Who says you have to spend a ton of money or risk infection by jetting to an exotic locale to make great family memories? If you live in Vancouver, there are plenty of incredible things to do and sights to see right outside your front door. This summer, save some money and keep your family safe and healthy by skipping the huge getaways and hunkering down in your own backyard.

Not sure where to start? Read on! Today, we’re sharing some of the most fun and safe things to do in Vancouver, WA, so grab your planner and let’s get started!

Go on a history tour.

One of the best things about our city is how richly it celebrates its past. In addition to historic attractions, there are plenty of parks and museums dedicated to teaching every generation about the ones that came before it.

Kick off your staycation by visiting Fort Vancouver. This 191-acre park is designated as a National Historic Site and under different circumstances features year-round events, including costumed performances, interpretive talks, and an incredible after-dark lantern tour. As of June 9, the park has reopened its grounds and trails so history buffs and families alike can take in the beautiful sights the park has to offer. While the park’s facilities, including the Visitor’s Center and Pearson Air Museum, remain closed, your family can enjoy spending time outdoors among amazing historical monuments.

Explore the outdoors.

When you call Vancouver home, you’re never more than a few miles away from world-class biking, hiking, or kayaking! Get your heart pumping and enjoy beautiful moments relishing the natural wonders of your city.

Did you know Vancouver is home to more than 190 area parks? While active recreation areas, like playgrounds, sports courts, and picnic shelters, remain closed, your family can venture outside and spend some time traversing the many trails Vancouver parks have to offer.

To make a day of it, head toward scenic Moulton Falls. This 387-acre regional park features two waterfalls and an arch bridge that soars more than three stories high! Located less than 20 minutes from Vancouver, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge is another can’t-miss, kid-friendly spot. Here, you can take a naturalist-led hike and view a variety of species, including waterfowl, raptors, river otters, black-tailed deer, and more. Kids asleep in the back? From October to April, the refuge also offers a drive-through tour so you can observe wintering waterfowl from your car.

Be sure to practice social distancing and other current CDC recommendations while passing through these parks to keep your family and others safe.

Play and learn at the same time.

Vancouver is full of places for your children to discover and explore. The best part? They’ll be having so much fun, it won’t even feel like they’re learning.

At the Columbia Springs Environmental Education Center, your brood will have access to 100 acres of nature trails, wildlife viewing decks, and local outdoor art installations; however, the historic trout hatchery remains closed to the public From there, you can keep the hands-off study going with a visit to the local Water Resources Education Center. Overlooking the Columbia River, the center serves to educate all ages on the importance of water, including where it comes from and how to use it wisely. While these attractions are now open to the public, it’s important to keep CDC safety and health guidelines in mind. In addition, the Environmental Education Center asks that groups of more than eight people make a reservation by email.

Wind down at the waterfront.

Hungry after taking in the sights of beautiful Vancouver? While the exhibits are temporarily closed to the public, you can take your family for a walk at the city’s picturesque waterfront. For the summer, you can visit What a Catch Fishbar for take-out, including cod and chips, soft-serve ice cream, and drool-worthy french fries. As they’re indulging on a cone of chocolate swirl, use the opportunity to remind your kids to brush their teeth when they get home! On a staycation, every moment is an opportunity to connect and learn, and this simple step puts them that much closer to joining our Cavity Free Club!

Other must-visit establishments and eateries along the waterfront that are open for take-out include Barlow’s Public House, Stack 571 Burger and Whiskey Bar, and Twigs Bistro. After a hearty meal, you can watch the stars appear from the area’s new 7.3-acre Waterfront Park, which features an open lawn, urban beach, and plenty of seating areas.

Grab a drink at nearby Savona Coffee House, and let the kids turn cartwheels and bask in the sunset while you reflect on how much fun you had staying put.

Discover more fun things to do in Vancouver, WA.

You don’t have to travel hundreds of miles or put your family at risk to get away from it all. This list of fun things to do in Vancouver, WA, is filled with fun spots, but it’s far from exhaustive. When you’re ready to plan the perfect staycation, you’ll have plenty of options right at your fingertips, from natural excursions to delicious eateries.

One way to really rest and relax during your time together? Go ahead and take care of your important appointments before those months off arrive. That way, when the time comes, you can focus more on the sunshine and less on your schedule.

In the meantime, we’d love to welcome your family to our pediatric dentistry office! At Must Love Kids, our name speaks for itself. Contact us to request an appointment today and leave plenty of time for family fun this summer.

