Moscow is a city in North Central Idaho with a population of around 22,000 people, an agricultural center and the home of the University of Idaho. The surrounding area is generally referred to as the Moscow-Pullman area -- Pullman is a city in Washington, that is fairly symbiotic with Moscow. They are 8 miles apart.
Understand
Unlike the larger Idaho cities of Boise and Pocatello, which also have public universities but also characters distinct from their respective schools, you won't confuse Moscow for being anything other than a hard-core college town. Founded in 1889, the University of Idaho is the single dominant institution in the city in just about every respect. The presence of Washington State University in similarly college culture-intensive Pullman less than 10 miles (16 km) away only adds to that feel.
Moscow is in the heart of a region known as the Palouse, noted for its rolling hills. Once outside the city and the university's sphere of influence, agriculture becomes the driving force in daily life.
Get in
By plane
The closest airport for commercial flights is the Moscow/Pullman Regional Airport IATA: PUW, east along Hwy 8/Hwy 270. The next closest airports are the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Regional Airport IATA: LWS located south in Lewiston and Spokane International Airport' IATA: GEG, north. Spokane International Airport is the major airport in the region served by several airlines including Southwest Airlines which means cheaper and more competitive fares than to Lewiston or Moscow/Pullman Regional Airports. The Wheatland Express Airport Shuttle connects Spokane Airport to Colfax, Pullman and Moscow. Horizon/Alaska Air serve all three airports from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport where you can sometimes find comparable rates to fly into the smaller airports and avoid the 1½-hour drive from Spokane.
By car
US-95 and Highway 8 both cross through Moscow.
By bus
- Northwestern Trailways (Northwestern Stagelines), (bus depot) Moscow Intermodal Transit Center at 1006 Railroad St. Service to Spokane and Spokane Airport (via Colfax and Pullman) in one direction and towards Boise via (Lewiston, Craigmont, Cottonwood, etc.) in the other direction. Connections to Greyhound and other buses are in Spokane and Boise and to Amtrak only in Spokane. Transfer to the local SMART Transit Bus at the Intermodal Transit Center.
- Wheatland Express, (bus stops) Best Western at 1516 Railroad Ave and along the south side of the U of Idaho Living/Learning Community Bldg along W 6th St. Regularly scheduled shuttle between Moscow, Pullman, Colfax and Spokane Airport. Every Friday, their Weekend Express takes you from Pullman and Moscow to Seattle and return on Sundays. A special service is also deployed during the holiday seasons and university breaks. Journeys take 6 hours to Seattle.
Get around
Bus travel has grown to be a lot better. Bus services are run by the Wheatland Express with many stops on and off campus, which also features a shuttle between Moscow and Pullman. Cars are not required to get around Moscow, the town is fairly small and if you're willing to bike or walk, you can get almost anything done here. If you do need a car, there are car rental services available at the airport, Budget (+1 509-332-3511) and Hertz (+1 509-332-4485), and in town (Ambassador Auto, +1-800-422-0297). Enterprise Car Rental (+1 208-746-2878) is available if you fly into Lewiston.
There is a bike trail between Moscow and Pullman. Bicycles are a common mode of travel in summer, but not in winter, due to the colder, wet weather. In the summer, it is very common for residents to bike-commute back and forth to work between Moscow and Pullman. There is also a bike trail between Moscow and Troy, to the east.
There are, at any given time, two to three taxi services in Moscow. There is significant turnover as they go out of business.
See
Moscow is a pleasant town where a great deal of the population is made up of full-time or half-time students rather than full-time or half-time workers. Thus most of the businesses in the area are adapted to cater to the students, or other visitors. It has a few points of interest.
- University of Idaho, 46.725833°, -117.010556°. The most notable landmark, the University of Idaho has a large campus that takes up a considerable portion of the town.
- Appaloosa Horse Museum, 2720 Pullman Rd, 46.733105°, -117.039100°, +1 208 882-5578, museum@appallosa.com. M-F 10AM-5PM and Sa 10AM-4PM. A museum dedicated to the spotted Appaloosa horses. Free but suggested donation is $2 per person or $4 per family. 2016-11-06
- McConnell Mansion Museum, 110 S Adams St, 46.733246°, -116.996810°, +1 208-882-1004. A mansion built in 1886, which is now a museum run by the Latah County Historical Society. 2016-11-06
Do
Moscow is fairly well located for outdoor activities.
- Hiking - There are various national forests within easy driving distance; including places like the Hoodoo mountains and Saint Joe National Forest. Hikers should be wary of the roads, as not all of them are easy to navigate for all vehicles (or even any vehicles). Forestry Service roads are often easier hikes than the hiking trails. Be well prepared whenever hiking in Idaho.
- Skiing - Also available.
- Farmer's Market. During the summer months, a few parking lots near the town square are blocked off and reserved for use by locals who sign up to have a tent or stand there. Usually available are many kinds of produce, jams and honey, small crafts (including pottery, textiles, and jewelry), and chalk (for children to draw on the sidewalk with). There is also usually live music performed in the square. The exact selection varies.
- Lionel Hampton Jazz Fest. A local music festival.
- Mountain Biking - Moscow Mountain has a wide variety of mountain biking/hiking trails for a wide range of skill levels.
- Rails-to-Trails, 46.7324°, -117.025°. The 9-mile paved Chipman Trail connects Moscow and Pullman, and is a favorite with bikers, joggers and roller bladers. The 13-mile (11+ paved, 1.6 gravel) Latah Trail connects Moscow and Troy, and snakes through wheat fields and pine groves.
