 

After working for Fantastic Media, editing Star Wars fan magazines, and moving back to his hometown, Snyder realized, “If I wanted to work in magazine publishing (in Spokane), I needed to create my own.” And a topic that was underrepresented in 2004 was outdoor recreation.  

Whenever Snyder met people not originally from the Inland Northwest, he heard the same spiel about why they chose Spokane—the proximity to trails, ski mountains and lakes, and abundant recreation opportunities. But he also observed that business and tourism bigwigs with power were mostly clueless that Spokane was a premiere destination for outdoor recreation. Their mindset didn’t consider “proximity” and “recreation opportunities” as selling points, according to Snyder. He wanted to change that, and thought, “Let’s shine a light on Spokane as an outdoor center, [with] all the [outdoorsy] people doing great things.”  

Early advertising supporters that helped launch “Out There Monthly” (OTM) and its first print issue in September 2004 were Mountain Gear and the Spokane Indians baseball organization. “Mountain Gear owner Paul Fish and I wanted to help the local business community to recognize that Spokane was a great place for outdoor recreation…to help them think of recreation as an asset—and why people should relocate their businesses here, and as a reason to move here,” says Snyder. He also wanted the magazine to highlight our community’s “strong conservation ethic that unites people, across party lines”—from hikers to hunters.  

Readers responded positively—here was a publication providing free, locally-focused, highly-informative guidance about hiking and biking trails, cycling and mountain biking know-how, road-trip destinations, outdoor gear, campgrounds, and much more. The people writing the stories and taking photos were all local people who had genuine personal experience about what they were talking about. Information that had only been available if you bought a hiking guidebook, or extensively searched through websites and blogs, or you knew the right local people to ask, was now easy to access.  

Magazine growth was “slow but steady” in the beginning, says Snyder. He promoted OTM with issue-launch parties and guerilla marketing ideas, like bicycle spoke-cards featuring work by local visual artists. Topics for Snyder’s monthly “From the Editor” column often focused on controversial topics (He liked to rock the boat!), and his writing style was engaging, witty and downright hilarious. He recalls that the first cover-feature that garnered greater attention was a climbing story about local father-son mountaineers John and Jess Roskelly—entitled “Who’s Melting the Himalayas?” and written by Derrick Knowles for the Dec. 2005 issue—with the Roskelleys’ photo on the front page. “That combination, a global issue with a local angle, really resonated with readers,” says Snyder.  

Derrick, current editor-in-chief and co-publisher (more on that later), has had his name in this magazine’s masthead since the beginning. Snyder and Knowles met through a mutual friend and non-profit organizations based out of the Community Building in downtown Spokane. “Derrick was then—as he is now—a lovable dirtbag with a ton of outdoor recreation knowledge,” says Snyder. “I am sure one of our early conversations got me thinking more about outdoor recreation before I started the magazine. He was one of the first people I contacted when I decided to give it a go. He contributed all sorts of great pieces starting with the very first issue.” 

In 2013, after more than 100 issues, Snyder sold the magazine to Derrick and Shallan Knowles, a husband-wife co-publishing team. OTM’s contributors and long-time readers were enthused (and relieved) that the magazine would continue and ownership remain local. Also in 2013, “Outside” magazine finally included Spokane in its annual list of “Best Towns” to live in America, nationally christening the city—like Snyder had long been lobbying for, regularly sending OTM copies to “Outside” editors. Meanwhile, Snyder continued his work as Spokane City Councilman and would be re-elected that year. 

FROM THEN TO NOW 

Now living in Tacoma, Wash., Snyder still champions the outdoors, as well as Spokane, as Director of Outdoor Recreation and Economic Development for the State of Washington. This public policy advisor position was created in 2015 by the State Legislature with overwhelming bipartisan support, according to Snyder.  

“Outdoor recreation is one of the biggest industries in our entire state, and now we have the data and metrics to support that,” says Snyder. “For Spokane’s reputation, in general, it’s still amazing to me how many people dismiss Spokane or don’t even have any curiosity about it. Sometimes I think part of my job is just setting people straight and inserting myself in any policy area concerning Spokane.” 

Snyder understands the complex interconnections between how cities and counties are managed and subsequent recreation quality-of-life indicators. “Outdoor recreation should be considered critical infrastructure. The number one thing that will kill outdoor recreation is sprawl—poorly-planned development,” he says. “Sprawl increases carbon emissions, and climate change will hurt recreation—wildfire smoke, less snow during winter; and [sprawl] destroys habitats and trails for recreation.” 

SPIRIT OF OUT THERE 

“Inclusivity—that’s the spirit of Out There. It’s not a magazine for hard-bodied dudes who climb Rainier. I don’t want anyone to say they’re not an outdoors-person. They just need to find the outdoor experience that’s right for them,” says Snyder. “We need to make sure that we get the message out that outdoor recreation is for everyone—grandparents, immigrants, people who didn’t grow up with these activities. You don’t have to be able-bodied to enjoy outdoor recreation—we need more ADA accessible trails. [Recreation must be] inclusive to all genders, races and backgrounds.” 

 “Out There democratizes that information and makes it less mysterious,” he says. “There will always be people who don’t want to talk about their favorite lakes or climbing routes. We can figure out a way to manage the crowds and the use. But we can’t be telling people that it’s a secret thing that people can’t be part of. Hats off to Derrick and Shallan who have embodied the spirit of the magazine. I couldn’t have sold it two better people.” 

Snyder understands the full big picture—outdoor recreation is both personal leisure and business. “To me, it’s all connected. The next generation, if they haven’t had a chance to go fly fishing or skiing, they are not going to be doing those things and ‘buying into’ [recreation] 20 years from now. And the industry will suffer.” 

PROUD PAPA-PUBLISHER 

“I’m most proud that it still exists and is even better than when I was running it,” says Snyder. “Writers and photographers created a vision that resonated [with readers] and lasted all these years. The enthusiasm of contributors sustained the magazine during challenging financial times. Magazines die all the time. It’s really hard to coalesce around a concept that keeps people excited for 20 years.” Additionally, “If anyone ever tried to try something in the outdoors and enjoyed it because of something they read about in ‘Out There’ then I’m really proud of that,” he says. 

In no particular order, Jon Snyder recalls some of the most memorable stories he published: the OTM cover story about the history of snowboarding (January 2011 issue); Dan Egan’s story about Bigfoot (October 2006); Jess Walter’s hilarious stories for the “Urban Outdoors” column (2006-07); a feature about bike commuters (“Road Warriors: The State of Urban Cycling in Spokane,” March 2007); and an early guide to area lakes.  

Outside of print, OTM’s presence and partnerships within the outdoors community championed environmental stewardship, helped to expand accessibility, and propelled popularity of non-motorized recreation. “It was neat to be involved with the early years of events like Spokane River Clean-Up and Spokefest, and to collaborate with Bloomsday,” says Snyder. 