As social distancing settles into the forefront of our collective thoughts, words, and actions, you’re likely joining many parents in seeking safe ways for your kids to get out of the house and play. Fortunately, with some extra awareness, planning, and creativity, you and your family can safely venture outside, explore, and enjoy a change of scenery. Remember that regulations are constantly changing, so be sure to check the websites of any attractions you’re wanting to visit.

From one-hour jaunts to all-day getaways, here are 5 short, fun, and safe family road trips to enjoy around Vancouver during social distancing.

1. Cascade Locks, OR

With beautiful natural scenery and outdoor recreational opportunities, the Columbia River Gorge is a shared treasure between Washington and Oregon. You can enjoy many of the Gorge’s offerings within an hour of packing up the car with your family and a picnic.

One must-see sight that we hope will be open in the near future is Guy W. Talbot State Park, which features picnic benches, flush toilets, and hiking trails to the park’s iconic 224-foot waterfall, Latourell Falls. Make a note to also stop by and visit Herman the Sturgeon at Bonneville Hatchery. Over 45 years’ old and weighing over 500 pounds, Herman is one of the Columbia River Gorge’s resident white sturgeon. This species can reach 20 feet in length, weigh over 1000 pounds, and live for over 100 years.

After you’ve been amazed by a waterfall and wildlife, you’re less than 10 minutes away from the Bridge of the Gods, a toll bridge that crosses over the Columbia River between Cascade Locks, OR, and North Bonneville, WA. Walk across this cantilever bridge for breathtaking views of the Gorge, or drive across into Washington to enjoy a different route on your drive home.

2. Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge, WA

Less than two hours from Vancouver, Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge sits near the base of Mount Adams. It is home to diverse flora and fauna in its forests, prairies, streams, and seasonal marshes. The refuge was, and continues to be, an important resource for this area’s Native American community, who still gather plants for food and ceremony.

Along with plentiful elk and deer, the Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge is home to songbirds, waterfowl, and the rare Oregon spotted frog. In spring, the refuge is also the only home to nesting greater Sandhills cranes in Washington. You could encourage your kids to identify the types of animals they see, or document their experience of plants and wildlife through writing, drawing, or photography.

3. Mount Rainier, WA

At a towering 14,410 feet, Mount Rainier stands out as the most topographically prominent and glaciated mountain in the continental USA. (If your child likes to research, or if you want to teach some geoscience, Google what “topographically prominent” and “glaciated” mean).

Mount Rainier National Park is just over two hours from Vancouver and is currently open for self-guided auto-touring, hiking, and dispersed snowplay, such as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. To support social distancing efforts, Mount Rainier National Park has temporarily closed the Longmire Museum, Paradise Jackson Visitor Center, and Paradise Snowplay area.

If a trip to Mount Rainier doesn’t currently work for your family’s needs, but you’d still like to see the mountain, you can get live footage through the park’s webcams.

4. Oregon Coast, OR

From Astoria to Brookings, driving along the Oregon Coast on Highway 101 is a magical and must-do PNW experience. Along with offering spectacular views of the Pacific and forested Coast Range, every beach on the Oregon Coast is public. And, as many of Oregon’s beaches are naturally spacious, social distancing was likely already happening in these places anyway! For wide open beaches within three hours of Vancouver, check out Newport, Lincoln City, Cannon Beach, and Seaside.

5. Painted Hills, OR

One of the 7 Wonders of Oregon and part of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, the Painted Hills are a dramatic geological formation situated on the Journey through Time Scenic Byway. The defined layers of color—which range from yellow to red to black—were formed over 35 million years ago, as volcanic and organic materials mixed together through changing climates.

Around four hours from Vancouver, the Painted Hills is a full day trip that offers many opportunities for learning, exploration, and creativity in an area of Oregon that’s sparsely populated. Bring along art supplies for your kids to make their own rendition of the Painted Hills beauty, or have them write a haiku about this otherworldly landscape.

As we practice social distance in our daily lives and for an occasional outing, one fact remains the same: we are all in this together. From our Must Love Kids family to yours, we send you and your children our wishes for good physical, mental, and oral health as we navigate these changes.

If your child is experiencing a dental emergency or is overdue for a preventative or restorative treatment, contact our office to schedule an appointment.

Research shows that nearly 100 million Americans will take a family vacation this year!

If you’re planning to get away with the family, remember that getting there is half the journey. While some people may be reluctant to get on an airplane at the moment, a family road trip avoids the crowds and will let you see a ton of different sites along your route.

Planning an epic family road trip might sound exhausting, but it doesn’t have to be. Today, we’re eliminating the guesswork and telling you everything you need to pack to make sure your vacation goes off without a hitch!

Put down the map, take a deep breath, and let’s get started.

The Essentials

We’ll get to the fun stuff, soon! But first, let’s get the basics out of the way.

