Are you looking for some things to do with the kids in Vancouver, Washington? Rain or shine, here's a local guide that's familiar with all of the family-friendly activities this city has to offer. From parks and indoor attractions to blow off some steam, to places that stimulate your littles' minds, there's something here sure to entice your whole crew. Big Al's Kids and adults alike will enjoy Big Al's bowling lanes and arcade. With a lengthy list of beer and cocktails, a full menu of pizza, burgers, salad, and more, spend a whole afternoon or evening here with friends or family. Big Al's FUN Card can be used to purchase anything in the building, including bowling, food, drinks, and arcade play which gives young ones freedom to enjoy all that they have to offer.    Drip Drop Art Studio Spare your home of creative messes and drop in to Drip Drop Art Studio for classes, camps, parties, and open studio hours! I adore watching what they're up to with the littles on Instagram, catering from 18 months all the way to 10 years old. One of the things I love most is their imagination-driven concepts; no fancy tools or ideas here... can you collaborate with other littles to make a space ship out of a box at Space Camp? Or drop in for Architect week to make a city skyline? From beads, to paint, to glitter and felt, your mini makers will come home with a unique treasure that sparked their creativity.   Sky Zone It's a rainy day and your kids have cabin fever? Jump over to Sky Zone, Vancouver's only trampoline park. From freestyle jumping to a foam zone, a bouncy game of dodgeball, skyhoops, battle beams, climbing, and even a dedicated toddler zone, this is the perfect place to grab a year round membership to or host your next party or group event.   City Play for Kids The Pacific Northwest winters call for imaginative indoor playgrounds to keep little ones engaged all year-round. A whole tiny city, from a school bus, to a restaurant, vet clinic, firehouse, park, and more, are all there for your kiddos to interact with. Based on the foundation that children learn from play, your children can enjoy the space with a one-time drop-in fee or save with a play pass if you plan to go regularly. City Play is open seven days a week, from 8AM-4PM.   Dizzy Castle Looking for some indoor fun for a birthday party, special event, or family outing? Dizzy Castle is the place to be! With over 13,000 square feet of play space for kids to explore, it’s the Northwest’s latest and greatest indoor playground! They can let their imaginations run wild as they conquer our massive indoor castle or set sail for adventure on our spectacular 70-foot pirate ship. Little heroes can save the day in our snake pit, or slide in style down one of our triple-wave slides. The littlest of heroes can also take part in the adventure. Toddlers can enjoy their own miniature pirate ship, slides, and age appropriate toys.   Columbia Play Project Dedicated to creating exploratory play spaces for the young and young-at heart, the Columbia Play Project is just getting started and could use community support as they venture through their five-year expansion plan to create an exploratory play space. In the meantime, they have themed play kits, a mobile museum, and builder boards; a set of wooden pieces designed to offer children an opportunity to design and build their dream house. Book them for your next party!   Nikkei Park Honoring Japanese American heritage and its history of farming in east Vancouver, this prehistoric dinosaur themed park is one of the most noteworthy parks in the city. The park at 52nd Street and 137th Avenue opened to the public in July, 2021. Children can dig for fossils, and adults can get some exercise in, plus enjoy a half-court basketball set-up and more than enough grassy spots to bring cornhole or croquet sets or just about any other yard game. Learn more about the Japanese heritage in Clark County Today.   Laser Tag, Mini Golf & Axe Throwing Located within the Vancouver Mall, this is an attraction for all ages. With a blacklight lit Safari-themed mini golf course, laser tag, and even axe throwing, this is the perfect location for families to spend a Saturday with package deals on multiple activities, or to host your kid's next birthday party or group event.

