In May 1804, Captain Meriwether Lewis and his good friend Second Lieutenant William Clark started an expedition, commissioned by then President Thomas Jefferson. Today, this trail is known to us as the Lewis and Clerk expedition (not to be confused with Clark Kent and Lois Lane of Superman).
Essentially these chaps were brave enough to cross the vast continent, not knowing what to expect and encountering perils (such as grizzly bears) along the way. Nonetheless, the journey was finally completed in 1806 and the expedition team not only opened up a route from Eastern USA to Western USA, but also discovered many economic opportunities (think natural resources) and most importantly, the Western side to the Pacific Ocean.
It was also on this journey that the original Vancouver (Vancouver Washington, not Vancouver Canada) was discovered and subsequently established several years later. With this long history, it is little wonder that the entire Vancouver Washington is sprinkled with many historic monuments, still maintained in excellent condition, to be shared with visitors like you and me!
Hilton Vancouver Washington with Bell Tower at Esther Short ParkSlocum House – Yes it was an ULTRA MISTY DAY!
Once considered the most elegant homes in Vancouver, this Italianate villa’s ornate details including a cupola, elaborate cornice, scrolled brackets, and a widow’s walk on the roof. Built by Charles and Laura Slocum, it was nearly lost to development in the 1960s. Activists saved the home from demolition by moving it a block north. Today the building is home to the Old Slocum House Theatre Company, which stages a number of theatrical productions annually at this historic site
Lloyd Dubois House Vancouver Washington
This Queen Anne-style home, originally owned by the editor and publisher of the city’s newspaper, features a broad, wrap-around porch supported by turned posts, jigsaw brackets and a balustrade.
Langsdorf House Vancouver Washington
This Craftsman Bungalow with its flat wall planes of brick, low pitched hip roof, and unusual porch is influenced by the Midwestern Prairie style rarely seen in Clark County.
Kettenring House Vancouver Washington
This residence is characterised as an American Foursquare with classic Craftsman elements and ornamentation and retains the original multi-paired windows and curved rafter ends. Fred Kettenring moved to Vancouver in 1901 to take charge of the Great Northern Railroad’s construction and later became the City Engineer.
Chumasero-Smith House Vancouver Washington
This American Foursquare is the oldest known home in Washington to be built by a Filipino-American. The structure features classic columns supporting the heavy cornice on the porch, diamond shingles on the front dormer and a steeply pitched, hipped roof.
Post Office Vancouver Main
This brick post office with front columns is representative of Classical Revival architectural style.
St James Catholic Church Vancouver WashingtonW. Foster Hidden House Vancouver Washington
Lowell Hidden’s son, Foster, built this two-story Colonial Revival home with Flemish bond brickwork, a columned portico, heavy corner quoins and an elaborate cornice with block modillions.
Lowell M Hidden House Vancouver Washington
Lowell Hidden, owner of the Hidden Brick Company, built this two-story Queen Anne-style home with ornamental brick patterns, stained glass windows and a corbeled chimney.
Kiggins Theatre Vancouver WashingtonUS National Bank Vancouver Washington
Tall, fluted columns on projecting plinths frame an arched entrace to this five-story building that is an example of early 20th century Commercial style.
Evergreen Hotel Vancouver WashingtonVancouver National Bank Building
Originally made of molded stone construction the facade of this building was covered with the current terra cotta design in 1926.
History of Officers Row Vancouver WashingtonOfficer’s Row Vancouver WashingtonGrant House along Officer’s Row – Now a restaurant
For more than a century, the 21 buildings along the north side of Evergreen Blvd housed soldiers, officers and military families stationed at Vancouver Barracks. Three of the more notable properties are the Grand House, built in 1849, the General O.O. Howard House, constructed in 1879 and the Marshall House built in 1886. The homes are characterised by high ceilings, large foyers, sweeping staircases, bay windows, multiple fireplaces and numerous rooms which housed company or field grade officers.
Vancouver Barracks in front of Officer’s Row
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Remember, Vancouver Washington was named “Vancouver” before Vancouver Canada. This also means that for a travel destination that is rich in heritage, history and monuments, Vancouver Washington would be a great place for you to explore. There’s also great natural formations in Vancouver Washington too!