“I want to thank folks for supporting independent media for 20 years. I’m talking about magazine contributors, and Derrick and Shallan who believed [in and supported Out There’s mission]. My wife, Heidi, who I couldn’t have done anything without. And advertisers—local businesses and business owners believing in this magazine. If we didn’t have the audience or no one cared, if readers didn’t value the outdoors like we did—participating in activities, recreation events, and supporting magazine advertisers—this would have been a short-lived magazine.”  

Thank you, Jon, for the guts to make this local magazine a reality and entrusting us all to keep it going strong. 

Amy McCaffree has been writing for Out There since 2006, after graduating from EWU with a MFA in Creative Writing. Rather than move back to the Puget Sound region, she stayed in Spokane to enjoy a 4-season outdoor recreation lifestyle and raise a family.  

The post Looking Back with Out There Monthly Founder Jon Snyder  appeared first on Out There Venture.

Recently I was challenged by a poet in Lycra bike shorts to write an entire column about bicycling without making fun of the way people look in Lycra bike shorts (which, by the way, I believe should be regulated no less strenuously than, say, automatic handguns-with permits, 5-day waiting periods and restrictions on public display.) Given my leanings toward humor that could sometimes be described as “sophomoric”-if this description weren’t so offensive to actual sophomores-this has proven to be somewhat difficult for me. The very same day, two people said to me, independent of one another, “I thought of you when I saw that raw sewage had leaked into the river,” no doubt, assuming that I am incapable of resisting brown trout jokes. (It’s catch and reflush season on the Spokane River.) But since I was planning to write about bicycling anyway, I decided to take my friend’s challenge and write an intelligent and tasteful piece about bicycling without once mentioning how men in bike shorts look like hairy boars being swallowed by Lycra snakes. And that one doesn’t count because it was in the introductory section to this column and not the actual text of the column, which begins immediately below, with these words: One day a bicyclist drafted off my car. 

One day a bicyclist drafted off my car. 

This has probably happened to you-blithely tooling along on some vital mission (it was visitors day at my brother’s rehab clinic) in your “polar-icecap-destroying motor vehicle” when an FOE (friend of the environment) suddenly settles in behind you, perched over his handlebars, gliding in the slipstream of your car. 

For me, it was a moment of pure camaraderie, the bicyclist recognizing a fellow FOE temporarily encased in aluminum, and I welcomed him as though he were wearing the yellow jersey and I were the pack at the Tour de West Central. Settle in, my pedaling friend, I thought, and let my combustion engine do the work for us both. I even felt a burst of ecological pride: my car gets only twenty miles per gallon, but between the two of us we were getting forty. 

Then the light changed and I had to stop. 

Done with me, my bicycle buddy quickly veered around me, went up on the curb and zipped across the crosswalk. This is something I occasionally do, too. I bristle at the way drivers in Spokane don’t treat me as a legitimate vehicle on my $10 bike, but then, when it suits my interest, I don’t hesitate to become a pedestrian. This is known, in the bicycling world, as bad form. 

It turned out this bicyclist was stopping at the same coffee shop as me. He came in wearing a pair of Lycra shorts that were…um…well, they looked…um…just fine. Really …aerodynamic. 

“Hi,” I said. 

And bike guy said, “That’s a pretty crappy car for someone so famous.” 

I was driving my wife’s newer Subaru, so I wasn’t sure where to start, with his flawed definition of the word “crappy” or his complete misunderstanding of the word “famous.” But I let it go because he was a fellow bicycling enthusiast and we had a nice conversation about bikes. And that’s all I have to say about bicycling. 

“Hey buddy,” I yelled as he pedaled away. “Nadia Comaneci called. She wants her leotard back.” 

Jess Walter’s latest book is the short story collection, “The Angel of Rome.” www.jesswalter.com  

You can find all of Jess’ The Urban Outdoors articles here.

The post “The Urban Outdoors” Published August 1, 2006 in Out There Monthly.   appeared first on Out There Venture.

Cover photo courtesy of Jess Walter

In 2006 and 2007, a newspaper-reporter-turned-novelist named Jess Walter wrote a recurring humor column for Out There called “The Urban Outdoors.” At the time, Walter had recently published his fourth novel, “The Zero,” which was named a finalist for the National Book Award. In the nearly two decades since, Walter has written five more books of fiction, including the 2012 best-seller “Beautiful Ruins.” His most recent novel, “The Cold Millions” is set in Spokane during the labor and free speech demonstrations of 1909 and 1910. 

To celebrate OTO’s 20^th anniversary, we sat down with Jess Walter to look back on his brief career as an outdoor magazine columnist. Here’s our conversation with him on trail poop, a risqué sledding subculture, and how he’s now involved with the urban outdoors. 

Chris Maccini for OTO: How did “The Urban Outdoors” column originate? Don’t you usually have to have some outdoor credibility to write for such a magazine?  

Jess Walter: The funny thing is people would ask me, “What’s it like living in Spokane?” I’d say, “Oh, it’s an amazing outdoors place.” And really, my experience in the outdoors is, when I was a kid, what we would call camping was driving as far into the woods as you could, shooting things with BB guns and drinking beer. So, yeah, I felt insecure about it. But then I thought, well, that’s kind of funny. And the things that I wanted to write about—like, why do people keep shitting all over the trail?—I’d never seen anyone write about. So, it started to seem like a funny thing to do. I’d written a humor column in high school and in college, and I love alternative papers. I loved that Spokane was supporting an outdoors paper. But I was definitely the last person I would have picked to write it.  

OTO: Do you still consider yourself an urban outdoorsman or has your relationship to the outdoors changed in the past two decades? 

Walter: I’m probably even more of an urban outdoorsman than I was then. I’ve committed more to riding my bike. I go for a walk every night. I still snow ski. I play golf at Downriver. I’ve given up swinging and sledding like I used to, and it’s been a couple of years since my brother and I did our annual river float. But yeah, most of the outdoor stuff I do is within the city limits.  

OTO: In your first column, you wrote that your chief complaint was encountering “man scat” during your walks along the Spokane River. It’s been almost 20 years—Would you say you encounter more or less man scat on the trails these days? 

Walter: When I wrote that, I think there was a mad shitter about, actually. Everywhere I went, I kept finding these big turds. And I really worried about the guy’s health. It’s like, your diet is really troubling me. Maybe I’ve stopped doing the scouting thing where I dropped to my knees and tried to determine whose it was. But yeah, I don’t think we’ve solved that problem, clearly. 

OTO: In a winter edition of the column, you wrote about an encounter you had on a plastic sled with another man’s wife. This led you to ponder a potential “sledding swingers community.” Have you discovered any other urban outdoors subcultures in your time since? 

Walter: The urban fishermen are the thing that I’ve seen the most of. One of my neighbors catches beautiful redband trout out of the Spokane River. There used to be a guy who would bring a bucket of golf balls and hit them into the river. I wanted to say something to him like, you’re gonna hit somebody. But he was so terrible that I was almost embarrassed for both of us. I’ve yet to find anyone as edgy as the swinging sledding community. I’m sure they’re out there, though. 

