Spokane: The heart of the Inland Northwest

Sunny, sporty, smart and welcoming describe the heart and soul of this city and the surrounding region. Once a rip-roaring frontier town, Spokane grew into its own as a mining and timber powerhouse in the mid to late 1800s. The city was incorporated in 1881 and today the region’s economic power lies in education, technology, manufacturing, finance, retail, agriculture, and health care.

Spokane is the Inland Northwest’s major medical center, with six world-class hospitals ranging from specialty centers to children’s care facilities.

Historically beautiful, easy to navigate and vibrant day or night, downtown Spokane anchors the region drawing nearly three million visitors a year to concerts, shopping, dining, recreation and entertainment. Conventions are also big business here and attract thousands of delegates annually. In recent years, Spokane has hosted the U.S. Olympic team trials for women’s boxing and the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

When adventure calls, we head for the lakes, rivers, mountains and trails in nearby Riverside State Park, Dishman Hills Natural Area, Mt. Spokane or surrounding national forests and nature preserves. When the fairways call, you may find us at one of over 35 affordable, picturesque public and private golf courses – ranked in the top 100 by Golf Digest – all within easy driving distance.

And when the open road calls, we drive a few hours to Seattle, Portland, Vancouver, Missoula, Calgary or the Washington and Oregon coasts.