If you are anywhere near Vancouver and have even the slightest appreciation for history, do…read moreyourself a favor and walk the waterfront, then wander over to Fort Vancouver National Historic Site and soak it all in. Right nearby sits Old Apple Tree Park, home to what was known as the oldest apple tree in the Pacific Northwest. I remember seeing the old tree standing there like some weathered pioneer that had witnessed centuries pass by. The original trunk finally died, but shoots from its living roots were replanted, and the tree lives on through its offspring. Considering apple trees were not native to this land and had to be brought across oceans and continents, there is something downright incredible about standing next to the very beginning of Northwest orchard history. Fort Vancouver itself is fascinating. Established by the Hudson's Bay Company in 1825, it became the center of trade, farming, and industry in the Pacific Northwest long before Washington or Oregon were even states. Back then this place was a bustling multicultural settlement with trappers, traders, farmers, blacksmiths, sailors, and families from all over the world. They cultivated massive gardens, orchards, and farmland here to feed thousands of people traveling through the region. It was essentially the headquarters of the Pacific Northwest during the fur trade era. Walking through the fort today feels like stepping into another century. Between the wooden palisades, parade grounds, river breeze, and views of the Columbia, you can almost imagine canoes arriving loaded with furs while smoke curled from fireplaces inside the fort walls. It is peaceful now, but this place once shaped the entire region. I honestly think one of the best afternoons you can have in Vancouver is to stroll the riverfront, grab a coffee, walk through the historic reserve, and end up here reflecting on how much history happened on this patch of ground. Relish it. So much of the Northwest rushes forward so fast that we forget where it all began. Fort Vancouver reminds you.

We love visiting this 191 acre site! There's so much to see...Officer's Row, barracks, gazebo, the…read moreFort, gardens, land bridge trail, and the Pearson Air Museum. We've been to almost everything this historical site has to offer. Our favorite part is just walking around any time of year and seeing what's in bloom. In the spring they have gorgeous cherry blossoms and tulip trees. In summer there's tons of hydrangeas around the historic buildings along Officer's Row. The Fort Vancouver gardens are gorgeous in summer with a wide variety of plants and flowers. There's a lot of vegetables too! Overall a great place to explore. I feel so lucky to have such a gem so close to home! Would highly recommend.

Excellent paved path for pedestrians bridging over Hwy 14 connecting the Columbia River side of…read moreVancouver to Fort Vancouver. It's clean & well maintained, with a flat paved path. There is a gentle sloping incline at each end, since it is a bridge, but they've made it so it's not steep and very manageable for a variety of people's abilities & ages. There are a few art pieces along the way, and informational signs about the areas history & vegetation. There are also some benches at a few spots if you want to rest.

Perfect for a leisurely stroll and exploration of some historical sites, this location offers a…read moregradual incline over the highway, making it suitable for all kinds of visitors.

Beautiful historic building with great people offering thoughtful service. It's a great post office…read morewith a convenient drive through drop off box for stamped mail.

Decent post office located in downtown Vancouver Washington. Love the old building! Parking can be…read moretricky since there's only street parking available. They do have a few drive up blue mailboxes to mail letters across the street from the main entrance.

This was a fun place to celebrate with our team! The…read morescheduling seems to allow for groups to enjoy their experience. We didn't track scoring, but everyone had plenty of time to throw axes, shovels, knives and stars at zombies and other bullseye targets. Cocktails excellent and food menu was elevated bar food (luckily they do offer vegan options, just ask). The staff was friendly and helpful. Highly recommend!

The drinks and the ax throwing is so much fun. I can't say much about the food though. We had the…read moresausage and pretzel snack and we can get better pretzels at Costco and the sausage was burnt. I'd eat before you come play.

Breakside Brewery is an absolute gem. Their lineup of beers is consistently impressive -- from…read morebright, hop-forward IPAs to creative seasonal brews, every pour feels crafted with real passion. The food holds its own too, with dishes that go beyond typical pub fare and pair perfectly with whatever you're drinking. Add in a warm, lively atmosphere and friendly staff, and you've got a place that's just as great for a casual afternoon as it is for a night out with friends. Breakside never disappoints.

Went to Breakside Brewery for a dinner. It was slow for a Saturday night but in a good way, had a…read moreneighborhood taproom feel to it in downtown Vancouver. The person running the bar was very kind. We got drinks as well as pretzel bites, the chicken bacon ranch pizza, and one of the sandwiches. I always love a Breakside beer but the pizza was not good at all. It looked very pleasing but the quality was not there. The crust was really hard, felt like it was a store bought frozen crust. I would go back to have a beer again, but I would stay away from the pizza. This location would be better enjoyed for drinks & apps.

Wait wasn't as long as I thought it would be. If you need to meet with someone make sure to make an…read moreappoint because they don't take walk ins. I was just taking a form in they needed to get me signed up for Medicare so I had to wait in line. But it was very quick. Both ladies I saw when I went in were very nice. Trisha was super helpful the first time I went in. Nice interactions.

