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Fourth of July Celebration in Vancouver, WA

Clark County just announced a ban on fireworks this year amid the recent heatwave in the Pacific Northwest. Although unfortunate news for those looking forward to the Fourth of July firework celebrations, it is better to take precautions for the safety of everyone. This does not mean that we cannot still celebrate, however. There’s still a myriad of things to do this Sunday. Here are some of our favorite ways you can celebrate Independence Day in Vancouver, WA. Cookout With Friends There isn’t a better way to spend your Fourth of July than with friends and family. A good way to get everyone together is to throw a cookout. Whether you want to go to a nearby park and grill some burgers or have everyone bring a dish to your apartment, food can really connect people. If you’re looking for anice nearby park to have a picnic, Vancouver Lake Regional Park has over 60 picnic tables and 24 barbecue grills. On a sunny day, you can even catch glimpses of Mount Hood and Mount St. Helen. Make sure to bring a cooler with some drinks to stay hydrated and refreshed. Fun in the Water One of the biggest perks of living in the Pacific Northwest is the easy access to all the nearby lakes, rivers, and water activities. Another good way to celebrate the holiday is to make your way to a lake where you can go swimming, boating, kayaking, jet-skiing, or paddleboarding. The options are truly endless. For those of you looking to rent a kayak or paddleboard equipment, make sure to check out Alder Creek . They have locations in the Vancouver area and Portland as well where you can rent and take lessons if needed. Looking to hang out on a boat with friends instead? Visit Xtreme Sports for information on renting boats for the day. Restaurants and Bars Go out and have a drink with friends in Downtown Vancouver. One great place you might want to check out is Underbar . From noon to 4 pm, they’ll be serving bottomless mimosas for just under 20 dollars! Once you’re ready for more, explore the rest of Esther Short area as it is filled with countless options of pubs and restaurants. You’ll also get to see gorgeous views of the Columbia River if you keep walking south to the Vancouver Waterfront where you’ll find other great dining options including WildFin American Grill . Although fireworks won’t be allowed, we can still appreciate being able to hang out with our loved ones. Grab your grill and go to a park, put on your swimming gear and head to a lake, or gather with friends for a night of drinks, it’s time to celebrate the Fourth of July! We wish you a happy Independence Day full of laughter and joy!

Stay Active | Fitness Classes in Vancouver, WA

Aside from the physical benefits of getting in shape, leading an active lifestyle has equally important mental benefits including improved daily mood, motivation, cognitive function, self-confidence, and better sleep. This is why it is important to seek out what kind of workouts interest you. Not everyone enjoys going to the gym and following a traditional treadmill and weight routine. There are many more options out there that you may be overlooking. Today we’ll try to help you find something that may interest you. From cycling classes, rock climbing gyms, and even Crossfit training, there is something out there for everyone. Cycling Classes Cycling classes can be fun and challenging. They are perfect for those that want to improve their stamina while being in a high-motivation environment. Not only will you improve your health but you will be able to ride your bike around the city without getting tired. In fact, you’ll even leave your friends behind! In terms of health benefits, however, it’s known that sports like cycling and running promote healthy blood pressure levels. Lastly, cycling is also a great way to improve your overall energy as your body gets accustomed to the new routine. Interested in taking cycling classes in Vancouver, WA? Make sure to check out CYCLEBAR and StarCycle Vancouver ! Crossfit Gyms If you’re looking for a high-intensity workout regimen with lots of variation, Crossfit is for you. The workout of the day, or WOD, as many crossfitters like to call it, features a mix of olympic weight lifting with high-intensity cardio training giving you a well-rounded workout. Each day you walk into the box, there will be a workout routine prepared for you already by qualified Crossfit trainers. In a sense, this is similar to a personal trainer but in a group setting where you can meet people in the process. Some of the workouts that you will come across include cleans, snatches, back squats, mile runs, and calisthenics. Crossfit is a perfect blend of strength and endurance. If you’re interested in taking up a new routine check out Crossfit Fort Vancouver and Crossfit Untamed . Rock Climbing Rock climbing can be a high-adrenaline activity. Although it does not involve high-intensity training like the previous two options it does demand mental focus, endurance, and a strong core to maintain balance. Because of this, when training for rock climbing you might want to focus on calisthenic workouts like pull-ups, planks, and other bodyweight workouts that lengthen the time that it takes for your muscles to fatigue. In other words, concentrate on holding your body weight for long periods of time as this is necessary when facing long climbing routes. Once you feel ready you can check out Source Climbing Center , a rock climbing gym in Vancouver, WA. Here you’ll learn rock climbing foundations as well as take fitness classes to improve your strength and endurance. Who knows, maybe this is your calling! We hope we were able to help you find an alternative exercising option to that of traditional gyms. It’s important to stay in shape for both your mental and physical health. Let us know if we missed one of your favorite ways to get your blood flowing. Cheers to a healthy lifestyle!