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We have no shortage of incredible waterfalls and hikes around Vancouver, WA, ranging in difficulty and elevation gain. I've collected a few below that I believe are family friendly. Remember that weather and seasons can change the terrain dramatically, so do some research on each trail within the last 2-4 weeks for up to date conditions.    Round Lake Loop & Pothole Falls in Lacamas Lake Regional Park For the lowest impact and nearest waterfalls to Vancouver, just venture down the 14 into Camas. It’s just a 1.6-mile outing with 200 feet of elevation change and totally doable for kids. There are a number of junctions where you can extend your hike and explore more, varying terrain, such as the Camas lily fields, in the summertime.Distance from Vancouver: 25 Minutes, depending on traffic.   Latourell Falls This is another low impact, quick (under a quarter mile?) walk that’s even accessible by stroller, off Oregon Highway 30. If you’re unfamiliar, hiking through the Columbia Gorge offers two paths–one on the Oregon side and one on the Washington side; the river being the stateline. The bright green moss over the rocks under Latourell Falls is vibrantly instagrammable, and the mist floating off the waterfall is fun for kids. The accessibility of this one makes it a bit busier than the others to come, but still worth a quick stop.Distance from Vancouver: 40 Minutes, depending on traffic.   Siouxon Creek The Gifford Pinchot National Forest is one of my favorite day trips from Vancouver, and Sioxon Creek is a great place to start exploring. The pools that the waterfalls pour into are majestic green and blue jewel tones. Depending on how far you want to go, you can see four waterfalls, Horseshoe Creek Falls, Siouxon Falls, Chinook Falls, Wildcat Falls, and the hike can range from 4-9 miles. Try checking out AllTrails for specifics on each route.Distance from Vancouver: 1 hr, 30 Minutes, depending on traffic.   Covel Creek Falls and Angel Falls Trail With all kinds of varying terrain and things to see, including forest, waterfalls, caves and grottos. Portions of it can be overgrown and some reviewers stated it was easy to get off the planned route and extend the hike way longer than planned. There are two to three streams to cross and steep inclines, so make sure you have appropriate footwear for this one, but it is doable for the whole family. It’s been stated toward the end of summer 2021 that the waterfalls aren’t as full as some expected. Spring may be ideal for this location.Distance from Vancouver: 2 hours, 20 Minutes, depending on traffic.   Panther Creek Falls One of my faves in the Pacific Northwest because of the little wispy divergent paths of water running down bright green mossy rocks creating a breathtaking view of one of the most unique waterfalls around. This hike is short but requires a bit of rock-climbing off-trail experience to reach the bottom of the falls. The trails have recently been restored by Forest Service and are manageable for most ages. The trailhead is unmarked and hard to find and conditions are wet but the view is worth it. To extend your adventure, check out the nearby Ramona Falls.Distance from Vancouver: 1 hr, 30 Minutes, depending on traffic.

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With a goal of always reducing my footprint, and supporting friends and our community, I choose to shop small whenever I can. I'll keep adding to this list because there are way more than I've mentioned here, but here are some of my favorites for casual browsing, and finding local gifts. Kindred Homestead Supply I believe this is Vancouver’s only bulk refillery for home and personal care products. They also have a variety of sustainable home goods, local makers’ products and artwork, and host great events such as monthly flea markets, shibori dyeing classes, and clothing swaps. I adore basically every initiative they launch.   Suburban Succulents Crazy plant people, stop with the bananas prices at the trendy Portland plant shops, and drop in to Suburban Succulents, a hidden gem in a residential neighborhood in Vancouver. They’re by no means only succulents–in fact, Adriane, the owner, will happily try to source your wish list of houseplants at super reasonable prices. She’s also ultra-helpful in diagnosing what’s wrong with any of your suffering plants, and nursing them back to health. A wealth of knowledge and very chill individual, I’m happy to call her one of my first friends when I moved to Vancouver and highly recommend you pay her a visit.   Vancouver Night Market and Pop-Local The Night Market is essentially a flea market of local makers hosted through the summer months in Vancouver. But, the community loved it so much, that Pop-Local is currently being launched down by the Waterfront, so we’ll have brick-and-mortar year-round access to shop small, locally made products! I’m super excited about this.   1709 Records A broad selection in a small old-school style shop, with passionate, knowledgeable, friendly owners, is basically all you could want out of a record store. It’s clean and well-organized, this Google reviewer put it perfectly: “​​Prices are great for the common titles, and an abundance of rarer discs at appropriate-yet-reasonable cost. Throw in some new vinyl, cassette tapes, and shelves of vintage hi-fi gear..you've got 1709. Magnifique.”   Birdhouse Books I will never not want real, printed books. Birdhouse has a small, cozy selection of used books, just upstairs from Rosemary Cafe. It honestly feels like perusing a friend’s book collection, and I love that intimacy. It’s definitely intended for casual browsing rather than an intentional search for a specific title. They also have poetry readings, literary discussions, and book signings!

