Location: Kelso
Top Things to do in Kelso
- 1. Mount St. Helens Visitor Center
- 2. Cowlitz County Historical Museum
- 3. Lake Sacajawea Park
- 4. The Sloth Center at Zoological Wildlife Conservation Center
- 5. City of Rainier Riverfront Park
- 6. Trojan Park
- 7. The Forest Learning Center
- 8. The Rutherglen Mansion
- 9. Hudson Parcher County Park
- 10. Puzzle Quest LLC
Countries
10 Things to Do in Kelso That You Shouldn't Miss
Kelso is a city in southwest Washington State, United States, and is the county seat of Cowlitz County. At the 2010 census, the population was 11,925. Kelso is part of the Longview, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of 102,410. Kelso shares its long western border with Longview. It is near Mount St. Helens.
Restaurants in Kelso
1. Mount St. Helens Visitor Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 375 reviews
This Forest Service facility gives an overview of Cascade Range volcanism and the events before and after May 18, 1980.
Reviewed By YorksRick
Called in on way to viewing the summit and definitely a worthwhile experience explaining the 1980 eruption and its effects on the landscape as well as the human impacts. 3D walk in model of volcano was brilliant as well as seeing how the volcano is monitored and the equipment used. Also it is useful to see the live cam summit view to see what to expect and the weather forecast before setting out. We picked a day when we knew we would get a decent view
2. Cowlitz County Historical Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12 reviews
Reviewed By AnnKirby - Vancouver, Washington
A pair of students, a parent, and I stopped at this museum on our way to Mount St. Helens. We arrived without advance notice although we had called and spoken to staff members regarding their documents pertaining to the 1980 eruption. I was prepared to pay an entrance fee and was pleasantly surprised to find they just had a donation box with a modest, suggested fee based on age. We were offered their stacks of newspapers and scrapbooks to peruse and a place to spread them out that was really generous of them given that we hadn't made prior arrangements. We headed on our way knowing what they had that could help our research and definitely will return with the means to scan documents.
3. Lake Sacajawea Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 141 reviews
Reviewed By hhjanhart - La Plata, Maryland
Great place to go walking and stretch your legs while in Longview. There is a beautiful walking trail of about 4 miles around the entire lake. Along the way, you can take in a Japanese Garden, explore an island, or play on the playground. Several streets cross the park, so you can make your walk as long or as short as time allows. All kinds of different trees and plants line your walk. Plus the surrounding neighborhoods have homes ranging from midcentury modern to cottages. The park is well maintained and does have bathrooms. In the summer, they do well attended concerts.
4. The Sloth Center at Zoological Wildlife Conservation Center
Overall Ratings
4 based on 45 reviews
Zoological Wildlife Conservation Center and the Sloth Captive Husbandry Research Center are NOT "for public entertainment" facilities, we are a by tour only wildlife conservation center. All contact must be made either via our online reservations booking system (located on our website) or via email. We do not employ reception staff to take phone calls. The Sloth Captive Husbandry Research Center sustains the largest population of long-term captive adult sloths in the world. Zoological Wildlife Conservation Center is a tiny, intimate, highly specialized Conservation Center with a focus on research and advancement of captive husbandry and viable sustainability of captive populations of unique and endangered species. Because Zoological Wildlife Conservation Center & The Sloth Center works with predominately endangered and delicate species, it is NOT a for public entertainment "Zoo" and is only open with a tour-guide and according to the seasonal schedule on our "tours" webpage. The Zoological Wildlife Conservation Center works hand-in-hand to support the Sloth Captive Husbandry Research Center in it's passion for the betterment of sloth populations both in captivity and in the wild.The Sloth Captive Husbandry Research Center has made significant advancements in not only captive husbandry of sloth but also in captive sloth breeding and veterinary care.
Reviewed By ashley s - temple
We had an awesome time! The girl we dealt with was sweet and informative. We did a private encounter because I love sloths and it was a bucket list item for me to do this. I think every time we visit our friends In Seattle...MoreThank you! We would love to have you visit again. Make sure to let us know which group you visited each time so we can try and get you to visit with an entirely different group on subsequent visits
5. City of Rainier Riverfront Park
Overall Ratings
5 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By Kalamariverrat - Rainier, Oregon
This beautiful riverfront park is the result of civic-minded citizens in this small town, working together with various state and Federal agencies, to convert a pair of natural disasters into a town treasure. In 1962 the infamous Columbus Day Storm leveled the Klepp Shipyard, which had been at this location for decades, leaving another empty space along the Rainier riverfront (where sawmills and canneries had been located in years past). In 1980 Mt. St. Helens erupted, which resulted in millions of cubic yards of volcanic ash being dumped into the Columbia River, which was later dredged onto the present park site.
