Via Oregon - September/October 2021 - 36

Spokane, Washington
Bristling with pine forests and split by a roaring river,
Spokane overflows with outdoor activities from hiking to
tubing. But basketball is what really ignites folks in this city,
which proudly calls itself Hooptown USA. The focal point
of the fandom is Gonzaga University, whose men's basketball
team consistently rises to the top of the rankings.
When a Zags game is on, visitors can join fans cheering the
Bulldogs at Jack & Dan's, a bar once owned by the father of
John Stockton, the Gonzaga legend and retired NBA point
guard who put Hooptown on the map. If you're in town
September 11-12 this year, don't miss Hoopfest, the largest
three-on-three outdoor tournament in the world.
But basketball isn't the only game in town. Spokane is
home to four other university campuses, known for everything
from fisheries research to medicine. Stroll the leafy
paths of the University District, which spans the Spokane
River, to stock up on swag at Gonzaga's Zag Shop or
Washington State University's store, The Bookie. In the
lively downtown district to the west, hip bars such as the
DJ-vibed Night Owl and whiskey-centric Whisk cater to
the college crowd. You might start the evening with a hot
dog, a Baja Gordita (shrimp with pico de gallo, slaw, and
garlic mayo in a fried pita shell), or the pork-topped " dirty
fries " at Stella's Cafe. Or walk down a 115-year-old staircase
to Hunt, where you can tuck into elevated outdoorsy fare-
hello, pimiento-cheese baguettes and smash burgers-amid
century-old salvaged wood, drawings of pheasants, and
images of anglers' flies.
The city's communal backyard is Riverfront Park, a former
rail yard that was transformed into a 100-acre urban
renewal site to host the 1974 World's Fair. Here, you can
promenade along the river past the landmark clock tower,
the hand-carved wooden carousel, and the children's slide
shaped like a gigantic Radio Flyer wagon. Prefer to get
on the water? Rent a kayak or standup paddleboard from
Fun Unlimited and cruise through the University District,
then dock at No-Li Brewhouse and sip an ale made with
Washington-grown hops in the outdoor beer garden.
To explore even more of the river, take the Centennial
Trail, a mixed-use path that zigs among towering ponderosa
pines and zags past urban heritage sites. Bicycles, inline
skates, and wheelchairs are welcome alongside travelers on
foot. Start at Riverside State Park, northwest of the city,
and-if you're feeling ambitious-travel another 34 miles to
the Idaho border, two-thirds of the way to Coeur d'Alene.
top to bottom: College Hall at Gonzaga University, erected at the turn of
the 20th century, is the oldest such building on campus. The shift current of
Spokane Falls gave the eastern Washington city its name. Standup paddleboarding
is a popular activity in calmer waters of the University District.
36 VIA | SEPTEMBER+OCTOBER 2021
TOP TO BOTTOM: COURTESY VISIT SPOKANE (2); AARON THEISEN/VISIT SPOKANE
Via Oregon - September/October 2021

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