Location: Longview
Top Things to do in Longview
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The 10 Best Things to Do in Longview, United States
Longview is a city in Cowlitz County, Washington, United States. It is the principal city of the "Longview, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area", which encompasses all of Cowlitz County. Longview's population was 36,648 at the time of the 2010 census and it is the largest city in Cowlitz County. The city is located in southwestern Washington, at the junction of the Cowlitz and Columbia rivers. Longview shares a border with Kelso to the east, which is the county seat.
Restaurants in Longview
1. 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.
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. Ape Cave Lava Tubes
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 251 reviews
Formed about 2,000 years ago from a volcanic eruption, this is one of the longest lava tubes (12,810 feet) in the world.
Reviewed By Anja H - Karlsruhe, Germany
We didn't have much time at Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument before we drove to Packwood, so we decided to walk only through the Ape Cave and the Lava Canyon. The Ape Cave was very exceptional, especially with carrying the old gas lamps you can lean there. And if you take the easier route, you can do it in 45 minutes. Be prepared for the temperatures and bring a jacket with you, no matter how hot it is outside.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. SILVER STAR SPORTS BAR & GRILL
Overall Ratings
4 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By Kev_Anderson - Longview, Washington
Food and service was very good, only distraction was the rift raft on both sides of us...they were loud and obnoxious and I wish the manage had gotten involved. I did make a comment to the couple behind me after I had enough of their vrap.
8. Evergreen Pub & Cafe
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By Kalamariverrat - Rainier, Oregon
The Evergreen is listed both under "Things to Do" and "Restaurants". See my review from July 2016 under restaurants. OK place for a drink with friends, but there are better, tastier venues in this small town.
9. Northwest Eco Excursions - Day Tours
Overall Ratings
5 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By Mary R - Longview, Washington
Myself, my grandkids, and my dog took a kayaking trip with them and it was a great time! Our guides, Tracie and Linda had a wealth of knowledge of the area and the geology of the Lewis River of which we traveled. Their educational program while kayaking was done so eloquently and we felt swept away from our routine lives and transformed into being a part of a delicate ecosystem.
Linda and Tracie waited on us as we didn't have to do anything until we were on our way on the watertrail. The kids really enjoyed it too and they provided them with their own kayaks their size. I thought this sport was going to be difficult and I learned it was so easy and safe. They even let us take our dog on the kayak with us which was great!
I learned that Linda has a Masters Degree in Education and Tracie has previously been a Park Ranger for years. They were well seasoned and comfortable in the outdoors which made us feel safe in our adventure.
10. Ol' Pastime Tavern
Overall Ratings
3 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By Kalamariverrat - Rainier, Oregon
The Pastime has always been in this same location at the western corner of the Hotel Rainier (whose brick facade is showing its 100+ years). They pride themselves on serving Rainier Beer (no longer made in the Pacific Northwest), and providing conviviality to locals and outsiders alike. Once owned by Rainier's mayor, there have been a lot of impromptu city council meetings here. Good beer, good bingo, fair bar food, good local color.
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