Camas (Washougal, Castle Rock, Newport: transplants, spring break, sales)

[chb0903]

We are moving to the beautiful state of Washington from Chicago very soon. I am looking for property in the Camas area. Is Camas a safe city? What about the smell from the paer mill? Is it closing soon? Or is that a rumor?What about Lake Lacamas? I just read That 5 cars were pulled out of it last year and the pollution is at a high level. Is this true? Can anyone tell me som positives about Camas? Thanks!!!

[hml1976]

Camas is very safe, I've smelled the paper mill a few times while standing next to it but never at our house. I have no idea about cars being pulled out of Lacamas Lake, a lot of people swim in it but I'm not big on swimming in cold lakes, it doesn't smell or anything although I heard that it did years ago.

Positives are the schools are great, we love the people here and its beautiful. The only negatives I ever hear about Camas are on this board honestly

Some pos and neg threads on the subject.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/vanco...vancouver.html

http://www.city-data.com/forum/vanco...t-weekend.html

http://www.city-data.com/forum/vanco...nts-camas.html

http://www.city-data.com/forum/vanco...vancouver.html



And on the ever popular paper mill subject.
http://www.city-data.com/forum/vanco...-de-camas.html

[chb0903]

Thank you for replying! I am visiting Camas with my children(11and10) for spring break. Any suggestions on where to go or visit? They donot want to move and I need to make this exciting for them.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by chb0903

..I am visiting Camas with my children(11and10) for spring break. ... They donot want to move and I need to make this exciting for them.

You have a tough order... You might want to save your airfare (and time).

Camas may look pretty 'sleepy' to them as visitors, and will likely make the move tougher. Unfortunately, 'life happens' kids get very little voting rights and they are not too powerful as decision makers. Ain't pretty. Ours were not impressed at that age, as we had just moved them 4 times in 5 yrs, 3 international destinations. They will never forgive me for moving them from their childhood farm that I got sick of caring for (while working and doing elder care + homeschooling). We did stay put during their 12-18 age (they are 18 months apart, and attended Clark College during HS years), but their enjoyment was with sports teams and events that were not 'recognizable' on spring break (weather can be quite poor, but possibly nice (a small chance)). I can't even express how glad I am that I don't have to sit through any more soggy ball games

If you do come, I would be 'flexible' and figure out what they might enjoy, but it probably won't be in Camas!! (Small town). Hopefully someone here or in your other connections with kids that age, will meet up with you and show them a good time. At their age we stayed in 'homeschool' guest homes and our kids (boys) had a great time riding horses, doing chores, playing ball, hunting, fishing, exploring, boating, building things...+ we kept annual memberships at science museums, that were honored at locations worldwide. (We joined the one at Norwich, NH, as it was very inexpensive, and a great museum when we were on East coast field trips)

so of my thoughts
Camas... ??? the library is nice... LaCamas Swim and Sport ?
Mom might like a tour and shopping at Pendleton Woolen Factory outlet in Washougal.
maybe some hiking in the Columbia gorge SR 14 10 miles east of Washougal (Cape Horn, Beacon Rock, WA Side... or Multnomah Falls, Horsetail Falls OR side) Bonneville Dam visitor centers. Maybe Bonneville Hot Springs... but it is more 'adult' related... no slides / entertainment.

Spring skiing at Mt Hood Meadows (Above Hood River, OR on Hwy 35) That might be the best thing... my kids started volunteering there at that age, and then were instructors during HS. Swing be Timberline Lodge on your way home, as the snow and lodge might get them jazzed (You can take HWY 26 back to Gresham)

to the beach (1.5 hr west on hwy 26 from Portland)
Cannon Beach, Ecola State Park (Hug Point state park w/ beach, caves, cliffs, tide pools, and old stagecoach road... walk 200 yds north on beach from parking lot). Twin Rocks beach for neat driftwood and building forts,
Tillamook Cheese for free curd samples, + good IceCream (Not free) Cape Mears lighthouse Cape Meares Light - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
nearby Beach is good for agate hunting.
Depot Bay is exciting on a stormy day, Newport has lighthouse + Hatfield Marine Science Center.

