Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
$150-200
Residence Inn by Marriott
(8005 NE Parkway Dr., Orchards, 360/253-4800 or 800/331-3131,
www.residenceinn.com
,
$159 s or $189 d) has
apartment-style rooms with kitchens and fireplaces, plus an outdoor pool, hot tub, and airport shuttle.
The
Heathman Lodge
(7801 NE Greenwood Dr., 360/254-3100 or 888/475-3100,
www.heathmanlodge.com
,
$119-159 s or d) is not affiliated
with the uber-luxurious Heathman Hotel across the Columbia in Portland, but it is one of the nicest hotels in Vancouver. It features spacious rooms
and rustic lodge-style touches like wood beams, leather lampshades, and handcrafted furniture, as well as modern comforts like an indoor pool
and complete exercise facility.
Homewood Suites by Hilton Hotel
(701 SE Columbia Shores Blvd., 360/750-1100 or 800/225-5466,
www.homewood-suites.com
,
$169 s or
d) is a luxurious business hotel right on the Columbia River with kitchen suites.
$200-250
The Frank Lloyd Wright-esque
Bridge View Bed and Breakfast
(11734 SE Evergreen Hwy., 360/609-1381,
www.bridgeviewbandb.com
) was
custom designed to pleasingly complement the aesthetics of the Glen Jackson Bridge under which it stands. The giant greatroom features a curving
bank of floor-to-ceiling windows that presents views of this larger-than-life bridge and the Columbia River. The interior is also a compilation of
luxe modern furnishings with shared amenities like a full kitchen, dining room, and living room with large-screen HDTV and surround sound.
About 10 minutes east of downtown, the house has an upstairs master suite ($210) with a whirlpool tub, walk-in shower, and double-sink bath-
room, plus a separate office with built-in cabinet desk. Downstairs are two standard rooms ($80) with double bed in each.
Camping
The closest public campgrounds are
Paradise Point State Park
(360/263-2350), 16 miles north on I-5 near Woodland, and
Battle Ground Lake
State Park
(360/687-4621), 20 miles northeast of town in Battle Ground. Campsites are reservable May through September by calling 888/
226-7688 or visiting
www.parks.wa.gov
.
Private parks in the area include
Vancouver RV Park
(7603 NE 13th Ave., 360/695-1158, $22-38) and
99 RV Park
(1913 NE Leichner Rd.,
360/573-0351, $20-29) in Salmon Creek.
FOOD
It's a fact that many Vancouver locals cross the bridge into Portland for the bonanza of restaurants the big city offers. But for the smaller-town feel
and the personal attention that comes with it, save the travel time and explore the local treats Vancouver has available.
Cafés
One place wins hands-down on the Vancouver breakfast front:
Dulin's Village Café
(1905 Main St., 360/737-9907, 7 A.M.-3 P.M. daily), with
great home fries, omelettes, and whole-wheat pancakes. It's also popular at lunch with the downtown crowd.
Travelers can relax with an espresso and croissant at
Java House
(210 W. Evergreen Blvd., 6 A.M.-5 P.M. Mon.-Fri., 8 A.M.-2 P.M. Sat.,
closed Sun., 360/737-2925) or
Paradise Café
(1304 Main St., 360/696-1612, 7 A.M.-5 P.M. Mon.-Fri., 8 A.M.-4 P.M. Sat., closed Sun.).
Paradise also has a deli with fresh sandwiches.
Tommy O's Aloha Café
(210 W. Evergreen Blvd., 360/694-5107, 6 A.M.-9 P.M. Sun.-Thurs., 8 A.M.-9:30 P.M. Fri.-Sat.), at the Vancouver
Market Place, has interesting and healthy lunches like stir-fry with tofu, teriyaki burgers, and spicy chicken or beef bento, as well as soups and
sandwiches.
If you can handle the suited throngs that line up at
Rosemary Café
(1003 Main St., Vancouver, 360/737-7611) during workday lunch hour,
your patience will be rewarded. This homey café in downtown Vancouver slaps together some of the best sandwiches the city has to offer. My
fave is the super grilled cheese sandwich with multiple types of cheeses on parmesan artisan bread. Rosemary also mixes remarkably fresh salads
and homemade soups—I haven't tried it, but I heard the lady next to me raving about the beer cheese soup.
Contemporary Northwest
Enjoy stylish lunches and dinners in an elegant, historic setting at
The Grant House
(1101 Officers' Row, 360/906-1101,
www.restauranthr.com
,
entrées $22), which is right inside a historic officer's house in Vancouver's Historic Reserve. Pick from a menu of glazed, grilled, and baked
seafood, chops, and chickens. The restaurant also throws open the doors on Sunday mornings to serve a special brunch menu.
Seafood
On the banks of the Columbia,
Joe's Crab Shack
(101 E. Columbia Way, 360/693-9211, 10 A.M.-10 P.M. Sun.-Thurs., 10 A.M.-11 P.M.
Fri.-Sat.) makes up a mess of large and delectable portions of seafood.
