aerial view of a small downtown with about a dozen midrise buildings and a tree-filled park aerial view of a small downtown with about a dozen midrise buildings and a tree-filled park
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Downtown Vancouver includes Esther Short Park (center left), site of the Vancouver Farmers Market.
Credit: Photo courtesy of Visit Vancouver WA

Vancouver, Washington

Part of the Portland metro area, Vancouver is home to more than 192,000 people just across the river from Portland.

3 min read

Though similar to Portland in many ways, Vancouver, Wash., is a large suburb located to the north across the Columbia River. Connected to Oregon by a rugged, steel, vertical-lift bridge that alludes to the city’s blue-collar beginnings, Vancouver is a throwback, with a quaint Main Street loaded with good food and fun for the whole family. Read on for our top picks in Vancouver.

What to See

Historic Sites

Southwest Washington city’s biggest tourist attraction, Fort Vancouver, is a family-friendly National Historic Site consisting of a replica of the Hudson’s Bay Company fur trading camp founded in 1825 and Pearson Air Museum, dedicated to the location’s military history, from the establishment of the Vancouver Barracks in 1849 to the shipyards of WWII.

A wooden lookout tower at Fort Vancouver
The bastion at Fort Vancouver

This historic site offers an authentic look at life in the Pacific Northwest through the past 200 years. The fort served as the company’s headquarters west of the Rockies and housed the Northwest’s first hospital, school, sawmill, shipyard and more. Today, visitors can see authentic demonstrations of period blacksmithing, carpentry, gardening, cooking and baking. Round out your trip with a stroll along Officer’s Row, a stretch of 21 fully restored 19th-century homes or a stroll through Dr. John McLoughlin’s 8-acre (3 ha) garden that fed the fur traders and residents of the Fort.

Dating back to 1853, the city’s Esther Short Park is Washington state’s oldest public square. Featuring a Glockenspiel-clad tower that announces the time throughout the day, the 5-acre (2 ha) park is a bustling all-ages playground on sunny days.

The Kiggins Theater initially opened in 1936 and has had a long history in downtown Vancouver. Now this renovated single-screen treasure shows family-friendly fare and art house films and hosts live events such as stand-up comedy and Science on Tap.

Top 5

Southwest Washington Picks

Explore the best of Vancouver and SW Washington at these attractions.

  • Vancouver Waterfront Park

    The 7.3-acre Vancouver Waterfront Park is part of the Vancouver Waterfront, a 35-acre, high density, mixed-use urban development. This community park incorporates public open spaces with the Columbia River edge.

  • Esther Short Park

    A gem in the heart of downtown Vancouver, Esther Short Park is the oldest public square in Washington. The site serves as a venue year-round for a variety of public and private events, programs, concerts, and other activities.

  • Fort Vancouver

    The site interprets the stories of the Native Americans, the British Hudson’s Bay Company, the U.S. Army at Vancouver Barracks, early aviation at Pearson Field, the world’s largest spruce mill during World War II.

  • Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge

    Located just north of Vancouver, Washington, the refuge is between the Columbia River and Ridgefield, Wa, with accessible and kid-friendly trails, and wildlife viewing.

  • Lacamas Lake Regional Park

    This 312-acre park is a fishing paradise, with a nice mixture of bass, bluegill and perch in the waters of Round Lake, which is located within the park.

The Waterfront

With more than 191 area parks in Vancouver, tourists have plenty of outdoor spaces to explore. The Vancouver Waterfront, however, is a great place to start. The waterfront has undergone some major changes in recent years, including the addition of the 7-acre (2.8 ha)Vancouver Waterfront Park in 2018.

A mill site until 2006, Gramor Development, the City, and the Port of Vancouver created a grand plan that is still being completed. When finished, the 32 acres (13 ha) of south-facing Columbia River waterfront will include residential units, office space, a boutique hotel, restaurants and retail, and state-of-the-art green spaces that include walking and biking trails.

Where to Eat

Waterfront Dining

With a location on the Vancouver Waterfront, Portland’s prolific restaurateur’s pasta endeavor, Grassa offers its handmade pasta and wine by the glass or bottle with views of the Columbia River. Twigs Bistro and Martini Bar serves up American fare like pizza, sandwiches, and entrees of salmon, mussels, and steak.

The upscale Dosalas Latin Kitchen & Tequila Bar serves up small plates or plates to share with empanadas, ahi tuna tostadas, ancho-spiced lamb chops, paella, and more Latin American cuisine with Mexican and Caribbean flavors.

Main Street Dining

Elements combines global flavors with local ingredients for dishes that range from seared sea scallops to vegan mole cavatelli. Family-owned Dediko serves Georgian stews like kharcho, lobio, and borscht, salads, cheeses and wines at their cozy bistro.

The Mighty Bowl operates a sustainability-focused shop filled with healthful bowls, smoothies, juices and toasts. For brunch, a light lunch or a sweet treat, stop into Bleu Door Bakery. For dessert, Treat whips up cookies, pies, and ice cream in specialty flavors, vegan alternatives, and old standbys.

Craft Breweries

Vancouver may not be the craft beer capital of the world, but it has been hailed as “the next beer town.” Ghost Runners Brewery has a solid lineup of handcrafted ales, seasonal exclusives, and an on-site tasting room. Closer to the Columbia River, Loowit Brewing Company is an ales-focused microbrewery with a small arcade of pinball machines and throwback video games.

Explore Vancouver

Explore the 'Burbs

With food carts, wineries, and an abundance of nature the cities near Portland have a lot to offer.

Explore the Region
a man walking a bike across the street with a trailer with a dog attached, followed by a child on a bike, at a crosswalk with cars waiting

Gresham

This neighboring town is where locals go to slow down, stroll through quaint historic architecture and feast on international fare.

aerial view of deep blue river water at falls on the edge of a verdant cityscape

Oregon City

The final wagon stop on the Oregon trail, Oregon City welcomes visitors with food, drink, museums and outdoor activities.

buildings in Lake Oswego beneath forested hills and blue skies with Mount Hood in the distance

Lake Oswego

Whether you’re hitting the links, shopping designer consignment or sipping drinks on a waterfront patio, you’ll enjoy the tranquility Lake Oswego affords.