OTO: One of your columns was about floating the river every summer with your brother. You predicted that the increased development nearby might actually be good for the river’s health. Now, the river is much cleaner than it used to be. The City of Spokane just finished a big stormwater project. The Spokane Riverkeeper has done so much cleanup work. The redband trout you mentioned are being conserved. Local tribes are even doing some salmon reintroduction. Does having a cleaner Spokane River make us more like those smug Montanans you wrote about with their “gin-clear” rivers? Do you long for the days of seeing “brown trout” floating down stream?  

Walter: No, I mean, imagine if the salmon ever came this far again! Steelhead is my very favorite food. If I could fish for steelhead in Spokane, that might just tip me over into being a real outdoorsman because I love eating it so much. I still remember one of the most stunning things in the research for “The Cold Millions” was finding out that people used to take their garbage down to the river and just dump it. As the river fell, all this garbage would show up and it would stink so badly. So the solution was to put trap doors in the bridges. Trucks would pull up with construction debris, and they would just open that hatch and throw it in. This was like 1909, 1910. Then they had a big mound of garbage in the center of the river for a while. Even growing up here in the ‘70s and ‘80s, all the restaurants and hotels had no windows looking over the river. It really wasn’t seen that way. So the development and cleaning up the river is part of this long process that really began with Expo ’74. There’s still so far to go, but the Riverkeeper has been such an amazing development. And yeah, the more people who are swimming, kayaking, rafting, fishing, the more we’ll also demand a cleaner river.  

OTO: You’ve written about Spokane in several of your books. How has your conception of the Inland Northwest as a literary setting changed in the past twenty years? 

Jess: “Citizen Vince” had been probably my most “Spokane” novel before I wrote those columns for Out There Monthly. And it really captures Spokane at that moment when I became aware of it as a place, the 1980s. It was the place where you could hide guys in the witness protection program, and no one would ever find them. In “Over Tumbled Graves” or “Land of the Blind,” I wrote about how Spokane was the kind of place you had to move away from. And I think that’s how I felt. I had this long period of coming to appreciate the place that first was, “Oh, this place isn’t any worse than anywhere else.” But then the next breakthrough was thinking, “Oh no, this place is incredible.” Like for me, working on “The Cold Millions” felt like I discovered these amazing stories that people didn’t know about. Stories I can tell that are illustrative of the time we’re living in. I suppose my sense of the place has evolved to the point where, if anything, I almost have to push myself to write about other places because I know this place so well. But I still love going out and writing about Rome in “The Angel of Rome” and then coming back and writing about Gino’s Pizza and Gonzaga University. 

Jess Walter’s latest book is the short story collection, “The Angel of Rome.” www.jesswalter.com  

Find Jess Walter’s The Urban Outdoor Column here or, peruse all of his old columns here.

Chris Maccini is a writer and audio producer from Spokane. When he’s not hassling the local literati, you can find him on the trails and waters of the Inland Northwest

The post Jess Walter Interview – The Urban Outdoors  appeared first on Out There Venture.

In this special Anniversary section, we took time to reflect on how things have changed in conservation and recreation in our region since 2004. A few positives: the number of new, high-quality trails in recent decades; urban public lands (like Conservation Futures conservation and recreation lands in Spokane County); climbing area improvements; and trailhead/put-in/access facilities across the region that likely wouldn’t have been possible without more of us advocating. It’s pretty staggering to think about the change that the growing population of outdoor enthusiasts have been able to bring about. (Read Holly Weiler’s article page 62 in the print edition for that breakdown.) More invested people advocating for conservation and restoration of our public lands and fish and wildlife, including the region’s Native American Tribes and non-profit conservation organizations, have also led to some pretty dramatic success stories. (Check out Adam Gabauer’s article in this section about the incredible work of local Tribes on page 66 and the Public Lands Guide on page 26 in the print edition.) 

At the same time, our region has long suffered from a surplus of neglected, unmaintained trails; threatened wildlands and urban open spaces; and a dearth in advocates to stand up for them. Which is why Out There has long dedicated many pages of each issue toward educating readers on conservation and outdoor recreation topics with the goal of leaving our natural wonders better off than they were before.  

We don’t shy from encouraging more readers to visit neglected trails that would benefit from improvements. The same goes for out-of-the-way destinations and communities that have become more invested in protecting their nearby natural areas and trails when their local economies have benefited from an increase in visitors. (Give our Fall Road Trips Guide a read on page 38 in the print edition.) But our staff and editors have also become increasingly careful about over-promoting some of the more overcrowded trails and ecologically sensitive places.  

Trade-offs like these in our rapidly-growing corner of the country can be tough to rationalize at times, especially when you’re sitting in traffic on your way out of town itching to get to the trailhead or have to pause your ride or hike over and over to let others pass. No doubt Out There will continue to grapple with these issues and do our best to adapt and evolve to best serve our local outdoors community and amenities, local economies, and the natural wonders that sustain it all in the years ahead—all while striving to provide inspiring, educational, and engaging content for a growing readership.  

In this special anniversary section, we interviewed past Urban Outdoors columnist Jess Walters, asked a few of our long-time writers to reflect on the magazine or their favorite articles, and interviewed Out There founder Jon Snyder about the start of the magazine and what he thinks of it now. Here’s to 20 more years of Out There in print! 

The post 20 Years of Publishing Out There  appeared first on Out There Venture.

KEEP IT LOCAL

To get in the spirit, I picked up our 8-year-old from school and set off for some of our favorite local stores. We do our best to keep it local for the single reason that it keeps our community vibrant. At some of these stores, we know the owners by name, and they know us. They show us their favorite items in the store and usually have a story to go with it. They show our kiddo the loudest noise makers and delight in his delight. The purchases from these local stores pay local employees who are then more likely to spend their paychecks locally. More money stays in our community when we shop local. It’s a win-win.

The other thing about some of the specialty stores we’ve included in this guide is that they have finds our loved ones might never purchase for themselves. Sure, an Amazon gift card could cover the necessities and is appreciated. But, where else can you find a Great Blue Heron mobile that flies or a handmade mushroom mug? Shop local. It’s more interesting.

THE ART OF GIVING A GIFT

It’s not just the thrill of the find or wrapping it beautifully or watching someone open your gift with anticipation. A look of delight and gratitude on the receiver’s face can be so rewarding to the giver. Something small that says “I see you” deepens the bond between people.  When you consider the intrinsic value of a thoughtful gift, it can add fire to your gift search. And there are many types of gift-giving to consider—from material goods to outdoors experiences or donations to community organizations, we hope you enjoy this guide as much as we enjoyed shopping around town to find treasures for your loved ones.

BIKES/OUTDOOR GEAR

For the gearheads in your life, the options are endless. We’ve recently gifted the strider-riding kids we know nice helmets to protect their growing brains, in colors they love from North Division Bike Shop. Brenda, the owner, always helps us find the right gift, from the perfect bike to handlebar bells and baskets. Bike lights that help the cyclist in your life ride in the dark days of winter is always appreciated. You might not be able to gift the feeling of wind-in-your-hair, adrenaline-pumping fun, but you can gift the bike and accessories that make it easier (and safer) for them to get out there.

