Spokane
Very intrigued by Spokane thus far. The weather is gorgeous, and the scenery matches. It's got enough of a downtown not to be sleepy, but it doesn't bustle in a stress-inducing manner. The surrounding area is very natural, untouched preserved parks and land. There are a lot of industrial businesses on the east side of town, which seems about as blue-collar as it gets.
Gonzaga has a pretty campus, much of the architecture seems new (not any older than George Mason - the buildings are actually similar looking) but part of the riverwalk goes through the campus, and there is a large, old-looking church. There are also the Eastern Washington University and Washington State Universities in town.
The river going through town is serene, clear blue water. Willow trees over hang the banks, and wildlife interacts with people. There are many bridges, I think over ten, that cross the river. A large island exists in the middle of the river downtown, comprising a park with lots of kid-friendly activities. There is a clocktower on the island, a pavillion, an IMAX theatre, a carousel, food stands, and somewhere nearby a hanging zip-car line.
Downtown is small, but quirky with independent restaurants, retailers, a mall, lots of parking, and very little traffic. I can't imagine traffic jams exist at all here. Everything is pedestrian friendly. For people living downtown or at Gonzaga, I don't know that a car would be necessary for anything but leaving the city, going to the airport, etc. A free wi-fi "hotzone" exists all through the downtown area.
Outdoor recreation seems to be a large part of life. There are ads in the local paper for a "bare buns fun run," a race for nudists. People jog and bike down the "centennial trail" at all hours of the day. The nearby country offers skiing in the winter, bike trails, hiking, rock climbing, rafting, kayaking, and anything else imaginable under the sun.
The air is clean, so much so my sinuses have been interrupted in their usual proceedings. My nose has to adjust to not inhaling car fumes. Not that there isn't cars; once outside of downtown car culture is just as strong as anywhere else in suburban America, with strip malls and drive thru. The landscape and river are just as clean as the air. Unlike the Potomac, Chesapeake, James or any river that I know on the East coast, I haven't seen a single bit of garbage floating in the Spokane. Geese, ducks, and water chucks all live happily near the water. The streets are also free of litter, and there are only a few homeless looking people to be seen anywhere.
The residential neighborhood on the northwest side of town has older new-england style homes, several of which seemed in a state of disrepair. Further out of town were newer, larger houses. To the east and south were many one level ranch style houses which looked well maintained. Many streets have bike lanes, without any cars parked on the side blocking them.
There are an exceptional number of drive up coffee stands located in parking lots around the area, which I have yet to sample. Signs for "espresso" are everywhere. Being near Seattle, the foundation of Starbucks, coffee seems integral to the population in Spokane.
Idaho is a short drive of 20 miles or so away, to the east. Couer D'elaine is the nearest town, and seems integrated with Spokane as if they combine to form a "metro area." Seattle is about 400 miles to the West, Canada about 300 to the North. Oregon is somewhere nearby, also. The region is generally referred to as the "Inner Northwest" - A sign greets visitors arriving from the airport that reads "Welcome to the Inner Northwest."