The result of these occurrences is the present park, with ball fields, playgrounds, a skateboard arena, picnic areas, and a marina boat-launching ramp (located about where the old marine shipway was). The park has a great river view; views of Mt. Rainier and what is left of Mt. St. Helens; the Lewis and Clark Bridge; and the extensive commercial traffic up and down the Columbia. The park is located at Columbia River mile 66.5, for boaters.
Each July, the Park hosts the annual Rainier Days celebration, held the week after Independence Day. Every Saturday, from May through September, there is a Farmers Market, which showcases not only local produce (the strawberries are perfection!), but also crafts and artwork.
Parking is free; there is a small fee for boat launching.
Located across the railroad tracks is the classic Moeck House (aka the 1888 House), a stately 3-½ -story Victorian built by an early sea captain. It is currently not open to the public.
6. Trojan Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By Kalamariverrat - Rainier, Oregon
Trojan Park is a public facility maintained by Portland Gas & Electric, near the site of their former Trojan nuclear power plant. It is a 75-acre day-use park that features hiking, fishing, biking, and even a world class Disc Golf course. It is open only from May to September. It has picnic facilities for both individual and group use, with electric stoves (this is a power company park, remember?), sinks, water, and electrical outlets. Free and open to the public, there is a small day-use fee for groups. The park is 3 miles east of Rainier and 42 miles west of Portland, on US 30.
It is home to a flock of Piebald geese, a patchwork cross between domestic white geese and Canada geese.
Weird-looking.
7. The Forest Learning Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 67 reviews
A museum chronicling the effect of the Mount St. Helen's eruption on the neighboring trees and plantlife.
Reviewed By simpleyme - Washington
plenty of parking, use the restroom walk up the little trail fo the view ,they have a cute gift shop and neat displays. Great stop and it is free!
8. The Rutherglen Mansion
Overall Ratings
4 based on 12 reviews
Reviewed By Joy G - Longview
Same Mansion but a complete makeover from Staff to floors. The Owner Reuben grendahl has seemed to clean house. The place is sparkling and All new employees makes for pleasant change. Wine tasting on Wednesday's has step up a beat with some delightful desserts and great music. We recently Stayed in the B&B there were 4 adults and two children. It's not a traditional B&B The Children were very welcomed ro be kids play a piano, look for a ghost or two and just look around a great big house. The bed was the most comfortable I have ever slept in. You are able to have complete privacy in a Beautiful Historical Mansion. In the past we have also had our young grandaughter's memorial reception here. More recently our young grandaughter's princess Birthday Party. Where her fariy tale came true.
9. Hudson Parcher County Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By Kalamariverrat - Rainier, Oregon
As the previous reviewer has stated, this is a great recreational area, with a ball field, many picnic areas, fire pits, a creek where kids can look for crawdads, an area for group activities and weddings, and walking and biking trails.
"Hudson Park", as it used to be known, was a very significant part of growing up in Rainier. Ballgames, Independence Day picnics, family gatherings ... it was the recreational center of the 20th century in Rainier. As time passed, it fell into disrepair, but Harvey Parcher spent many hours renovating, restoring and improving. That is why the park is now known as "Hudson Parcher Park". A few years ago the County took the park over - now we have to pay to use it. It is still a great park, with second-growth Douglas fir trees that are now almost as big as the old-growth timber that was logged here in the 1890s. The last Sunday in July, every year, there is an All-class Reunion for Rainier Union High School. Visit the park that day, and you will see more than a dozen immaculately-restored classic and antique cars, as well as muscle cars and other exotic vehicles that attendees have brought to the reunion.
10. Puzzle Quest LLC
The first and only Escape Room Game in Cowlitz County. Enter the room, accept your mission, and try to escape as the 60 minute clock counts down. A great activity for team building, date nights, birthdays, family events, and more. Come and test your ingenuity, out-of-the-box thinking, and most importantly, team work as you use clues and items around the room to solve the puzzles and escape!
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