There are so many new things happening across Clark County this summer — too many to list in one round-up. That said, we think you’ll enjoy this highlight of great openings and events including kids play places and summer favorites.
Kids’ Indoor Play Spaces
It’s a wonderful time to be 5 years old in Clark County. May began with the opening of Junebug Play and Learning Space in Ridgefield, followed by the Chicky Play Museum near the mall a week later. Both indoor spaces are worth a visit as they have similar features, but a very different vibe.
Junebug is ideal for littles, serving ages 0-6 with separate play stations throughout the facility that remind me of my old co-op preschool and a private nursing area. Check in for their scheduled workshops and classes, too.
Chicky Play Museum understands the needs for parents to have playtime plus coffee. Chicky Play serves ages 0-8, and is ideal for a mid-shopping stop. This wide open play area is bordered by adorable city-style stations including a fire station with slide and a cafe named for Camas. A standout feature is the augmented reality style sandbox which adds and extra dimension to sensory play. Chicky Play separates their cafe area from the playspace, so while there is full visibility of the entire venue, you don’t need to worry about spilled ice cream within the structures. Check the website for the latest on rules and reservations.
Family Rhythms is set for a grand opening (on Grand St.) June 1. This new addition to town offers year-round music and rhythm classes for ages 0-8, plus summer camps and mini-camps.
Salmon Creek Openings and Updates
Skyview Station at the corner of Northeast 10th and 139th avenues has us getting excited. The second Trader Joes on this side of the Columbia finally opened, and unlike the TJs you might remember, this one has large and surprisingly spacious aisles and more parking than the eastside location.
Listed online with no opening date yet, locals will also be getting yet another kids indoor play space in the form of a PlayStreet Museum. At a visual glance across the parking lot, expect this to be a few months out at least, but who knows? Sometimes developers build fast!
The retailer Daiso is also opening in Hazel Dell, advertised as June 1 at the time of writing. For those unfamiliar, Daiso is a chain offering a wide array of Japanese-inspired goods from slippers to stuffies.
Seasonal Openings
Don’t miss out on these area openings for the season. Tropical Sno Vancouver launched for the season on May 25 to serve your shave ice needs. Older millennials are eagerly awaiting that favorite Tiger’s Blood frozen goodness.
There’s also exciting news at Battle Ground, with the new (and now open) Battle Ground Station Food Carts, a tasty stop on your way for summer fun at Battle Ground Lake State Park.
Alderbrook Cruise In features classic cars and classic family fun too with a large range of outdoor activities. Check out this Brush Prarie location Friday from May 24 – September 13.
Summer Fest activities at the Vancouver National Historic Site near Fort Vancouver kicks off its first seasonal activities beginning June including community fun and concerts and The Camas Public Library has weekly storytimes in the park.
In case you missed it, Arnada Park added new play equipment in late April, and we’ve seen some promising progress on the new bathrooms at Esther Short, too — just in time for prime Farmer’s Market season. Farm Days begin at Pomeroy Farm, too.
Clark County area splash parks typically open around June 15, though this isn’t set in stone. Water has been seen splashing at the waterfront on Memorial Day weekend already. Popular favorites tend to be on the west side of town with the Esther Short Park riverlike water feature, the new waterfront splash park, and the Klineline splash area in Salmon Creek. New this year will be the Mt. St. Helen’s themed Ridgefield Overlook Park Splash Pad, opening still TBA.
There’s so much to do in summer in Southwest Washington!
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