Lake Shore is located near the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, established in 1824, which marks the location of the Hudson Bay Company's largest fur trading post west of the Rocky Mountains, considered the most important activity center for the settlement of the entire U.S. west coast. This is the location where American settlers first arrived after traversing the Oregon Trail and received supplies that allowed them to survive their first months in the unfamiliar west.
Lake Shore, Washington is a tiny suburban area covering just 1.6 square miles, but it's located on the northern edge of the city of Vancouver, which has a population of 165,000 and is considered part of the Portland, OR metropolitan statistical area. Lake Shore is a census designated place in the southwest corner of Washington state on the eastern shore of Vancouver Lake. Locals consider Lake Shore to be a neighborhood of Vancouver just like communities to the east, Starcrest and Hazel Dell North. In fact, when you live here you get a Vancouver address. How neat is that? Lake Shore ranks 63rd out of 522 areas of Washington in per-capita income, and you're going to find a lot of newer, larger rental homes options here. Lake Shore lies about five minutes away from the banks of the Columbia River, which if you follow it west will lead you to the Pacific Ocean or to the east up the Columbia River Gorge and some of the most under-rated, breath-taking scenery in all of the U.S. This community also is a little more than an hour's drive away from skiing on Mt. Hood, and about the same distance from hiking, camping, mountain biking, fishing and other outdoor recreational pursuits at Mt. St. Helens. Yes, that Mt. St. Helens. Don't worry it's not supposed to erupt any time soon. At least, not before the lease expires on your new rental home in Lake Shore.
Moving to Lake Shore
Lake Shore has 2,391 individual houses of which 88 percent are owner occupied, so this is going to be a difficult place to find rental housing. For instance, you won't find any studio apartments for rent in Lake Shore and your options are slim when it comes to your search for apartments, mostly because many of the units are already occupied. There are single-family homes for rent and many of these tend to be larger homes that are a little more expensive than you'll find in neighboring communities. Columbia River High School and Jason Lee Middle School both are located here if you have school-aged children, but you'll have to venture outside the city limits if you want to go on a shopping spree.
Most of the rental housing here is owned privately or run by property management companies, so you can expect the landlord will conduct a proper background search, which means a criminal background and credit check. You'll want to bring some form of ID -- drivers' license, state ID or passport -- with you as well as your social security number, proof of income and rental history so your landlord can conduct the check. Many rental properties also require first and last month's rent on top of a security deposit. You may end up paying more for rent here than in other areas around the Vancouver metropolitan area but you're going to get a nice, large home with a decent sized yard or a spacious apartment floor plan in exchange.
Getting to Know Lake Shore
There are no distinct neighborhoods in this massive suburban area and outside of privately-owned homes there are a few apartment complexes you may want to consider in your search for a new rental home in Lake Shore.
Lake Shore Apartment Complexes
Bridge Creek Apartment Homes: One bedroom, two bedroom and three bedroom townhouses for rent in this newer apartment complex. Each size apartment has its own floor plan from 650-square-feet to 1,150-square-feet options. Common amenities include a swimming pool, fitness center, barbecue station, business center, pet station and a clubhouse available to rent for small functions. Private amenities include washer and dryer hookups and vaulted ceilings in third-floor apartments.
Barrington Place Apartments: 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom apts for rent with different floor plans in 700-square-foot and 900-square-foot options. Community features include a heated swimming pool, assigned car port parking spaces, exercise facilities and basic expanded cable included in the rent. Apartment features include full size washer and dryer in each unit, open kitchen, deck/patio and extra storage space, and cadet wall heaters.
Willow Creek Apartments: 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom and 3 bedroom apartments available in 650-, 1,000- and 1,500-square-foot options. Private amenities include high speed internet in each unit, patios, extra storage space, covered parking, dishwashers and washer and dryer hookups in 2 and 3 bedroom apartments. Community amenities feature a swimming pool, fitness center with free weights, laundry facilities, playground and a clubhouse with cable TV available for rent.
Teal Pointe Apartment Homes: Right across the street from forested, five-acre Crown Park. One bedroom and two bedroom apartments with 665-square-feet and 940-square-feet floor plan options. Amenities include large private decks, reserved parking and garages available, laundry center and community clubhouse, heated outdoor pool and fitness center, community dog park, and water sewer and garbage included in the rent.
Park Place Duplexes: Two bedroom duplexes with 950-square-foot and 1,150-square-foot floor plans. Amenities include a fenced yard, garages in all units, washer and dryer hookups, extra storage space, locking mailboxes, patios and its close to bus lines. Park Place Duplexes is within walking distance of Clark College.
Living in Lake Shore
Suburban Lake Shore is just that, a suburban area. If you're looking for all the action, it could be tough to find here but there are plenty of places within a few minutes drive to get a little wild. Specifically, there is a Washington State University satellite campus nearby as well as Clark College for those with higher education aspirations. You can go canoeing or kayaking on the waters of Lake Vancouver, or take a swim and chill on the lake's man-made beach. There are literally hundreds of fishing holes in this neck of the woods, not to mention the incredible troll fishing available on the Columbia River. Be forewarned, though, it gets crowded out there in the middle of the channel. You'll have to venture into Vancouver (again, technically you are in Vancouver) for food options. Make sure to check out Who Song and Larry's on the banks of the Columbia for American-style Mexican food. Sit on the deck, which protrudes out over the river, for great views of Mt. Hood in the distance. Closer to home in Lake Shore is Rail Side Brewing and some wonderful micro brews to wash down gourmet pizzas and tasty pub food. Don't forget to take advantage of living right next to the 2,370-acre Shillapoo Wildlife Recreation Area where you can go bird watching and look for species that include Canadian geese, mallards and other dabbling ducks, Bald Eagles and Sandhill Cranes. Another peaceful option is heading over to Salmon Creek Park with its picnic tables, hiking trails and fishing holes.
