Whether you are coming from a small town or a big city, moving to a completely new place can be a daunting task. Leaving behind a familiar place and starting this new adventure is a huge step, but Gonzaga and the Spokane community are so excited to welcome you here. As a Zag moving from the bustling city of Seattle to a smaller and quieter Spokane my freshman year, I distinctly remember feeling as though Spokane was like a foreign city. No longer could I take a quick walk down to the beach or drive through the city past the Space Needle. Just about everything about Spokane was the opposite of what I had grown up with. However, as I settled down at GU and got the chance to explore the city that surrounds it, I began to realize that Spokane has so many different and wonderful things to offer. This city has quickly become my home over the past three years, and I am excited to share with you a few of my favorite things about this great city.
- A city and a small town. Spokane is the second largest city in Washington with a population of around 200,000 people. Spokane has a wonderful downtown area that gives the feel of an urban city and is in walking distance from campus (it is only about a 20 minute walk from Gonzaga). It has the feel of a big city but many amenities are in walking distance.
- Opportunities for service. The Center for Community Engagement (CCE) is a department on Gonzaga’s campus that connects students to service opportunities in the city of Spokane. When students utilize CCE, they are able to serve the city’s homeless population, work with the elderly, or fight hunger. Serving with CCE allows students to work outside of the Gonzaga bubble and live out the Jesuit ideals and Gonzaga mission to “commit to the dignity of the human person and social justice.” Participating in service in our community allows us to become men and women for and with others while fostering solidarity with the poor and vulnerable.
- The Great Outdoors. Spokane offers many opportunities to get outdoors, including hiking, skiing, and swimming — all of which contribute to the city’s motto, “Near Nature, Near Perfect.” Bowl and Pitcher, Iller Creek, Palouse Falls State Park are just a few of the beautiful hikes available in the Spokane area, which boast waterfalls, forests, and wonderful views. Cour d’Alene, Idaho, is a 30-minute drive away from Gonzaga’s campus and offers swimming in the lake, hiking on Tubbs Hill, and restaurants and shopping in town. Right in the Spokane area, the Centennial trail wraps its way through the city, as does the Spokane River before it meets up with Riverfront Park in the heart of downtown. You also have the opportunity to ski during the winter on Mount Spokane or Schweitzer Mountain in Northern Idaho. And while students are welcome to pursue these outdoor activities on their own, we also have Gonzaga Outdoors and GU’s Ski & Snowboard club to guide you through. With the four seasons we get here in Spokane, there are outdoor activities available throughout the whole year.
- Concerts, festivals and events. Although Spokane may be a bit smaller than Seattle, there are still a lot of fun activities happening all the time. The Spokane Arena and the Knitting Factory house both big and small name acts that come to perform in Spokane, often for a cheap price. Spokane is also home to Hoopfest, the world’s largest three-on-three street basketball tournament, and the Lilac Bloomsday run, one of the nation’s largest street races. There is never a shortage of activities to get involved in here in the Spokane community.
- Range of food and restaurants. Because Spokane is the second largest city, it boasts a rather large selection of delicious restaurants and food options both right around Gonzaga’s campus, and further into the city. From Rockwood Bakery near Manito Park (which is a great quiet place for Zags to get homework done), to the many different restaurants and brunch places in Kendall Yards, a good meal is never too far from Gonzaga’s campus – even for the budget of a college kid.
However you decide to explore Spokane, be it through the outdoors, through service, or through concerts and events, I encourage you to enter with an open mind. There is so much to explore and so much to do here in Spokane, you will soon get the opportunity to discover how wonderful it is and begin to make it your home.
Riley Ramage is a psychology major from Seattle, WA, who was involved in the Comprehensive Leadership Program, Dance Marathon, GUide Core, Friendship Friday, Peer Ambassadors.