Nature is one of the biggest draws in Vancouver Washington and in this post, we’re gonna show you what an awesome travel destination, Vancouver Washington (not be confused with Vancouver Canada) is! We knew that there are many natural formations along Columbia River and we were also told about some of the more famous ones such as Multnomah Falls and Beacon Rock, so we decided to start a drive from Vancouver Washington along Columbia River and cross at the Bridge of Gods ending with the visit at Multnomah Falls on the Oregon side…
Starting our drive along Columbia River from Vancouver Washington
Columbia River : Great River of the WestOur first scenic point – Cape Horn : Along the Lewis and Clark HighwayAnother shot from Cape Horn and the gorgeous gorgeBeacon Rock – the remaining core of a young volcanoBeacon Rock close up
Because of its height in the region of the Columbia River, it is often used as a navigation mark. Hence, the name, Beacon Rock. As we ventured closer, we also realised that there’s a trail up the rock. But Kate was startled by how eerie the path looked and we only managed a shot and left…yikes!
Path up the NW face of Beacon RockBonneville Dam
As we journeyed along, we came by Bonneville Dam. The dam served to generate sufficient electricity for the area while still keeping the balance of nature (including migration of fish) through careful planning…
Fish ladder allowing fish to migrate safely through the dams – but we did see a few sea lions lurking to feast upon the fish that passed through
Coming to the Bridge of Gods, we crossed the Columbia River (toll of 1USD), took a break and journey back towards Multnomah Falls…
Bridge of Gods as we drove on it, crossing the Columbia RiverColumbia River from Bridge of GodsMural depicting the past and present and how the original bridge of God was likeOriginal Bridge of Gods was formed from an avalanche which corroded away paving way for this man-made versionHood RiverAnother shot of Hood River Vancouver WashingtonPassed by Horsetail Falls before coming to Multnomah FallsArriving at Multnomah Falls – visited by 2 MILLION PEOPLE A YEAR!Multnomah Falls with the sign – 2nd highest all year round fall in USAAwesome Majestic Multnomah Falls
Enjoy Multnomah Falls Oregon
Heading back, we finally got to enjoy a wonderful view along the River Columbia near downtown Vancouver
Interstate Bridge connecting Vancouver to PortlandBoard walk beside Columbia River – path we took from Beaches back to Hilton Hotel
View from Boardwalk of Columbia River at Vancouver Washington
Yay! First view of snow cap on Mount Hood in the distance!
Sunset at Columbia River with Mount Hood in the back!
But there was a shot that we didn’t manage to take and it was Mt St. Helens. We managed to only stay outside the visitor’s center because it was Christmas Day. On top of that, it was ULTRA MISTY which meant that we did not manage to see it. But to do it justice, here are some official pictures from Visitvancouverusa!
Mt St Helen’s Visitor Centre – Closed on misty Christmas Day
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We hope you’ve enjoyed our coverage of all the wonders of nature that you can enjoy as you travel along the Columbia River. Hilton Hotel Vancouver Washington makes a great base to enjoy all of these and remember to rent a car like we did to have the flexibility to visit all of these spots along Columbia River!
Catching Portland Winterhawks in action was an excellent story to tell. This is because it was the first time EVER that we watched an ice hockey match! But before we get to the match proper, we’ll talk about the meal we had at Burgerville first…
After parking our car at Rose Quarter for $8,
Parking Ticket at Rose Garden ($8USD) for Portland Winterhawks Match on New Year’s Eve
we approached the ticketing booth to find out how to get to our seats.
Winterhawks match at Moda Center also home to NBA team Portland Trailblazers
At the same time, we also asked where we could get our dinner. We were told to head towards Multnomah Street. As we headed in the general direction of where the cashier pointed, we started to see several Winterhawks fans walking in the same direction as well. After about a 6 minutes walk, we finally arrived at Burgerville…
Dinner at Burgerville Multnomah Street
Following a hawks fan to BurgervilleNope, we’re not stalking this hawks fanMenu at Burgerville
After much consideration, we finally settled for the half pound colossal cheese burger with a basket (which actually means a meal – with fries and drinks) for 9.89USD…
Colossal Cheese Burger from Burgerville ($9.89USD) – Tasty US Beef!
