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Vancouver Waterfront Park

4.7 (31 reviews)

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Joana B.

We love coming here! There is a good selection of restaurants/wine bars, ice cream, and even a cute local vendor shop. It's also a lovely place to just walk around or sit and admire the view. Parking can be a pain when it's nice out because everyone wants to be down at the Waterfront, but still worth it (They just opened a new parking garage so I think that'll help). Some sections seem to be for sale so I can't wait to see what else opens up in the coming months/years!

Water play area
Lori H.

I absolutely love this place! It's such an awesome addition to Vancouver! There's something for everyone down here. It's a great place to walk/jog. There's a play structure for kids, water splash area, and plenty of restaurants with indoor and outdoor seating options. They have placed plenty of seating options for people just perusing the waterfront and enjoying the views. There are many restaurant options, from seafood to pasta to pizza to burgers to taprooms to wineries to milkshakes. Enough options to please everyone. The prices are a little high at some restaurants because of the gorgeous views. Definitely read reviews to find the best options. There is street and lot parking available. Parking is $2/hr. Definitely recommend.

Waterfront Park
Dana B.

What a lovely place! We visited on a beautifully sunny Saturday in February, so the waterfront was lively, full of people enjoying the weather, out with friends and family, walking their dogs and exercising (walking, running and biking) along the trails. There was live music playing in two spots , I think by independent local musicians and we also witnessed a couple getting engaged. I'd been wanting to check this place out for a while because I always see it shown on the local news and I'm so glad we did. I'd happily return to enjoy the local dining options, beautiful walking trails and amazing view of the river.

Julia H.

Absolutely LOVE coming here. One of my favorite spots to decompress and enjoy the water. It's beautiful! The only downside is there are lots and lots of people here on the weekends, and during the evenings on weekdays, so if you prefer less of a crowd, i'd avoid going during those times.

2/5/2024
Mikhail H.

I needed to drop in here for a happening and I have been wanting to check out the area. I lived in Vancouver for several years and am happy they are embracing and enhancing downtown. The waterfront space is such a great start and I can see that it will just continue to evolve as time goes by. There is a lot of street parking and garages for people as well. I have to say that I was sad one of the shops I was interested in seeing is closed on Mondays but after taking a look at all the shop fronts, I now cannot wait to go back. I already have a bit of a plan to go to a restaurant, a bit of shopping and then dessert. In Vancouver there is not a lot of lingering ships and so the view is really just river. I was not expecting such a serene view.

Chad S.

Talk about spectacular view of Washington/Oregon. My last stop in Vancouver before cousins dropped me off at Mt Hood for 50k ultra race was just breath taking views as race day. I never been to either Vancouver or Portland before this trip. I always heard literally Vancouver and Portland only separated by river. Vancouver Waterfront Park without doubt most scenic spot to check it out. Not only have they revitalized that area along the river. It all high end condos to luxury apartments. Also bunch of new restaurants none had time check out. The area love the vibe and they done. It goes miles right along river. All landscapes sweet (kids playground area) all kinds of stuff, the path see people running, walking, cycling, and more along paces path. All along way look across river or bridges (two or three but one famous oldest) boats or train track runs across river. So much going on. It amazing spot just chill take in life. One that would recommend check out if ever in the area!!!

Jason V.

(Stolen from my Vancouver Waterfront review, as these two entries are virtually identical): As a (former) lifelong resident of Vancouver, I was pretty skeptical of the waterfront project when they first announced it. Before I knew it, buildings began to spring up and to life all down the renovated strip of riverfront real estate, and I had to check it out. Downtown Vancouver had been struggling for decades, and several prominent local businesses and enterprises (The Holland restaurant, Lucky Brewery, etc) had faded away into memory, and urban decay had begun to set in. The area around Esther Short gentrified, but it seemed as if that momentum was lost, since nothing else of significance had happened for quite some time. Then the Waterfront project happened, and for once, there's hope of true transformation to modernity in Vancouver, and that is a welcome change! There are some truly fabulous restaurants, wine tasting rooms, parks, walks and trails here. I've reviewed several individually, so I won't expand on them here, but as a communal and commercial space as a whole, the Vancouver Waterfront is exactly what this town needed. Modernity. Relevancy. Sophistication. Fun. Worth a visit just to see what's new, what's going on, and what's yet to come, as things continue to grow and expand. The gateway to Washington State on the I-5 corridor (and one of the few border crossings of significance in the state) has needed this for quite some time. Finally, we have something to show off!

