There are so many things to do in Vancouver, WA, yet people often prioritize a visit to the popular Canadian city of the same name. That’s a shame, because Vancouver, WA was incorporated 30 years sooner and has a ton going for it.
First, it’s near the border, but you don’t need a passport to drive there. That’s because it sits on the Washington-Oregon border, not Canadian. In addition to being easy to get to, its prime location on the Columbia River means it has beautiful views and fertile soil perfect for vineyards.
Vancouver, WA is also worth a visit because it has a quaint downtown area full of shops, restaurants, breweries, and bars. It’s quite walkable, making it perfect for exploring by foot. As you do, you’ll pass interpretive signs and murals recounting the city’s historical trading and military importance. There’s even a museum and fort you can explore!
If you’re curious what this town just 15 minutes north of Portland is all about, look no further. Here are all the best things to do in Vancouver, WA.
This article is sponsored by Visit Vancouver WA, the city’s tourism board. Except for drinks at the hotel, I discovered everything on this list by myself. As always, I only included places I adored. This article also includes affiliate links. Thanks for supporting the brands that help keep this site running!
Things to Do in Vancouver, WA
Here are all my favorite things to do in Vancouver. Save this to Pinterest for later, as I’ll continue adding to it as I discover more gems!
Explore a historic fort
website | 1501 E Evergreen Blvd (get directions) | cost: $10 per adult, kids under 16 free | hours: Tues – Sat from 9 am – 5 pm
If you love history, Fort Vancouver National Historic Site is a must visit. It’s a large park managed by the US National Park Service that gives you a glimpse of the city’s past as a prime trading port and home base for important generals during the Civil War.
There are three main areas you can explore, all connected by walking trails and a few roads that allow cars. The first attraction you’ll come across is Officers Row, a tree-lined street dotted with beautiful historic homes. Some of these are owned by residents and small businesses, but a few are open as mini time capsules you can visit.
The Grant House is one of the most popular to check out, as it’s where Ulysses S. Grant lived from 1852 until 1853.
It used to have a restaurant, but it closed during the pandemic. You can take tours of the nearby Marshall House though, which has stunning Queen Anne Victorian architecture and was home to General George C. Marshall from 1936-1938.
Across the street from Officers Row is the Vancouver Barracks.
The United States Army established this post in 1849. It was the first post in the Pacific Northwest, so it was a major hub during the Civil War and Indian War eras. It was home to many notable generals throughout history and later served as a recruitment, mobilization, and training facility for the Spanish-American War, Philippine War, and other foreign engagements.
While many of the barrack buildings are closed to the public, you’ll see interpretive signs as you walk around them. Or you can take a guided haunted tour through the grounds in October to learn more about the eerie stories during that time in history.
The last main area to explore in the park is Fort Vancouver.
It was created in 1825 by the Hudson’s Bay Company to serve as the headquarters of its fur trade. It’s where the Company’s families lived, so it has the vibe of a historic town similar to what you would find at Plymouth or Williamsburg on the east coast.
The fort is only open certain hours, so if you visit during off hours, like I did, you’ll only be able to explore the gardens surrounding it. Fun fact about the agriculture at the fort: Washington’s first apple tree was planted here in 1829. That tree unfortunately passed in 2020 at the ripe age of 194 years old, but it was the start of our state’s booming apple industry.
For those interested in aviation, there’s also the Pearson Air Museum, which is free to enter and open the same hours as the fort. I didn’t get a chance to visit, but you can see the tarmac landing strip and planes from the trails around the fort.
Fun fact: Pearson Field is the oldest continuously-operating airfield in the Pacific Northwest, and one of the two oldest continuously-operating airfields in the United States!
Walk along the waterfront
website | 115 SE Columbia Way (get directions) | parking: paid street parking weekdays until 6 pm (free nights and weekends)
Vancouver, WA has an impressive park weaving along the Columbia River. To the west of the bridge that brings you to Oregon, you’ll find hotels, restaurants, tasting rooms, and other commercial businesses dotting a paved trail. There are plenty of moments to rest along the way, with benches and chaises scattered along the path.
