I hope everybody had a fun and safe Memorial Day weekend. You might've stayed in Spokane because, like me, you believe we're an amazing outdoor town. Don't feel guilty for staying. We're not alone. Outside Magazine has named Spokane as one of the top 10 finalists for Best Town Ever 2013. This is no small feat as the monthly outdoor and recreation publication has a total circulation of more than half a million people. Rounding out Outside Magazine’s top 10 towns this year were San Diego, CA, Boston, MA, Park City, UT, Greenville, SC, Bozeman, MT, Honolulu, HI, Carbondale, CO, Oklahoma City, OK, and Waitsfield, VT. 

If you need a refresher on why our region rocks the outdoors, check our "7 Wonders Of Spokane" list. Plus, the more you get outdoors, I know you will walk away with a greater appreciation for protecting the environment. Fact.

Here's what they have to say about us: Spokane may have deep roots in timber and mining, but eastern Washington’s biggest city has recently embraced the Northwest’s microbrew culture (e.g. NoLi and Twelve String breweries) and makes the most of being on the dry side of the Cascades. You can canoe or fly-fish downtown on the Spokane River, ride hundreds of miles of singletrack in city parks, or ski just 20 minutes outside of town. And that’s to say nothing of the 1.1 million acres of nearby Colville National Forest or the city’s quick access to the Selkirk Range.

To vote, go to Outside Magazines website or by liking Outside Magazine on Facebook and voting there.

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