Shred Sports outlet on Division has your standard snow/water sports/ bike gear selection, but they also have some fun toys tucked away. The collection of Lucky Scooters can keep the whole family moving this spring. While we wait for the sun to warm us, gift the 686 Waterproof Hooded Puffer Blanket ($119). It can convert to a puffer poncho, and who couldn’t use a little more comfort and style this winter?

For the skier in your life, consider a pair of lift tickets. If they have a pass, consider gifting day passes to another resort to find some new favorite runs. Pair it with a fun, printed Black Strap Goggle Cover and they will think of you every time they cover and uncover their goggles ($15). Other ski gear: Smith Wireless Audio setup for helmets ($130) or a gear bag to keep it organized ($75-$130), all found at Alpine Haus.

For the paddler in your life, a backpack dry bag is useful for day trips and overnight trips. It’s useful for the boat, the beach, the paddleboard and keeping the rain away from your essentials. NRS, a local store in Moscow, Idaho, has a great selection. Go for the backpack version.

Some might think of Rambleraven Gear Trader as a consignment-only outdoor store, but it’s not. Sure, you will probably find a very gently used treasure in their racks of clothes and shoes, but you can also source new gear from them. It’s the local go-to for Spokane’s gear store. In Coeur d’Alene, check out Escape Outdoors in the Riverstone area.

If your person is a fitness fanatic, the Fitness Fanatics store has some great gift options. I’ve heard suggestions dropped around our house for a bike trainer. They have a nice selection. They also have a fabulous selection of snowshoes. We like the ultralight Atlas Helium ($230) with the largest pair weighing in at 3lbs, 12oz.

Wheel Sport has a store in every corner of Spokane, making it easy to stock up on items for your bike riders. And, if you are in the market to make a kid’s Christmas, check out their kids’ bike selection. For the tech-loving cyclist in your life, check out the Sigma Pure 1 ($45), a simple bike computer that can tell your rider how fast, how far and how long they’re going. Really, you are giving the gift of accurate bragging!

BOOKS AND MAPS

My reading habits have changed over time, from fiction and select learning to kids’ books. Auntie’s Bookstore has a healthy selection of every genre. We also wander through the journals, stickers, calendars, coloring books, tote bags, bookmarks and gifts before we hit the check-out stand. The other thing I love about Auntie’s is the trade in program. We can clean out our stacks of well-loved books and get credit for new books. It helps us detach from the books we’ve outgrown and find new books. We are currently reading “Spy Ski School,” though I have “The Cold Millions” by Jess Walter tucked into my nightstand. Give the gift of escape with a book!

Shopping locally for books is easy. Check out these other Spokane treasures: 42 Pages is full of used books for the budget conscious // Second Look Books on the South Hill also has an OTO rack! // Wishing Tree Books in the Perry neighborhood is a treasure of kids’ books and just feels good to wander around // Giant Nerd Books on Garland has a great selection of used and new books. // Book Traders, also on Garland, is a magic little store of used books. We came home with an armful of books.

Give the gift of navigation with the new summer and winter trail map of Mount Spokane State Park. Whether your giftee is a mountain biker, hiker, bird watcher, Nordic skier or trail runner, this map will help them plan their next adventure. Washington State Parks in partnership with the Friends of Mount Spokane produced this full-color, detailed map printed on waterproof, durable paper to last even the toughest treks. Maps can be purchased at our local REI, Fitness Fanatics, The Bike Hub, Mojo Cyclery and other local outdoor stores or online at inlandnwland.org.

CLASSES AND EXPERIENCES

Give the gift of feeling at home in your body. Yoga is not just for the flexible! A month of unlimited yoga classes from Harmony Yoga is an affordable and creative gift that says “love the body you are in.” The environment is welcoming to all ages, abilities and backgrounds. Tight muscles from running? Aging hips? Anxiety from life and work? Yoga can assist with soothing all the things. With free loaner mats and no mirrors, Harmony Yoga makes it easy to attend a class.

A good massage is one that not only helps your muscles and tissues feel better, but one that also calms the central nervous system. A gift card for a massage is a gift that will help someone find a massage therapist and get them on the table for some relaxing relief after their winter outdoor adventures.

Gifting experiences to kids enriches their lives. When my parents started to become overwhelmed by the number of people in our family, they shifted away from material gifts to a trip. This year, we are going to Silver Mountain in March to enjoy spring skiing and the water park. The combined condos make it easy to prepare and share meals and spend mornings watching cartoons with the little ones.

These other experiences make good gifts too: Ninja Classes for kids  at Spokane Gymnastics / Wild Walls Kids’ Climbing Clubs // Science & Stuffies sewing camps at Let’s Get Sewing // Spokane Parks and Recreation has an abundance of classes from art workshops to snowshoe dinners. 

Most resorts have ski lessons which can work with your schedule. Mt. Spokane has a full spring schedule of camps for skiers, for littles and older kids. The gift of skiing is giving the gift of loving winter!

Get creative with a food tour from Wander Spokane ($70), Cooking Class at Commellini Estates ($85), paddleboard or kayak season passes with Fun Unlimited ($160), or gift a Boat Club Membership for those who are having too much fun to maintain a boat, so they can walk onto one of the fleet ready to hit it at Carefree Boat Club of North Idaho (call for pricing).

OUTDOORS JEWELRY & CRYSTALS

If you love the outdoors, we are guessing you love nature. And if you love jewelry and nature, the combo makes a nice gift. My sister gifted me a necklace of a tiny silver Coeur d’Alene Lake from Solder & Stone. It’s a daily reminder of my love of water and our region. The Coeur d’Alene-based Bumblebee Jewelry (shop online) has handmade silver jewelry that donates a portion of each sale to Xerces Society to help protect the company’s namesake. Tracy Jewelry on Evergreen and Kizuri also had nice nature-inspired jewelry finds.

My Crystal Stop in north Spokane has a beautiful selection of crystals and jewelry. They can help pick out a special piece to match with the energy your loved one is creating in their life.

KITCHEN/COFFEE/FOOD

If you know someone who plays hard, but needs their coffee first, visit DOMA Coffee Roasting Company in Post Falls, Idaho, for craft coffee and accessories. Our van has an AeroPress and we highly recommend this for any coffee-loving camper. If you know someone who finds adventure in coffee, give them DOMA’s newest Gesha specialty coffee, complete with an original signed art label from local artist Jeff Weir. Or sign them up for a DOMA Coffee subscription, so they get awesome coffee delivered to their door. We love The Chronic dark roast (bonus groovy adventure van art on the label).

During the darker months, we tend to cook at home more. To spice up home-cooked creations, we love to use Inland Empire Spices on Monroe to give food special flavors. For burgers, we love the Smashburger Seasoning. For wild caught salmon, we use the Smokin’ Huckleberry Rub. For veggies, check out their Greek Seasoning. They also have gift sets where the tea and seasonings come in vials—these would be perfect tucked into stockings!

