In 1825 the Hudson’s Bay Company established the first non-native settlement in Vancouver, and for many years this was the center of many activities in the Northwest. Today visitors can tour the reconstructed Fort Vancouver were many of these activities took place. Not only do we have Fort Vancouver to visit but also some great historic sites of Officers Row that includes Vancouver Barracks, and Pearson Air Museum. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, Gen O.O. Howard, and Gen. George C. Marshall were just a few notable soldiers who served at the barracks. Vancouver is also home to the oldest apple tree that was planted in 1826, and every October it has it’s own festival.

While we recommend spending time here in Vancouver, we are located right across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon. Portland has many great things to see and do for your visit here. One of the best secerts is that in Vancouver we are only 15 minutes from the Portland International Airport which means that when flying into Portland, look to Vancouver for your lodging needs. This will allow you easy access to and from the airport, and we are only 20 minutes from Downtown Portland. Visit all day in the Portland area, then come back and relax in Vancouver, Washington!

We hope to see you soon!

For more information visit Vancouver USA Regional Tourism website at www.visitvancouverusa.com

Beginning in 2009, Scott Gix, Restaurant Manager for Hudson’s Bar & Grill began the charge and lead up the Heathman Lodge Recycling/Sustainability team.  With members representing every department, the goal to achieve a Green Seal certification was on its way to becoming a reality.  Gix, worked closely with Waste Connections to implement programs for the Lodge that would reduce the total waste that was being sent to landfills.  Included in this program was the ability that now allows for The Heathman Lodge & Hudson’s Bar & Grill to compost unused food from both its restaurant and banquet operations.  Later in the year Gix reduced plastic use in the restaurant by switching to recyclable “To Go” containers and bio-straws.  In addition, with the help of Waste Connections a new glass recycling program was implemented for the hotel.

Recycling efforts didn’t just stop in the food service departments, but have carried on into the administrative offices and among the guests that stay at The Heathman Lodge.  All administrative office’s and guestrooms are now equipped with personal recycling bins, and throughout the Lodge guests will find three recycling stations for paper, plastic and glass.  The combined efforts of the hotel and its guests equates to over 162,000 pounds of waste that is being diverted from landfills and reused within our community.

Scott Gix has stated, “Our goal is to be successful at providing a unique experience for our guests, while maintaining our responsibility to being stewards of the earth”.  The Heathman Lodge & Hudson’s Bar & Grill has been a staple in the Vancouver community for almost thirteen years, and continues to push the envelope when developing new programs that promote a reuse and recycle philosophy.

For those who do not know the story, three Russian aviators flew non-stop from Moscow over the North Pole and was to land in San Francisco, but because of concerns of fuel they decided to land in Vancouver, Washington since the landing field was part of the Vancouver Barracks. The three avaitors were Pilot Chkalov, co-pilot Georgy Baidukov, and navigator Aleksandr Belyakov, flying a single engine ANT-25. They landed here on June 20, 1937, and as they say the rest is history.

The Democratic Convention will be June 25, and June 26 2010. The events on June 25 will be taking place at the Vancouver Convention Center in Downtown Vancouver, WA and on June 26 events will be at the Clark County Events Center. For more information about the Democratic Convention -  http://wa-democrats.org/index.php?page=display&id=568

The Republican Convention will be June 10, 11, and 12 2010. The convention takes places at the Vancouver Convention Center in Downtown Vancouver, WA. For more information about the Republican Convention -  http://wsrp.org/2010convention.aspx

The Heathman Lodge is holding a block of rooms for both conventions, you can make reservations by calling 360-254-3100.