COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE AND WINE COUNTRY - Columbia River Gorge - page 11

Markets
The Vancouver Farmers Market (5th and Ester Sts., 360/737-8298, http://vancouverfarmersmarket.com , 9 A.M.-3 P.M. Sat., 10 A.M.-3 P.M.
Sun., Mar.-Oct.) takes place downtown. It's a great place to look for local produce, herbs, arts and crafts, baked goods, and entertainment.
INFORMATION AND SERVICES
For maps or other information, visit the Washington State Visitor Information Center (750 Anderson St., 360/750-1553, 8 A.M.-5 P.M.
Mon.-Fri., 8:30 A.M.-5 P.M. Sat.-Sun.) located in the O. O. Howard House of Vancouver Historic Reserve. Also helpful is the Greater Van-
couver Chamber of Commerce (404 E. 15th St., 360/694-2588 or 800/377-7084, www.vancouverusa.com ) , reachable by taking a left off the I-5
Mill Plain exit 1D.
The Gifford Pinchot National Forest Supervisor's Office (10600 NE 51st Circle, Orchards, 360/891-5000, 360/891-5009 for recorded recre-
ation information, 8 A.M.-5 P.M. Mon.-Fri.) is in Vancouver. Stop by for details on Mount St. Helens and other nearby outdoor attractions.
Emergency medical services are provided by Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital at (2211 NE 139th St., 360/487-1000). Pet medical care is avail-
able at VCA East Mill Plain Animal Hospital (9705 East Mill Plain Blvd., 360/892-0032).
GETTING THERE AND AROUND
The local transit system is C-TRAN (360/695-0123, www.c-tran.com , $1.60-2.45 per ride, $3.85 all-day pass, $3.35 express ride to Portland),
which provides daily service throughout Clark County, as well as to downtown Portland.
For cross-country trips, contact Greyhound (613 Main St., 360/696-0186 or 800/231-2222, www.greyhound.com ).
Amtrak (360/694-7307 or 800/872-7245, www.amtrak.com ) trains stop at a classic early-1900s depot at the foot of West 11th Street, with daily
connections north and south on the Coast Starlight, and eastward up the Columbia River aboard the Empire Builder.
For air service, head south across the Columbia River to Portland International Airport (7000 NE Airport Way, Portland, OR, 877/739-4636,
www.flypdx.com ), second only in the Pacific Northwest to Sea-Tac International Airport. The airport is serviced by all the major domestic and
international airline carriers and is a major hub for Alaska Airlines, which offer dozens of flights to Seattle, Spokane, and other nearby Northwest
destinations.
The main parking lot is $24 per day or $3 per hour here, with long-term economy parking for $10 per day. Dozens of shuttle and van carriers
service Vancouver from here, including Blue Start Transportation Group (800/247-2272, www.bluestarbus.com , $24-32), which offers door-
to-door shuttle service.
Pearson Air Field (VUO, within Vancouver National Historic Reserve) provides services to private pilots.
Lewis and Clark Highway
While the trip along Highway 14, known also as Lewis and Clark Highway, does offer some beautiful Gorge scenery, by the time you arrive at
Maryhill Museum you may feel that Columbia River trek is a bit longer than it looks on the map. This is truly a remote part of the state, so stock
up on soft drinks, chips, and other necessities first.
Also keep your eyes peeled for speed limit signs. The now-you-see-'em, now-you-don't towns that you'll whiz by require slower speeds within
their sometimes hard-to-gauge boundaries, creating speed traps that are zealously checked by local cops.
CAMAS AND WASHOUGAL AREA
While the sight and scent of the enormous Georgia-Pacific paper mill seem to dominate Camas, Camas and neighboring Washougal are attractive
small towns right along the Columbia, with big trees lining the main route.
Sights and Recreation
The Two Rivers Heritage Museum (Front and 16th Streets, 360/835-8742, 11 A.M.-3 P.M. Tues.-Sat., $3 adults, $2 seniors, $1 ages 6-18) in
Washougal has local historical artifacts and photos. A lovely walking path along the Columbia River levee leaves from Steamboat Landing Park
in Washougal.
The Rocket City Neon Museum (1554 NE 3rd Ave., Camas, 360/571-5885) is one of the more unusual museums in Washington, with hundreds
of neon signs, some more than 50 years old.
On Highway 14 between Washougal and North Bonneville, the Cape Horn Viewpoint (milepost 25) provides a good spot for photographing
the dramatic west entrance to the Gorge and for viewing massive Beacon Rock. For a short and scenic side trip, take Cape Horn Drive downhill
to the river, through overhanging maples and Douglas fir trees.