Maritime museum in Astoria is good, so is St Helens visitor's center at Castle Rock, WA (on a clear day) 5 minutes east from I-5

Portland;
Swim center at Clackamas has wave machine and decent slides
OMSI (Science Museum)
Powell Books
OHSU Tram would be a nice view on a clear day (should you be so lucky) Might get a cheap riverside lunch at Spaghetti Factory while you are there (at the base of tram) Blue Roof joint

Lots of great parks and bike shops in Portland.
Maybe there will be some sports playing, possible check with University of Portland for soccer training or games.

I'm afraid the Camas experience for kids is something difficult to get during a spring break visit, but I wish you the best. You need to come with a REALLY open mind, as the benefits are a bit beneath the surface.

[hml1976]

I agree with janb, we didn't think Camas was too much to look at when we first visited here. In fact I thought it was a little odd, although the area is pretty. I would do some of the things that janb suggested, Portland has a lot to offer and even though we love Camas to live in, its not much of a tourist destination.

I moved (out of the country) when I was 11 and hated my parents for it, but I came around and really it was a great learning experience in the end.

[chb0903]

Thank you to Janb and Hml1976 for the suggestions. I thought the ocean adventures might be fun and the hiking too. We are from snowy Chicago and frankly I have had enough of snow. Although I have heard that Mt Bachelor is beautiful. Any thoughts? My 12 year old is into swimming. She is on a team here. Anybody out there that belongs to a swim team in camas or nearby?

[LewisMel]

Camas is a great place to live. Yes it can get smelly sometimes, but there are parts that are good and not so good, so that would just have to come down to looking and determining that when you are here. I love Lacamas Lake, Ive been there myslef several times and I am sure you and if you have a family would love to spend the summers there. mod cut: Camas also has great freeway accessibility and is all freeway to downtown portland or North. Good Luck :-)mod cut:

[themom51]

My son is a security guard at the paper mill in Camas. He says unless it's a very windy day, you normally don't smell the mill. When you do get a whiff, it's kinda like a rotten-egg smell. For exciting the kids, you can always take a 20 minute drive to Jantzen Beach to visit the food court where there is an enormous indoor merry-go-round. There's also an ice rink in Lloyd's Center in Portland. Both have lots of shopping with no sales tax!

[WA-Retired]

Originally Posted by chb0903

We are moving to the beautiful state of Washington from Chicago very soon. I am looking for property in the Camas area. Is Camas a safe city? What about the smell from the paer mill? Is it closing soon? Or is that a rumor?What about Lake Lacamas? I just read That 5 cars were pulled out of it last year and the pollution is at a high level. Is this true? Can anyone tell me som positives about Camas? Thanks!!!

I drove through Camas (hwy 14) twice this week and the mill smell was very strong both times.

[diggitydot]

Originally Posted by chb0903

I am looking for property in the Camas area. Is Camas a safe city?

Very safe city. Part of Camas might seem like a smaller version of Downer's Grove. None of it will ever come close to the seedier parts of Chicago or Gary. :shudder:

Originally Posted by chb0903

What about the smell from the paper mill? Is it closing soon? Or is that a rumor?

Smell isn't horrible, especially if you're east of the mill. Noticeable at times, but won't make your eyes water. Yes, it will be shutting down eventually. Few want to admit it, but since it lacks newer technology or personnel trained on newer technology, it will eventually cease to function as a paper manufacturing facility at some point.

Originally Posted by chb0903

What about Lake Lacamas? I just read That 5 cars were pulled out of it last year and the pollution is at a high level. Is this true?

Yep, true. (FYI, it's Lacamas Lake.) However, the pollution has been diminishing over the years. There are more concerted efforts to care for it and increased attention by the EPA regarding the mill (that formerly used the lake as a waste water dump) has limited some of the environmental impact.

Originally Posted by chb0903

Can anyone tell me some positives about Camas? Thanks!!!

Sure!

• Great People
• Excellent Schools
• Low Crime Rates
• Lots of Community Involvement
• Active Parks and Recreation Programs
• Voted one of the top 100 places to live by Money Magazine
• Beautiful scenery
• Central proximity to mountains, the coast, wine country, farm-fresh produce, etc.
• Myriad outdoor activities nearby