Spokane:
Gateway to Eastern Washington and Couer d'Alene
Idaho's lakeside resort by
Jerry W. Bird
....
If
you're into scenic views, like the songs says "on a
clear day you can see forever." I'm told that one
can actually see three states and two provinces
from atop Mount Spokane; Washington, Idaho,
Montana, Alberta and British Columbia. Speaking of
songs, Spokane is the birthplace of Bing
Crosby, America's favourite crooner for
decades. While
the history book says it was the Spokane River that
first lured settlers to the area, for myself it was
Expo '72, an experience that sparked a new
direction in my career, leading to a focus on audio
visual media. I was fascinated by the grand array
of multiple projector shows at several pavilions.
The Expo experience was a blessing to the City of
Spokane, transforming an area of urban blight on
the downtown riverbank, into a place of beauty and
pride.
Expo
laid the groundwork for numerous tourism
opportunities, and one can see the evidence on
every return. I've always enjoyed my visits to
Spokane, and enroute, make it a point to stop at
the world class resort area of Coeur d'Alene
(right) just 33 miles away. From that popular
Idaho city, it's just a hop and skip to Flathead
Country, another area you should add to your
agenda.
Spokane is 110 miles south of the Canadian border,
which makes it convenient for those who live in
Southern Alberta and the East Kootenays. North of
the city are two large bodies of water, namely Lake
Roosevelt (site of the spectacular Grand Coulee
Dam) and the Pend Orielle River.
Further east is
the Moses
Lake area
as you drive by or fly over mile upon mile of wheat
fields waving, fed by giant mechanical irrigation
systems, looking like some weird moon modules from
a Buck Rogers comic book. A few more pleasant hours
by car brings you to the fertile Wenatchee Valley,
my personal Garden of Eden. Take your time, stop
and smell the roses, or cherry blossoms, depending
on the season.
Spokane Mini
Mosaic: Scenes in the above fotomation are from
literature you can obtain from Spokane and Area
Convention & Visitors
Bureau. Spokane
Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
801 West
Riverside, Ste. 301, Spokane, WA 99201
(509) 624-1341,
visitors@spokane-areacvb.org
Spokane
International Airport 509-455-6434, Administration: 509-624-6633
Carriers: Air Canada; Alaska; Delta; Horizon;
Northwest; Southwest; United (shuttle)
Washington
Aerospace Alliance
Seattle Tower, Suite 1600, 1218 Third Ave
Seattle,WA 98101, Email:kmiller@apcoassoc.com
Tel: (206) 443-5712 , Fax: (206) 224-4344
Website: www@waa.net
*"The Spokane
River, once a steady source of food for various
tribes, who gathered to net the abundant salmon,
later provided hydro electric power to operate
numerous sawmills, flour mills, and other
industries which built the economy. The downtown
riverbank area, blighted by decades of industrial
and commercial growth, was cleaned up and
completely transformed in preparation for Expo '72.
We experienced that magical transformation and
shared some very special moments with the locals
from Washington and Idaho." Editor
Map of Spokane and area.
..
..
.
..
If
you're into scenic views, like the songs says "on a
clear day you can see forever." I'm told that one
can actually see three states and two provinces
from atop Mount Spokane; Washington, Idaho,
Montana, Alberta and British Columbia. Speaking of
songs, Spokane is the birthplace of Bing
Crosby, America's favourite crooner for
decades. While
the history book says it was the Spokane River that
first lured settlers to the area, for myself it was
Expo '72, an experience that sparked a new
direction in my career, leading to a focus on audio
visual media. I was fascinated by the grand array
of multiple projector shows at several pavilions.
The Expo experience was a blessing to the City of
Spokane, transforming an area of urban blight on
the downtown riverbank, into a place of beauty and
pride.
Expo
laid the groundwork for numerous tourism
opportunities, and one can see the evidence on
every return. I've always enjoyed my visits to
Spokane, and enroute, make it a point to stop at
the world class resort area of Coeur d'Alene
(right) just 33 miles away. From that popular
Idaho city, it's just a hop and skip to Flathead
Country, another area you should add to your
agenda.