Smaller size city with a long history
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6/4/2016
Spokane has the cleanest downtown of any city I have ever seen (and I have lived in San Francisco, New York City, Montreal, and DC). I have no idea what the first reviewer is talking about. Downtown Spokane is pristine. The same goes for parking downtown. Having lived in several larger cities, the parking here is a dream! It is not expensive - street parking is always available, unless there is a big event going on.
And sure, there are homeless in Spokane just like in every mid-size to large US city, but this issue is not unique to Spokane. It's negligible compared to the situation in San Fransisco, for instance, where human feces litters the sidewalks in some neighborhoods.
There are beautiful neighborhoods with wonderful architecture, historic mansions, all sorts of Churches (this is a mostly Christian place, it must be said), and awesome parks (like Riverfront and Manito). Spokane was a boom town 100 years ago. It's true that it has had some decline since then, and there are some shabby areas that reflect this, but many locals are dedicated to Spokane's rejuvenation and revitalization.
The winters can be a drag, but if you like all four seasons, this is a great place to be. Jobs are not as plentiful as in some cities, especially mid- to high paying jobs. Compared to San Francisco, Seattle, DC, and many other larger cities, real estate is truly a bargain here. Locals are not 'weird', or not more so than in other places. Come visit and see if you like it! Don't rely on any of these comments alone :)
Laura | San Francisco, CA