Vancouver

Vancouver, Washington sits on the north bank of the Columbia River, directly across from Portland, Oregon. It is a different city from Vancouver, British Columbia, which lies far to the north. The Washington city began as an early settlement built around a Hudson's Bay Company fort, and the historic reserve is still the center of its story. Today it is a mix of a walkable downtown, a rebuilt riverfront and wide suburban neighborhoods. It feels quieter and more relaxed than Portland, and it is a good place to slow down before or after a trip through the Columbia River Gorge.

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site is the main reason to visit. It has a rebuilt wooden fort from the fur trade era, a visitor center, the old Vancouver Barracks grounds and Officers Row, a line of historic homes. Pearson Air Museum sits next to the site on Pearson Field, a historic airfield. The Vancouver Waterfront has parks, a walking trail and the Grant Street Pier over the Columbia, and Esther Short Park is the downtown green space. The Clark County Historical Museum and the Kiggins Theatre, a historic movie house, add indoor stops in the center of town.

The Vancouver Farmers Market, held beside Esther Short Park, is the best way to eat and browse in the warmer months, with produce, baked goods, flowers and street food. The Vancouver Waterfront has a cluster of restaurants and bars with river views, and downtown has cafes, taprooms and wine bars within a short walk of the park. Uptown Village, along Main Street, adds small shops and local places to eat. Many travelers cross the bridge to Portland for bigger nights out and return to a quieter base. The market and the waterfront are easy to fit into a single afternoon.

Downtown is the easiest base, with hotels near Esther Short Park, the waterfront and the Amtrak station. The waterfront suits travelers who want river views and a walk after dinner. Chain hotels along Interstate 5 and Interstate 205 are practical for drivers and give easy access to the highway. C-TRAN runs buses around the city and across the river, and downtown and the waterfront are easy to cover on foot. A car helps for the wider area. Parking is easy compared with Portland. Portland International Airport is a short drive across the river.

Late spring through early autumn is the best time, with long dry days for the waterfront, the market and the fort grounds. Summers are warm and mostly dry. Spring brings blooming gardens, and autumn is mild. Winter is gray, cool and wet, though the holiday season brings lights and the Christmas Ships on the Columbia. Plan for traffic on the Interstate Bridge at rush hour. One day covers Fort Vancouver, the waterfront and a market visit. A second day leaves time for Portland, the Columbia River Gorge or a drive to Mount St. Helens.

Vancouver sits on Interstate 5, the main north to south route through the Pacific Northwest. Portland is just across the Interstate Bridge, Seattle lies to the north and the Columbia River Gorge opens up to the east. The Amtrak Cascades, the Coast Starlight and the Empire Builder all stop at the Vancouver station, which makes it a useful rail connection. On a road trip, it works as a calmer overnight than central Portland, or as a base for the Gorge and Mount St. Helens. Travelers on the Amtrak line can step off here without going into Portland.