Astoria, located where the mouth of the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean, delighted us in every way. Many recognize the town from “The Goonies” filmed in 1985.
Named after John Jacob Astor, the town hails as the oldest settlement west of the Rockies. Earlier that morning, we debarked the Disney Wonder in Vancouver, drove to Seattle for a tour of the University of Washington and then headed 180 miles southwest to Oregon’s oldest city.
Astoria Column
Perched high on Coxcomb Hill sits the Astoria Column. Built in 1926 by the Great Northern Railroad, the 125-foot column commemorates the area’s past with a colorful mural winding its way to the top. Artist Attilio Putesla depicted historical events – including the discovery of the Columbia River and the Lewis & Clark expedition – using an etching technique called sgraffito.
Not only is the intricate artwork impressive to see, but the views of the Columbia River and the town far below took my breath away. We watched as dusked cloaked the area before heading to our hotel. The next day, my husband returned so he could climb to the top.
Cannery Pier Hotel
We stayed at the Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa, located on the river near the Astoria-Megler Bridge. With a balcony overlooking the Columbia, a fireplace and a bathroom that seemed larger than our entire cabin on the cruise ship, I just wanted to stay there the entire trip.
The next morning, we ate a light breakfast in the 2-story light, filled lobby to plan our short stay. Before we left, I read the photos in the hallways about the Union Fisherman’s Cooperative Packing Company that once sat on this same site.
Downtown Astoria
We’ve learned to “divide and conquer” on trips since everyone has different interests. DH (Dear Hubby) toured the Columbia Marime Museum, while Thing 2 and I walked the Riverwalk.
Columbia Maritime Museum
Astoria Riverwalk
Astoria boasts a 6.4-mile riverwalk that hugs the coastline. Built along the tracks of the former Astoria & Columbia Railroad, we walked a portion of it from the Maritime Museum through downtown passing restaurants and shops. During the summer, a 1913 streetcar runs along the tracks for 3 miles.
Flavel House Museum
I love touring old houses as it brings insight into the way people lived in different time periods. So it’s no suprise that I wanted to see Flavel House Museum.
Just a few blocks off of the Riverwalk, we bought our tickets and watched a brief film in the Carriage House before our tour started. We learned Captain George Flavel amassed his wealth as a bar pilot on the treacherous Columbia and built the 11,000-square foot home in 1883.
Inside the Queen-Anne style house, we walked through rooms on the first two floors including a bathroom complete with copper tub and flush toilet. Fortunately, the home escaped the Astoria Fire of 1922 and several demolition attempts. Many recognize the exterior from “The Goonies” as the workplace of the main character’s father.
Garden of Surging Waves
The tour guide at Flavel House recommended that we see the Garden of Surging Waves nearby. The redeveloped block opened in 2014 and is dedicated to recognizing the immigrants that worked in the area – primarily at the canneries during the late 1800s.
With symbolic sculptures, including the Moon Gate and the Pavillion of Transition, we found a serindipitous respite before heading out.
In Conclusion
While you probably don’t need a full week in Astoria, a few days would be nice. There are so many neighboring sites we didn’t have time to visit including Fort Clatsop National Memorial at the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, Fort Stevens State Park and the Oregon Film Museum.