When shopping at the Main Market Co-op in downtown Spokane, we were delighted to find kitchen goods that reminded us of our love for nature. I found beautiful juice glasses with poppies, sea creatures, bees and trillium. Pair the set with homemade cranberry syrup and soda water for a nature-inspired mocktail set.

An adventurer who is also a chef/bbq master/veggie lover or just plain foodie might be delighted by a box of ingredients! LINC Foods has a subscription for all things local—even a beer box. The Herd, a ranch in eastern Washington, has beef boxes that ship farm-raised beef to your door. Gift the whole box or take out a steak for your own BBQ.

TOYS

Though kids appreciate the holidays for religious reasons or the outdoor snow play, the most exciting gift that most any kid will cite are the toys. The Red Rider BB gun is not on the list in our house, but these creative, local and sustainable toys are.

Games from Uncle’s Games or Merlyn’s: Card games and board games bring connection throughout the year. Our favorites are Uno Flip, Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza, and any Harry Potter Game. For a more complex game, check out Forbidden Desert, recommended for ages 10+. This co-op board game has you excavating a solar-powered flying machine while trying to stay alive in the outdoor elements of a desert storm. We found this one at Whiz Kids. Hunt around and see if there’s a new game that will delight your family for hours in these dark months.

Whiz Kids also has a fun science section with telescopes, microscopes and experiments. They have one for understanding climate change, which can be hard to understand the how and why even for the science-minded kid. For the art-focused kids, they have kits to learn knitting by making butterflies and DIY kaleidoscope kits. There will be a Transforming Sphere under our tree this year. I’m not sure why these are so popular, but I’m sure the kids can tell you!

Boo Radley’s is a trove of treasures for every age. Kids love the interesting and unique finds, from tin lunch boxes to finger puppets, unique stuffies and toys.

For those kids who miss the toy section of The White Elephant, look no farther than just a few blocks north at The General Store. The selection of toys, games and Lego sets will keep any kiddo busy for hours. Don’t forget to shop for classics that will inspire outdoor time like a set of kid’s binoculars or a good old-fashioned sled.

A few more things on our list: Toddlers love the bike rider on a stick found at Kizuri. The “instruments” (aka noise makers) at Kizuri are also a kid favorite, though some of them might need to stay at grandma’s house. Art supplies from Spokane Art Supply on Monroe are sure to delight the little or big artists on your list.

PERSONAL CARE

If your loved one ventures off the trail and into the wild, a year subscription to Life Flight is most likely on the need list. Paired with a satellite communication device, we have been happy to have this combo on river-trips, backcountry ski adventures and high mountain bikepacking slogs. Not only does it save lives, it helps the ones left home to relax and know that you have a plan in case of an emergency. It might be the best care item on our list.

The Dragon Balm XTRA Strength ($32) from APEX Cannabis can help soothe tired muscles that play hard. We’ve been happy to have it after a long day of skiing or even just after sitting at the computer for a while. They have a variety, so you can pick up a lavender scented cream or one that will leave you smelling like a Chinese herb store. If you know someone who struggles to sleep, or sleep in a tent/unfamiliar place, consider gifting Lil Rays, 100mg shooters. They can take the edge off and help someone get to sleep. Is there a better gift than good sleep?

When I think of gifts that make my life better, but I won’t buy for myself, these two things come to mind. First, IV Therapy. Gifting someone hydration and nutrition through a needle in their arm might seem strange, until you see the benefits. We had Carlee at IV Offerings come to our house (yes, she does home visits) to administer a migraine solution of magnesium, b & c vitamins and other things that might not absorb as well in my celiac gut. It goes right into the blood stream and the results are fewer migraines. Second, personal training for a set period of time. As the New Year Wellness season kicks off, starting the season with someone who is invested in your fitness journey can keep you going past February. Donnie at Torq Personal Training has created a welcoming, kind environment with tools to help day to day between workout sessions. //

Shallan Knowles is the designer and co-publisher of Out There.

The post Out There’s Holiday Gift Guide appeared first on Out There Venture.

Spokane is home to many urban wilds. No matter where in Spokane you live, chances are there is a wild-ish natural area near you to explore. Combining urban neighborhoods with these special, scenic places makes for one of the most unique and satisfying hiking experiences imaginable.

And with the right guide to point out everything from native plants and geographical features to historic sites and buildings, it can be even better. This was the idea behind the urban walking tours and my business, Wander Spokane, as well as my desire to become a tour guide. These local tours can’t be repeated anywhere else because they are tied to this unique place.

This summer, get out there to explore on your own or with a Wander Spokane guided tour and see some of Spokane’s lesser-known urban wilds.

Coeur d’Alene Park & Browne’s Addition Neighborhood History

A great starting point is on the corner of Second Avenue and Hemlock at Spokane’s oldest park, Coeur d’Alene Park. The beautiful gazebo in the center of the park was built in 1896 and has been a gathering place for Spokanites for over 120 years. The land for the park was donated after the great fire of 1889 by J.J. Browne and A.M. Cannon as a way of promoting building in the area.

Most homes in this neighborhood reflect the era in which they were built. This was an enclave for the elite who made most of their money in the railway and mining industries.

Overlook Park & Latah Valley Views

Walking west down Second Avenue toward Overlook Park you will pass many homes ranging from the Patsy Clark Mansion (1897) to the Gibbs-Murphy house, the oldest in the neighborhood (1883). Taking in the view of the Hangman Creek valley, directly below you is High Bridge Park located along the banks of the creek.

Take time to read the few signs at the top of the hill that tell some tales of the past. To the south you’ll notice some beautiful bridges, including the Sunset Highway bridge. Downstream you’ll see remnants of old trusses both in the water and on land.

High Bridge Park Walk along the Creek

Starting down the trail to Latah Creek below are plenty of plants, many native to the area. My favorite time to view them is late spring/early summer. Probably the most well-known is the arrowleaf balsamroot that resembles a wild sunflower. Ponderosa pines line the trail and the creek, as well as yarrow, ocean spray, and Douglas fir, all with edible and medicinal uses.

At the bottom of the trail you reach the creek, known by one of two names—Hangman Creek or Latah Creek, depending on who you ask. (In 1858 Col. George Wright had several Native Americans hanged in this valley, hence the name discrepancy).

At this point the pulse of the city is out of sight, and the sound of the water and birds take over.

People’s Park & the Confluence

Follow the creek north to the Spokane River and the confluence with Latah Creek, a special place to members of the Spokane Tribe and other Native Americans. The river and creek provided Native American inhabitants with salmon and other fish for thousands of years before dams downstream cut off their migration from the Pacific Ocean.

More recently, the natural area surrounding the confluence of the Spokane River and Latah Creek is known as People’s Park. This area has several trails an array of beautiful plants and a “colorful” story.

During Spokane’s Expo ’74, this area was set up for free camping and soon became its own little community. After the fair ended, it became a place for peace, love, and nude beaches.

Peaceful Valley

Turning back east along the south bank of the Spokane River, walk along the newly paved path toward the Peaceful Valley neighborhood, following the river where you can still hear the raging waters below during spring runoff. Follow the path to Main Street and you will find yourself in my favorite neighborhoods.

