16 Fun Things To Do In Astoria Oregon
Astoria is a cute, charming town located on Oregon’s North Coast. It is a fun getaway in the Spring, Summer, and Fall and has some of the most delicious seafood. I have visited this town two times since moving to Washington State, and it is so underrated. There are many beaches, trails, restaurants, and breweries. It is a perfect getaway for the entire family, and if you are a Goonies fan, you can even see some of the most famous spots from the movie. If you are going there soon, read on to find out the top things to do in Astoria Oregon.
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Where To Stay In Astoria Oregon
- Bowline Hotel – Chic, cute, boutique-style hotel located right next to the river and has sea lions visit frequently. The cocktails and food are good, and there is even a sauna you can use after a fun day of exploring. >Click Here To Book
- Astoria Riverwalk Inn – I stayed at this hotel and enjoyed my time here. The hotel is updated, and every room has views of the incredible Astoria–Megler Bridge >Click Here To Book
Best Time To Go
The best time to go to Astoria, Oregon, is June through September because these are the driest months. Although this is their busy season so expect crowds.
Astoria has a Mediterranean climate, meaning the city experiences chilly rainy winters and warm, mild summers.
Map Of The Things To Do
Below is a map of all the locations I talk about in this blog post. Download this map before heading out to Astoria on your phone.
Where Is Astoria, Oregon
Astoria is located around 2 hours from the Portland International Airport. It is in Clatsop County in the northwestern portion of Oregon state and at the mouth of the famous Columbia River. The Astoria Megler Bridge connects Astoria to Washington State, and it is a four-mile-long bridge.
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Things To Do In Astoria Oregon
Astoria Column
The 125-foot-tall Astoria Column is a monument to the Pacific Northwest history. It was first thought of in 1898 and was eventually built by 1926. It still stands today on top of Astoria and showcases beautiful art on the tower. There is a $5 parking fee that is valid for a whole year. If you don’t want to pay the parking fee, you can hike to it instead. I talk about that below under “Cathedral Tree”.
Visiting the Astoria Column was probably my favorite part of this town. It is worth seeing the cute town from above. I highly recommend going for sunset to experience the stunning array of colors shining across the Columbia River.
There are many areas you can have a picnic, bring a blanket and enjoy the views or walk around with the whole family.
Astoria Riverwalk
Astoria Riverwalk, also known as Astoria River Trail, is a 6.4-mile trail along the Columbia River. It provides an unmotorized tour of the city’s waterfront and features museums, breweries, restaurants, and fantastic bridge views. I loved walking around this trail and discovering breweries and restaurants.
Walk Around Downtown Astoria
Walking around the downtown is a great thing to do in Astoria. You can check out the local shops, restaurants, bakeries, and art galleries.
Visit Breweries
Astoria is home to many breweries like Buoy Beer Company, Fort George Brewery, Reach Break Brewing, Astoria Brewing Company, Wet Dog Café & Brewery, Rogue Ales Public House, and Hondo’s Brew Pub. All seven are part of the North Coast Craft Beer Trail. If you visit ten of these breweries and stamp your passport, you will get a free small gift.
Eat Fresh Seafood
Astoria is known for its fantastic seafood. There are plenty of restaurants with wonderful seafood options. Some of the most popular restaurants include Bow Picker Fish And Chips, Ship Out Fish & Chips, and Silver Salmon Grille.
Pick Up A Macaron At Naked Lemon
Sip on a latte while you drool over the selection of goodies in the case. The lemon macaron at Naked Lemon is so delicious.
Photograph The Astoria–Megler Bridge
When you think of Astoria, you think about the iconic Megler Bridge built-in 1962. It is one of the most well-known bridges in the Pacific Northwest, and it spans about 4 miles. Iconic places to take photos of the bridge include the River Walk, Bridgewater Bistro, and the Astoria Column.
Columbia River Maritime Museum
The Columbia River Maritime Museum has seafaring vessels, maritime artifacts, and fine art. If you love to learn about sea artifacts, you need to visit this one-of-a-kind museum.
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Fort Clatsop – Lewis and Clark National Historical Park
Fort Clatsop is a great place to learn about the military history in this area. You can watch movies for free, and there is even a replica of Fort Clatsop (shown below). There are also many trails like the South Slough Trail, Fort to Sea Trail, and the Kwis Kwis Trail.
Fort Stevens State Park
Fort Stevens State Park is a fantastic park to visit with the whole family for the day. Walk for miles on the beautiful sandy beaches or go on a hike. There are over 15 miles of trails.
Fort Stevens marks the site of a military installation once used to guard the mouth of the Columbia River and was in service for 84 years! Now you can explore some of these military compounds.
Another cool thing to see in the park is the Peter Iredale Shipwreck. The wreck occurred on October 25, 1906, and the ship was stripped for scrap instead of towed. It now remains on the coastline for people to enjoy.
