Are you a Member?

AAMFT Summer Institutes for Advanced Clinical Training
 August 10-14, 2008
 Vancouver, Washington

Pacific Northwest Area Information

Located between the Pacific Ocean and the Cascade Mountains, with Mount St. Helens to the north and bordered by the Columbia River and Portland Oregon to the south, Southwest Washington offers many different types of scenery, natural beauty, and outdoor recreation to enjoy.   Whether you enjoy hiking, fishing, mountain biking, windsurfing, or just walking, Southwest Washington has adventures to satisfy everyone! 

Vancouver, Washington’s fourth largest city, is situated just across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon. The revitalized city with its eclectic blend of new construction and historic architecture, offers all the amenities of a large metropolitan city but with the charm and hospitality of a small urban town. The downtown area is bustling with quaint eateries, art galleries, and a wide variety of retail shopping from charming boutiques to antiques. The area also offers their outdoor markets, open from April 5^th-October 26^th.  The streets come alive every weekend with over 150 vendors offering local produce, plants and high-end arts and crafts. Food booths with local and international specialties keep the crowd well-fed while entertainers provide live music.

Mount St. Helens - Just an hour and a half drive north, this is Southwest Washington’s signature landmark.  The explosive eruption of 1980 marked the re-awakening of this volcanic giant and is responsible for its wide-spread notoriety.  More recently, the volcanic stirrings and smaller eruptions in 2004 and 2005 have created a renewed interest in the awesome power of nature.  The area offers exciting hiking and cross-country skiing, and for the more adventurous, a helicopter tour provides an exhilarating and speedy way to take in the full scope of the eruption.  Mount St. Helens is as much about recreation and powerful vistas as it is about education.  Visitor centers along SR504 offer an array of interpretive videos and displays depicting the geologic events and history of the mountain as well as souvenir gift shops.  From I-5, take the SR504 exit at Castle Rock and follow the Spirit Lake Memorial Hwy up the mountain.  For more information, visit www.visitmtsthelens.com.

Pacific Ocean - From the rugged coast of Astoria to the sandy beaches of Long Beach, there is much to see and do at the Pacific Ocean.  Just a two hour drive west of Vancouver, the area is rich in recreational opportunities from kayaking to kite flying, clamming to treasure hunting, fishing to beach combing.  The Corps of Discovery ended their epic journey here and visitors can enjoy many Lewis & Clark attractions on the Long Beach Peninsula.  The area is also a seafood lover's paradise with a variety of dining options offering locally-caught salmon, halibut, sturgeon, Dungeness crab, razor clams, oysters and more.  From I-5 north, take the Hwy 4 exit at Longview and follow the signs to Long Beach.  For more information, visit www.funbeach.com.

Columbia River Gorge – This is the only designated National Scenic Area in the country offering visitors awe-inspiring natural beauty. The Gorge is a popular destination for windsurfers, kiteboarders and other recreation enthusiasts enjoying hiking, biking, fishing and more.  Visitors can get a closer look at the area’s cultural and natural history at the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center.   You may also want to check out Bonneville Dam.  Operated by the Army Corps of Engineers, the hydropower production plant is open to the public for tours and is free of charge.  To get to there, head east on Hwy 14, following the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Byway passed Washougal.  For more information, visit www.skamania.org.

Camas Meadows Golf Club – The course was recently named the number one public course in Oregon and Southwest Washington by readers of the Portland Business Journal.  The 18-hole championship course also ranked number one in the categories of “Most Challenging Course” and “Best Course for Tournament and Corporate Events.” Located in beautiful Camas, the club offers a pro shop, practice facilities, professional lessons, banquet facilities, and the Oaks Bar & Grille serving a fabulous breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Distinctive Designations for Vancouver, Washington:
In 2005, Vancouver was designated by Mrs. Laura Bush, First Lady of the United States and Honorary Chair of Preserve America, as a Preserve America Community for its preservation efforts of the community’s cultural and natural heritage resources.

In 2003, the National Trust for Historic Preservation named Vancouver on its list of America’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations, an annual honor bestowed on unique and lovingly preserved communities in the United States.  The area is chock-full of historical properties.  Pick up a historic properties walking map at the Tourism Information Center.

Vancouver Barracks, established by the U.S. Army in 1849, is the first American military post in the Pacific Northwest. It became the headquarters of the Department of the Columbia, which covered present-day Washington State, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska.  Notable soldiers who served at Vancouver Barracks are: Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, Gen. George McClellan, Gen. Philip Sheridan, Gen. O.O. Howard, and Gen. George C. Marshall.

Vancouver is home to Washington’s oldest apple tree.  Planted in 1826, this tree is considered the “great grandfather” of the Washington state apple industry.  It is celebrated every October with its own festival.

Esther Short Park in the center of downtown Vancouver is the oldest public square in the West.  Named after the early pioneer, Esther Short, who bequeathed the property to the city, the 5.4 acres was dedicated as a public square in 1855.