Vancouver

Vancouver’s motto sums up the place well, “a colorful past, a bright future.” Rich history infuses the region and has helped to shaped what’s looking like a dynamic future. Vancouver is the oldest city in Washington and started as an early outpost of the British Hudson’s Bay Company. Sitting in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, there’s plenty to do out-of-doors. You can take day trips to see the Columbia River Gorge or even take a riverboat down this breathtaking 70-mile river that cuts through the Cascade Mountains. You could also visit Beacon Rock or explore Mount St. Helens, the site of the famous volcano eruption. The open-minded liberal culture has attracted scores of diverse restaurants and shops. This is why Money Magazine once ranked the city as the “91st Best Place in America to Live.” Whatever attractions interest you though, this city offers a smorgasbord of eclectic things to do, see, and have fun with.