Crate Digging Adventures | Best Record Stores in Vancouver

Looking for a new spot to go crate-digging for your next record? Acero Haagen Park is just minutes away from some of Vancouver’s best record stores. Whether you’re looking for brand new LPs or looking for rare collectibles, these places have it all. Allot some time this weekend to go on a treasure-hunting adventure with your friends. Here are our favorite record stores in Vancouver, WA where you can go pick up your next vinyl. 1709 Records 1709 Records is a small record store just south of the Arnada neighborhood. Here you’ll be able to find everything including old school hip-hop records, new-age pop chart breakers, classic 90s albums, and more. What’s cool about 1709 is that you can bring your old unwanted records and trade them in for cash or something that fits your current taste. You can find their doors open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 5 pm. Check their Facebook page out to learn more. Everybody’s Music For the last 20 years, Everybody’s Music has been serving the Vancouver community. Not only will you be able to find vinyl records for as low as 50 cents, but numerous music lover collectibles including CDs, iPods, stereo equipment, and guitars so you can play along with your favorite acoustic record. Everybody’s music also boasts the largest selection of vinyl records in the Portland/Vancouver metropolitan area. Pay them a visit on the same trip to 1709 Records in case you couldn’t find what you were looking for, they’re only a four-minute walk away from each other! FYE Just a short 15-minute drive from Acero Haagen Park you’ll find FYE. At FYE you’ll be able to find speakers, turntables, headphones, and most importantly records. FYE is more of a large retailer therefore you’ll have access to in-store exclusives and limited edition LPs that you won’t find anywhere else. A good example is Radiohead’s OK Computer fan pack. While you’re at the shop make sure to browse through their selection of movies, collectibles, apparel, and games. Check out their website before visiting to get a better picture of everything they have to offer. We hope one of these record stores in Vancouver piqued your interest. You never know what you’ll find hiding in those wooden crates. Part of the fun is going through boxes of records just to find what others have missed. Let us know if we missed one of your favorite spots. We wish you the best in finding something fresh and new!

Quench Your Thirst this Summer at these Vancouver Bars!

With the first day of summer quickly approaching, we’re on the hunt for Vancouver’s best bars to quench our thirst during the hot days ahead! Whether you’re a craft cocktail connoisseur or a beer enthusiast, keep reading to find your new go-to bar! First on our list is Vault 31 , a bar where you can video games while sipping on mixed drinks! With 18 TVs, 52 consoles, and over 4600 game titles at your fingertips, this is any gamer’s ideal night out! Sip on one of their signature video game-themed cocktails like a Donkey Kong Barrel or a Gen 1 Starter Bulbasaur! Best of all, it’s just a 6-minute drive from Acero Haagen Park! TJ’s Cascade Bar and Grill is home to one of our favorite happy hours, happening Monday through Friday from 4 pm- 7 pm. Enjoy karaoke every Sunday through Friday and live music on special occasions! This neighborhood bar has been in business for over 35 years so they must be doing something right! If that isn’t enticing enough, they’re located just 4 minutes from your front door at Acero Haagen Park! Are you a sports fanatic? Catch the next big game at Charlies Sports Bar and Grill ! With 50 TVs throughout the pub, you’ll never miss a second of the game! With 44 beers on tap to choose from, there’s no better way to enjoy a day full of sports! No matter what day of the week you visit them, they’re sure to have a daily drink and food special waiting for you, like $9 rum punch buckets on Wednesdays or $5 Bloody Mary’s on Sundays! There’s something for everyone here in our Vancouver, WA neighborhood, so when you’re drafting your summer 2021 bucket list, don’t forget to include these must-try local bars!

