Visting Vancouver in Feb - looking for info (Everett, Camas: mortgage, tornado)

[Holly]

Hello All:

My husband and I are coming out to Vancouver in Feb. and I am looking for some good suggestions for resturaunts. We will also be looking at the housing market and at also possibly renting apartments or a house when we finally move out there later in the year. Any suggestions on good areas to live in? Willing to live about 30 minutes from downtown.

As far as food - we like the normal -- Chinese; Steak; American; Italian; Seafood. --- Expense wise - looking for a really nice resturaunt and then not so expensive places to eat to keep costs down. Any suggestions?

Thanks

[FunTimes]

Are you looking to be 30 minutes to Vancouver or Portland? If 30 mintues to Vancouver you can live almost anywhere in Clark County and be within that time frame.

The areas closest to downtown are cheaper to live in. The east side of Vancouver is really growing. There are some nice but priceier areas on the east side in Fishers Landing, Prune Hill, etc. Up north around Battle Ground/Brush Prairie it is also growing and the prices are cheaper than the east side so you can get more home for the money, plus maybe some property. Hockinson is a nice little area with great schools, nice homes, and homes on property, but it can be pricey to.

It depends on exactly what you are looking for and what price range.

As far as restuarants the east side has a lot more choices than the rest of Vancouver. There are several nice places in Portland that are not that far away depending on if you want to go over there or not. Enjoying the amentities of Portland are great, but living on the Washington side is better and has many more benefits. I grew up in Portland so i know.

Good luck with you adventure.

[Holly]

Thank you for your help. We will check out those areas for sure. We are looking to be in or around Vancouver. My husband is applying for the police department. The price range is - we would like to either rent for around 800-900 a month or possibly have a mortgage for about 1200 -1300 a month. Although we may just want to rent for the first 6 months to get know the different areas and be sure we like it before we buy. We do have a dog (lab) and two cats so we need a pet friendly place to rent. Renting a house would be nicer than an apartment at first.

As far as restaurants go when we visit then portland will be fine - or even when we live there. I am pregnant with our first kid so I don't see us being able to go out much when move out there anyway.

[FunTimes]

Have you looked into possibly working for some of the smaller cities Police Departments. I know Battle Ground has had some growth in their force. There is also Ridgefield, Camas, and a few other smaller towns with small forces. Of course Vancouver is the largest but not the only one. Also I am not sure of the requirements but the State Police have a major influence around here so that may be an option also.

With your price range for homes the west side or the outskirts up north may fit your needs better for what you are looking for. While the east side of the city is nice the prices also reflect it.

Congratulations on the new birth. It is a fun time indeed.

[allforcats]

About restaurants, I highly recommend you research at TripAdvisor.com and Frommers.com. The first offers honest reviews from real travelers; the second offers professional reviews from the leading upper-scale travel guide. Have fun!!

[janb]

Might as well plan a trip ~ 35 min east in the Columbia Gorge to Stevenson (very cheap rents, nice community, great views)
It would be a nice break toward the end of your trip for a relaxing place to collect your thoughts and enjoy PNW at its best. Plan this during daylight, (but you can return in dark) and take State Highway 14 east, stop for pics at Cape Horn, (cliffs on road, wonderful view) but don't lean over!! there are a few body 'recoveries' each year for over zealous pic takers. If you have extra time, climb Beacon Rock ~ 20 min

Bonneville Hot Springs ~ 25 min east - is said to have good food, and we often go down for the day for a midweek special using pool, spas, and sauna. We sometimes leave to go on down to Stevenson and enjoy dinner at one of their fine 'local' eateries; Big River Grill, Walking Man Brewery, either of the two Mexican places, or The Skamania Lodge. We top off the evening by returning to Hot Springs for a few more hrs of soaking, then home to our 'retreat' house. (in the gorge)

I often go to Skamania Lodge (west side of Stevenson) and enjoy the relaxing lobby and library, it is a great place to catch up on post cards or journaling. Good food here too, and challenging golf course. (ez'r / cheaper golf, stop in North Bonneville (near Bonneville Hot Springs))

You have a lot of choices to be within 30 min of Vancouver.

more eats...
for 'non-chain-store' (Applebee / Red Robin / Red Lobster) cuisine and for a more local feel and to meet locals, try these choices... (which will get you out and about the area)

For seafood, we have not been disappointed with Jake's Crawfish ~ 100 yrs old place, in west side of Downtown Portland, ~ 2 Blocks from Powell Books...a must see... (west Burnside... ) Take I-405 S and then "Burnside" exit, turn left (east) on Everett, as Burnside is one way headed west, and you need to go ~ 5 blocks east of I-405

We also like Rhinelander and Gustav's for happy hour or early bird dinner (main location is ~ 6000 east Sandy Blvd, Portland "Hollywood district", (but other location Gustav's in Vanc (~ 2000 SE 164th ave)) Thai / Vietnamese further east on Sandy ~ 7000 block

We've had a great Sunday breakfast, they also do weekday lunch and dinner, at the Grant House on Officers Row (SE Evergreen near I-5, across from Vancouver Barracks, near Ft Vancouver... a very nice park)

There is a super Breakfast Cafe at NE 78th ST and St. John's (on the NW corner, only cafe at intersection) (~ 1 mile east of I-5 on 78th, or 1 mile west of I-205 (Padden Parkway or 78th st.)

I've heard good comments about "Rocky's Pizza" in Battleground
and folks like Los Dos Compadres in Washougal; 701 East E street take 6th St exit from SR 14 , then north to traffic light, right (east) one block on north side of E (~ 10 blocks west of Los Dos #2, just opened by parents of Los Dos #1 (17th st exit))

For a cheap riverside lunch we do the main Portland location of the Spaghetti Factory (near OHSU Tram towers) on SE Macadam. From Vanc / east portland, take I-5 southbound, but stay in right lane over I-5 Marquam Bridge (the south side of Downtown PDX) then take "John's Landing / Macadam" exit, BUT... go straight ahead (left lane of exit) at the light instead of SO on Macadam, and you will run right into the Spaghetti Factory parking lot ~ 2 blocks.

I've heard good things about "the pepper tree" at the I-5 Woodland exit, but never tried it.

Search this forum, as there are other recommendations for Vancouver specific dining

[Holly]

awesome thanks so much for the info. we are looking forward to coming out there in a few weeks. i can't wait to see it - i hear its beautiful!!

[Holly]

OH and I will watch leaning over to far taking pics ; )

[janb]

well... there have been 2 mysterious spousal deaths on Beacon Rock, and one at Cape Horn, so... don't buy any 'fresh' insurance policies, it is a dead giveaway...

oh... re: eats...another place the younger set likes is Roots in Vanc. @ SE 34th and 192nd Ave and Leonardo's Pizza on 1st and 164th.

(you're gonna get pretty "stuffed" with all these places, but at least you are eating for two )

[Balco9]

What about the tornado's in Vancouver. I heard from the local news they get one or two tornado's a year!!! The one last week was very alarming!!!