The fun thing about our trip to Burgerville was this machine…
Cool touch screen drinks dispensing machine at Burgerville
The really cool thing about this machine is that it actually dispenses over 100 different types of drinks! From this machine, we had coke lime and vanilla root beer! For each drink, you’ll choose the primary taste (i.e. Coke, Sprite, Root Beer etc.) then a secondary choice of raspberry, lime, lemon etc appears! With these combinations, you can enjoy over 100 different drinks through just this one machine! Cool huh?!
Pre-match Activities inside Moda Center
Before the start of the match, there were many things going on…
Waha 50 50 pot – 50% of the pot goes to the winner while the other 50% goes to support youth / hockey initiativesBought a ticket – Did not win though 🙁Watch a Portland Trailblazers match or buy a Winterhawks jerseyRose Bud Cheerleaders gave out posters to show which Winterhawks players graduated to play for NHL teams
Speaking of NHL, we then confirmed that we were actually watching a WHL (Western Hockey League) and not NHL (National Hockey League) game! Turns out that Winterhawks is made up of players from 15 to 20 years of age and this posters showed some of the past players that went on to play for NHL teams. The funny thing was that eventhough it was sort of like a high school match, there were more than 10,000 fans that turned up for the match! So much more than S-League! 😮
Crowds starting to fill the stadium in Moda CenterIntroducing the players of Winterhawks into the arena at Moda Center
Portland Winterhawks vs Kelowna Rockets
Teams warming up before the match
Into the thick of action between Portland Winterhawks and Kelowna Rockets
We really enjoyed the game because of the fast paced, adrenaline-filled, action-packed, testosterone-charged game! There were many occasions where the players really slammed each other into the glass and got into fights! But the game itself was really exciting…Watch…
Can you see the puck?!
Players changing during ice hockey match
The match that we watched was the New Year’s Eve 2013 match between the Portland Winterhawks and Kelowna Rockets. As we watched the match, we realised that we were actually surrounded by Rockets fans, in particular 2 really cute kids who sat behind us. Although the home team was the Winterhawks, the kids behind kept shouting “Go get ’em!”, “Go Rockets Go!” , “Fight Fight Fight!” …it was as if we had live commentary right behind our seats! The match was eventually won by the Rockets 9 to 3. However, on the few occasions that the Winterhawks scored, the stadium went crazy! Watch…
Portland Winterhawks Celebration
There’s also a funny side story going on here. Notice the boy in the video who turns behind while celebrating? He was particularly agitated when the Rockets scored against his team and especially so when the boys behind cheered really loudly. So when the Winterhawks scored, he turned and celebrated as if to say “Take that you Kelowna Rockets supporters!”
What you can expect during intervals of ice hockey matches
Chuck-A-Puck at Moda Center Portland Winterhawks
Chuck-A-Puck is a game where fans are asked to purchase rubber pucks and during this segment, they would have to throw their puck as accurately as they possibly can towards the bulls-eye in the middle of the ice hockey rink! The puck closest (or inside) the bulls-eye will win the cash prize!
The Kiss-Cam at Moda Center for Portland Winterhawks Game
Finally got to see the kiss-cam as well! The kiss-cam is actually just a little game whereby once the camera features a couple, they would kiss for the screens! As simple as that! If you remember, during the movie anger management, Adam Sandler and Jack Nicholson kissed because they were featured on the kiss cam! This night, all couples except 1, kissed for the screens. The “couple” which didn’t? Was a feature of a young man sitting next to an old lady, the young man just shaked his head…
Rose Bud – Cheerleaders of the Portland Winterhawks
And of course, the Rose Bud – Cheerleaders of the Portland Winterhawks came on for performances during intervals as well.
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All in all, we had a wonderful experience of watching an American ice hockey match “LIVE”! The match itself was really exciting and the fringe activities also got the fans interested as well! We will definitely try to catch a NHL game if we can for our next trip to the USA (along with NBA and MLB games)!
McMenamins Brewery Or…Beaches Restaurant and Bar Vancouver Washington?
On our first night in Vancouver Washington, we originally wanted to visit McMenamins because of its brews. However, when we told by our concierge at Hilton Vancouver, that the service was not so good and the food was not fantastic either. Instead, we were recommended to visit Lapellah or Beaches.
We actually visited Lapellah first but as it was Christmas Eve, it closed at about 4pm. So we headed off to Beaches which opened till 630pm that evening.