I absolutely loved the views from this portion of the waterfront, especially from my hotel room at the AC Hotel Marriott. It’s exciting that what you see now is only the beginning: the waterfront will continue to be developed through 2024.
On the east side of the bridge to Oregon, you can continue to enjoy views while walking, running, biking, or skating the Waterfront Renaissance Trail. You can get to the trail from the more commercial area on the waterfront, or you can park at the free Waterfront Park Parking Lot.
Across the street from the trail, you’ll notice a sign for the Vancouver Land Bridge. As its name implies, this is a bridge that allows people to walk across the highway to get to Fort Vancouver. It’s a peaceful trail that has interpretive signs along the way about the Indigenous people that inhabited the area and what happened when their culture converged with European settlers.
Go wine tasting
Most people don’t realize that there are about 20 wineries in and around Vancouver, WA. In fact, Fort Vancouver is where Washington’s first wine grapes were planted in 1825!
Many of Clark County’s wineries are in downtown Vancouver. You can download the Clark County Wine Trail Pass to get discounts at participating wineries. You’ll also be entered for a chance to win prizes every time you visit a new tasting room during prize periods.
While I haven’t explored all of the wineries, here are three of my favorites.
Valo Cellars | Massalto Wines
website | 671 W Columbia Way (get directions) | best for: 2 labels under one roof
Valo Cellars | Massalto Wines sounds like two different wineries are sharing a space, but it’s actually one winery with two very different labels. Both are crafted using all Washington grapes, but Valo is their more restrained, traditional French-style wine that is delicate and structured. Massalto is where they take risks, producing bigger and bolder styles.
They debuted on the Vancouver waterfront, so they’re a small boutique winery. However, they’re already earning accolades. You get to try both award-winning wine labels in a flight, so I recommend getting that.
If it’s available, try the tempranillo rosé or sauvignon-chenin blanc wines. I loved how the rosé is bigger than you usually get with this varietal and how the the chenin blanc was acidic and complex.
Pro tip: Valo Cellars is next to a bunch of other tasting rooms on the waterfront, so it’s a great place to visit if you want to spend an afternoon wine tasting! Don’t miss Amavi Cellars & Pepper Bridge Winery, one of the best Walla Walla wineries.
Burnt Bridge Cellars
website | 1500 Broadway St (get directions) | best for: friendly, engaged staff
Burnt Bridge Cellars is another tasting room right in the city, but this time it’s nestled in the core downtown area. It’s named after the creek that runs through Vancouver, a fitting name given how entrenched it is in the community. For example, it’s obvious they cater to locals based on the way they greet each other upon entry.
Their tasting room is built in a converted 30s-era garage. You’ll find a cozy space covered with local art. There may even be an event going on, like a monthly art walk, craft, or music.
The staff is warm and enjoys sipping and spitting the wine alongside you so it feels like a fun dinner party. You’ll enjoy a flight of five wines for ~$15, which is waived with a bottle purchase.
They have wines that range from floral and light to meaty and heavy. I particularly liked the cabernet sauvignon they were pouring when I visited, so get that if it’s available!
English Estate Winery
website | 17806 SE 1st St (get directions) | best for: that quintessential winery vibe
If you prefer that winery vibe surrounded by vineyards, English Estate is a good choice. It’s about 15 minutes east of downtown Vancouver and has an ambiance that will make you smile.
For example, as you drive up you’ll see groups scattered along the grounds enjoying a bottle of wine. Hens will be bobbing around, and you’ll get nice views of the valley just past their tasting room. Behind that you’ll see rows of vines that have all the grapes they use in their wines.
That tasting room is a big red barn, which they refurbished into a lowly-lit space perfect for cuddling up on a couch. Wine wise you’ll get six pours for ~$15. I was obsessed with their Gewürztraminer, a sometimes sweet German grape varietal that they transformed into a dry, crisp summer sipper with a lot of depth. Definitely try that if it’s on the list when you visit!
