Spokane AreaGonzaga University

Gonzaga University is located in Spokane, Washington, a metropolitan city of 400,000 people, which serves as the financial and cultural center of the inland northwest section of the United States. Not only is Spokane Gonzaga's home, it is a vital and dynamic part of the University's character. The city offers vast opportunities for students to pursue their interests, whether they be in internships with local businesses or in any of the multitude of outdoor activities characteristic of the magnificent Pacific Northwest. Gonzaga's grass-covered 108-acre campus has 87 buildings scattered on the north bank of the beautiful Spokane River.

Within a couple miles of the University many activities can be found for a break from studies. Just above the Spokane Falls, 100-acre Riverfront Park, and the 39-mile Centennial Trail that runs through it, are open year-round for exercise, a day in the sun, ice-skating, a show at the IMAX theater, and the center for many seasonal festivals such as the Lilac Festival started in 1938, the 12K Bloomsday Run through town, and Hoopfest. Enjoyment of the fine arts can be found in the form of a ballet from Ballet Spokane at the Opera House, a theater performance by the Interplayer's Ensemble or a magical musical performance by the Spokane Symphony, a jazz concert at the Met Theater, or a play at the Spokane Civic Theater. Downtown also offers one of the three major malls: RiverPark Square. Northtown Mall and the Spokane Valley Mall are not far away. All three offer either an AMC Theater or Regal Cinemas to catch the latest movies. Nearby, beautiful Manito Park is available for sun-bathing or sledding, as is Riverside State Park.

The Spokane Arena hosts the Spokane Chiefs hockey games, music concerts, and conventions can often be found there or at the Convention Center. The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture is located in the west central neighborhood of the city with history of the northwest and Native American culture. East of the city can be found the Spokane Raceway, horse racing at Playfair, and the Fairgrounds where the Spokane Indians baseball team plays at Avista Stadium. Less than an hour further is the Idaho border and further entertainment at Lake Coeur D'Alene and Silverwood Theme Park.

Skiers can hit the slopes at many of the Inland Empire's ski terrains such as Schweitzer Mountain in Sandpoint, Idaho, 49 Degrees North in the Colville National Forest, Silver Mountain in Kellogg, Idaho, and the Mt. Spokane Ski Area right here in Spokane. Not only skiers can enjoy these places either--many are open year round with either snowboarding, snowmobiling, tubing, or hiking, biking, and horseback trails, gondolas, interpretive centers and other events. Seventy-six lakes are scattered throughout the area for boating and swimming in the warm seasons. Completing the picture, Mt. Spokane rises over the city's many activities and the county's beautiful countryside, from which can be seen three states (Washington, Idaho, and Montana) and 2 Canadian provinces (Alberta and British Columbia).

Images of Spokane Falls, Riverfront Park, and the Opera House are property of http://www.spokane.net/ and http://www.spokanecenter.com/.