News / Clark County News

5 adventures to kick off summer in Clark County

By Susan Parrish, Columbian Education Reporter

Published: June 14, 2015, 12:00am

A lifeguard watches over swimmers at Klineline Pond.

Schools in Clark County will release for summer vacation this week. It’s time to celebrate summer, which officially begins June 21. Here are five fun ways to get your summer started.

1. Swim

Camas Municipal Pool

Cool off on a hot day at Camas Municipal Pool, Clark County’s only outdoor public swimming pool.

• Hours: Open swim times are 2 to 3:30 p.m. and 4 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sundays through Saturday. Beginning June 21, the summer schedule offers both swim lessons in the morning and daily open swims in the afternoon and some evenings.

• Where: 120 N.E. 17th Ave., Crown Park, Camas.

• Information: 360-817-1556; www.ci.camas.wa.us/index.php/swimmingpool

o Other outdoor swimming holes include:

Battle Ground Lake State Park

• Where: 18002 N.E. 249th St., Battle Ground.

• Information: 360-687-4621; www.parks.wa.gov/472/Battle-Ground-Lake

Klineline Pond at Salmon Creek Regional Park

• Where: 1112 N.E. 117th St.

• Information: 360-397-2285; www.clark.wa.gov/publicworks/parks/salmoncreek.html

2. Slurp ice cream

Ice Cream Renaissance

This five-time winner of the Best in Clark County Desserts scoops out homemade artisan ice creams from Bitter-Sweet Chocolate Love Affair to Strawberries and Cream.

• Hours: noon to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; noon to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

• Where: 1925 Main St., Vancouver.

• Information: 360-694-3892; www.icecreamrenaissance.com

Flash Freeze Dreamery

Offering more than 100 flavors, toppings and mix-ins, Flash Freeze Dreamery uses liquid nitrogen to flash-freeze the fresh ingredients you choose as you watch. Bases include premium ice cream, French custard, frozen yogurt, Italian gelato or nondairy coconut cream.

• Hours: noon to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday; noon to 11 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday.

• Where: 155 N.E. 192nd Ave., No. 107, Camas.

• Information: 360-258-0646; www.flashfreeze.net

o Also try:

Top Burger

• Where: 1436 N.E. Everett St., Camas.

• Information: 360-834-3867.

3. Pet animals, buy berries

Bi-Zi Farms

Visit a family farm where kids can pet goats, sheep and a donkey. At the farm store, purchase freshly picked strawberries, raspberries or blueberries.

• Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

• Where: 9504 N.E. 119th St.

• Information: 360-574-9119; http://bizifarms.com

4. Build a sand castle

Long Beach Peninsula

Drive to the beach to play in the Pacific Ocean at the world’s longest beach, the 28-mile stretch at Long Beach, about 100 miles from Vancouver.

• Information: Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau, 3914 Pacific Way, Seaview. 800-451-2542; https://funbeach.com

Or stay close to home and visit Columbia River beaches:

Frenchman’s Bar Regional Park

• Where: 9612 N.W. Lower River Road.

• Information: www.clark.wa.gov/publicworks/parks/frenchmansbar.html

Captain William Clark Regional Park at Cottonwood Beach

• Where: Index Street and South 32nd Street, Washougal.

• Information: www.clark.wa.gov/publicworks/parks/cottonwood.html

5. Watch a kids’ movie

Summer Movie Express

This is a good rainy-day activity to get the kids out of the house at a budget price. Two Regal Cinemas — Regal Cinema 99 Stadium 11 in Hazel Dell and Regal Cascade Stadium 16 — will offer nine weeks of family-friendly movies in its Summer Movie Express series.

• Cost: $1 for family movies. Buy tickets at the box office. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Will Rogers Institute.

• When: 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays from June 23 to Aug. 19.

• Information: www.regmovies.com/Movies/Summer-Movie-Express