Go on a beer crawl
Like any good Pacific Northwest town, one of the best things to do in Vancouver, WA is have some beer. There are more than 30 breweries and places to sip local brews in the greater Vancouver area.
While I didn’t get a chance to visit any on my trip, some on my short list to visit based on locals’ recommendations are Trap Door Brewing, Brothers Cascadia, and Heathen Brewing (which also makes wine!). Another draw to Trap Door and Brothers Cascadia is that both host mini food cart pods.
Explore local shops
Vancouver, WA has a walkable downtown area, so you can explore a lot of shops within a half day’s time. Shopping is especially one of the best things to do in Vancouver, WA if you love antiquing, as there are a ton of vintage shops.
I recommend just weaving along Main Street and Washington Street between the 6th and 25th Street blocks. However, don’t miss Persnickety, House of Vintage, Urban Eccentric, and Old Glory Antiques & Vintage if you love scouring Seattle’s best antique shops and want to continue your hunt for the perfect treasures while traveling.
Pro tip: As you explore, don’t miss all the fun murals and sculptures dotting the downtown area.
Enjoy a coffee pick-me-up
Being so close to Portland, it’s no surprise that Vancouver, WA is home to some seriously good coffee roasters. Here are two of my favorites.
Relevant Coffee
website | 1703 Main St (get directions) | best for: creative coffee drinks
Relevant Coffee makes excellent light and medium roast coffees. Their brews are yummy on their own via drip or pour over, but I also love how they serve as a base for creative lattes and teas. For example, some of their seasonal drinks include smoked cardamom latte, maple latte, pumpkin pie tea, and of course, pumpkin spiced latte.
You’ll also find a pretty robust pastry case if you’re feeling peckish. They curate baked goodies from a bunch of area bakeries. I saw cookies, scones, breads, danishes, croissants, cinnamon rolls, pop tarts, muffins, and cakes when I last visited, so there’s no shortage of choices!
Pro tip: I went at 9 am on a Sunday and there was a line out the door. It moved quickly, but be prepared to wait because locals love this place!
Compass Coffee
website | 817 Washington St (get directions) | best for: yummy, medium roast coffees
Compass is another great coffee shop in downtown Vancouver. It’s the perfect place to stop when you care more about the coffee than an extensive food menu because they’re obsessed with sourcing beans and roasting them to the perfect level to extract each batch’s ideal flavor profile.
Visit the downtown farmers market
website | 605 Esther St (get directions) | hours: Sat – Sun from 10 am – 3 pm (9 am on Sat) March – Oct
The Vancouver Farmers Market actually hosts three different farmers markets. The most popular is the downtown one that runs all weekend spring through early fall. However, they have a fall market in November and December at the same location. The only difference is it’s Saturday only from 10 am to 2 pm. The East Vancouver Market has the shortest season, running Thursdays from 10 am to 2 pm June through August.
I went to the downtown one hosted at Esther Short Park. It was surprisingly big, with vendors from all over Clark County and nearby Oregon selling produce, crafts, and food. This is one of the perfect things to do in Vancouver, WA on a weekend morning before setting out to explore more of the city.
Eat at excellent restaurants
There are a ton of really great restaurants in Vancouver, WA, some opened by award-winning chefs from Portland. October is their annual Dine the Couve event, so it’s the best time to try as many restaurants as you can. All month long you’ll find 3-course meals for $25 or $35 at participating restaurants.
Pro tip: A lot of Vancouver, WA restaurants are closed Sundays, so check hours and plan accordingly!
Dediko
website | 210 W Evergreen Blvd (get directions) | best for: Georgian food
Dediko is a stylish restaurant right in downtown Vancouver. The space is full of warm wood tones and plants, which is meant to recreate the balconies common among the urban dining scene in Georgia. At lunch you order at the counter, but come dinner it’s a seated dining experience.