Inside Beaches Restaurant and Bar Vancouver Washington
What to eat and drink at Beaches Restaurant and Bar
Although we did not make reservations that evening, we were thankfully able to quickly have a seat eventhough the restaurant was almost full. Seemed like we took the 2nd last table (table beside us was soon taken up as well). After browsing through the menu, we decided to go for the honey crisp apple wheat cider and Coor’s Light first…
Menu at Beaches RestaurantDrinks Menu Beaches Restaurant Vancouver WashingtonBar area of Beaches Restaurant Vancouver WashingtonHoney Crisp Apple Wheat (4.95USD) and Coors Light (3.95USD) in Beaches Restaurant Vancouver Washington
Kate chose the Shock Top Honey Crisp Apple Wheat while I had the Coors Light (to lighten the guilt since we’re having the “Guilty Burger”). Turns out that the crisp apple wheat cider was an excellent choice. Our waiter also told us that he preferred this version of the apple cider because it was not too sweet and had a soothing after taste – totally enjoyed it. For a dollar more, you should go for the cider as well 😉
Next, we decided on the food. We spared no expense as we were from thousands of miles away and we’re definitely gonna get some good food this evening. So we went for the Guilty Burger and the Baby Back Rib
Guilty Burger at Beaches Restaurant and Bar (11.99USD) Baby Back Rib of Beaches Restaurant and Bar (20.99USD)
The Guilty Burger really makes you guilty. It is just a monster of a burger! There’s pulled pork, grilled beef (seriously? 2 different heavy meats in a burger?!), loaded with cheese, eggs and veges. The part we love about the burger is its grilled beef. It was tender and had a flavourful smoky taste to it.
We noticed how the chefs do the burger patties. They would flip them and place sort of like a lid over it, allowing it to simmer with its own flavours, locking the juices in. That explains the tender, juicy bit of the grilled beef.
But the highlight has got to be the baby back rib. Probably the best ribs we’ve had. BETTER THAN CAFE CARTEL’S St. Louis’ Pork Ribs. It’s true. The meat literally FALLS OFF the bones just with a gentle flick. The smoky caramelised bits and lightly sweetened (not too sweet kind) BBQ sauce topped off this dish.
Did we mention, it’s probably the best ribs we’ve ever had?
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Ok, straight up. Heathman Lodge Vancouver Washington has got to be one of our best hotel stays EVER!!
We were invited by Visitvancouverusa.com and Heathman Lodge for a stay at their premise. Before our stay, we did a check online and found great things about the hotel (great environment, delectable food) and of course some funny comments such as “the fake ski lodge next to Westfield Mall”.
Well, as it turns out, this “ski lodge” definitely has more to offer and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay here…
Entering Heathman Lodge Vancouver Washington
Facade of Heathman Lodge Vancouver WashingtonA quaint sitting area outside the lobby of Heathman Lodge
It was a cold day (about 5 degrees celsius) when we arrived at Heathman Lodge. But with its warm, “wooden” facade, we kinda felt right at home as we entered into its cozy lobby
Lobby of Heathman Lodge Vancouver Washington along with Christmas DecorationsA small gift shop named Trading Post at Heathman LodgeAnother view of the lobby, reception and Hudson’s Bar and Grill of Heathman Lodge
There was a slight hiccup as we were checking in at the lobby. Apparently, we were placed on a different name by the tourism board (no fault of the hotel’s) and it took a while before the air cleared and we were checked in.
Special thanks to Marcie from Heathman, who was ever so patient, putting on that great smile all the way and also to Jacob from Visitvancouver for confirming our stay almost instantly, after calling him at his desk. We were slightly concerned as we came in at about 3pm not knowing if Jacob was still in and when we heard his friendly voice on the line, we knew that this would be solved in a quick time and it was! 🙂
The team that received us at Heathman Lodge (Marcie in the centre)! Thanks you guys!
Deluxe Suite at Heathman Lodge Vancouver Washington
We were told by our friends at the reception that we were on the 4th floor business level where amenities such as the daily reception (which we’ll talk a little more later) were…
Level 4 with access to Hospitality Suite ReceptionCorridor of Heathman Lodge with birds chirping!
As we walked along the corridor to our room, we were surprised to hear birds chirping! At first, we thought (or at least Tom thought) there was some birds on the loose at our level! But upon closer inspection, it was a recorded sound projected through one of the speakers. The reason we’re mentioning this is because the sound was light and sounded at intervals – very surreal sounding. It was as if we had really entered into the woody redwood forests! Even as we left our room each time, these sounds from the birds really perked us up. A great touch by the hotel!