Read More: The Best Things To Do On The Oregon Coast
Hike The Cathedral Tree Trail
- Distance: 1.6 miles, roundtrip
- Elevation Gain: 393 ft.
- Route Type: Out and Back
- Difficulty: Easy
- Trail Guide: Link
The Cathedral Tree is a stunning massive Sitka spruce that is around 300 years old. To see this wonderful tree, you have to hike a trail that is around 1.6 miles round trip, but you only need to hike half of the trail to see the tree. If you park in the neighborhood (shown in Alltrails) and hike uphill towards the tree, you will eventually get to a boardwalk. Turn left once you arrive at the boardwalk to see the Cathedral Tree. It can be very muddy so bring good hiking shoes.
If you want to save money or are up for more exercise, you can hike up to the Astoria Column (I talk about the column above). The column costs $5 for parking, so hiking up to the column is a method to see it for free.
Youngs River Falls
- Distance: 0.3 miles, roundtrip
- Elevation Gain: 49 ft.
- Route Type: Out and Back
- Difficulty: Easy
- Trail Guide: Link
Oregon has some of the best waterfalls I have ever seen, and Young River Falls is no exception. Young River Falls is a quick little waterfall getaway located only 20 minutes from town. The hike down to the waterfall is very short and easy and only takes a few minutes to see.
Cape Disappointment
Cape Disappointment is located in Washington State but is only a 30-minute drive away. If you go to Cape Disappointment, you need to check out the North Head Lighthouse and Cape Disappointment Lighthouse. You can also go to Waikiki Beach and see surfers on the waves.
Read More: The 11 Best Washington Beaches That You Should Visit This Year
Eat At Bridgewater Bistro
Bridgewater Bistro is a fantastic restaurant with yummy food and drinks and lovely views. On a beautiful sunny day, request an outdoor seat. This restaurant has the best views of the Astoria-Megler Bridge and the Columbia River. I recommend making a reservation at this restaurant because it can get pretty busy.
Get A Sandwich At Gaetano’s Market & Deli
Gaetano’s Market & Deli is an awesome place to stop by and pick up a delicious lunch! The deli has sandwiches, meats, pasta, cheeses, imported oils, vinegars, olives, peppers, and sweets. I ordered the Italian sandwich and took it to go since seating is limited. I then walked over to Reach Break Brewing, ordered a beer, and ate the sandwich outside on a beautiful sunny day.
Check Out The Sea Lions At Bowline Hotel
I went to Bowline Hotel to have a drink, and I noticed a commotion outside. It sounded like Sea Lions. I asked the bartender about it, and apparently, the Sea Lions love to hang out in the area and serenade all day. When I walked the next day on the River Walk, I heard them again. They love sunbathing and sleeping near this hotel. You have to go see them!
Final Thoughts On What To Do In Astoria Oregon
Thanks for reading about the best things to do in Astoria, Oregon. Make sure to check out some of my other Oregon blog posts:
- The Best Things To Do On The Oregon Coast
- The Ultimate Guide To Smith Rock Hiking Trails
- 25 Amazing Oregon Waterfalls You Need To See Today
- The Perfect 10 Day Oregon Road Trip Itinerary
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Astoria is such a fun Oregon town! Need to go back and explore some more of the food scene. Have heard there are great restaurants. The homemade cakes at Good Girl Coffee are the best! Have you tried?
Miss… I want to comment on your suggestion to people who don’t want to spend the paltry sum of $5 parking fee that the column charges to visit by car. Telling people to park somewhere else and use the trail to avoid the fee does a disservice to the column because the column depends heavily on what it charges ($5) to maintain the magnificent structure. The tower can’t do it alone, we rely on the public. The thought of traveling, spending money on gas, lodging, dining, etc and trying to save $5 is beyond idiocy! The Astoria Column would deteriorate if everyone listened and followed your “travel suggestions”. Our city would be harmed without the magnificent column because it is such a huge draw. Once again thank you and other bloggers who try to provide shortcuts.
I actually paid the $5, and I met people on the trail and told them to pay the $5 instead of hiking (and they did and were so happy I told them about it). But some people love to hike and like the challenge and if they are going to hike it anyway why not let them know? I still want to give people the option. I am a woman of color that grew up in poverty, not everyone can spend money. $5 seems like nothing but I remember when it used to be a lot of money for me. Some people do travel by camping, or they make their own food at the campsite to save money. Not everyone travels to fancy hotels.
That hike is really hard and steep, so I don’t think most people hike it anyways. I mean I am a hiker and I didn’t hike it. I paid for it. If people want to spend more time and energy hiking it, then let them. If they don’t then let them spend the money. At least I gave them options.
Hope you can also visit the Oregon film
Institute and location hunting of the other “The Goonies” filming locations and possibly added it here as an update. We did that when we went to Astoria and it was a lot of fun and really enjoyable 😊
Hey Marvi, thanks for talking about this! I never watched the movie so that is why I did not go but thanks for mentioning it as it might help someone else planning the trip :-).