Surprising Spokane: 5 Reasons this University Town Shouldn’t Be Overlooked

Take it from someone who’s from a college town herself, but living in a city known mostly for its university life can sometimes make one wonder what else it has to offer outside of the college campus.

But in a city like Spokane, which is home to two private universities, Gonzaga and Whitworth, our visit this July showed me that the answer is— quite a lot, actually. Even in the peak of the summer and during the July 4th holiday when student crowds plummet, the ample outdoor attractions, pleasant summer weather, food scene and ease with which one can get around, made me realize that this is one place I could even consider living.

For anyone passing through eastern Washington or Idaho’s Coeur D’Alene corridor, here’s why Spokane should be included as a stop in your itinerary.

And for the record, it’s pronounced “spo-can.”

1. Accessibility

To start, Spokane has an international airport, and unlike some, this airport isn’t busy or difficult to navigate. It made for an ideal entry point for us to fly into and drive to Montana’s Glacier National Park four-and-a-half hours away on I-90, a couple of days later.

We were also pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to get the rental car from the airport. Since the rental car counters and parking lot are adjacent to baggage claim, you don’t have to worry about lugging your bags to a shuttle, waiting, and then being driven to a distant garage. You arrive, grab your bags, and are swiftly on your way to sightsee. 

From the airport, it takes less than 15 minutes to reach most of the major things to do, centrally located around the university district, downtown and riverfront, each abutting one another within walk-able distance.

2. It’s Home to the Largest Urban Waterfall in the U.S.

Throbbing in the midst of the city, Spokane Falls surges across a multi-level dam system split into Upper and Lower Falls. The dams are used today to divert the Spokane River and generate power for the area. Together, the turbines at the power stations in both dams can generate enough energy to power 25,000 homes.

We caught the best views of the falls from the Numerica Skyride, a 15-minute closed-cabin gondola ride that our family – including two small children – enjoyed (Tickets ~$10 each). But for a close-up view and to feel the chilly spray of the churning falls, one can take the one-mile loop trail that skirts over and around it.

3. Its Sprawling Riverfront Park Offers Activities for All Ages

Spokane’s 100-acre riverfront park, predominantly situated on Havermale Island, is by far its top attraction, offering a multitude of things to do for people of all ages. This city park, once the site for the 1974 environmentally themed World Fair, reminded me of Atlanta’s Beltline, with zooming cyclists, scooters, walkers and joggers using its pathways and open spaces for exercise.

One can check out the pavilion where the World Fair took place. Today, it sparks to life in a rainbow of lights when concerts, movies or other special events are hosted there.

Since we were traveling with kids, we visited the Providence Playscape, Loof Carousel, and Ice Age Floods Playground, but even for adults, these attractions are just as impressive when one recognizes the level of planning, engineering, and design that have gone into their development.

The inclusive Providence Playscape features multi-sensory installations for children of all ages and abilities to facilitate interaction or independent play, depending on the instrument. It’s wheelchair accessible, and thus was designed with social and physical inclusion in mind.

As for the Loof Carousel, it was a lifesaver for keeping our three-year-old amused on a rainy day. We bought her the day pass (only $7 for unlimited rides in a single day, compared to a $3 single ride ticket) so she could ride the various animals–retained from the original 1909 structure. However, I admit that it even brought out the child in me when I went for a spin.

4. You Can Spend Meditative Moments at Manito

Strolling through the manicured greenery and splashes of color at Manito Gardens makes for a relaxing morning against the backdrop of vibrant blooms and stone structures.

My favorite section of this park was the tranquil Nishinomiya-Tsutakawa Japanese garden, an ideal spot to spend a few peaceful moments for reflection. Designed by the same landscape architect who was charged with managing the Imperial Palace gardens in Tokyo at the time, Nagao Sakurai, this garden features colorful koi inhabiting its central pond, a small waterfall and decorative pagoda structures.

5. There’s plenty of delicious vegetarian food

One of the many aspects of being out west that I love is that there are numerous healthy, vegetarian options on menus. I don’t have to bargain with the waiter to make special requests or substitutions because serving vegan, veg, and lighter fare are just second nature at these establishments. In Spokane, this was no exception.

Mornings at Indaba Coffee were the way to go, where I found the creamy, zingy avocado toast left me feeling satisfied and full for hours. Topped with piquant micro greens, thinly sliced, crisp radish, pickled onions and juicy tomatoes, this was hands-down the best avocado toast I’ve ever tasted. Top that off with a squeeze of the lime on the side to cut through the butteriness, and this was perfection. My husband got the breakfast bagel, and we both loved this savory start to our day so much that we went back to the same spot on Day 2.

For lunch, the elegant American fare at the riverside Osprey Restaurant & Bar provides sumptuous food and serene views. Grab a seat on the terrace, watch kayakers and ducks float by, and dive into a traditional menu of benedicts, biscuits and bloody marys.

At first I was skeptical about the brunch-all-day menu that featured dishes high in carbs, eggs, and meats. I begrudgingly ordered the Washington apple salad, expecting to be disappointed by the overload of sweetness from the apples, craisins, maple pecans and honey-citrus dressing that it listed. Instead, the Beecher cheddar curds tossed into this dish provided just the right balance to counter the sugars, and the dressing, too, was mild.

Still, for more varied vegan and vegetarian menu options or mid-day brews try Saranac Public House near the university district, where you’ll have plenty to choose, from their strawberry and arugula salad and hummus platter to flatbreads, pasta and their vegan cauli-burger.

Finally, after a full day of outdoor activities, treat yourself to a dinner of generous portions at Tavolata, where the pasta is made fresh daily and coated in rich and herby sauces. Or, if you’ve been spent by the adventures at Riverfront Park, order to-go from the fusion Indian flavors of Mango Tree, but here too, make sure you have an appetite. Crispy onion pakora is served as eight sizable pieces, and unlike other Indian restaurants where the dishes come with complimentary basmati rice, Mango Tree also provides four pieces of soft, silken roti as accompaniment, so there is no need to order additional breads.

When I first heard we were flying into Spokane as the launch pad for our Montana getaway, I had very little interest or expectation to tour the city itself. However, after experiencing its various attractions, I appreciate how this city has been developed to provide residents and visitors recreational areas to explore, a playground interwoven across its urban and natural landscapes.

Which cities have surprised you the most?

Has there been a place that surprised you with what it had to offer? From the outside, it’s easy to dismiss a place based on our own preconceived notions, but it’s hard to know for sure until you experience it first-hand. Share your “surprising city” examples in the comments.