Posts about Activities

Christmas Tree Farms in Clark County

One of the best things about living in Vancouver is the proximity to both the city and rural areas! That means we can get the best Christmas trees straight from the source. If you’re celebrating Christmas and you’re looking for a Christmas tree, check out this list of the best Christmas Tree farms in the area. Joe’s Place Farms Joe’s Farm is less than 10 minutes from Acero Haagen Park off 112th Ave. This is the last year that you can get trees here as Joe himself is retiring at the end of December! This farm has been around since 1946, and we are sad to see it go. Show your support and give Joe’s one last hurrah! They’ve got a great selection of Grand Firs, Nordmans, Oriental Spruce, and more! You can get a pre-cut tree or they can custom-flock any tree on the lot for you. Klopman Farms We can’t think of anything more cheery than wandering around a gorgeous tree farm, sipping cider with the smell of pine in the air. That’s exactly the kind of experience you’ll have at Klopman Farms ! Nestled in the hills of Washougal about 25 minutes away, this family owned and operated Christmas Tree farm has a large selection of sturdy fir trees and pines to take home for Christmas. They’ve got a family-friendly environment with free hot cocoa and cider to take with you as you browse through their gorgeous selection of trees, wreaths, and decor. There’s even a u-cut option, where you can ride a tractor to where the trees are planted and cut down your own tree. Make some happy Christmas memories this weekend at Klopman Farms. Glenwood Tree Farm Glenwood Tree Farm is about 20 minutes from Acero Haagen Park. This family owned and operated Christmas Tree farm is settled on a gorgeous plot of land that’s often used for weddings and special events. They offer pre-cut and u-cut options. Check out their website to learn more! That’s all for this week! Take a photo and share with us on social media if you happen to visit any of these Christmas tree farms! Come back next week for more food, fun, and holiday cheer.

Holiday Attractions around Vancouver, WA

It’s the most magical time of the year! We could all use some holiday cheer, and this year we have tons of fun holiday attractions around Vancouver and Southwest Washington to kick off the holidays with. Read on for a list of the best holiday attractions and winter events going on in Vancouver, WA and around Clark County. Christmas Ships Parade The Christmas Ships Parade is taking place along the Columbia River, with wonderful views from the Waterfront Renaissance Trail and the Grant Pier at the Vancouver Waterfront. The ships will come sailing by the pier between 7:30 pm and 8 pm on December 8, 9, 10, 16, 17, and 21st. Come out to the waterfront for a crisp evening stroll with a cup of hot cocoa, and enjoy the pretty lights sailing by. You can view the Christmas Ships full schedule on their website , along with all the locations on the Columbia River they’ll sail by this December. Vancouver Symphony Orchestra The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra holds a stunning performance every year, and this year they will be live streaming the event for viewers to enjoy at home. They will be performing December 12th and 13th at the Skyview Concert Hall with a program full of Christmas classics and holiday favorites. Check out ticket prices and the full program and famous musicians on their website today. Tickets sell fast! Winter Wonderland at Portland International Raceway This is a holiday family favorite! The Winter Wonderland at PIR is a drive-thru holiday light show. You get to drive along the racetrack where they’ve set up intricate light displays with holiday music playing. This year the proceeds will go to Sunshine Division’s hunger relief program. This year they aren’t taking cash, so make sure you purchase tickets online beforehand! Re-Imagined Radio: A Christmas Carol The Kiggins Theatre has always been a home for unique cinema and nostalgia lovers, and this performance of a Christmas Carol has a unique spin. Re-Imagined Radio is a mixture of live public and performance art that re-imagines classic radio dramas with local performers and during non-Covid times the audience can participate too. With the event this year being virtual, the audience can still have an immersive experience via social media. It’s a great way to build community, as well as support local actors, sound artists, and the historic Kiggins Theatre. Learn all about it on their website , the show will take place on December 24th! That’s just a few of the events going on in our community! Check out Visit Vancouver and Oregon Live for more information on events happening in the area this year. Come back Friday to find out where to buy Christmas Trees locally!

Thanksgiving Turkey Trots in Vancouver WA

November is a special time of year to think about all the things we have to be thankful for and give back to the wonderful community we live in. An excellent way to do this is by participating in the local Thanksgiving Marathon! Read on to learn about the Clark County Turkey Trot, where to sign up, and why it’s so special to the people of Vancouver, WA. Here are some quick details about this family-friendly Turkey Trot! The race itself is a 5k or 10k Run/Walk, taking place on Thanksgiving Morning - November 26, 2020. The race follows a pre-marked course that you can find on the website, and for this unique year if you want to race at home you are more than welcome! The official courses will still be marked with Start/Finish signs and 5K turnaround signs on Thanksgiving morning from 8 am-10 am! There are courses for Ridgefield, Camas, Lewisville, Salmon Creek Trail, and along the Waterfront. The cost to join is just $20. The Polar Plunge is not included in that, as that part of the race has been canceled this year. That $20 covers registration, a t-shirt, finisher’s magnet, and race bib! The Clark County Turkey Trot is a long-running (pun intended) turkey-trot sponsored by numerous local businesses. The list of sponsors for 2020 includes Heritage Bank, Barre3, Clif Bar, Columbia Sportswear Company, coreTek, The Old Spaghetti Factory, and more! This fundraiser gives 100% of the proceeds from the race to the Clark County Food Bank. The Clark County Food Bank is essential to alleviating hunger and food insecurity in Clark County. They are a grower, gleaner, and supplier of food and provide a critical link between resources and people in need! This organization is an incredible force, distributing 8 million pounds of food and 6.7 million meals a year. There is a great need for help with over 100,000 hungry people in Clark County, and the Clark County Turkey Trot is just one way to give back and help your community this holiday season! If you participate in the race, take a photo and share it with us on Facebook or Instagram ! Come back next week for a blog featuring more ways to pay it forward this holiday season. Have a good weekend everyone!