So as we finally approached our room at 408, we were still not sure what was in for us (good move by the reception team to only mention the room number and let us be surprised by what the room has to offer). Words cant really describe why we’re ranking the room as one of our top hotel stays ever and so here’s the video tour…
Video Tour of Deluxe Suite at Heathman Lodge Vancouver Washington
Did you see the fire place, the balcony, the space of the living room and of course the IN-ROOM JACUZZI!?!
Let’s check out what we saw as we explored the room before the “Oohs”, “Wows”, “Wahs” and “Bearbear, come see!” came a sounding…
Ice chilled water, snacks and welcome note at the deluxe suite of Heathman LodgeIn-room coffee machine, oven and sound system which we used as we rounded up each eveningSpacious living room, comfy sofa, balcony and fire place in Suite of Heathman LodgeCloser look at the gas-operated fire place (so it’s safe!) and balconyFirst view of the king-sized bed Heathman Lodge Vancouver WashingtonAnother view of the king-sized bed with tempur mattress Heathman Lodge Vancouver Washington
At this juncture, we want to ask you (our readers), which picture of the bed was a better taken one? We shall not skew your opinions by telling you who took which. But the thing we really want to mention is that the hotel spared no expense on luxury in this room with a king-sized TEMPUR MATTRESS! Yes, it is the foam-memory mattress and when we slept on it, we thoroughly enjoyed every inch of support on our bodies! Even as we were lying and enjoying programmes on TV (which is another story to tell), we could feel our joints being supported, especially my elbows, the feeling was great! Makes me want to get a Tempur in our place, sponsors anyone? :p
As we entered the final part of our “exploration”, this was where the real “Oohs” were let out… an IN-ROOM JACUZZI!
In-room jacuzzi in Suite of Heathman Lodge! Probably the most luxurious bathrooms we’ve ever been to!
Yes, because of the in-room jacuzzi, the room has almost immediately been bumped up to the top few hotel stays ever. With the attached TV and mirrors around the jacuzzi, no matter which side you’re facing (one or 2 people), you can still watch TV and enjoy the jets of water massaging you as you relax – all in the comfort of your room!
Perfect for honeymooners and couples who prefer a little bit more privacy!
Vintage wall paper with attached TV!Wash basin and hair dryer Heathman Lodge Washington Vancouver
Facilities of Heathman Lodge Vancouver Washington
As with all great hotels, there’s a gym which overlooks the pool area. A jacuzzi beside the pool as well. Yeah, we enjoyed our jacuzzi in the privacy of our room 🙂
Gym at Heathman Lodge overlooking the indoor heated poolIndoor heated pool Heathman Lodge Vancouver Washington
There’s also a business centre where we printed out our tickets to the Winterhawks Ice Hockey Match on New Year’s Eve. It was the very first time we caught an ice hockey match and boy was it cool! (We’ll talk more about it in our subsequent posts).
Our Tickets to watch the Portland Winterhawks live in action at the Moda Center
PLUS! It’s walking distance to the Westfield Shopping Mall with over 150 stores here! Yes, Kate had a great time shopping here!
Westfield Shopping Mall Vancouver Washington
As mentioned in many of our hotel staycation posts, we mentioned about afternoon cocktail receptions and Heathman Lodge offers its guests at level 4 entry to the Hospitality Suite (formerly a presidential suite) for breakfast and cocktail reception!
Hospitality Suite at 442 for cocktail reception and breakfast at Heathman Lodge
There were beers, wines for you to choose from. Finger foods included tacos (with a warm tub of cheese!), salsa, nuts and healthy celery and carrots. Though we have seen more exquisite cocktail receptions, the fresh celery (with blue cheese – yes alot of cheeses during this trip!) and carrots were a refreshing change.
Snacks at the cocktail reception of Heathman LodgeA good selection of wines and beers (both bottled and tapped)IPA with nachos and vege at Heathman Lodge Lounge
You can enjoy this in the common area, watching TV and sipping up good times or go to the next room for a more private conversation…
TV area during evening reception at hospitality suite of Heathman LodgeA small lounge next door for a more private conversation
Oh, we forgot to mention that when we first entered, the room had a fresh oven-baked cookie smell and there it was, the freshly baked chocolate chip cookies! We wanted to have more but we had a dinner at Red Lobsters which we were looking forward to that evening.
