Eight Places to Eat and Tan

by Leah Sottile


1. The Elk Public House -- An outdoor seat at the Elk is a rare and beautiful thing. They're hard to come by, but God, are they sweet when you get one. Head on down and grab a table before the regulars do. Sip a pint, soak up some sun and chow down.





2. Dick's Hamburgers -- Hey, Seattle: Our Dick's tastes as good as yours. And just like your locations, ours has plenty of outdoor tables, regulars who are just as strange as yours and the infamous bag o' burgers. Take that, West Siders.





3. The Median on the 1100 block of West Riverside -- No cash for an Elk Moon Burger? Fear not. The wide median on Riverside Avenue boasts wooden picnic tables perfect for scarfing down a quick lunch before getting back to the office. Some of them even have built-in chess boards -- but bring your own pieces.





4. Hill's Resort, Priest Lake -- Not exactly a spot for a power lunch, but certainly a destination dining area. The popular North Idaho resort serves up gourmet grub with a beautiful view of the icy waters of Priest Lake.





5. Coeur d'Alene Park Gazebo -- Burn easily? Grab a seat in the shade of the Browne's Addition Park's decorative gazebo. It's big enough for all of your friends and is surrounded by spacious green lawns.





6. C.I. Shenanigan's -- Sure, the Spokane River might be polluted -- but that doesn't mean it isn't nice to look at. Shenanigan's outdoor seating area overlooks the river and the Centennial Trail. It's a great place to people-watch and to overcome your fear of the Trail's mutant-sized geese.





7. Manito Park -- The 90-acre park has it all for your outdoor dining needs. Share your sandwich with the ducks at the pond. Grill up a steak on the community barbecues. Have a picnic in the European-style Duncan Gardens or a snack on the koi bridge in the Japanese gardens. And stop to smell the roses on Rose Hill before you leave.





8. Finch Arboretum -- Have an intimate outdoor meal in the 56-acre park -- a few minutes from downtown, perhaps, but still in the middle of the woods.





Publication date: 06/10/04