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.