Watching the sunset with your beau is the oldest play in the playbook for a reason: It makes you feel things. Whether you’re on your own or with someone you fancy, taking a moment to experience the present at its most picturesque is the perfect way to welcome the night.

Step it up a notch while the days are still long and the skies clear by seeking out the most breathtaking sunsets nearby. Make the most of the blissful moment: Resist the urge to break out your phone and snap photos, and instead capture a memory for which you were truly present. Be sure to check the sunset time before you head out—dusk will arrive a full hour earlier by the end of August.

Overlook Park

Browne’s Addition

Spokane’s “Near Nature, Near Perfect” motto may be super cheesy, but it’s not a lie. Nearest to downtown, a break in the private properties along the Browne’s Addition bluff has been built out into a surprising little park with benches for just this purpose. Snag a seat to look out over Hangman Creek and Sunset Hill. Meander down the winding dirt trail to make your way to the river—it’s worth getting your shoes dusty to commune with nature so close to the city.

Little Spokane River Natural Area

Nine Mile Falls

Leave the real world behind and get just a tiny bit lost for an evening. Just past Nine Mile Falls dam, where the Spokane River meets the Little Spokane River, you can catch a remote-feeling sunset without much of a hike. Park at the Indian Painted Rocks trailhead—you’ll need a Discover Pass—and walk half a mile to the vista point for a great dusk photo-op. Hike the trails along the river if you’re up for more exercise.

The Nest

Kendall Yards

Grab a drink at one of the trailside restaurants or find a spot in the courtyard to watch the resident osprey hunt in the river as the sun goes down. Or, stroll down the trail for a little more than half a mile to nestle into the side-by-side adirondack chairs at Hamblen Overlook across from the park, Olmsted Brothers Green. The trail continues down to Sandifur Bridge. Just to the right, a rough path leads to the riverbank, where there’s an endless supply of flat, smooth skipping rocks.

Big Rock

Dishman Hills in Spokane Valley

It’s exactly what it sounds like: A big rock—230 feet high, to be exact—overlooking the Valley to Mount Spokane, and the Palouse to Steptoe Butte. Climb it at dusk to watch the sun set from the top of the world. To get there, park at the Steven’s Creek parking lot at Dishman Hills in Spokane Valley. Follow the trail about three quarters of a mile to the base of the Rocks of Sharon, where you’ll spot the big boulder you came for. On your way back, continue to follow the trail to loop back around to the parking lot for a total of 2.5 miles — or just head back the way you came.

Spokane Falls Skyride

Downtown

Don’t leave all the fun to the tourists—this iconic downtown Spokane attraction is often overlooked by locals. A thrilling surprise for a date or spontaneous treat for yourself, a late evening jaunt on the Skyride adds a pinch of adventure to a night in the city. The gondola runs for an extra hour on Friday and Saturday nights—until 9 p.m.—so you can experience a summer sunset while dangling in the sky.

Erika Prins is a Spokane-based writer. She has been exploring the Northwest with a pen, a camera and a pair of running shoes since moving here in 2004. Read more of her work at erikaprins.com.