Great place to go for a walk, or ride a bike. Lots to see and do in the area. Quiet in the afternoon

Kim G.

Vancouver did it right! This is exactly what prime waterfront space should be used for! Large spacious walking path all along the water with benches everywhere to sit and chill. Huge fountains and architectural features. Expansive views east and west which means perfect sunrise or sunset viewing. Several restaurants that take advantage of these gorgeous views with large windows that let in the light and let customers see the river. Plus they have outdoor seating, including fire pits and outdoor bars. Wildfin Grill has a walk up Taco bar on the walkway side if you want to grab food quickly without having to sit in the restaurant. They even sell that soft serve ice cream, perfect on a hot day. On a sunny day, there is no where better to be! My first time here was in June on a glorious blue sky day. Everyone had the same idea so there were lots of people everywhere but it never felt crowded or that people were in your space. Returned last night to meet a friend who was here from CA on a business trip. Figured it would be crowded so we arrived at 4:30 for Happy Hour. The traffic on I-5 in both directions was horrendous, but once we got to the Waterfront, it was peaceful and serene. There is a huge parking lot in front of Wildfin, Twiggs and Mayhill Tasting Room. You have to pay all hours. If you find street parking, which is easy on a weeknight, you only pay until 6:00pm. It's only $1.20 an hour, a bargain. Portland, wake-up! Stop building more and more apartments that no one needs. Create spaces that increase the quality of life, that give people a reason to visit and a reason to love living in the PNW. Vancouver, thank you! Looking forward to seeing how the Waterfront evolves and for spending more of my time and money here!

Panoramic Columbia River
Anne L.

Love stopping by here to catch a breath of fresh air! The pier is a great place to watch boats go by in the summer time, spacious, clean wide paths for walking or taking your pets out for a stroll. This is a grand up and coming urban development and a popular place for locals and even tourists to come and explore. The ice cream shop gets poppin on a hot day and I'm sure the water fountain would be fun for the kiddos. We look forward to seeing the future expansion of the waterfront and checking out the restaurants and shops next time!

Tim B.

A 7 acre park developed on what used to be the Boise Cascade paper mill. Still under heavy development, this place is on the verge of greatness. Sometime in the near future, when the condominium buildings are complete and the shop/restaurant tenant spaces are full, the Vancouver Waterfront will be a force to be reckoned with. Even now the walk along side the Columbia River is easy, cool, beautiful, and breathtaking. The WildFin and Twigs restaurants are already making a name for themselves, and Kafiex Roasters will give any self respecting Portland coffee shop a run for the crown. Parking is plentiful and close, and the whole site is within walking distance of Esther Short Park as well as the Vancouver Farmer's Market. Stop by and you will be pleasantly surprised.

Elaine T.

My family and I wandered here after the Hawaiian festival and I felt instantly at peace. It was very clean and quiet. Due to the ridiculous amounts of delicious food we ate at the festival we needed a spot to just relax and chat amongst ourselves. We sat for almost an hour talking. I don't go to Vancouver at all but after this weekend I plan to come back to this park.

Park
Cynthia G.

It was a sunny day and as a Portlander it was pretty fantastic to go and not be shoulder to shoulder with everyone. Stopped for a nice rest at the park to watch the Columbia and kids playing. Bench seating a plenty. Clean and open with great plantings. The restaurants are friendly although the huge signs at the Maryhill tasting room saying VIP only put me off to even considering the wine tasting. I actually was down there because of their commercial on the radio. The soft serve was wonderful and the lemonade refreshing.

Part of the boardwalk

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Ask the Community - Vancouver Waterfront Park

Is this still a dog friendly park? I remember it having so many fun loving people with their dogs.

At the waterfront park in Vancouver, WA there's always plenty of people walking their dogs, so I believe dogs are allowed.

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Review Highlights - Vancouver Waterfront Park

On the north bank of the Columbia River, is Vancouver's waterfront development that brings the downtown to the river's edge.

