IMO, there are only a couple of large neighborhoods in Utah as pretty as either the North side in Spokane or the mid to upper South Hill.

And the City parks are amazing. That's not just my opinion either. Google Manito Park. Not to pick on Utah, but it has really, really crappy city parks.

I'll grant you that if the only thing you are familiar with is the lower South Hill, the East side or the I-90 corridor, you are going to think it's crappy--because it is. It's horrible. But that's like driving through the worst parts of SLC anc saying that the whole area is crappy.

IMO, the outdoors are amazing, the parks are amazing, and many of the neighborhoods are gorgeous. You just have to know the place.