“Oregon is an inspiration. Whether you come to it, or are born to it, you become entranced by our state’s beauty, the opportunity she affords and the independent spirit of her citizens.”
– Tom McCall
It had been a long while since we had been out of town, and we really needed a break. Due to finances, and some family issues, we hadn’t been on a vacation in awhile.
We were going to be in Bend and Newberg, OR, to see our boys, so we decided to take a few days for ourselves and visit Astoria, Oregon.
The Mister had been once, for a few hours, and I had never been so we were excited to be by some water, eat some new food, and visit new sites.
A WEEKEND IN ASTORIA, OREGON
Now, for many of you 80’s children, you will probably associate Astoria with the movie The Goonies.
NOTE – The house is there however it is a private residence. If you are interested in learning more about films made in Oregon, there is an Oregon Film Museum.
There really is so much more to this town than a fun retro movie. It is a port city, at the mouth of the Columbia River, with rich history and is quite unique. To me,it is reminiscent of San Francisco with the water, culture, climate, and hilly streets.
There is far too much information to go over in one post, but that just means you should visit and see for yourself. In the meantime, we will share our weekend in Astoria, Oregon.
What We Did:
*The Astoria & Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce did provide us with passes to the Maritime Museum but all opinions are 100% our own. You can read our disclosure policy here.
- Columbia River Maritime Museum – Not only is this a beautiful museum, but it is full of information on the “Graveyard of the Pacific”. You learn about how boats have operated on some of the roughest sea conditions in the world.
- The Astoria Column – This is the place for the most amazing view. You walk up 164 steps but it is so worth it.
- Astoria-Megler Bridge – This is one massive bridge, and did you know there use to be a toll on it? Yes, they removed the toll charge once the bridge was paid for!! How great is that?
- North Head/Cape Disappointment Lighthouses (just over the bridge) –
- Fort Columbia State Park (also across the bridge) – is a 593 acre state park that preserves the site of Fort Columbia. Built from 1896-1904 to support the defense of the Columbia River.You can also stay here (see below).
- Middle Village – Station Camp and St Mary’s Church, constructed in 1904, McGowan, WA. Learn about the Chinook people, Lewis and Clark Exposition, and the mission.
- Downtown Area including Astoria Vintage Hardware – You know we would have to do a little junkin. The Vintage Hardware is a fun store to walk through and maybe find a piece of two.
- Riverwalk – Stroll along the river where you will find shops and plenty of food options.
|HERE’S ANOTHER OREGON TRIP|
On Our Next Visit:
- We walked around the Flavel House Museum but didn’t get a chance to go in.
- Riverfront Trolley – Can’t believe we missed riding on the trolley, but we won’t the next time.
- Fort Clatsop – This historic park was the winter encampment for the Corps of Discovery fron 1805-1806.
- Young River Falls – A 54ft waterfall on the Youngs River.
Where to Stay:
- Crosby Bed and Breakfast
- Cannery Pier Hotel – This is on the higher end, but if you want an amazing experience it is a stunning hotel.
- Hampton Inn & Suites
- Fort Columbia (across the bridge) offers some of the former military homes for rent (888-226-7688).
*If you can, find a place by the water and bring some binoculars.
Where We Ate:
- Fort George Brewery – Wonderful food and atmosphere…I loved the upcycled chandelier.. You can go outside and play cornhole (I believe).
- Custard King – The Mister had the fish and chips and it was pretty good, he said. My hamburger was really ah-mazing but the fries were too greasy for my liking. You can’t beat the location as you can sit at the picnic tables, outside, and see the water!
- We wanted to try the Bowpicker Fish and Chips, but they weren’t open when we went.
We hope you get a chance to visit Astoria, OR soon. It was a wonderful trip, and we can’t wait to go again.
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