#5 Recommended Quick Trip

#5- Maritime Museum Dock

The Maritime Museum dock is located on Marine drive just east of downtown Astoria, Oregon. It is located at the foot of 17th Street and is hard to miss. There is almost always a Coast Guard Cutter (usually USCG Cutter "Alert") at the dock, as seen in the picture to the left, and the Lightship Columbia can be seen there all the time as it is permanently docked, and an exhibit of the Maritime Museum. You cannot board the lightship without a ticket receipt from the museum, which is a great thing to see, but not a quick trip so I won't go into any detail about it here. Occassionally you will also find a large paddle-wheeler docked here as it makes it run from Portland to Astoria and back. Not only is it interesting to see the ships docked there but you get a spectacular view of the Columbia River, with the Astoria-Megler Bridge and the Pacific Ocean to the west, and far up the Columbia River presented to the east. You might catch a glimpse of a sea lion or two in the water or on the little dock attached to the big dock, as well as local fishermen trying to catch sturgeon off the main pier. I spent a few summers and caught many sturgeon from this beautiful location.

Jeremy's Insider Tips- Bring a light jacket, binoculars, and a camera if you can. There is plenty of parking and only a walk of about 50 yards out onto the dock. Unfortunately the Coast Guard no longer gives tours of their ships, but you can get right up next to the ships and they are impressive to see.

#4 Recommended Quick Trip

#4 - Drive Across the Astoria-Megler Bridge

The Astoria-Megler Bridge is probably, with the Astoria Column, one of the most recognizable symbols of Astoria, Oregon. When it was built it was a toll bridge and cost around $1.50 to travel across, but it was agreed that when the tolls equaled what it cost to build the bridge the tolls would stop. After many years the tolls finally paid for the bridge, and if you take a good look at the bridge that is a lot of $1.50 tolls, so you are no longer charged for driving on it. Unless you have access to a boat this is the only way that you are going to get a mid-river view of Astoria and the Washington side of the Columbia River. If you go out at low-tide you will also get a close up view of the sand bars which are responsible for so many stranded ships over the hundreds of years that boats have been braving the river. Although you cannot stop on the bridge you will get an amazing view of the beautiful city of Astoria and up and down the Columbia River. This drive to the Washington side and back is highly recommended both during the day and at night. The trip across the bridge is approximately four miles and the bridge is located at one of the widest points on the Columbia River. It is well worth the gas.

Jeremy's Insider Tips-

It was this bridge which "#5" from the movie Short Circuit parachuted, and it can be seen in Kindergarten Cop and Goonies to name just a couple of the movies shot in the scenic wonderland that is Astoria, Oregon. The highest point of the bridge marks the Columbia River Channel, which is constantly maintained to allow large ships to travel up and down the deceptively shallow river. You may want to bring a camera even though you cannot stop on the bridge. When you reach the Washington side of the bridge you can make a right turn and travel about 1/2-1 mile to a rest area where you can park and really enjoy the view of Astoria from the Washington side. There are picnic tables if you want to spend more than a few minutes there, and if you visit this rest area you may want to bring some binoculars if you have some.

#3 Recommended Quick Trip

#3- See the Sea lions

These large California Sea lions are the bane of locals with their constant barking at night. Local fishermen are not big fans either as they eat salmon right out of the nets that they set in the river. An occasional shotgun blast can be heard echoing off the hill from the river during salmon season, but who knows why. However this protected species is very entertaining to watch for visitors to Astoria. Anywhere along the riverfront you might be treated to a sea lion sighting as they cruise up and down the river looking for an easy meal. The locals know a better way to see them though. Travel to the East Mooring Basin, which is located on the extreme east side of town on Marine Drive/Highway 30. If you are traveling east it is going to be the first left after you pass the Safeway grocery store. You will drive down a little paved road and you can park on the left, or continue to drive out onto the main mooring basin dock. The sea lions are pretty hard to miss as they sit on the first boat mooring dock to your left and bask in the sun or rain. You can even walk down onto this dock and could, theoretically, walk up and touch them. I do NOT recommend doing this as they are very aggressive and territorial, and have sharp teeth and lightning speed over short distances. I personally would not get any closer than 15-20 yards. You will see big males guarding their territory as the smaller females jump on and off the docks. My father calls them the laziest creatures on the river, and after seeing them you might agree, but they are impressive to see and I highly recommend you take a few minutes to do so.