- Moscow Hemp Fest. 2019-10-14
- University of Idaho Golf Course, 46.7232°, -117.017°. 2019-10-14
- Kenworthy Performing Arts Center, 46.73070°, -117.00117°. 2019-10-14
- Hamilton-Lowe Aquatics Center, 46.7410°, -116.9797°. 2019-10-14
Buy
There are various Vandal (University of Idaho local sports team) souvenirs available, as well as a good number of other goods. Some local stores sell gems at reasonable prices, for a more unique souvenir.
There are stores with hiking, biking, and other gear for outdoor activities; if you shop around.
- NRS. A premier river rafting clothing and equipment company.
- Palouse Mall, 1700-2230 W Pullman Rd (Hwy 8), 46.7336°, -117.029°. Bed Bath & Beyond, Michael's, Marshalls Old Navy, Rite Aid, Ross Stores, Target, WinCo Foods, Big 5 Sporting Goods, Buffalo Wild Wings, Chase Bank, etc. 2019-10-14
Eat
There are a variety of restaurants, but many are chain stores. Restaurants serving food other than American, Mexican, Italian, or Chinese are harder to come by. National pizza and fast food chains are also present.
- Nectar Wine Bar and Restaurant, 6th & Main St, 46.72995°, -117.00181°, +1 208-882-5914. Dinner: M-Sa. Features fresh local ingredients, a rotating and updated wine list, artisan pizzas, baked mac n' cheese featuring cougar gold cheddar from WSU, and a very popular bacon-wrapped meatloaf. F-Sa are busy nights, reservations are suggested on those nights.
- Sangria Grille, Moscow-Pullman Highway, 46.73304°, -117.03019°, +1 208-882-2693. Located in a free standing building at the Palouse Mall. Sit-down restaurant. Chef owned and operated, Sangria Grille features a lengthy and diverse menu featuring items of South American, Asian, Spanish and American origin, as well as wine and beer. Average meal price is around $15 a person including drink.
- LOCO GRINDZ, Main St (across from CJ's). Traditional Hawaiian plate lunch. Walk up counter almost never any wait. Closed Sunday/Monday
- Mikey's Gyros, Main St (downtown). Mikey's serves mainly Greek Gyros with many options. You can get other things like soups,salads, nachos and baklava, but don't expect a hamburger. A local staple with lines often stretching out the door at noon and six.
- Gambinos, 6th St. Has crisp crust pizza, deep dish pizza and pizza pot pie. They also offer pastas, soups, sandwiches and desserts.
- Pizza Perfection, 46.73267°, -117.00640°. Offers 2 for 1 pizza deal on carry-out orders.
- The Breakfast Club, Main St (Downtown), 46.73100°, -117.00161°. 6AM-2PM. Excellent quality, generous portions, and affordable breakfast and lunch. Staff is very friendly and service-oriented. Atmosphere congenial and relaxed.
- Patty's Mexican Kitchen, 6th St (by the U of I). Order-at-the-counter Mexican food. Famed for unbelievably spicy Barbed Wire Burrito, Fish Tacos and vegetarian tamales. They also cater with a special gimmick a 6' long party burrito served in a pine box.
- La Casa Lopez, Main St (downtown heading south from HWY 8), 46.73117°, -117.00164°. Mexican food and full bar in a colorful atmosphere meant to mimic a plaza in quaint yet vibrant Mexican town. Lunch deals of around 6 dollars. Popular for their chicken en mole, bean dip served complimentary, and claim of the best margarita in town.
Drink
Moscow has quite a variety of bars that cater primarily to the college students. Most of the bars are located downtown.
- The Corner Club. The Corner Club is one of Moscow's unofficial historic landmarks. They feature free peanut night on Wednesday and have excellent popcorn throughout the week. Beers are purchased in 32oz 'tubs' and are incredibly cheap. The Club, as it is referred to by most, has a shuffleboard table and outdoor seating for warm weather. It is most frequented by the Greek student population from the University of Idaho.
- Mingles. This is a billiard bar with lots of tables by the hour and two pay by the game ($.50). It also has a large screen TV and a couple smaller ones with seating areas. This bar was in the top 100 college bars in a special college issue of Playboy magazine. On Sundays they have penny pool (one cent per minute, $.60/hour), and Thursdays ladies get free pool (can be a group of guys and girls, as long as a girl pays). This bar is frequented more by the off-campus students, and serves a lunch/dinner menu until midnight 6 days a week and until 11PM on Sunday as well as Sunday brunch.
- John's Alley, 114 E 6th St, 46.73028°, -117.00076°. Often referred to as "The Alley". It features live music, a dart board, a pool table and a shuffle board table.
- The Garden Lounge, 46.73183°, -117.00167°. Open until 2 every night. The garden is a place used by local businessmen and professors as well as college students as a conversation den. Most popular for its blue Monday deals where many mixed drinks and cocktails are priced at $2. and martini Thursday where a list of standard as well as unusual martinis are $3 each.
- Moscow Ale House, 226 W. 6th St (less than a quarter of a mile from the University of Idaho campus), +1 208-882-2739. Great place for a burger, sandwich, soup or one great beer. Food ranging from Southwest (grilled quesadillas) to Northeast (hearty clam chowder). The beer is hand crafted right in Couer d'Alene, Idaho. The Ale House hosts different specials every night of the week on their drinks, with most catering to their fine selection of beer. Tap-A-Keg-Tuesday is a must starting at 6PM with two different random kegs until they are empty and costs about $0.50 per pint and $5.00 for a pitcher (4 pints). Other specials include a Faculty Night for employees of the University of Idaho to Student Night for those students old enough to drink. Typically pints cost less than $2.50 during happy hour and at max $3.25 during non-specials.
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