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I feel like one of the most common food questions in local forums about Vancouver is, where's the good pizza? Part of me hates this question because it's so subjective, do you like parlor pizza that reminds you of your grimey childhood or do you like boujie toppings like squash blossoms on a Neapolitan crust? That being said, my partner prides himself on his pizza expertise and we've tried A LOT, so I'm going to give you the rundown of the most commonly recommended options you may have heard of and what we, personally, love or hate about them.  Rally's (Now Inside Victor 23)  Ratings out of 5Thicc Crust Rating: 2Classic to Boujie Rating: 3 Our hearts broke when Rally's closed their brick-and-mortar location that had a huge variety of pizzas and apps, and even boozie frozen custard drinks. It was our favorite pizza in the city. But we always appreciate business owners following their hearts–they opened a new spot down in Portland and then dropped a fraction of their pizza menu into Victor 23 (brewery) here in Vancouver, so we can still get our fix. What really bums me out is the former menu was way more diverse and experimental, and now they really stick to the classics. Secret bonus... dine in with the fam any Tuesday and get a free cheese pizza for kids 12 & under with the purchase of any regular menu pizza.  Hungry Sasquatch Thicc Crust Rating: 2Classic to Boujie Rating: 3 I'll cut to the chase, this is probably our favorite pizza and value as far as pies go in Vancouver. Yes, a full pizza is about $30, but they're massive, and if you don't want all that, they have options by the slice as well PLUS vegan and gluten-free pizza because, don't forget, we live in the Portland Metro. Their salads are solid too, and it's inside Thirsty Sasquatch which also happens to be our favorite local cocktail (and mocktail) bar. They use quality ingredients, have delicious crunchy crust, and you don't feel all greasy after you're finished.  Blind Onion Thicc Crust Rating: 4Classic to Boujie Rating: 1 Seems to come recommended a lot, and this being the WORST pizza in Vancouver is a food-review hill I'm willing to die on. The crust is thick in not a cute Chicago-way, flavorless and gooey doughey, (yes, I know it's from Sunrise Bagels Bakery, I don't care, it's not good,) plus they're stingy with low-quality toppings, sauce isn't good, cheese seems cheap, everything about it is bad, and it's not even cheap which adds to my frustration. I'm sorry if you like it. Even my partner who has few pizzas throughout his life that he would literally not consume, threw nearly a whole pizza away when he demanded to try it in spite of my warnings. I would have to be intensely inebriated to want to eat this pizza. Maybe less-discerning kids would like it? I don't know. Pizzeria La Sorrentina Thicc Crust Rating: 1Classic to Boujie Rating: 4 Okay, I know I said Hungry Sasquatch was our favorite pizza (it is my partner's favorite pizza,) but La Sorrentina is mine. It DOES have the boujie topping options, my favorite is the Terra Mia that comes with eggplant, sausage and smoked mozz. The whole menu and restaurant is overseen by chef and owner, Pizzaiolo Daisuke Matsumoto who trained in–and frequents–Sorrento, Italy. Also love their calamari fritti, seasonal seafood salads, and burnt basque cheesecake. You feel like family there, (in not an Olive Garden way), and the attention to detail and service is exceptional. Great happy hour deals too. I recommend eating in, here, instead of takeout, personally. Ruse Crust Collective Thicc Crust Rating: 5Classic to Boujie Rating: 4 I'm not normally a thick-crust gal but Ruse is my exception. The crunchy edges are delicious and they load plenty of toppings on to balance the pizza all out. It's not cheap, but comes with the scenery of Vancouver's "new" waterfront, a great selection of beer, and my favorite caesar salad in the city. They have both classic and fancy toppings, like kalua pulled pork, squash blossoms, and garlic confit, and even offer Impossible beef. If you're seeking Detroit-inspired pizza, this is the only spot I would recommend in Vancouver.  Champs Thicc Crust Rating: 3Classic to Boujie Rating: 2 IMO this is probably the most classic, family-friendly spot for takeout or eat-in 'zas in Vancouver. A little pricey but VERY generous with toppings  which I really appreciate (albeit no super creative add-ons), and nothing super boujie about it. A simple review, for a solid, reliable pizza joint with owners that seem like good peeps.  