Astoria, Oregon: Northwest Fishing Town Charm

A popular destination, The Astoria Column is a 125-foot monument to Pacific Northwest history. It boasts a 360-degree viewpoint of Astoria and the Columbia River from the observation deck. Important moments in Northwest history are engraved on the column, starting at the bottom and moving upward.

The 12.8-mile Astoria Riverwalk offers a spectacular view of the Columbia River and city sights. If you don’t feel like walking, take the Astoria Riverfront Trolley with multiple stops throughout the city.

For boat and maritime lovers, check out the Columbia River Maritime Museum. Multiple exhibits and rotating activities let you live out your sea captain fantasies, whether young or old.

Astoria has been the location of many movies, including Kindergarten Cop, Free Willy, and, very famously, The Goonies. Film buffs can visit the Oregon Film Museum and learn all about the movies filmed in Oregon. To take a step further, walk by the house from The Goonies, a private home.

Astoria is brimming with beautiful Victorian-era homes, and the Flavel House Museum is an outstanding example to visit. A former bar pilot’s retirement home, it has been restored to reflect the era in which it was built.

If you want to connect with the locals, the Astoria Sunday Market offers arts, crafts and fresh produce.

Day Trips:

The Northwest is no stranger to lighthouses, and there are two that are just a 30-minute drive from Astoria. Cross the Astoria-Megler Bridge into Washington State to visit Cape Disappointment Lighthouse and North Head Lighthouse.

Brewpubs

Love of brewpubs runs deep in the Northwest, and Astoria is no exception. Whether you are looking for a craft IPA, or just want a good burger, local breweries for the whole family include Buoy Beer Company, Astoria Brewery and Fort George Brewery.

Seafood

Astoria, to no surprise, has a variety of quality seafood options. If you are a seafood enthusiast, you will be pleasantly surprised to see seafood on most restaurant menus and cannot go wrong. Hurricane Ron’s, though, may go overlooked if you aren’t careful. With the décor fit for an eclectic ex-sea captain, the restaurant offers an extensive list of both fried and fresh seafood. If you are more adventurous, look under the menu category of “Things on a Stick” where you will find options for frog legs or alligator.

Anyone who has been to the Oregon Coast has most likely heard of, or been to Mo’s Seafood and Chowder. It is a must to try the clam chowder at least once in your life.

When most folks around the world think of smoked salmon, they think of lox or cold smoked salmon. In the Pacific Northwest, when you hear smoked salmon referenced, it is most likely about hot smoked salmon. If you have never tried it, or already love it, Josephson’s Smokehouse offers a variety of hot smoked salmon along with other types of hot-smoked seafood, canned seafood, cold smoked salmon and lox. Pick up some local Tillamook cheese to pair with your smoked salmon.

Dinner

It’s not hard to find a place to eat dinner in Astoria, and there are several upscale options to try. If you are staying at the Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa and are looking for a view of the water, Bridgewater Bistro doesn’t get any closer. Also located downtown is the Silver Salmon Grille. Both restaurants celebrate seafood but have plenty of alternatives if you don’t like seafood or are just not in the mood.