Recently, National Geographic ranked the best cities in the United States, and some of the results were intriguing. And while we weren’t surprised to see our state capital, the endearing Olympia, on the list, we were happy to discover our second largest city, Spokane, made the cut. Spend a little time in the Lilac City and you’ll see that National Geographic got it right.

While most people think it's Tacoma, Spokane is actually Washington's second largest city.
VisitSpokane Facebook
But you'll still find plenty of small town charm here.
Spokane's motto is "Near nature, near perfect," and it only takes ones visit to see that it's an accurate statement.
VisitSpokane Facebook
The city has its Riverfront Park, and you'll find state parks and hiking trails within a few miles of town.
National Geographic writes, "A high count of record stores, tattoo parlors, vintage clothing boutiques, and coffee shops per capita boosts Washington State’s second largest city to the top of our hipster-friendly and most caffeinated lists for its population category."
Atticus Coffe & Gifts Facebook
Spokane is a pretty hipster-friendly city. And some coffee shops, like the beloved Atticus Coffee & Gifts, have cool historic storefronts.

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The article also gave a shout-out to Garageland, a gastropub and vinyl store with a full bar and plenty of games.
Garageland Facebook
It's the best.
Good news for local foodies: The dining scene is Spokane has gone from good to amazing in recent years.
The Blackbird Spokane
The Blackbird took over the old dairy building, and spots like Gilded Unicorn and Incrediburger and Eggs are already local favorites.
You'll also find plenty of classic "old school" eateries, like Churchill's Steakhouse, Frank's Diner, Molly's, and everyone's favorite late night spot, the Satellite Diner.
Satellite Diner Facebook
Everyone who grew up in Spokane has at least one Satellite story.
Spokane is an awesome city, and we're glad to see it on such an impressive list.
Ed Suominen / Flickr

When was the last time you went to Spokane? The next time you visit the area, make sure to head south and check out Walla Walla, which was listed as one of the top places in the world to visit in 2018.

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