Juliano's Thicc Crust Rating: 3Classic to Boujie Rating: 2 Juliano's also feels classic, family-friendly and generous with toppings, but I'm rating them lower than Champ's because they're expensive and the last time I went there they took FOR-EV-ER... like over an hour to make a couple pizzas. I don't know if that's the norm, but between price and cost, the experience made me not need to go back, since.  NYC Pizzeria Thicc Crust Rating: 2.5Classic to Boujie Rating: 2 I'll outright say it's not the best pizza... BUT... as someone who likes a good mashup even when it's a little cringe, I'm kind of into the Indian pizza concept like Masala, Paneer and Tandoori topped pizzas. It's a fun change when I'm not really in the mood for pizza but it seems convenient. They also have traditional pizza options for those who are feeling less experimental, and even salads and sandwiches but I'll admit I wasn't impressed by my experiences with those. So my final take is... try it because it's different, but it's not likely to be your go-to pizza joint.      Honorable mentions we haven't tried yet, but intend to in the coming months: Nonavo, Leonardo's, Felony Options I just don't care to elaborate on or have any strongly held opinions on: Any form of chain (Papa Murphy's, Mod Pizza, Round Table), Heavy Metal, The Rock, Ghost Runners (I consider more flatbread than pizza.)   

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Are you looking for some things to do with the kids in Vancouver, Washington? Rain or shine, here's a local guide that's familiar with all of the family-friendly activities this city has to offer. From parks and indoor attractions to blow off some steam, to places that stimulate your littles' minds, there's something here sure to entice your whole crew. Big Al's Kids and adults alike will enjoy Big Al's bowling lanes and arcade. With a lengthy list of beer and cocktails, a full menu of pizza, burgers, salad, and more, spend a whole afternoon or evening here with friends or family. Big Al's FUN Card can be used to purchase anything in the building, including bowling, food, drinks, and arcade play which gives young ones freedom to enjoy all that they have to offer.    Drip Drop Art Studio Spare your home of creative messes and drop in to Drip Drop Art Studio for classes, camps, parties, and open studio hours! I adore watching what they're up to with the littles on Instagram, catering from 18 months all the way to 10 years old. One of the things I love most is their imagination-driven concepts; no fancy tools or ideas here... can you collaborate with other littles to make a space ship out of a box at Space Camp? Or drop in for Architect week to make a city skyline? From beads, to paint, to glitter and felt, your mini makers will come home with a unique treasure that sparked their creativity.   Sky Zone It's a rainy day and your kids have cabin fever? Jump over to Sky Zone, Vancouver's only trampoline park. From freestyle jumping to a foam zone, a bouncy game of dodgeball, skyhoops, battle beams, climbing, and even a dedicated toddler zone, this is the perfect place to grab a year round membership to or host your next party or group event.   City Play for Kids The Pacific Northwest winters call for imaginative indoor playgrounds to keep little ones engaged all year-round. A whole tiny city, from a school bus, to a restaurant, vet clinic, firehouse, park, and more, are all there for your kiddos to interact with. Based on the foundation that children learn from play, your children can enjoy the space with a one-time drop-in fee or save with a play pass if you plan to go regularly. City Play is open seven days a week, from 8AM-4PM.   Dizzy Castle Looking for some indoor fun for a birthday party, special event, or family outing? Dizzy Castle is the place to be! With over 13,000 square feet of play space for kids to explore, it’s the Northwest’s latest and greatest indoor playground! They can let their imaginations run wild as they conquer our massive indoor castle or set sail for adventure on our spectacular 70-foot pirate ship. Little heroes can save the day in our snake pit, or slide in style down one of our triple-wave slides. The littlest of heroes can also take part in the adventure. Toddlers can enjoy their own miniature pirate ship, slides, and age appropriate toys.   