Adventure Cities:

Pittsburgh, PA  |  Las Vegas, NV  |  Portland, ME  |  Portland, OR  

 Spokane, WA  |  Washington, D.C 

Spokane, Washington:

Population: 198,700 

Median Home Price: $150,000

Hot Job: Hospital physician 

The Scene: Washington's second largest city, Spokane blends livestock and lumber with high tech and health services. Its design, inspired by 5,878 foot (1,792 meter) Mount Spokane and an Olmsted park system, is a model for ecologically conscious planning.  

OPTIONS: Hike the river valley of Riverside Park for globs of volcanic basalt outcroppings, or relive 1988 U.S. Olympic mountain bike trials on Wild Rose Prairie. 

OUTFITTER: Ride 72 miles (116 kilometers) of former rails on the Coeur d'Alenes trails over lake water, through an Indian reservation and into moose and deer habitat with Silver Bike Tours (+1 877 808 0913).

GOOD EATS: Try the Asian-fusion-cum-comfort-food at Moxie (+1 509 456 3594). The Chipotle Glazed meatloaf is unique. Try it with a 2002 Columbia Valley Merlot from Barrister Winery, a local vintner.

30 More Places to Live and Play:

Boise or Bust!

Outdoor Meccas  |  Adventure Cities  |  Small Towns

Cultural Hubs  |  Beach Towns  

Adventure's September 2006 issue features 31 amazing adventure towns; chaos at the top of Mount Everest; an inside look at surfing California's Lost Coast; 11 fall weekend getaways near you; the best high-tech footwear, world class adventure travel; hiking the Alps, and more!