Posts about Activities

Find Your Fit - Best Gyms and Yoga Studios in Vancouver, WA

It’s never too early or late to make a change and work on New Year’s resolutions. Working out more consistently tops the charts of people’s goals. In Vancouver, there are plenty of gyms and yoga studios that would be happy to welcome a new member. Take a look at this list and see if any spark your interest! For a typical gym experience, there are plenty of options within a short drive of our community of Acero Haagen Park. Of course, we do have a great fitness center here at home, but for the added benefit of access to trainers and more machines these are the gyms we recommend for all levels of experience. Planet Fitness and Crunch Fitness both have plans starting at $10 per month. Gold’s Gym comes next with a monthly commitment of $35, followed by 24 Hour Fitness at $47. Orangetheory Fitness runs the highest with a basic membership of 4 classes per month being $59. Before you make any commitments, know that each of these gyms has free trial offers ranging from one session to multiple days so you can rest assured knowing you’ll love the gym you’re training in. Yoga is a great alternative to the gym for those who are looking for a low-impact fitness regime with a focus on mental health in addition to physical health. For an experience guaranteed to have you sweating and making those muscles more limber, Hot Yoga Vancouver is a great option. Barre3 combines strength conditioning, cardio, and mindfulness into a full-body workout designed to empower you. Parallel 45 Yoga is the most affordable option from this list and offers a teacher training program if you decide to get extra involved in the PNW yoga community. Pure Barre takes inspiration from yoga, pilates, and ballet to provide a transformative workout made up of small movements to tone your muscles. Yoga Six has classes at different heats and intensities so you can find your flow at a level comfortable for you. For more recommendations, read our blog from earlier this year about fitness classes in the area. Let us know if you enjoyed this blog or suggest a topic we should cover in the future by dropping us a line over on Facebook or Instagram . See you next time!

Self Care Saturday: Make Time For Yourself at Acero Haagen Park

Self-care is an important part of a balanced mental health toolkit. We’ve previously discussed spa days and where you can go to get a massage in Vancouver, WA. We also talked about the benefits and ways to introduce digital detoxing into your routine. Now we’ll dive into a few ways you can elevate your at-home self-care from the comfort of your Acero Haagen Park suite. Listen to Relaxing Music How many times have you turned to music when you needed some cheering or to hit a new personal record in the gym? The same idea goes for using music to relax. The frequencies of certain notes have even been shown to have an impact on your brain waves. As you start in on a self-care regime, try playing classical music, different levels of binaural beats (theta or alpha may be best for meditation), or listening to this song which has been called the most relaxing song ever. Journal Starting a journal can help you reflect on your emotions and how you perceive the world. This can help you make better judgments by developing a deeper understanding of your reactions to large and small events with the added benefit of seeing your habits change over time when you go back to reflect on older entries. Make a Face Mask Face masks from the store are often full of harsh chemicals that occasionally cause unintended reactions. Our favorite face masks are the ones we make at home so we know exactly what’s going into them. The savings from using supplies we already have at home don’t hurt either! Try out one of these recipes to make the most of your next self-care day. 💫 1 TSP honey 💫 1 TSP coconut oil 💫 1/4 ripe avocado 💫 2 drops lavender essential oil ~~~ 💫 2 Tbsp honey 💫 2 Tbsp ground oats 💫 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice 💫 4 drops tea tree essential oil ~~~ 💫 2 Tbsp honey 💫 2 Tbsp orange juice 💫 1/2 banana Nourish Your Body You can accomplish this in many ways - taking a warm bath, drinking a soothing cup of tea, adding an extra serving of fruit or veggies to your daily meals. Our bodies are our homes and we should aim to take care of them by giving them the nutrients they need and the gentle treatment they deserve. Now that you know what to do and have some helpful tips, it’s time to start relaxing. Take your next home-based spa experience in the right direction with good tunes, tasty tea, a fresh face mask, and personal time with a pen and notebook. Let us know if you enjoyed this blog or suggest a topic we should cover in the future by dropping us a line over on Facebook or Instagram . See you next time!

