WEDDINGS | EVENTS
Local Attractions
There is a multitude of cultural and recreational opportunities just minutes away from The Empress Estate! Check out the links below to see how you can spend your time during the day when you are lodging at The Empress Estate Bed & Breakfast. For more information on tourism, recreation, special events, and entertainment in our region please visit the Cowlitz County Tourism site. For things to do in cities located 30 minutes and farther from The Empress Estate, check out Visit Vancouver USA and Travel Portland. Â
The City of Woodland (home of The Empress Estate) is located off I-5 at Exit 21, about 20 miles north of Vancouver; and 148 miles south of Seattle. (The Empress Estate is reached by continuing north just a couple of minutes to exit 22). Woodland is in both Cowlitz and Clark County, and is a fast growing city, with a population of 5,509 and is the home of the famous Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens, Woodland Tulip Festival, Lewis River Quilters and the Loves Street Playhouse. Woodland is the place to stay while taking day trips to all the local attractions within the area. For complete information about the area go to LewisRiver.com.
Mount St. Helens boasts four world-class visitor centers that tell the story of the mountain and the people living in the region surrounding it. Located along Spirit Lake Highway, the centers are nothing short of unforgettable and extraordinary. The awesome views from each of the centers speak for themselves, bringing you face to face with a monumental natural event. The eruption of Mount St. Helens caused the largest landslide in recorded history, sweeping through the Toutle River Valley and removing 1,306 feet from the top of the volcano. What the mountain left behind is the history of a violent eruption that shook the surrounding region and left many with stories of that tumultuous day.
Native American Cultures & Traditions are kept alive by the descendants of the ancient people of southwest Washington. Today’s tribe members manage a growing portfolio of health, education, scientific research, housing, transportation, development, elder care, conservation and legal issues. The Cowlitz Tribe is a growing force in community building in what are now Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis and parts of Pierce, Skamania and Wahkiakum Counties, a vast territory occupied by numerous Cowlitz villages prior to non-Cowlitz exploration and seizure. Today, an elected Tribal Council is composed of professionals adept at managing multiple programs and projects. Website
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area encompasses 292,500 acres, running from the mouth of the Sandy River to the mouth of the Deschutes and spanning southern Washington and northern Oregon. The Gorge is unique in its natural and cultural history, as well as its designation as a National Scenic Area. One of the most famous places to visit along the historic Columbia River Highway is Multnomah Falls. Plummeting 620 feet, Multnomah Falls is the second highest year-round waterfall in the United States and receives nearly 2 million visitors each year!
The Oregon Coast The Empress Estate’s owners also have rental cottages at Rockaway Beach in Oregon, only 90 minutes from Portland, and within an hour's drive up or down the coast from the other Oregon Coast popular destinations, such as the Tillamook Cheese Factory, Astoria's Historic Fort Clatsop and Fort Stevens, and Newport's Oregon Coast Aquarium. The northern coast is also a great stretch for taking in the many historic light houses Oregon has to offer. Antique shops abound, as well as quaint restaurants, scenic railroad tours, and hiking trails. Don’t forget to linger for the sunset to capture some of the most iconic views of the Pacific coastline!