Columbia Play Project Dedicated to creating exploratory play spaces for the young and young-at heart, the Columbia Play Project is just getting started and could use community support as they venture through their five-year expansion plan to create an exploratory play space. In the meantime, they have themed play kits, a mobile museum, and builder boards; a set of wooden pieces designed to offer children an opportunity to design and build their dream house. Book them for your next party!   Nikkei Park Honoring Japanese American heritage and its history of farming in east Vancouver, this prehistoric dinosaur themed park is one of the most noteworthy parks in the city. The park at 52nd Street and 137th Avenue opened to the public in July, 2021. Children can dig for fossils, and adults can get some exercise in, plus enjoy a half-court basketball set-up and more than enough grassy spots to bring cornhole or croquet sets or just about any other yard game. Learn more about the Japanese heritage in Clark County Today.   Laser Tag, Mini Golf & Axe Throwing Located within the Vancouver Mall, this is an attraction for all ages. With a blacklight lit Safari-themed mini golf course, laser tag, and even axe throwing, this is the perfect location for families to spend a Saturday with package deals on multiple activities, or to host your kid's next birthday party or group event.

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Vancouver's waterfront along the Columbia River is one of visitors' and locals' top destinations to dine. You'll pay a premium for incredible views, but if it's a beautiful day or you're looking to impress, one of these might be just what you're looking for.    The Cove The Cove, owned by the same folks as The Hammond mentioned on my Date Night eateries page, is the only one of this group that's not down by Vancouver's new flashy waterfront. It's a bit off the beaten path past Wintler Park at Tidewater Cove Marina, offering less crowds and great seafood. The vibe feels a bit like a hotel restaurant, very SoCal-esque, with focus on quality of food over quantity (no Cheesecake Factory-sized plates here!) They can also host groups up to 100 people for your special event.   Dosalas If you're looking for bougie Mexican-inspired fare, a broad selection of tequila, and you're not on a budget, Dosalas may be calling your name. The food and drinks are exceptional, the views are second-to-none, and the aesthetic feels like you're in Las Vegas but actually in the vicinity of water. (Newport Beach, for the California transplants.) I, personally, wouldn't really throw this one in the mix for a family dinner, but more for celebrations, impressive date nights, girls-night-out, and bachelorette parties.    Ruse Brewing Crust Collective If I'm being totally honest, I'm picky about pizza, and thick pizza is not usually my fav. Ruse is different, though. Detroit-style square shaped pizza with crispy cheesy crust edges and traditional to modern topping options like Impossible 'beef' and buffalo cauliflower (my personal fav.) Their salads are also out of this world, IMO the best caesar salad I've had in Vancouver and I've heard nothing but good things about their beet salad. All that, combined with some really great beer brewed locally in SE Portland, makes this one of my favorite waterfront restaurants. It is worth noting through, it's just across the street from the river so not all seating is guaranteed to have that picturesque view; but nothing a little evening stroll after pizza can't fix.   Stack 571 Burger & Whiskey Bar This is where you go for your waterfront burger. Just like Ruse, it's across the street from the waterfront, but they've got great options for the whole family plus adult beverages like boozie shakes. With indulgent options like bacon-whiskey jam and a poutine burger, plus alternatives like a fried buttermilk chicken sandwich, it's probably not the spot to go to while dieting but, who needs a diet anyway.    Wildfin This is the one everyone talks about when waterfront restaurants are requested... it's your classic American seafood restaurant in aesthetics and menu. It has non-fish options too, for those who are anti-pesc (I made that word up) and more humble options like tacos and sandwiches too. I'd consider this one a staple of Vancouver dining but my hot take is it's a little basic. I wouldn't decline to go, but suffice it to say, I've never taken my partner who is new-ish to Vancouver (and super food-centric) to show him what the Couve food scene is all about.

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