I've been here twice in a 2 week period. I tried to fill in…read morea form online however it wouldn't complete it and was throwing an error, so I came in person. The front person asked what I was there for and answered all my questions. FYI there is a 2 hour free parking between 9th & Evergreen off Broadway, pay attention to where you park as some are restricted. The first time I got there at 9:30am, they open at 9am and it was pretty crazy. *** I was there for a NAME CHANGE, which FYI do the SS card BEFORE your drivers license! Lesson learned as since my old license had a hole in it, they wouldn't take it. Even though I had a printed paper from the DMV that showed my new name and ok'd me for driving, I had to wait till I got my new license. 2nd time I tried to get here early prior to 9am, but Starbucks was calling my name so I landed at the SS office exactly at 9am. There was a line outside where they would let a small group of people go in at a time. ***If you can get there between 8:30-8:45, do it! You'll save loads of time waiting. ***They don't allow some drinks in to the office, coffee one of them. As soon as they told me I finished it up quick. ***don't bring in knives, guns or mace as this is a federal facility. They tell you to take it back to your car otherwise if they find something, good luck! If you're there first thing in the morning, you will get in line to enter info as to why you're there and it will print out a ticket number. Stand behind the blue line until you're up. The line isn't super obvious so people cross it and then they yell at you (not really, but a tsk tsk in a very loving way). A sign would make it easier...just saying. *** if you have a U number, it doesn't appear on the screen. No idea why it doesn't. I saw a sign that says you can make an apt online but seems like this is only for benefits. I was working on my work laptop using a hotspot thru my phone, and almost 1.5 hours from arriving, I was finally called up. It took 5-10 minutes and they gave me a page saying I should have my card within 2 weeks. Good luck!

We attended one of their free tours of the home they give on certain days each month (check their…read morewebsite for details). It lasted about an hour and was very informative & interesting. The tour guide was a lot of fun and shared many fascinating details about the home and General Marshall, and she was happy to answer questions. There are a number of displays in each room with additional photos & memorabilia from the era, the home, and General Marshall. They also host a high tea around Christmas & also in the Spring each year, so that's definitely sometime we want to attend (check their website events calendar for dates & details).

Venue for my son and his fiancé wedding. Very nice place for a reception, at a reasonable price…read more Had wedding and reception at the venue.

two meny blue hair and pronunes. mid restraunt the boritos tasts like if they were dippers and a…read morekid shat in it. chairs are veary kinky they pool out hair. all the teachers are mid and dog water, stinky poopo. the 6th graders smell like wet beaf.ther is no a pluis. :(((((((((((((((

Best cafeteria lunch in town. Cheaper than Taco Bell. Be sure and try the chicken tenders. Very…read morefashion forward. Replete with great teachers and staff. Would learn again.

Come to the Arts Desire for the best painting class in the Portland Orego/Vancouver,Washington…read morearea. Beverly is an excellent instructor and a wonderful Artist in her own right . she teaches Watercolor, Oil, and Acrylic painting. if you're missing any supplies she has a complete art store on the premises. Her instruction prices are unbelievably low . At the time of this writing, she charges $15 for a 3 hour class. It has to be the lowes cost for classes in the area. Dont let the price fool you, however, Bev is the best instructor I've been to or seen on the internet and I've seen A LOT. The other classes I've either taken or priced in the area are $20-$100 per hour or more. If you love to paint and would like to improve your craft you owe it to yourself to take classes. And from the best: Bev Birdwelll at Arts Desire. On St Johns in Vancouver near the old High School Pharmacy.

Looking to improve your painting skills in a relaxed environment? Bev offers classes from the…read moreinexpensive brush up or beginning classes to the well worth it more expensive classes from nationally known art instructors, some of which you may have seen on TV. If you are short on supplies, she also has those for sale. It's a fun way to learn or improve (I have taken classes with beginners and experts that are there to improve their skills, learn new techniques or just to paint with others.). I always enjoy the class. I'm not a professional but have been going to her classes or those near my former residence on the east coast with the same traveling art instructors for about 20 years. Go, you'll be glad you did.

Here is my one regret about Eryngium Papeterie: I am, regretfully, not independently wealthy so my…read morespending ability is limited. Would that I could, I'd walk in and make it rain SO hard, but I do manage to treat my self! Eryngium is a bleeping WONDERLAND!! One of my dearest longtime friends introduced me to Eryngium when I first moved to Portland last summer. Since then, I'm always scheming for reasons to visit from SW Portland. The shop is *exquisitely* appointed with an incredible variety of paper, ephemera, rubber stamps, a plethora of writing instruments (swoon fountain pens), inks, copious stationery, stickers, {takes a shuddering breath}, washi tape, vintage postage stamps, journals, stunning jewelry, and itty bitty heart-adored paperclips for crying out loud! {dabs sweat from brow} If you are a stationery aficionado, get thyself to Eryngium Papeterie. Aside from the beautiful space and luscious stationery finery, the owner, Crystal, is an adorable marvel-- warm, welcoming, hilarious, helpful, and clearly loves her work. The entire team is lovely and kind. This is hands-down the best stationery wonderland I've had the delight to visit and shop in my lifetime. Eryngium Papeterie is a beacon of hope, joy, and light for those of us who enjoy the slow, intentional connection of handwritten correspondence and reflection.

Love this store! What a great selection of stationary, stickers, wax seals, rubber stamps, paper…read moreproducts, wrap, ephemera, writing materials, postcards, envelopes, I could go on! If you need it to write, Eryngium has it! I went in one day to look for postcards since I got into penpalling and this was the closest store, having seen the instagram page from a recommendation on yelp I was very interested to see what was inside, I was very happy to see what else was there! Now I've come in and found other lovely things to buy and have stepped up my penpal game 10 fold and found other wonderful small businesses that Eryngium stocks like Portland Stamp Co! Postcards and my main love but I also keep coming back for the stickers and tiny cards as little goodies to add to bigger packages I send to international penpals. I find the cost for the quality very reasonable, as much if not all of the items are hard to find or specialty, and I don't see any price gouging or mark ups! I highly recommend you come in and take a look at all the amazing things in this store, you could get lost looking in every tiny drawer and all the small ephemera in them. A paper-lover's paradise!