Spooky Season! How to Celebrate Halloween in Vancouver WA 2020

This year is unique since some of the bigger celebrations in the area have had to modify or cancel their plans in accordance with Washington state mandates. There are still tons of ways to celebrate Halloween in Vancouver though! From haunted houses to DIY projects at home, there is plenty to do this year to have a spooktacular Halloween close to home. Haunted Houses There’s something so exhilarating about haunted houses! Vancouver has paused theirs, but just across the Columbia River, Portland has a good collection of haunted house attractions in the area. We’ve rounded up our top three favorites for you in this quick list. There is excitement and anticipation around every corner, and the costumes and decor are always a sight to behold in person! Scaregrounds PDX Located at Oaks Amusement Park, these guys have adapted to the current situation with a drive-thru take on the classic haunted house experience. Spooky scenery in the forest surrounding the park with spine tingling audio, video, and special effects! It’s also 100% contactless. Oaks Amusement Park is 30 minutes away. The Fear PDX Fear PDX is the largest Halloween event in the Portland/Vancouver area! They offer a variety of attractions with different themes and levels of scariness, including an all new Nightmares “Extreme Haunt” set in their massive building in Portland. It’s definitely the scariest haunted house in Portland! Their other themed haunts include Dark Carnival, The Creatures, The Doll Factory, and The Mansion. The sets are incredible and the actors are committed. You can’t go wrong with any of these haunts! Haunted: Dead or Alive Portland’s newest haunted house attraction has an awesome location at Rossi Farms about 15 minutes away, that will take you back to Old Parkrose and the Wild West. They’re open for a limited time, October 18-19 and October 25-26 from 7pm to 9:30pm. Halloweentown! If you’re a 90s kid or you had a TV in the early 2000s, you’ve probably heard of Halloweentown . This Disney Channel original movie was set in the real town of St. Helens, and every year they hold a Spirit of Halloweentown month long celebration. See the iconic Big Pumpkin in the town plaza, and spooky merchants lining the streets! Buy tickets ahead of time, click here . It’s a 45-50 minute drive from Vancouver, but completely worth it! DIY Projects for Kids If you are looking for ways to keep the kids entertained for the holiday weekend, try some fun Halloween inspired DIY projects at home. You can make costumes, Halloween decorations, wreaths, decorate pumpkins, and more. Find a whole list of fantastic ideas here . Movie Night Opt for a lowkey Halloween at home with a fun movie night! Put on your favorite costume or coziest pajamas, make some yummy snacks like caramel apples, and put on a Halloween movie. To help you out, here’s a quick list of some of our favorite Halloween movies and shows that you can find on Netflix and Disney Plus! Halloweentown (of course!) Frankenweenie The Corpse Bride The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Stranger Things The Haunting of Bly House The Addams Family Penny Dreadful Scream Hubie Halloween

Fall Festivities: Best Pumpkin Patches and Corn Mazes in Vancouver WA

Vancouver has the best of both worlds. City life in Portland is nearby and interwoven in our cities and suburbs are local farms that have been serving the community for decades. Read on for a quick list of our favorites and in our opinion, BEST pumpkin patches around Vancouver, WA! Joe’s Place Farms - 5 minutes away Joe’s Farm is a must on our fall festivities list! This farm has been serving Vancouver since 1946 and sadly, Joe will be retiring this year so show the farm some love! They’re just 5 minutes away from Acero Haagen Park, and they offer a variety of activities and have a wonderful selection of produce for sale as well. They’ve got a fantastic u-pick farm plus an incredible bakery with homemade pies, candy, jams, jellies, and more! In addition to fantastic food, you’ll also find a classic pumpkin patch to pick the perfect pumpkin, a corn maze, fort maze, hayrides, and more! Dogs are welcome! Check out their website to learn more. https://www.instagram.com/p/B4EBtOqgKAE/ Bi-Zi Farms - 16 minutes away Located on the north side of Vancouver is Bi-Zi Farms is absolutely massive and their name doesn’t lie! Locally owned and operated by the Zimmerman family since 1872, this place stays busy with tons of festivities going on year round! Their Pumpkin Patch season is definitely our favorite time of year to visit. This pumpkin patch does require paid admission, but with your ticket you’ll gain access to: One free pumpkin, any size you can carry from the Pumpkin Patch! Wagon ride to and from the Pumpkin Patch. Admission to the farm animals Admission to the corn maze Two shots on the Pumpkin Launchers Corn shelling and grinding demonstration Freshly pressed apple cider sampling Children's activities: Bale Maze Bale Pyramid Pedal Tractor Driving https://www.instagram.com/p/CGVeLmdDHmG/ Vancouver Pumpkin Patch - 11 minutes away The Vancouver Pumpkin Patch is a flat $3 admission and includes pumpkin patch entry and the corn maze! This year is limited since the petting zoo and hayrides were cancelled in a preventive measure, however they’ve still got acres of land to explore, pumpkins, gourds, more veggies, and fall decor are all available for purchase as well. Dogs are welcome too! https://www.instagram.com/p/B4lKVqFhrLV/ That’s it for this week! If you happen to visit one of these farms, take a photo and share it with us on social media! Come back next week for more food and fall fun in Vancouver, WA.