SILVER MOUNTAIN
This year-round resort, just 30 miles east of Coeur d'Alene, offers some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the Northwest, with two mountains and more than 70 trails at your disposal. If snow sports aren't your thing, it's the home of Idaho's largest indoor water park. During Restaurant Week, Silver Mountain visitors can enjoy the sounds of local musician Dirk Lind. There's also a Mardi Gras party complete with a balloon drop, music on the mountain and fun for the entire family. 610 Bunker Ave., Kellogg, Idaho; silvermt.com, 866-344-2675
MOBIUS SCIENCE CENTER
With 65 interactive science and technology exhibits, and educational programs focusing on everything from medicine to robotics to ecology, Mobius will find its way into hearts of the whole family. There's a children's museum for families with kids under 8, so the entire family can spend a few hours at Mobius, have a great time and leave just a little smarter than they came. 811 W. Main, mobiusspokane.org, 443-5669
ICE PALACE AT RIVERFRONT PARK
Because we know you'll be looking for things to do during Restaurant Week, we've convinced the Ice Palace to stay open until our last day. Well, it's actually just a coincidence, but one you definitely should take advantage of. Whether you're a seasoned skater, have never tried it or stand somewhere in the middle, there's fun to be had at the Ice Palace, with drop-in hockey on Wednesday and Thursday, curling lessons and great skate rentals. 507 N. Howard, spokaneriverfrontpark.com, 625-6601
RIVER PARK SQUARE
In the heart of downtown Spokane, River Park Square offers a great shopping experience (Nordstrom and Williams-Sonoma included), movies and tons to eat — though finding a place to eat during Restaurant Week will be the last of your worries. There's a mix of higher-end and local shops, and skywalks connecting different buildings (most important, the library and Nordstrom) that can be considered an attraction all their own. There's also free Wi-Fi, so that's a plus if you're hoping to get some work done this week. 808 W. Main, riverparksquare.com, 363-0304
NORTHWEST MUSEUM OF ARTS AND CULTURE
A wonderful exhibit called "100 Stories" celebrating the Eastern Washington State Historical Society's centennial is opening up at the MAC right around the time Restaurant Week starts. Here, you'll find art and artifacts that reflect the region's history, as well as Native American culture and fine art. The museum also offers a self-guided walking tour of Browne's Addition, Spokane's oldest neighborhood, if you're more into exploring things for yourself. It highlights 45 properties with photos, short story lines and architectural descriptions. 2316 W. First, northwestmuseum.org, 456-3931
DOWNTOWN SANDPOINT
Nestled on the shore of Lake Pend Oreille, downtown Sandpoint is home to the Sandpoint Shopping District, full of historic buildings and complete with a thriving arts community. The beginning of Restaurant Week happily coincides with the end of the Sandpoint Winter Carnival, and interested visitors can check out a parade featuring what is possibly the world's biggest knit cap, a skilled aerial performance with fire dancing called Cirque de Sandpoint, and a fireworks show to finish it off. For more low-key Sandpoint adventures, check out the Blue Lizard, a Native American art gallery, and the Redtail Gallery. downtownsandpoint.com