Mentioned in 4 reviews

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Forest Park - Banana slug!

Forest Park

4.8(269 reviews)
6.2 miForest Park

Beautiful hiking trails, perfect for walking your dog! Parking can be a little scary (but then…read moreagain, it is on Germantown road - what can you expect haha). However, there is usually room in the parking lot on Germantown or along the sides of the road. I love how large the walking path is. It's definitely easy to pass another walker, even if you both have dogs. The path is well-maintained, and it didn't have any large fallen branches or trash when I visited. It's a straightforward path, so you don't have to worry about accidentally taking a wrong turn and getting lost if you are new to hiking. Very beginner friendly! The forest itself is beautiful. So much greenery, little birds, and a wonderful sense of peacefulness. I would recommend visiting on a weekday if possible, as the parking lot and trail can get crowded on weekends.

I love coming to Forest Park when visiting Portland! There are many trails to choose from, it's…read morewell maintained, and there's a lot of signage, making it fairly easy to navigate around. I've come here a handful of times and have done some easy walks, as well as the more strenuous trek all the way up to Pittock Mansion. The observation deck is always a favorite stop too since it's such a pretty area. The whole park is very lush and seems to stay that way no matter the time of year. Not sure if all of the trails are dog friendly, but we have brought a dog on some and see lots of them throughout the park.

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Forest Park
Forest Park
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Orchards Park

Orchards Park

3.8(4 reviews)
5.9 mi

This place is quite large, 33-acres, yet not a well-known park because of their location. If you…read morelook at it on the map it's in the middle of a bustling area near the highway and the mall, but because of where the entrance is located, you wouldn't necessarily notice it on a daily basis. There is a large open, grassy area at the front so you could play some sports or games, or just lounge, read, and/or sunbathe. On the perimeter of the open grassy area are a some picnic tables (22 of them according to their website), and 3 grills. There is also a large, covered picnic shelter that you can reserve and a small playground (I think there are actually 2 playgrounds, one a bit smaller & tucked in the trees a bit, if I remember correctly). I spotted a public restroom facility near the picnic shelter as well, but didn't utilize them so I can't speak to their cleanliness or whether they were open or not. The open grass area is surrounded by a forested area of huge pine trees, creating a lovely, shady and cool oasis to wander through. There are a number of trails winding there way through the trees, the main ones being several feet wide, with many offshoot trails that are just about a foot wide. Most of the trails are dirt and/or wood chips, but were well maintained and clear when we were there. The trails were also mainly flat so fairly easy to navigate.

Super cute park with lots of space for barbecuing and other family activities. A variety of play…read morestructures for the little ones, and some cute walking trails. The only set back was the restrooms were a bit messy but it was Labor Day weekend so I'm sure that contributes to the mess. Over all would come back.

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Orchards Park
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Hidden Creek Park West

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4.6(16 reviews)
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We drove an hour to visit Hidden Creek West Park in Hillsboro, and it was absolutely worth the…read moretrip! This park is a total gem--thoughtfully designed, beautifully shaded, and perfect for families. There are plenty of swings and a great variety of play equipment to keep kids engaged for hours. One of the things I appreciated most was the visibility--there's seating thoughtfully placed all around the park, so no matter where your child is playing, you can easily keep an eye on them. There's even a grassy area under the trees where you can lay out a blanket and relax. Even on a hot day, the metal slides stayed cool thanks to the shade, which is a rare and welcome surprise! The kids there were all friendly, and the parents seemed attentive and involved, creating a really positive, safe vibe. My kids had a blast and would've stayed much longer if I hadn't forgotten snacks--lesson learned! We'll definitely be back, this time with a picnic and more time to explore.

First of all the park is huge and the activities available for the kids are wonderful. Multiple…read moreswings, rotating ball, and great big climbing structure with slides and rock climbing wall. There is a fountain for the summer time and outdoor picnicking and grilling. Nice little trail to walk around. Across the street is 3 futbol piches and more park. The community center features indoor courts for basketball, badminton, track, and a gym. Staff is sorry nice and welcoming and the place is clean and inviting.

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Hidden Creek Park West - Activity structure

Activity structure

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Vancouver Waterfront Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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