Peaceful Valley went by many names in its lifetime: Poverty Flats and Spring Flats to name a few. There are many interesting and historical homes in this neighborhood, including the Pietsch House, Groshoff Apartments, and the Cowley School.

An unusual feature found in this neighborhood is a series of row cabins. Our hike ends at Redband Park, formerly known as Glover Field. The park was renamed after the redband trout, a native fish to the Spokane River that, along with the salmon, was crucial to the Indigenous inhabitants of the area.

The views from Redband Park are amazing, especially from the field looking toward downtown with the power of the river meeting the gorgeous architecture and cityscape.

For more information about urban tours of Spokane and Wander Spokane, visit Wanderspokane.com.

Find more urban recreation and adventure ideas in the Urban Outdoors column archives.

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This area has both a secluded loop of singletrack (avoid when thawing or muddy) and a flat, open path with a great view of downtown and Mount Spokane. The wide gravel path, named Rimrock Drive (closed to motorized vehicles), runs along the edge of Palisades Park, about a mile out and back, and is ideal for hiking with a group or walking trail-sturdy strollers if it isn’t too snowy.

With rocky outcroppings that overlook the city, it’s a joy in winter to just take a few breaths and watch the steam rise up from the downtown buildings. Mount Spokane, visible toward the north end of this hike, often has a snowy cap this time of year that makes for a nice landmark view.

Explore the singletrack that loops at the center of this park through native brush, meadows, and pines, but bring navigation if snow or ice may obscure the trail.

Find more stories about hikes close to downtown Spokane and ways to explore Spokane’s urban outdoors in the OTO archives.

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According to the Child Mind Institute, “In natural environments, we practice an effortless type of attention known as soft fascination that creates feelings of pleasure, not fatigue.” This is why hiking in a wild setting away from traffic and urban distractions works better to reduce stress and fatigue. (Learn more: “Why Kids Need to Spend Time in Nature“)

Try these Inland Northwest hikes that can be tailored for different hiking abilities. Explore a new trail and find some unplugged, wild serenity this spring. 

Spokane Area 

• McKenzie Conservation Area: Explore the 2-mile, self-guided Geology Walking Tour, which includes Turtle Rock, at this conservation area near Newman Lake. Spokanecounty.org. 
• James T. Slavin Conservation Area: Easy, flat trails here will inspire kids to run and explore this area southwest of the city, off Highway 195. Explore rolling pastures, grassy meadows and wetlands, lake and pond shorelines, and pine and fir forest. Look for wildflowers, waterfowl, and other wildlife. Spokanecounty.org. 
• High Drive Bluff: Located on the west edge of Spokane’s South Hill, this designated natural area features ponderosa pine forests and bunchgrass meadows. Three trails that are good for kids are Polly Judd, Murungu’s, and Ponderosa—each one traverses the steep hillside without too much elevation loss and gain. All are accessible from the trailhead at S. Cedar Street & 29^th Ave. There are another five trailheads, including Polly Judd Park which has a playground. Use the map from Friendsofthebluff.org. 
• Dishman Hills: Pond Loop Trail and Deep Ravine Loop Trail are two easy hiking routes, recommended by Spokane mom and OTO contributor Carol Corbin. Basalt rock and water features will engage kids’ interest and curiosity. Start from Camp Caro, where there is a kiosk trail map, restrooms, and playground. Dishmanhills.org. 

Coeur d’Alene 

• Blue Creek Recreation Site: Located within Wallace Forest Conservation Area, this site is managed by U.S. Bureau of Land Management and has nearly 5 miles of trails with two trailheads. For hiking with young children, start from the day use/picnic area to hike out and back along the Blue Trail. Or start hiking on the Blue Trail from the trailhead on Yellowstone Trail Road. Some trails may still be closed in March 2021 because of an ongoing forest management project. Blm.gov. 
• Fernan Lake Natural Area: Hiking trails on Potlatch Hill are still a work-in-progress, but so far there are three short loops. More info at Cdaid.org.  

Sandpoint 

• Pend d’ Oreille Bay Trail: Recommended by Sandpoint mom and OTO contributor Ammi Midstokke, this flat, out-and-back 3-mile trail—simply called Bay Trail by locals—travels along Lake Pend Oreille from City Beach. Pobtrail.org. 

• Mineral Point Trail: Midstokke also recommends this popular national forest trail south of Sandpoint for scenic views of Lake Pend Oreille. The point-to-point Mineral Point Trail #82 is 2.1 miles with the southern trailhead at Green Bay Campground. Fs.usda.gov. 

Want to learn about more recommended hiking destinations for kids and families? Check out these stories from our archives.

• Best Hiking Trails for Kids & Strollers (April 2018)
• 5 Favorite Family Hikes for Lakeside Fun Near Spokane (April 2019)
• Hiking with Dogs & Family Pets (June 2018)
• Hiking for Huckleberries with Kids (April 2020)
• Downtown Spokane’s Urban Wildlife Hikes (May 2017)
• Family Trail Adventures Along the Spokane River (May 2016)

[Feature Photo: Hiking at Slavin Conservation Area. Photo: Amy McCaffree]

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2020 has been a year we won’t ever forget, and local businesses need our support more than ever. Shopping at locally-owned stores helps keep jobs and money in our local communities, and local businesses will work harder to make sure you’re happy with your purchases. Wear a mask, use hand sanitizer, and use this guide to plan out your holiday shopping list in advance to make shopping faster.

Many of the businesses featured in our Local Holiday Gift Guide have advertised with Out There Outdoors sometime during the year and help make this publication possible. Show them that it matters to you by supporting them back. If you don’t find all the gifts you’re looking for here, try the new website LiveLocalINW.com where you’ll find over 457 local businesses listed, many of which feature great holiday gift ideas. Stay safe out there and happy holidays! 

Winter Sports 

Spokane Alpine Haus 

You can hardly turn around in the this packed shop without finding the perfect gift for skiers and rides on your lists (or for yourself). A few recommendations for the season: Smith wireless audio chips for helmets—$130 for Bluetooth and $40 for the wired version. Otis sunglasses featuring scratch-resistant mineral glass lenses—$150-25. Thermic heated ski or snowboard boot kits—$250. Dakine ski or board boot bags—$65-85. Dakine ski or Board bags—$140. Yaktrax—$20. And Kari Traa base layers for women—$90 top or bottom. 

Shred Sports Outlet  

A huge space full of ski and snowboard equipment, gear, bikes, and more. A few gift highlights include Faststik glide on wax. “The best thing people don’t know they want. It’s all I use on my own equipment and we are applying it to every tune at Shred.” $40 for all temp and $30 for warm temp. Prizm lens technology from Oakley with dye added to the lens that enhances the vibrancy of color and creates contrast resulting in better visibility of terrain will be a holiday pleaser too—$150-270. 

Rambleraven Gear Trader (Formally NW Outdoors) 

Specializing in quality consignment outdoor gear, Rambleraven now sells a selection of new gear that should make it on your holiday shopping list, like the Hok Skis backcountry ski/snowshoe hybrid with climbing skin built into them—$227.95 (skis only). Quality, durable, and stylish socks for winter outdoor adventures are always a hit. Rambleraven carries both Point6 and Smartwool ski and hiking socks (prices vary). 