I was obsessed with this restaurant. The Georgian Dip Tour lets you sample a platter of Georgian cheeses, puri bread, eggplant rolls, tangy eggplant dip, walnut spinach dip, and beet walnut dip. I highly recommend getting this.
The other standout was the khinkali pork and beef dumplings. You get three large ones that have a thick, chewy dough. Inside is super moist meat surrounded by broth, almost like a Taiwanese soup dumpling. I couldn’t get over the perfect balance of texture and flavor, so I recommend getting these as well.
Treat
website | 210 W Evergreen Blvd (get directions) | best for: hard serve ice cream
Treat is right next door to Dediko, making it the perfect spot for dessert after your meal. They serve both hard and soft serve ice cream, but the hard serve is where it’s at. I got the strawberries and cream and coffee toffee flavors, both of which were pronounced and the perfect creamy consistency.
Little Conejo
website | 114 W 6th St (get directions) | best for: street tacos
This lively Mexican spot was recommended to me by a local. It started as a hole-in-the-wall taco joint that has since expanded into a light and bright space with both indoor and outdoor dining. They also have a food truck parked at a small food cart pod north of Vancouver.
Despite an expanded menu that has an interesting-looking brunch, the must-get here is still tacos. All of them are served on made-from-scratch-daily corn tortillas, which isn’t usually my preference because they tend to be more gritty. However, I loved how their corn tortillas were more the consistency of flour tortillas.
Meat wise, definitely get the fried mahi fish and brisket. The fish was perfectly seasoned and had the most satisfying crackle when you bit into it. And the brisket was so juicy and falling apart…it was obvious it’d been cooking for hours.
Pro tip: Little Conejo has a lot of vegetarian and vegan options too!
Slow Fox Chili
website | 108 E 7th St (get directions) | best for: chili
The world needs more spots like Slow Fox. This hole-in-the-wall window serves chili that you eat in a large courtyard. It’s owned by a former chef at Screen Door, a comfort food spot in PDX with a cult following. They’re continuing the comfort food theme, but this time focusing on something a bit more soul warming.
You can order a traditional red chili, green pork chili, or Cincinnati chili. I chose the green chili because they said it was less spicy. It had big, succulent chunks of pork and a roasted poblano flavor profile. I’d definitely get this again, if only as a vessel to dip their incredible cornbread.
Amaro’s table
website | 1220 Main St (get directions) | best for: well-executed American classics
Amaro’s Table is another spot recommended to me by a local. It’s a touch fancier and serves elevated takes on American diner food. They also have an extensive amaro list, which you can order on its own or as a lovely cocktail.
The must-gets here are the fried chicken sandwich and doughnuts. The sandwich is served with caramel, which is a wild version of the classic that should be more of a thing. If it’s your first time visiting, they usually gift you their doughnuts. But if not, make sure you order some. They’re like a bigger, warmer, and better version of a Dunkin Donuts’ Munchkin!
Pro tip: Service can be slow here, so plan accordingly. In addition, if you’re looking at the salad with shrimp in it, ask if it comes with the shell. My dish did and I found it cumbersome to peel.
Bleu Door Bakery
website | 2411 Main St (get directions) | best for: breakfast
Bleu Door is a cozy spot loved by locals. You’ll see many queued up at the to-go window, but I encourage you to go inside to sit in their French bistro-inspired dining room.
Don’t miss their beignets available on weekends. They’re pillowy and remind me of Cafe du Monde’s in New Orleans. I also recommend getting a side of their cheddar-scallion biscuit if available. I got it in the biscuits and gravy, but honestly the gravy detracted from the dish. These biscuits deserve to be enjoyed on their own!
Pizzeria La Sorrentina
website | 3000 164th Ave (get directions) | best for: east coast-style Italian
This unassuming spot is located in a strip mall in East Vancouver. While this may be an eyebrow raiser to some, I was so excited by this ambiance. You see, strip mall pizza joints are a huge thing I grew up with in New Jersey and I sorely miss them. So you can imagine my excitement when I found this place.
