Vancouver, Portland a clash of cultures

It’s long been a joke here that the most fun thing to do in Vancouver is go to Portland.

True, Portland has its city of books, obscene donuts and a giant science museum.

But we figured it’s time Vancouver got its due.

With our list of Portland institutions in mind, we singled out some Clark County attractions that hold their own in comparison.

While we concede that precious Portland does weird well, we’ve got the corner on normal. What fireworks-loving Washingtonian wouldn’t prefer one of Vancouver’s good ol’ American hot dog stands to some fancy City of Roses food cart serving up a mess of poutine. And who will forget that back in 2007 Portland’s OMSI was hosting Gunther von Hagens’ freakish exhibit of dead bodies even as our own wholesome Water Resources Education Center showcased photography of the Pacific Northwest and taught kids how to protect the environment.

So, in that spirit, here’s our list of reasons to get your kicks on this side of the river.

An American classic holds its own

From decadent poutine (gravy- and cheese curd-smothered french fries) to fried pies to pizza, burritos, pad Thai and palak paneer, Portland’s food carts offer a culturally diverse array of affordable dining options for the lunch crowd and weekend late-night revellers alike. While Portland’s food cart culture may have Clark County’s beat in terms of breadth, Vancouver does have history on its side.

Skip Ballweber has owned and operated The Wiener Wagon since 1976. His green-and-white stripped cart — complete with a human-sized hot dog mascot dubbed Wacky McWiener — awaits customers at the corner of 12th and Main streets in downtown Vancouver.

Ballweber estimates he serves about 200 people on an average day. At least 90 percent of his customers are regulars, he said, drawn to The Wiener Wagon’s hot dogs, which start at $1.25. The cart also offers polish dogs, hot links and taco salads. The stand is open Mondays through Fridays from about 10:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.

— Mary Ann Albright

Not Powell’s, but still a page-turner

If Portland has a city of books, then Vancouver has a hamlet of tomes. Vintage Books has about 500,000 titles in store and online, making it Clark County’s largest independent bookseller. Becky Milner and her husband, Alec, started the store in 1975.

At about 6,000 square feet, Vintage Books is less than one-tenth the size of Powell’s City of Books on Burnside in Portland, and it cannot match that store’s more than a million titles. Still, Vintage Books is a treasure-trove of titles on a range of subjects, and its eight employees take the time to get to know regulars’ preferences.

Most books are $3 to $15, though there are some for $1 and one first-edition copy of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” priced at $5,000.

In addition to books, the store carries greeting cards, sheet music, scientific booklets from the 1800s and magazines and newspaper clippings from the 1900s.

The shop, at 6613 E. Mill Plain Blvd., stocks some new books in addition to its used and rare inventory. Milner tries, however, not to duplicate the offerings at large bookstore chains.

“We’re trying to be different,” Milner said. “We’re trying to be us.”

— Mary Ann Albright

Thirst for science

OMSI offers 219,000 square feet of science exploration, with rotating exhibits as well as favorites such as a bottle rocket launch, a steel-ball maze and a science playground for small children.

If it’s just too much, and you don’t feel like heading over the bridge into Portland anyway, check out Vancouver’s “poop palace.”

The Water Resources Education Center that accompanies the city’s water treatment plant includes a 4,300-square-foot exhibit area that educates people about, well, water.

At the center, you’ll find aquariums of frogs, toads and sturgeon, an exercise bike hooked up to a giant light bulb, and a lesson on the environmental toll of shopping that includes a cash register and a giant spinning wheel. What kid could keep his hands off those?

And while admission at OMSI is $9 to $11, the Water Resources Education Center is free. The center, at 4600 S.E. Columbia Way, is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

— Erin Middlewood

Streetside shops

With its eclectic array of shops and eateries, the Hawthorne District in Portland can be a great place to wile away a Saturday afternoon.

So can Uptown Village in Vancouver along Main Street and Broadway, roughly from 15th Street north to Fourth Plain Boulevard.

It may be a shorter stretch, but like along Hawthorne, you’ll find an interesting mix of shops selling antiques, imports, comics, books, music, speciality soda pop and even lawn mowers.

The proliferation of restaurants has bolstered Uptown’s reputation. Eateries run the gamut from Chinese at Peking Garden, Italian at La Bottega, Mexican at Provecho, Moroccan at Mint Tea, crepes at Mon Ami, European pastries at Je T’Aime and creamy, cold dessert at Ice Cream Renaissance. The most recent addition, Reos, serves both hot dogs and coffee.

Through September, the area gets an extra jolt of energy from 4 to 8 p.m. every First Friday during Craft in the Village, a neighborhood celebration with music, food, art, crafts and shopping.

— Erin Middlewood

We do Voodoo too

Downtown Portland’s Voodoo Doughnut has made its name selling curious — and slightly obscene — confections 24/7. In addition to doughnuts shaped like one’s private parts, the eclectic menu includes maple bars topped with bacon.

But you don’t need to cross state lines to get a doughnut fix.

Dot Donuts, 1825 S.E. 164th Ave., offers 20 custom varieties, ranging from basic fritters and maple bars to more outlandish choices. Those include the Oreo doughnut, topped with Oreo cookie crumbles, and the s’mores doughnut, which is decorated with miniature marshmallows. The shop also sells scoops of Cascade Glacier Ice Cream.

The only catch — and this might be a good thing for those who overindulge late-night cravings for sweets — is that Dot Donuts closes by 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 4 p.m. Saturday through Monday.

— Matt Wastradowski