Hiking/Camping/Running/Paddling

Outdoor Experience (Sandpoint) 

Therm-a-Rest Honcho Poncho. The perfect gift for the person who is always cold. The Honcho Poncho is one size fits all, unsnaps to lay flat like a blanket, and pack into its pocket which can double as a pillow—$99.95. KAVU Herschel Beanie, a cuffed beanie with jacquard design and pom on top. Narwhale, Sasquatch, Unicorn oh my!—$30. Pair with matching KAVU Moonwalk Socks—$25. MSR Evo Trail Snowshoes. Classic, affordable pair to get you started—$139.95. Or add a pack and poles along with the snowshoes with the Evo Trail Snowshoe Kit—$199.95. 

NRS Flagship Store (Moscow) 

Today’s snowpack is next season’s whitewater. If you have a paddler on your list, consider upgrading their PFD. The NRS Oso PFD is a basic, medium profile life jacket for rafters and kayakers with a ventilated, thin-back design for comfort with any type of seat—$109.95 

Fleet Feet Sports 

After hours of skiing or climbing or running, your feet need a break. The Hoka One One Ora Recovery Shoes are breathable, super-cushioned slip-ons that will change your day. Available in a shoe, slide or flip—$80 

Buck Knives Custom Knife Shop (Post Falls) 

Give your outdoor enthusiast a one-of-a-kind knife that’s made in America. With Buck Knives online Custom Knife Shop, you can customize a knife with many blade and handle options, as well as specialty engraving. Custom orders take 4-6 weeks and prices vary. 

REI 

Here’s a sample of gift ideas from REI’s Spokane store. Whether you’re on an impromptu picnic or covering yourself on a chilly evening, the Pendleton Cotton Throw gift pack is a versatile source of comfort and warmth you can take anywhere—$99.50. Part slipper, part sneaker, part sleeping bag for your feet, Teva Ember Mocs also feature collapsible heels—$74.95. Perfectly sized for your cold food and drinks during a solo foray in the great outdoors, the YETI Hopper Flip 8 soft cooler lets you travel light with legendary insulation and durability—$199.98. 

Selkirk Design 

Spokane-based outdoor gear company Selkirk Design has created several products that would make great gifts that make outdoor adventures even better. The ROCK SOK ultralight food hanging system makes hanging food away from bears and other critters fast and easy—$32.95. The On The Fly rod holder is a compact, convenient fly rod and reel holder that fits on any vehicle while driving from one fishing spot to the next—$19.95. 

Food & Drink 

Lyte Balance is an all-natural, sugar-and-additive free, vegan and gluten free electrolyte concentrate that can be added to any beverage, from water to cocktails and coffee to fend off dehydration and replenish minerals lost during exercise—16oz bottle, $25. 

Award-winning Dry Fly Whiskey is a no-brainer gift. Founded in Spokane in 2007, Dry Fly’s spirits are made locally with local ingredients. In a backcountry flask, or family holiday gathering, it’s the best in the Northwest. 

You like bikes. You like beer. Bring a six-pack of classic, Colorado-brewed New Belgium Fat Tire Amber to your holiday bonfire gatherings or winter ride après. Available at Yokes Fresh Market stores.  

Any wine lover will also love Townshend Cellars Wowler, the refillable way to enjoy wine. Townshend Cellars sources all of their grapes from Washington’s world-renowned Columbia Valley and the wine is produced in its newly expanded winery facility in the heart of Spokane. Wowlers are available at the Green Bluff Tasting Room Fridays-Sundays. 

Spokane’s The Kitchen Engine is always a great place to find unique gifts including these: Carbonate any liquid at home, from juice to wine and cocktails, with a Drinkmate countertop soda maker—$99-159. “DOMA Instant Coffee is the best instant coffee out there. I have used it on many backpacking trips this year. There are about 6 to choose from right now and we carry them all.”—$16. Lodge Cast Iron cookware are made in the USA and are one of the best performers for the money (prices vary).  

Adventures 

We all have someone that’s impossible to find the right gift for. Instead of an object, why not gift a local Northwest adventure. Here’s a few of our favorites: A zipline tour pass from Mica Moon in Liberty Lake, Timberline Adventures in CDA, or Silver Streak in Wallace; ROW Adventures whitewater trips; FLOW Adventures whitewater trips; Wild Walls climbing gym passes; or a lift ticket or season pass to any of our local ski and snowboard resorts. Bikes 

Mojo Cyclery 

Cary all the essential on-trail bike tools in a compact design with the Topeak Mini 9 Multi Tool—$16.99. Preset at 5nM, the Ritchey Torque Key Tool is perfect for checking bolts on the bike—$22.99. The Stans No Tube Dart is a tubeless tire repair kit that fills larger holes on tubeless tires where the dart chemically reacts with sealant for a better repair—$24.99. The Kryptonite Alley F800 bike light is an 800 lumen USB rechargable handlebar-mounted bike light—$74.99. The Topeak Tourguide Handlbar Bag DX is a front-mounted bag that’s great for bikepacking adventures—$89.99. 

Wheel Sport Bikes 

The Muc-Off bike care essentials kit contains all the basic elements you need to be able to look after your bicycle. Clean, polish, and protect your bike with it all packed in a tidy tote—$50. Trail riding is more aggressive than ever, so you need a helmet that gives you the confidence to take on downhill runs on a five-inch travel trail bike. Say hello to the Tactic III MIPS helmet—$100. Finding the perfect gift can be tough, making Wheel Sport gift cards great for hardcore riders and those who just got back into biking during the pandemic—$10-$1,000.  

North Division Bicycle 

The SKS Digital Airchecker is an air pressure gauge that features precise digital pressure measurement. It works on both Presta and Schrader valves—$36.99. WaveCel is a collapsible cellular structure that lines the inside of the helmet. It works like a crumple zone that absorbs the force of an impact before it reaches your head. You’re up to 48 times less likely to get a concussion with a Bontrager WaveCel helmet compared to a standard foam helmet—$100-300. 

Greasy Fingers Bikes N Repair (Sandpoint) 

The MSR Pocket Rocket ultralight stove is ultra-compact and perfect for throwing in your bag to heat up some trailside coffee or soup—$54. Pedal your 64oz growler back home from the brewery or out to watch the sunset with a Growler Grabber stainless steel bottle cage. Protective silicon grips help keep growlers secure while you ride—$40 

Two Wheeler & Ski Dealer (Hayden) 

With a 300 lumen headlight and 20 lumen taillight like the Specialized Flash Pack head light/tail light combo, riders will be visible during the day and have lights that can get them around safely in the dark—$55. Nothing kills a good bike ride faster than cold, wet feet.  Neoprene Endura Overshoe shoe covers for both mountain and road shoes will keep feet warm and dry—$50. With all the advances in the materials used to make bicycles lighter, it is now more important than ever to ensure all fastening points are tightened to the correct torque. The Topeak Nano Torqbar X torque wrench gets the job done—$55. 