Summer Reading and Best Bookstores near Vancouver, WA

With summer finally in our grasp, it’s the perfect time to create your summer reading list. There are a lot of new reads out there, that it can often get overwhelming figuring out where to begin! Well, why not a bookstore or a library? Here we’ll share with you some of our favorite places to find great reads as well as some helpful book recommendation lists to help get you started! Barnes & Noble If you’re looking to find everything in one place, starting at Barnes & Noble is probably your best bet. They’ve got a vast array of reads from mostly any genre you could think of and if they don’t have the book you’re looking for in-store, they can ship it for you! They’ve also got monthly book recommendations so you can come back and read something new every month. Vintage Books If you’ve got books to trade, Vintage Books is perfect for you. You can easily swap out your finished reads for new ones any day, no appointment necessary. This is a great alternative to buying new books as the prices will often be much cheaper. Vintage Books has a rotating list of recommendations and Staff Picks as well, and you can always ask an employee what they might suggest! ShadowWalkers Comics Of course, we can’t forget about our graphic novel lovers! ShadowWalkers Comics carries a full line of comics from multiple universes and for all ages. Amongst your favorite comic reads, you’ll also find unique trading cards and gadgets, and other collectible items. You might just go home with something you weren’t even looking for! Hopefully, these bookstores offer a good place to start building your summer reading list. If you enjoy reading with friends, you might even want to start a local (or virtual) book club so you can talk about each read as you go through them. If you read anything good, be sure to share it with us!

Best Houseplants and Plant Nurseries in Vancouver, WA

So you’ve moved into your home and now you’re wondering about ways to elevate your living space. Well, if you don’t have any yet, adding houseplants is a great way to do it! Now you may be tempted to buy a fake plant because you don’t have to worry about them dying, but there are actually many indoor plants that are easy to take care of, especially for first-time plant owners! Not only that, but these plants offer a variety of benefits that you can only get from the real thing. Here we’ll share some of the best houseplants for plant parent beginners, along with great nurseries to check out in Vancouver! Snake Plants: These spiky plants are on almost every first-time plant buyer’s list. You can care for these plants very similar to how you would care for succulents, which means barely doing anything at all! Yes, though these plants love bright light, they also survive well in low light conditions. They can also last quite long without water. Snake plants have great air purification qualities as well, known to filter out chemicals in the air. Pothos: Another popular beginner plant, pothos is a great choice, especially if you love trailing plants you can hang up! This plant is very forgiving to both under and overwatering and can also thrive in a variety of lighting conditions. The best part is that once they grow long, you can cut off the ends and propagate a new one! Rubber plant: Another resilient plant, the ficus elastica (rubber plant) is perfect for beginners, especially those who may have a tendency to forget about their plants. They thrive in shaded lighting, but you can place them anywhere and they’ll do fine. Also known to clean the air, you’ll find a chemical-fighting friend in this one as well. Now that you’ve got some starter plants, you’re probably wondering where you can find them! We’ve got you covered with some of our favorite plant nurseries in Vancouver, WA in this list below: Shorty’s Garden Center (open daily, 10-minute drive away) Hayes Family Growers ( open daily, 7-minute drive away) Suburban Succulents (open Fri-Sun, 12-minute drive away) We hope this list helps make plants less intimidating and encourages you to give them a try. If you find any favorites, share them with us on social media!