Liberty outside Fort Vancouver.
Last Sunday, without any plans, Eric, Piper and I decided to play tourist in Vancouver. I've strolled by, or driven by many of Vancouver's sites without really paying too much attention to what they were or what their significance was. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. Vancouver is way cooler than I knew and although I knew Vancouver had a big heart...I didn't realize just how big it was.
We started the day with breakfast at the Stardust Diner. Located on 164th Ave. just south of Mill Plain, you can't miss it. It looks like it was transported straight out of 1957...bright silver with blue neon. The inside is equally nostalgic. Be sure to read all the fun vintage ads and magazine articles on the walls...good for a few laughs. The food was fantastic and the staff....hyper-efficient!
Love this place!
Next we headed downtown to walk the "Discovery Trail". We started at Fort Vancouver. We didn't go in the Fort because we've been many times...a fascinating living history museum, I'd recommend it to anyone. Anyways, we walked around the beautiful outer grounds and then headed toward Vancouver's newest achievement...the "Land Bridge". Part of the Confluence Project to reconnect the Columbia River to the land and to commemorate the history of the Native Americans and early settlers of the area, the bridge was designed by Maya Lin (designer of the Vietnam Memorial). I drive under this bridge everyday as I travel along Highway 14 on the way to work. I've never really been too impressed with it and didn't understand what all the fuss was....until I walked it. The pedestrian bridge is wide and planted on both sides with native flowers, trees and grasses (check out my link to the bridge for a great aerial shot), and provides interesting facts about the area as well as art. The bridge leads you to the other side of Highway 14 where you pass under a beautiful arch with a glass Native American face set into it...stunning! Pass through the arch and you'll find yourself in the Old Apple Tree park.
Native American face in the arch at the end of the land bridge.
The Old Apple Tree is something I've heard about often since I've moved to Vancouver, but never saw it or even knew where it was. The tree is 176 years old, the area's oldest known apple tree, and is believed to be the matriarch of the Washington apple industry. The city of Vancouver has been lovingly caring for this tree for a long, long time. The last few winters, followed by brutal summers, took their toll on the tree...half of it's gone and it's insides are hollow. A steel pole runs through the tree to keep it upright and grafts cover the holes in hopes of strengthening the tree. You know, to me, it says a lot about the soul and heart of a city that puts this much effort and care into keeping a tree alive...preserving a piece of it's history.
The Old Apple Tree.
Eric, Piper and Peanut at the Lewis and Clark monument by the I-5 bridge. The red object signifies the many canoes, with their occupants, that explored and charted the river.
From the Old Apple Tree Park we walked along the Columbia, under the (in)famous I-5 bridge stopping at a monument to Lewis and Clark and the early settlers who came up the Columbia River. From there we walked toward downtown, stopping to admire the war memorial murals painted alongside the railroad bridge. The murals are well done, depicting war posters and battle scenes...which I admired as a tribute to our soldiers. Then I saw a signpost in front of the murals. The post simply says, "May peace prevail on earth"...this was a war memorial designed not only to remember our fallen heroes, but also to give a message of war no more.
From the war memorial we walked a few blocks up to Ester Short Park and the Vancouver Farmer's Market. I love the market! Crafts, plants, produce, and wonderful food of all kinds. We strolled around, bought some local honey and asparagus, chowed down on a giant blueberry scone, and talked with a few friends we ran into. Even Peanut made a friend (thankfully Vancouver's Farmer's Market, unlike Portland's, is still dog friendly).
Peanut makes a friend.
Nice asparagus!
After the market we walked past the new downtown library under construction, just a few blocks from where I work. It's huge...four stories, with a rooftop cafe planned for the top (can't wait till it opens). We also passed the Academy Building. Built in 1874 as a ladies academy, it now houses offices, a restaurant, and a beautiful wedding chapel. We continued our stroll, walking through the Historic Reserve, (a street of meticulously restored army officer homes and meeting spots) and back to the Fort.
The Academy.
It was a beautiful, inspiring, educational and delicious walk. Sometimes you don't see the forest through the trees...but on this walk, I saw the tree, and I discovered I have some pretty awesome trees growing in my backyard.
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