Recreation

Play a round of golf at Mint Valley (4002 Pennsylvania, Longview, 360/577-3395, www.mint-valley.com [1]).

If you have a canoe, the Cowlitz River from Castle Rock [2] to Longview [3] is a scenic 16-mile float. The current can be strong and sandbars are visible at low water, but there are no major obstructions along the way.

Windsurfers flock to the Columbia River west and south of Longview, where wind conditions are often perfect for intermediate-level boarders.

Campers will enjoy the lush green lawns and breezy deciduous trees scattered around the pleasant Brookhollow RV Park (2506 Allen St., 360/577-6474 or 800/867-0453, www.brookhollow.com [4], $30 d full hookup, $1 extra for kids and pets), which offers campsites and RV hookups in the heart of Kelso [3]. The closest public camping spaces are at Lewis and Clark State Park, near Winlock.