Like any good east coast pizza joint, the menu is extensive and includes a combination of appetizers, salads, pizzas, and pastas. People rave about their pizza, but I personally found the Margherita too saucy and the crust too pillowy.
However, the pasta I had was exceptional. I got the cavatelli and broccoli, a staple dish on the east coast that is near impossible to find in Washington. Their version has anchovy and toasted breadcrumbs, both of which are an extraordinary addition to this dish. I highly recommend ordering this when you visit!
Syrup Trap
website | 1104 Main St (get directions) | best for: Belgian-style waffles
This order-at-the-counter waffle joint is another casual breakfast spot loved by locals. You’ll find a focused menu of both sweet and savory waffle dishes. I’m team savory all the way, so that was the part of the menu I ordered from.
I got the Swanson Sammy, which is a waffle sandwich stuffed with bacon, sausage, egg, and cheese. I drizzled it with syrup and loved the flavor combination. While I think the waffle batch I got was a touch under seasoned, it was perfection when I got a bite with the herbaceous and salty sausage. It was a satisfying way to start the day!
Pro tip: They serve Relevant Coffee if you’re not able to make it to the coffee shop.
Grab a sunset cocktail
website | 333 W Columbia Way (get directions) | best for: water views
The Vancouver Waterfront is a special place to be, particularly at sunset. The perfect way to experience it is while sipping a cocktail at the AC Hotel Marriott’s Lounge.
The lounge has a bunch of windows overlooking the Columbia River, but I recommend sitting outside with the fire pits to really immerse yourself in the ambiance of the waterfront. If available, get the Terminal One Pier drink, which is their take on a daiquiri that is the perfect balance of spirit forward without tasting too boozy or sweet.
If you’re feeling peckish, definitely get the meatballs served with romesco sauce. They’re some of the most tender meatballs I’ve had, and the peppery romesco adds an acidic complexity you don’t often get with this classic dish. It’s also covered with melted Manchego so it feels like a dish truly inspired by Spain.
Another standout is the carrot cake, if available. The AC Lounge’s pastry chef knows how to make the moistest carrot cake I’ve ever had. I was so full I couldn’t finish it, but you better believe I drove it all the way back to Seattle so I could devour it later!
Relax at a hidden beach
1477 SE Columbia Way (get directions) | parking: street parking in a condo complex
The aptly named Surprise Beach was recommended to me by staff at Burnt Bridge Cellars. Unlike the rocky beach you can access along the Waterfront Renaissance Trail, this beach is sandy and the perfect spot for lounging.
It’s a bit unassuming to find, but Google Maps had no trouble locating it. The tricky part is realizing you have to find street parking and walk down the path that runs alongside a parking lot (which looks attractive for parking, but is only for residents). Once you find it though, you’ll see a nice paved trail lined with dreamy condos overlooking the beach.
Use it as a home base for hiking
There are a lot of urban hikes and longer trails just outside of Vancouver. While I didn’t get a chance to hike on my last trip, these spots are my short list for a future trip:
- Moulton Falls – 4-mile, easy hike about 40 minutes outside Vancouver
- Whipple Creek – Regional park with trails recommended by a local
- Salmon Creek – Another trail near downtown recommended by a local
Take a day trip to Oregon
Besides hiking, Vancouver is perfectly located for exploring more of Oregon. So after you experience all the things to do in Vancouver, WA, check out my guides to exploring nearby areas just over the state border in Oregon:
- The Perfect Portland Itinerary
- Fun Places to Eat in Portland
- Willamette Valley Wineries You Must Visit
- Best Willamette Valley Restaurants
- Columbia River Gorge Waterfall Map
- The Best Columbia River Gorge Itinerary Ever
- Gorge Wineries Serious Wine Lovers Will Appreciate
- Things to Do on the Oregon Coast
Map of Vancouver, WA
Hopefully you enjoyed this list of things to do in Vancouver, WA! If you’re looking for more ideas, check out the map I used when planning my trip. It has other places I researched and hope to visit in the future.