Freshly baked chocolate chip cookies!
Breakfast at Heathman Lodge Vancouver Washington
Breakfast at Heathman Lodge was interesting with the self-made waffles.
Freshly made waffles with maple syrup for breakfast at Heathman Lodge Vancouver
The key to making a good waffle is
1. Remember to spray the waffle spray next to the waffle machine. It helps to spread the heat a little more evenly and prevents sticking on the sides
2. Dont be greedy! If you put more than required, it will overflow and create a mess! (not that we did…) Just 3/4 cup full as the instruction says and you’re good to go!
Our self-made waffles with freshly baked breakfast bar with coffee and banana Heathman Lodge Vancouver WashingtonBagel with cream cheese and grape jamBreakfast spread at Heathman Lodge Vancouver WashingtonYoghurt, juice, milk, soy milk, parfait and fruits in the fridge
The best part of our breakfast was actually meeting Audrey. She was a friendly staff in the Hospitality Suite who attended to all our needs (also reminding us to press the blue button – guests here will understand what we mean!)
We started a conversation with Audrey and she told us all the beautiful sights that Vancouver had to offer. Told us all about Beacon Rock and Multnomah Falls which we visited the next day. Thanks to her great service, we had an enjoyable and informative breakfast! Thanks Audrey!
Audrey who was friendly and helpful when we had our meals at the Hospitality Suite!
Hudson’s Bar and Grill – Heathman Lodge Vancouver Washington
If you’re staying at Heathman Lodge, you have got to visit Hudson’s Bar and Grill at its first level. Many people across town come here just for its food and after trying its brunch menu, we think you should too!
Hudson’s Bar and Grill at Heathman Lodge Vancouver – before dinner time. Yes it usually gets CROWDED!
As it was the festive season, only the brunch menu was available. But nonetheless, we were thoroughly surprised by the standards of the meals that we were about to have…
Dungeness Crab Cakes Benedict – 14 USD (Hudson’s Bar and Grill Heathman Lodge Vancouver Washington)Smoked Salmon Skillet – 11 USD (Hudson’s Bar and Grill Heathman Lodge Vancouver Washington)
In terms of value, these must have been the best egg benedicts ever! How can 2 HUGE pieces of Dungeness Crab Cakes together with 2 perfectly crafted egg benedicts only cost 14USD?! The crab cakes were fresh and had a light crisp on the outside of the crab cakes. We’ve had crab cakes before and were thoroughly disappointed but with this, it totally revived our confidence in crab cakes once again! In one mouth, you can taste the crisp on the edge of your tongues and when you go in for the bite, fresh crab meat (meat only, no shells) just fills your cavities! Yummy! Simply the best crab cakes ever!
For the salmon skillet, we were quite skeptical that it costs only 11USD, the salmon must be no where to be seen right? WRONG! The salmon came in HUGE CHUNKY PIECES and coupled with the sauce and sourdough bread? Mamamia! Remember to let the yolk ooze unto the sourdough bread and enjoy it with a huge piece of that fresh grilled salmon yah?
Bloody Mary for 10 USD (Heathman Lodge Hudson’s Bar and Grill)
As for the drinks, we went for the Bloody Mary which was recommended by many patrons. When we ordered, we did not know it was 10USD! For us, it was a little too expensive, but the taste was great. You could taste the fresh tomatoes, lime and celery mixed into it. Very different from the BMs that we drank before. Tasted healthy actually 🙂
But truth be told. For the price, we would have gone for the beers on tab instead.
Conclusion
After visiting Heathman Lodge, we cannot imagine a visit to Vancouver Washington without visiting this quaint hotel.
Whether its for the stay, for the service, for its great location (for Westfield and Columbia River side trips) or simply for great food and company, Heathman Lodge has got to be your choice of stay during your visit to Vancouver Washington!
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Hilton Vancouver Washington was one of the hotels that we were invited to during our visit to USA. It is important to note that this Vancouver is the one in the state of Washington, in the United States of America and not the one in Vancouver Canada. But here’s a little known fact, Vancouver Washington was in fact the “FIRST Vancouver” to be founded in the West of the continent of America. Which is why the tourism slogan for the city is
“Discover the Original”!
