Eastern Washington - Washington State - page 346

stained-glass windows hide the passing traffic from diners and allow guests to
focus on their food. Though lunches include everything from a smoked turkey
sandwich to top sirloin steak bordelaise (and all at reasonable prices), dinners are
on a very different level. You might start a meal with chevre cheese-stuffed dates
or a delicious smoked salmon cheesecake. The entree menu includes such dishes
as filet mignon poivre verte with green peppercorns, cognac, and cream; and
sautéed duck breast with red wine, currant, and port demi-glace.
725 Dayton Ave. & 509/382-2625. Reservations recommended. Main courses $9-$15 lunch, $19-$29 din-
ner. MC, V. Wed-Fri 11:30am-1:30 or 2pm and 4:30-8 or 9pm; Sat 4:30-8 or 9pm.
5 Spokane
284 miles E of Seattle, 195 miles NE of Yakima, 155 miles N of Walla Walla
Until the 1974 World's Fair focused the eyes of the nation on Spokane and its
renovated waterfront and downtown area, this city was little more than a for-
gotten railroad town deep in the inland Northwest. Today, however, Spokane is
the second-largest city in Washington, the largest city between Seattle and Min-
neapolis, and a center for both commercial and cultural pursuits. Although
Spokane isn't really a tourist destination, its proximity to Lake Coeur d'Alene
and several Idaho ski areas makes it something of a jumping-off point for explo-
rations of the northern Idaho Rocky Mountains.
For thousands of years Native Americans lived along the Spokane River, and
it was at Spokane Falls that the Spokan-ee tribe congregated each year to catch
salmon. When the first explorers and fur traders arrived in 1807, it was near
these falls that they chose to establish a trading post where they could barter
with the Native Americans for beaver pelts. Spokan House (the original spelling
had no letter e ), established in 1810 down-river from Spokane Falls, became the
first settlement in the area, but it was not until 1872 that a settlement was estab-
lished at the falls themselves. When the Northern Pacific Railroad arrived in
1881, the town of Spokan Falls became the most important town in the region.
However, in the summer of 1889 the city's downtown commercial district was
destroyed by fire. Within 2 years the city had fully recovered from the fire and
also changed the spelling of its name.
Today, the Spokane River is still this city's greatest asset. Along the river you'll
find numerous parks and a paved hiking/biking trail. The falls themselves are an
impressive sight, despite being hemmed in by industrial buildings, and only a
few miles from downtown, the Spokane River still looks wild and untamed.
ESSENTIALS
GETTING THERE Spokane is on I-90, Washington's east-west interstate.
U.S. 2 is an alternative route from western Washington. U.S. 395 is the main
route from Canada south to Spokane. U.S. 195 connects to Lewiston, Idaho.
Spokane International Airport, 9000 W. Airport Dr. ( & 509/455-6455;
www.spokaneairports.net) is located 10 miles west of downtown and is served
by Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, America West, Big Sky Airlines, Delta, Horizon,
Northwest, Southwest, and United.
Amtrak passenger trains provide service to Spokane. The station is at 221 W.
First Ave. ( & 509/624-5144 ).
VISITOR INFORMATION Contact the Spokane Area Visitor Informa-
tion Center, 201 W. Main Ave., Spokane, WA 99201 ( & 888/SPOKANE or
509/747-3230; www.visitspokane.com).