The Bike Hub 

Great for cold weather rides, Bontrager JFW winter cycling gloves are an insulated, protective glove that won’t constrict or hinder mobility—$74.99. The Bontrager Ion Pro RT Front Bike Light is “one of our favorite lights for night rides and around-town commuting.” It’s USB-rechargeable with five modes for day and night and enough power to light up the full width of any trail—$124.99. The Bontrager Charger floor pump is a reliable floor pump featuring a durable steel barrel, an auto-select head, and a stable base—$29.99. 

Pets 

If you love flannel shirts, especially from a local company like Flyshacker, your pooch will also love a matching Flyshacker Flandanna pub bandanna. Some of Flyschaker’s shirts and PJ’s offer matching bandannas for your best friend. Just feed your own collar through the top of the Flandanna and it stays put—$9.95. 

Spokane-based NOBO Pets created the NOBO Leash with a built-in bag dispenser into the handle that fits rolls of biodegradable bag. The leash also features a quick-release handle loop for easily securing your pooch to fixed objects and is made from climbing rope with a locking carabiner for easy collar clipping—$59.99. 

The MOJO Inflatable Dog Bed with blanket from Spokane gear makers Selkirk Design is the perfect backcountry dog bed solution. The inflatable bed is lined with faux wool with an attachable waterproof micro fleece-lined blanket for warmth, comfort, and easy cleaning—$39.95 

Prairie Dog Pet Mercantile stores are packed with great pet-related gift ideas, like the Earth Animal No Hide Holiday Feast Chews for dogs and cats are all natural and easily digestible. Multiple sizes and prices. Or the Hot Cats 4 Link catnip toy made here in the Pacific Northwest—$14.99. 

Apparel 

Don’t wear any cheap, uncomfortable, hard-to-breath-in mask when you can wear one of the most comfortable masks on the market that come in dozens of stylish fabrics from Spokane Masks. And they are actually handmade in Spokane—$8-14. A Masked Goat t-shirt from Spokane Masks is a great way to remember 2020 with a humorous, artistic twist on Spokane’s iconic garbage-eating goat in a mask—$24.  

Give the gift of a super-comfortable flannel shirt from Spokane-based Flyshacker Clothing Co. They come in multiple awesome styles and colors, fit awesome, and are incredibly soft. Message them on Instagram that you heard about them from Out There’s gift guide and get a code for 25% off full priced items.  

Ninja hoodies from Spokane’s Local Knits feature a fleece-lined, fully removable face mask and matching pouch pocket. They come in a wide variety of fabric choices from repurposed upholstery fabrics that bring unique style and comfort to any winter rambles—$80. Just like grandma used to make, except better, a handmade beanie from Local Knits are created using yarns spun in the USA from 100% wool or recycled synthetic fiber (acrylic)—$30-40. Shop Local Knits online or at their shop/studio in downtown Spokane’s Steamplant Building. 

Books/Games/Art  

Just in time for the holidays, there’s a new must-have trail guide featuring over 50 urban hikes in Spokane and Kootenai County: Urban Trails by Rich Landers and David Taylor, available at Auntie’s Bookstore—$16.95. 

Aunties Bookstore downtown Spokane also recommends these three books that are sure to make a great gift. “A Promised Land” by Barack Obama, is the first of a planned two volumes that Obama has written following his tenure as President of the United States from 2009 to 2017—$44.99. “The Cold Millions,” by Jess Walter, #1 New York Times bestselling author and Spokane local, is another “literary miracle” set in Spokane’s past—$28.99. “World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments,” is a collection of essays about the natural world and the way its inhabitants can teach, support, and inspire us—$24.99. 

Merlyn’s, downtown Spokane featues games, comics, and collectibles. The Magic The Gathering Zendikar Riding Bundle is a collectable box with 10 Zendikar Rising booster packs and an assortment of extra goodies for Magic the Gathering—$39.99. Dungeons and Dragons—Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything (due out Nov 17.) The wizard Tasha has gathered bits and bobs of precious lore during her illustrious career as an adventurer and has collected these tidbits for all—$49.99. A game of conquest, diplomacy, and betrayal, the Dune Boardgame is a modern version of the classic Avalon Hill boardgame—$49.99. 

Two great Inland Northwest-inspired gift options for nature and art lovers by Chris Bovey can be found at Atticus Coffee & Gifts. The 2021 Spokane Parks Calendar and Poster Prints of the 12 Spokane parks featured in the calendar are a beautiful reminder of one of the things that makes living in Spokane so awesome. And, a portion of the proceeds go to local park improvements. Next door at Boo Radleys Gift Shop, find gifts for those with a distinctive sense of style and humor. Let them tell it how it is with a pair of MOD socks that dish out the sass. 

Kizuri, downtown Spokane’s fair-trade gift shop, never disappoints when it comes to gift finding. “There is beauty in all of us, no matter how knotted or twisted we might feel,” a sentiment that inspired the Beautiful Mess Necklace, a fair trade, sterling silver necklace handmade in Peru—$42. The Bocce Sack Game is just half the weight of one official Bocce ball, so you can take it anywhere—$36.50. We certainly could use more peace in the world these days. Spread the word with a Peace Wreath. This natural wreath of takip-asin wood is wrapped in sustainably harvested galtang vine from the Phillipines—$29.50.

The post Local Holiday Gift Guide – 2020 appeared first on Out There Venture.

• The Spokane River (2018) edited by Paul Lindholdt: A newly-published collection of essays and poems on the environment—with reflections from 28 contributors—including Jess Walter, Tod Marshall, Sherman Alexie, Jerry White (Spokane Riverkeeper), Beatrice Lackaff (OTO writer), and many others.
• Dog Songs (2013) by Mary Oliver: A book of poems (and one essay) by a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet will make you cry, in a good way.
• I Promise Not To Suffer: A Fool for Love Hikes the Pacific Crest Trail (2013) by Gail D. Storey: A funny memoir by a non-hiker who backpacked the PCT at age 56 with her husband, using their homemade ultralight gear.
• Pilgrim at Tinker Creek (1974) and Teaching a Stone to Talk (1983): Expeditions and Encounters by Annie Dillard: The Pulitzer-prize winning Pilgrim is a narrative expose while the other is comprised of narrative essays. Dillard, who lived in western Washington for a few years during the 1970s, is renowned for her reflections on her explorations of the natural world.
• We Live in Water (2013) by Jess Walter: This book of short fiction stories from Spokane’s NYT-best-selling author has been described as “darkly funny” and “sneakily sad”—which makes great escapist trailside reading.
• The Sasquatch Hunter’s Almanac (2015) by Sharma Shields: Set in the Inland Northwest, this “dark, fantastical” novel from Shields, another great Spokane writer, includes place names like Palouse, Rathdrum, and Lilac City, the pseudonym for Spokane. Chapters advance the plot through time and the multi-generational family characters, which makes it easy to bookmark and continue reading from place to place. //

[Feature photo by Amy McCaffree.]

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