Things To Do Late Afternoon and Evening In and Around Portland/Vancouver/Camas
Vanouver is the ninth most populated area in Washington. After a hard day of thinking about AP Tests, content and pedagogy, you are ready to go out and explore. It is best not venture out alone. Go with a friend or colleague or three.
Biking (highly recommended)
Vancouver has a large combined bike trail complex. The Riverbank Path along the Willamette River (next to downtown Corvallis) is scenic, enjoyable and easy to do. No bike? Not a problem. Bikes are easy to rent. Some of the Vancouver/Camas bike shops will rent bikes.
Hiking (highly recommended)
There are fifty trailheads within a 45-minute drive from Union High School. A 1- 2 hour hike in August is possible taking into count driving to the trailhead. More information.
Running/Jogging (highly recommended)
If you are a runner, you will find a variety of trails to run early in the morning or in the afternoon.
Restaurants (highly recommended)
There are over 40 nice restaurants in the Vancouver/North Portland area. Ten of these restaurants are in the modest priced level ($25-$30) and four are in the pricey level ($35-$45). If you are following a Vegan/Vegetarian approach to food, you are in luck, Vancouver is one of the top eleven Vegan/Vegetarian food areas in the Washington/North Portland region. Most restaurants have Vegan/Vegetarian menus. Within a short walking distance of the Union High School campus there are a variety of restaurants, ice cream shops, etc.
Breweries & Taphouses (highly recommended)
Oregon and Washington beers have garnered national recognition with sustainable brewing, award-winning craft brews, distinctively cool microbreweries and burgeoning gastropubs. Vancouver is home to regionally-distributed beers and has a small fermentation district featuring alongside the breweries. Join the locals tasting small batch, hand crafted beer. If you like hops in your beer, this is the place for you. More Information
Shopping
A ten minute drive across the Columbia River and your in the prime shopping area of Portland – no sales tax.
Wine Tasting (highly recommended)
Several suburban wine bars, pair with a local Pinot Noir wine flight or delve into great international selections.
Drive just 50 minutes from Vancouver and your have your have your choice of twelve vineyards to visit. Most wine tasting rooms close at 5 pm or 6 pm on weeknights so call or check the winery web site.
For the more serious wine enthusiasts and those who are willing to spend $$ on world-class wines the McMinnville, Yamhill, and Dundee areas are about an hour south and west of Vancouver. This area is well worth planning a full-day or half-day visit.
Things to Do Driving Distances from Vancouver, Washington
There is much to do in the Columbia River Gorge. In less than an hour you can visit the spectacular Oregon Coast or go on an adventure in Cascade Mountains. Within two-three hour drive more rugged vistas and areas abound.
The Cities of Portland, Vancouver in the Pacific Northwest are full of attractions for visitors of all ages. We encourage you to spend extra days at your own convenience to visit the area.
For more information visit TravelOregon.com
Washington and Oregon State Parks
Columbia River Gorge Area
More Oregon State Parks
Silver Falls State Park, Sublimity, Oregon
Ocean Shore State Recreation Area
Oregon’s shoreline is a geologic mix of sandy beaches, rocky shores and towering capes rising from the sea. All of it — stretching from the Columbia River south to the Oregon/California border and between the vegetation line and extreme low tide — is waiting for you to take a stunning walk along the edge of the Pacific Ocean. See the History/FAQ page to learn why Oregon’s beaches are open to everyone to explore.
For those who enjoy the “Big Outdoors” and vistas, the area in an Vancouver, Washington is well worth a full-day or two-day visit for exploration.
National Parks (Oregon and Surrounding area)
- Crater Lake
- Mt. Hood
- Mount St. Helens
- Lewis and Clark
