Summers in the Pacific Northwest are soooo gorgeous. There’s a week or two where the temps get a little hotter, but besides that the weather is perfect for doing all the summer things without feeling like you’re sweating buckets. Today I wanted to share some fun parks that we’ve been to that my kids have loved and we will definitely be visiting them again.

image of dinosaur themed park with type over image reading "5 best parks in & around Vancouver, WA"

Playground with turf and different areas in Vancouver, WA — PC: City of Vancouver

Marshall Park in Downtown Vancouver
We recently went to this park with friends and loved it! I was teasing a friend of mine that the drive better be worth it because I hit unexpected traffic on the way there, but the joke was on me because it totally was. This is one of those parks that gets creative with it’s play structures-I love how more and more parks have unique features these days. There’s a hill with turf and two slides, some netting to climb, swings, a sand pit, see saw, and other things I don’t even know the name of. This park also has plenty of parking so you won’t have to worry about that either.

Kids climbing rocks and logs at Tech Park — PC: greenworkspc.com

2. Tech Park

Technically called the Columbia Tech Center Nature Play Area (whew, what a mouthfull!), this one is such a cute park that really utilizes it’s space well. There is a lot to do within a smaller area that makes it easier to keep an eye on all your kids at the same time. My four year old loved all the different things to climb-big logs and rocks, as well as another turf hill that’s hard to climb up and fun to slide down. This park also has a cute little nature trail that goes to a pond that my younger kids loved. Such a fun way to play and connect with nature.

Dinosaur themed park with pretend dinosaur and dinosaur bones and slides — PC: City of Vancouver

3. Nikkei Park

Known by everyone else as the dinosaur park, if you have a kid who loves dinosaurs you absolutely HAVE to take them here at least once. As much as my kids loved it, I definitely have a love/hate relationship with it. There’s not a lot of parking so a lot of people have to park on the street or in the neighborhood and walk a little ways. Not a big deal, but just not ideal especially for small kiddos. It’s also well-loved by lots and lots of families so every time I’ve been there have been a LOT of people there. I’d recommend going earlier in the morning to this park as opposed to the afternoon. But it’s seriously so cute and my four year old loved pretending that the dinosaurs were his pets, ha ha. Definitely a fun one to go to.

Two women sit at picnic bench in forest at edge of a creek in Lewisville Park near Vancouver, WA — PC: Outdoor Project

4. Lewisville Park

If you’re looking for something that can keep you occupied all day, this is the place for you. It’s perfect for summer days that are cooler or hotter. For cooler days there are play structures and those old swings that let you swing super high, and for warmer days there are multiple spots where you can dip in the river. There’s also tennis courts, basketball courts, a baseball field, and lots of places to explore. It does cost $3/day, but that is well worth it for a day of fun. This one is a bit more north (technically it’s in Battleground), but it’s a nice escape from the city. I recently did a family session here because they love the park so much and wanted their photos in a place that carries a lot of good memories.

Family with seven kids standing and talking in front of big weeping willow at Lewisville Park

kids run and splash in splash pad with spraying water in Salmon Creek — PC: Clark County Public Works

5. Salmon Creek Regional Park

This one is similar to Lewisville, but with less sports and add in a splash pad. There is a field, lots of picnic structures, multiple playgrounds, the splash pad, and a pond for swimming. It also costs $3/day, but as this is the only other splash pad I know of in Vancouver (the other on is at the waterfront), this is totally worth it just for that. Such a fun park!

Honorble Mention: Hidden Creek Park

I’ve never actually been to this park, just had another mom mention it to me. It looks SO COOL. It’s in Hillsboro (which is close to Portland) so it’s a bit of a drive, but one of these days it’s happening. Just look at how cool this looks!