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The "Great Outdoors" is more than great in Spokane, its spectacular! Within two-and-a-half hours of seven ski areas, and within an hour of nearly 80 lakes, Spokane is never short of outdoor adventure. Other outdoor activities include golf, hang gliding, whitewater rafting, tennis, sleigh rides, snowmobiling, rock climbing, and more. Take a trek on the Spokane River Centennial Trail, a 39 mile-long path used by runners, walkers, and cyclists. Drive to the top of Mount Spokane. Atop its 5,878-foot summit, visitors can see three states (Washington, Idaho and Montana) and two Canadian provinces (Alberta and British Columbia). Spokane's sports scene is equally as adventurous. A virtual "Star Search" for athletes, this city is the training ground for upcoming baseball, hockey, and basketball standouts. The Spokane Indians are part of the Northwest League in minor league baseball, and the Spokane Chiefs play ice hockey at the Veterans Memorial Arena. For basketball contenders, there's Hoopfest. As the largest three-on-three tournament in the Western U.S., it draws as many as 3,000 teams and players from ages 7 to 72 each June. And don't forget Gonzaga University basketball. America's favorite bracket-buster (and John Stockton alma mater) always seems to play their best 'ball in March. If golf is more your style, friends of the fairways hack, hook and slice at the region's 19 public golf courses. In 2007, Spokane will be a destination for fans of figure-skating and basketball: it will hold the U.S. Figure Skating Championship as well as the first and second rounds of the NCAA Men's Tournament at Veterans' Memorial Arena. Finding excellent restaurants and festive nightlife entertainment is not a problem in Spokane. Savor a gourmet meal at one of the city's old mansions, or dine at Shenanigans Seafood by the Spokane River. Admire the falls when you cut into your prime rib at Clinkerdagger, Spokane's landmark dinner destination. Looking for something different? Try some Asian cuisine at Riverview Thai. Or enjoy vegetarian cuisine and impeccable wines at Mizuna Restaurant and Wine Bar - ranked as one of the city's top dining delights. Don't forget to save room for a mouth-watering dessert, like huckleberry cheesecake, raspberries and cream, or chocolate mud pie. For some after dinner fun, visit Players & Spectators, an entertainment complex featuring live music, comedy clubs, gambling, theatre, and game shows ("You've got to see it to believe it."). Go underground at Catacombs Pub, located below the Montvale Hotel. Here you can enjoy authentic Central European cuisine, microbrews and cocktails in the pub modeled after those found in Austria and Germany. End your evening downtown with a stroll along the city's climate-controlled skywalks. The college days are never far off in Spokane. With two private colleges (Whitworth College and Gonzaga University), two public universities (Eastern Washington in nearby Cheney and Washington State University's branch in Spokane), and two community colleges (Spokane Community College and Spokane Falls Community College) all in its grasp, Spokane is the educational center of the state. All six academic institutions join together to form the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute (SIRTI). Its reputation as a relaxed, friendly environment full of diversions has made Spokane and its suburbs a great location to live and work in. For more information on the Washington area, go to:
www.visitspokane.com
www.digitalcity.com/spokane/
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