Jeremy's Insider Tips-

Take a at least a light jacket, a camera, and if you don't want to (or aren't brave enough to) walk down onto the lower dock, some binoculars for spectacular close up views of this huge mammal. A basic rule of thumb is if they look at you and bark, then you are too close to them. If you want a little action you can always stop at Links Sporting Goods store on Commercial Blvd in downtown Astoria and buy a package of smelt (a type of bait fish) and toss them out to the sea lions. Notice I did not say hand feed them. Don't worry, they are too lazy to follow you home for more.

#2 Recommended Quick Trip

#2- The Port of Astoria

Astoria was, in its hay day, a major shipping port in the Pacific Northwest. The old train tracks that run the length of the riverfront used to be busy with trains hauling cargo from the Port of Astoria to Longview Washington and all the way to Portland, Oregon, which got its name from being the area’s largest commercial port. Today there is little cargo coming in through the Port of Astoria, but you can usually find some dry-docked vessels undergoing repairs, river barges, and the occasional naval vessel docked at the port. The Port of Astoria also put in a new dock to accommodate large cruise liners as some cruise lines make Astoria a port of call as they make their way up and down the Pacific Coast. It is interesting to see the different types of vessels that use the port and it may be your only chance to see some of the small and large ships completely out of the water for repairs. You can drive right out onto the dock so if it is raining you don't even have to get out of the car. The Port of Astoria also provides a great view of the Astoria-Megler Bridge and a fantastic shot of the Columbia River as it shoots straight out to meet the Pacific Ocean. You might even catch a glimpse of the Columbia River Bar Pilots crossing from their small boats to take control of the large cargo vessels making their way up the Columbia River.

Jeremy's Insider Tips-

Even though there are "no trespassing" signs as you enter the port I have never been stopped or even questioned by port security the hundreds of times I have been to the port, so don't worry about entering. You will want a light jacket and a camera, as well as some binoculars if you have some. Sometimes the naval vessels and other visiting ships will offer tours if you inquire. You might also spot the occasional sea lion making his way up or down the river.

#1 Recommended Quick Trip

#1- The Astoria Column

The Astoria Column is one of the most recognizable symbols of Astoria, Oregon. It sits atop the hill that Astoria is built on and around. It has an amazing 360 degree view of the Astoria area, and on a clear day you can easily see all the way to the Pacific Ocean and down the coast. Even if it is raining, as it so likes to do in Astoria, you still get a fantastic view of the town and Columbia River to the west and north, and Youngs River and the countryside to the south and east. You don't need to climb the 164 stairs to the top of the column to enjoy this view as the view from the parking lot is just as amazing, but if you are up to it then it is worth the climb. There are resting platforms so don't worry about blocking the stairs for faster climbers.* There are many different routes to get to the column, but I will detail the easiest and most travelled. Where Marine drive and Commercial Blvd connect turn up the hill on 16th street. You are going to go almost all the way to the top of the hill and you will see a large grey building on the left at Jerome Ave. Take a right on Jerome Ave and be sure to honk your horn at this point as it will really annoy my parents who live right there. Go one block on Jerome Ave and make a left on 15th Street. Go two blocks up 15th Street then make a left on Coxcomb. Simply follow the winding Coxcomb up the hill and it will put you in the parking lot of the Astoria Column. Coxcomb Hill has a well maintained road but take it slow as there are a lot of sharp curves.

*The stairs are currently closed for repairs and their planned reopening is Memorial Day 2009.

Jeremy's Insider Tips-

If you have binoculars bring them, as well as a camera. A light jacket never hurts anywhere you go in Astoria. If you plan to climb the Astoria Column bring some decent shoes as sandals might get caught on the stairs and trip you, and aren't especially good climbing items anyway. There are picnic tables if you want to spend more than a few minutes up there, and a gift shop, supporting the Astoria Column, is located in the parking lot.

If you enjoyed this website you might also enjoy some of my other websites about the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Just click on one of the links below, and thank you for visiting my website!

An Insider's Astoria, Oregon Area Recommended Dining Guide
http://guidetoastoriaoregondining.blogspot.com/

An Insider's Astoria, Oregon Area Recommended Visitor's Guide
http://guidetoastoriaoregon.blogspot.com/

An Insider's Astoria, Oregon Area Recommended Hidden Spots Guide
http://hiddenlocationsguideastoriaoregon.blogspot.com/