Consider how many days you’ll be traveling, including the day you leave and the day you return. Start by setting out enough clothes so everyone has a clean outfit for every day. If you’re planning to use a laundry facility at any of your stops, you might not need to pack as many clothes.

As you pack, remember: It might be chilly in the Pacific Northwest, but if you’re driving across the country, it could be sweltering in Florida. Use a tool like Accuweather to get the daily forecast for everywhere you’re planning to visit. It’s often easiest to pack layers of different weights of clothing so you’re always prepared!

Other must-have essentials include:

• Toiletries.
• Medicine.
• Itinerary.
• Cell phone and charger.
• Rain jackets.
• Accessories (jewelry, sunglasses, etc.).

Navigational Tools

Next, you’ll need to decide whether to use a paper map, a map app, or both!

While there’s something nostalgic about bringing along an old-fashioned atlas, modern navigation apps are packed with helpful features, including tools that show you the nearest gas station, fast food joint, or hotel. Still, you can’t guarantee that you’ll always be somewhere with great cell service.

That’s why it’s smart to go ahead and bring both along, if you can. If you don’t have a paper map, Google Maps and Maps.me allow you to download your map before you leave, so you can access it even when you’re offline.

Car Games and Toys

Nothing turns a pleasant family road trip sour like a back seat full of boredom.

To keep the kids entertained, be sure to pack plenty of age-appropriate games and toys that they can play with on the road. Yet, keep in mind that your car is basically your home away from home for the duration of your trip, so it doesn’t make sense to pack it full of knick-knacks.

Instead, keep it simple and bring along a frisbee or football. Take frequent stops and allow the kids to get out, stretch their legs, and play catch for a little while before loading back up. A few coloring books and a small pack of crayons are also great for tiny artists.

For those long stretches of highway that seem to never end, family travel games are always a hit! One insider tip? Look for magnetic games so you aren’t constantly retrieving tiny pieces from between the seat cushions. You can find magnetic sets that include a few different types of games in one, portable container.

Electronics

While family car games can be a blast, there will inevitably be moments when everyone wants a little downtime. That’s why it’s a great idea to bring tablets and headphones along. This one move can save your sanity and help the entire trip go more smoothly.

Just be sure to bring enough pairs of headphones for everyone! The older children can listen to their music while the little ones can play a book on tape. You can even download movies onto their tablets before you leave!

Not a huge fan of your teen’s angsty rock phase? Invest in some noise-canceling headphones so everyone can enjoy the ride. Most children’s headphones come with volume control to protect their sensitive hearing.

Finally, think about the internet. If your crew might want to watch YouTube or scroll social media while you’re traveling, bring along a wireless hotspot so you’re always one click away from connecting. Don’t forget to take a portable battery pack with you to charge your devices when they’re getting low.

UV Window Shades

No one wants to ride for hours with the sun right in their eyes. Before you leave, buy a few UV window shades and keep them stashed in the car for quick access. Not only will this aid in safety and visibility, but it will also help keep your vehicle cooler!

First-Aid Kit

Sure, it’s not the most exciting thing on this list; however, if you ever need it, you’ll be glad you brought a first-aid kit along. Resist the urge to pack the entire medicine cabinet and stick to the essentials. At the very least, you’ll need:

• Ice packs.
• Band-aids.
• Bite and sting ointment.
• Pain medicine.
• Sunscreen.

Car Seat Organizers

When the car is loaded down for a family road trip, it doesn’t take long for it to go from pristine to a pig sty.

To make sure you can always access what you need, slip car seat organizers over the back of the driver’s seat, passenger’s seat and seats on the second row (if you have a third row). Use these to compartmentalize toys, water bottles, snacks, gadgets and more. This way, the kids can easily reach for what they need and your car stays neater, mile after mile.

Snacks, Snacks, Snacks

Finally, let’s talk road trip snacks!

Of course, we’re going to suggest that you stay away from the sweets to keep your teeth healthy, but there’s another reason why it’s best to pack healthy foods. When you load up with sugar and carbs, it can lead to driver fatigue and general attention issues.

While it’s easiest to stash potato chips, soft drinks, and cookies in your bag, reach for options that will fill you up without weighing your mind or body down. Stick to raw nuts, granola bars, fruit, and carrot sticks, and portion them out before you leave so everyone has an equal share.

Hit the road and enjoy your family road trip.

You’re about to embark on one of the most memorable experiences of your life. The moments you’ll share together on your family road trip are bound to bring a smile to your face for years to come.

Speaking of smiles, go ahead and visit your pediatric dentist before you leave! That way all of your appointments are taken care of and you can relax and enjoy your trip. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and we’ll send you off in style!