Even after my third consecutive year coming back to the Palouse, it baffles me that there is still a rush driving into Moscow with all of belongings in my trunk. Many returning students can relate to the sheer excitement of coming back to school at the end of summer.
I don’t think that the enthusiasm stems from going to University of Idaho alone; Moscow is a warm and welcoming community in itself. In fact, Men’s Journal ranked this “hip little city” in the top five best college towns to live in.
What’s not to love? From the bustling downtown community, to the tasty and affordable restaurants, to the landscape surrounding Moscow that is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream.
Moscow has something for everyone.
Like most cities, the most diverse area is located downtown. Walking down Main Street you will find small shops to dip into, a historic theater and plenty of coffee shops to study at for the upcoming exam.
The weekends are lively with a farmers market running in the morning from May to October and evenings are filled with music performances at many of the downtown businesses.
For food-lovers everywhere, Moscow has some of the best restaurants – safe for the college budget – that feature foods inspired from all over the world.
Gambino’s, La Casa Lopez, LocoGrinz and Mikey’s are just some of local restaurants that feature international cuisine.
Stock your dorm room with food from WinCo and eat too many hot dogs from the New York Johnny’s stand on Friday and Saturday nights.
Short on cash? Moscow is only moments away from a mountain where you can hike in the warm months and snowshoe in the winter.
Just a short drive away, while the weather is still warm, go whitewater rafting down the Snake River or visit one of the many state parks in the area for a weekend camping trip.
Of course, when the snow falls, a lot of the students retire to the mountains on the weekends and spend their time skiing, snowboarding and sledding down the slopes.
There is so much that this area has to offer, it would be unfortunate to not take advantage of it while you’re here.
Unlike many other cities in the country, Moscow is unique because all of the restaurants and events that make this town interesting are literally a 10-minute walk away.
I encourage everyone to step out of their comfort zone to get a feel for what area of study they want to focus on. But, I also encourage taking the same measure out of school and really take a chance to explore Moscow and the Palouse this year.
That manure smell? It will grow on you. Until then, look forward to winter when the smell will be covered up by a layer of white snow.
Amber Emery can be reached at [email protected]