Best Places To Look At Fall Leaves in Vancouver, WA

Autumn is inching closer which means a change of scenery from green trees to bright yellow and orange foliage is around the corner. One of the best things about living in the Pacific Northwest is experiencing all the different seasons. If you’re wondering where the best places to go take pictures without having to venture too far from home keep reading further! We’ll start with places closest to home at Acero Haagen Park. Fallen Leaf Lake Park Just a short 15 minute drive near Camas, Fallen Leaf Lake Park is a small yet beautiful place to check out autumn foliage. It features small trails going through forest trees, wetlands, and a lake. If you have some time left to explore we recommend hitting downtown Camas for some lunch! Salmon Creek Trail and Greenway Just a 19 minute drive north, Salmon Creek trail offers a 2.5 mile loop of tree-lined scenery. Here you’ll be able to hike along a small creek while taking in the colorful landscape. You’ll be happy to know that the park is dog friendly as long as your furry pal is on a leash. Vancouver Lake Regional Park At Vancouver Lake Regional Park not only will you experience the changing landscape but you’ll be able to take in against the backdrop of Mount Hood and Mount St. Helens. The park also features a paved road for you to explore beyond the shores of the lake. Additionally, It’s only a 30 minute drive west! Battle Ground Lake State Park Battle Ground State Park is a small park dense with trees surrounding the shores of a lake right in the middle. Here you can go fishing or simply boating while taking in the new season. You can also pack some lunch, a book , and spend half the day here, as days are getting a little shorter. Hoyt Arboretum Hoyt Arboretum is actually not in Washington but in Portland, Oregon. However, given that it is still within a 30 minute driving radius from Clark County, we thought it would be a great place to visit. Hoyt Arboretum hosts 2,300 species of trees and shrubs from 6 different continents. They are dispersed through 12 miles of hiking trails which meet with each other giving you the option to go look at other flora. In a way, it is similar to a zoo of trees and plants. You’ll want to take a bottle of water and snacks as the trails are long but not difficult. Make sure you don’t miss out on this time of the year since the colorful trees tend to move fast. Pack your water, a light jacket, and get ready to explore the Pacific Northwest. Send us any picture you take and we’ll try to feature them on our social pages!

Best End of Summer Events in Vancouver, WA

As sum mer begins to wind down, you may be looking for some events to help you soak up the last drops of your favorite season. Luckily, Vancouver is brimming with fun ways to wrap up the summer with movie nights, farmer’s markets, town events and more, all in great proximity to our Acero Haagen Park community. Friday Night Movies in the Park Every Friday until August 27th, you can visit a park in Vancouver to enjoy a fan-favorite movie on the big screen. At dusk each Friday night (the exact start time varies on the weather), bring a blanket or lawn chair and your favorite pre-prepared foods (vendors with snacks and non-alcoholic beverages are available on site) to the location of the week for this free, family-friendly night. On August 6th, Washington School Park is showing Wonder Woman 1984, August 13th has Frozen II at Hearthwood Park, August 20th will be Onward at Bagley Com munity Park and August 27th is Scoob! at Oakbrook Park. Family Fun Series From August 6th through the 15th, families can enjoy carnival fun at Clark County Fairgrounds thanks to Butler Amusements. As part of the Family Fun Series, around thirty fan-favorite rides make their way back to the Fairgrounds for ten days of carnival family fun. Tickets are $35 per wristband with a $6 parking fee. For more information on ticketing and hours of operation, visit the event’s website here . Vancouver Farmers Market Another favorite summer activity is the farmers market, and Vancouver is just the place for that. Every Saturday (9am-3pm) and Sunday (10am-3pm) through October 31st, you can visit downtown Vancouver on 8th & Ester Street to take part in Southwest Washington’s top visitor attraction. With over 10 0 vendors, the Vancouver Farmers Market features fresh local produce, an assortment of flowers and plants, various baked goods and food, alongside a selection of home and garden gifts. A pet-friendly activity, the Vancouver Farmers Market is a great place to spend your weekend and find some end-of-summer treasures. Farmer’s Market Additionally, La Uva Fortuna Farm hosts a weekly Farmers Market in Battle Ground, WA. Running through August 28th, each Saturday from 10am to 2pm you can visit for a walk-through of the market and stay for a delicious lunch. Farm Days August 7th and 8th are Farm Days at Pomero y Living History Farm in Yacolt. For a suggested donation of $5 per vehicle, visitors can see the historic Log House and blacksmith shop and explore the grounds. As a way of getting to share their farm with the community, Pomeroy invites you to take a break from the chaos of life and visit Farm Days for a trip back to the simplicity of the past. We hope you take advantage of these fun end-of-summer opportunities and have tons of fun with your family and friends! Join us next week for a new topic, and in the meantime, make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more Vancouver fun.

Back-to-School Tips and Tricks

You know what they say, all good things must come to an end and with summer flying by, back-to-school season will be here before we know it! To get ready for the new school year, we thought we would share with you our favorite tips and tricks to keep you organized during this busy season! Remember when we all bought a planner at the start of 2020 and then never used it? Now is a great time to get back into the routine of scheduling out your days! Whether you’re a student who needs to stay on top of your studying or a mom who needs to keep track of your carpool schedule, check out these planners from Target to keep you organized! There’s nothing more stressful than the early morning rush trying to get everyone out the door on time! One time-saving tip we have that may reduce the number of tardy slips your student receives is laying out your children’s outfits the night before. To be even more proactive, check the weather ahead of time so you plan accordingly! Having a dedicated workspace not only boosts productivity but also makes learning fun! It can be as simple as a designated desk or as elaborate as a dedicated home office as long as it has all the necessary supplies your student needs to succeed! Stop by our local Office Depot for this season’s coolest school supplies! Between carpool rounds, homework, and extracurricular activities, getting dinner on the table every night sounds nearly impossible. Luckily, these healthy and quick school night dinner recipes will keep you and your little ones fueled for whatever life throws your way! At Acero Haggen Park, we know what a hectic time of year this can be for our residents, but when you follow these tips and tricks, you’re sure to have the best first day of school ever!

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!