Hilton Vancouver Washington with Bell Tower at Esther Short Park
We arrived at Hilton Vancouver Washington on a cold Christmas’ Eve. However, as we entered the lobby, the ambience perked us up almost immediately and soon we forgot about the bitter cold right outside the doors of Hilton…
Lobby of Hilton Vancouver Washington
Our receptionist Leesa made our first impression of the hotel even better with her warm smile and kind gestures (she introduced us to this really great restaurant called Beaches, which we will talk a little bit more about later). Before long, we received our key and made our way to our room at level 6
Friendly Staff of Hilton Vancouver Washington – Leesa in the middle provided us with helpful info about VancouverLift Lobby of Level 6 in Hilton Vancouver WashingtonHallway down to our room at Hilton Vancouver Washington
Hilton Vancouver Washington’s Deluxe King Bedroom
Hilton Vancouver Washington is actually the only 4 star hotel in downtown Vancouver. Hence, it was no surprise to us that the room had all the amenities that we usually see in a 4/5 star hotel room.
Large inviting King-Sized Bed in Hilton Vancouver WashingtonSpacious Interior with Cable TV an executive deskToilet with Bath Tub – Hilton Vancouver Washington Deluxe King BedroomNeat Toiletries of Hilton VancouverCoffee machine with coffee bean powder Hilton Vancouver
Video tour of Deluxe King Bedroom of Hilton Vancouver Washington
There were 3 really cool things that we liked about the room.
1. The Coffee Machine. Kate and I are coffee people and coffee, especially in the mornings, help to “kick start” our day. The coffee machine (with coffee bean powder no less) gave us fresh coffee each morning that brightened our day (and also kept us warm on a cold winter’s day)
2. The Executive Desk. For most people, the executive desk seemed redundant. Afterall, you’re on a vacation right? But for travel bloggers like ourselves, it gives us a proper place to go through the photos of the day and jot down comments on our computer so that we can blog about them when we return. Otherwise, we would have to sit on the floor and type which may result in backaches, especially for oldies like us ;p
3. Room with a View! When we first drew our curtains, we were greeted with this view…
First look outside our room from Hilton Vancouver
We were like “Whaat?!”
From this view, what do you see? Nothing except buildings and perhaps even a factory right? At that point in time, coupled with the mist, we were pretty sure we were surrounded by factories!
But as the skies cleared up the next morning, we soon realised why we were given this corner room…
View of the Columbia River from our room at Hilton Vancouver Washington
We had marvelous views of the Columbia River and the bridge that leads to Portland!!
Facilities at Hilton Vancouver Washington
In addition to the in-house restaurant, Gray’s at the Park and Esther’s Coffee Bar, Hilton Vancouver Washington offers the usual facilities such as the gym, swimming pool and jacuzzi…
Fitness Centre opens 24hrs Hilton VancouverSwimming pool Hilton Vancouver Washington opens from 6am to 10pm dailyThere’s even a Jacuzzi by the Swimming Pool at Hilton Vancouver
What we really liked about Hilton Vancouver Washington
Besides it being a 4 star hotel, there are 2 things that we really liked about the location of Hilton Vancouver Washington
1. Proximity to the Waterfront Park. Hilton Vancouver Washington is just a short walk away from the Waterfront Park. From there, you can have easy access to the relaxing board walk by the river as well as the excellent restaurants such as Beaches, Mcmenamins and Joe’s Crab Shack
2. Proximity to Historic Venues of Vancouver. If you’re into the history of USA, Hilton Vancouver Washington offers a great base from which you can visit historic locations such as the Officer’s Row, Fort Vancouver Historic Site, Pearson Air Museum as well as the many historic Monuments of the City (such as Slocum House built in 1867)
All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Hilton Vancouver Washington and here’s a sneak peak of the marvelous views we enjoyed along the Columbia River…
Can you see the snow-capped Mount Hood in the distance?
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* Thanks to Visitvancouverusa.com for making the trip possible. Special thanks to Natalie and Jacob who assisted us endlessly through the planning phase of our trip!
** Special thanks also to Leesa of Hilton Vancouver Washington, who told us up front to visit Beaches Restaurant where we enjoyed great service and food that was MAMAMIA!
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