the wandering chick
...Astoria

There's so much to do in this little town of 10,000 locals, especially for history buffs.

Astoria was the first settlement west of the Rockies and is known as "the Little San Francisco of the Northwest" because of the many Victorian homes dotting its steep hillsides. In its heyday, its industry of crabbing and salmon fishing, with as many as 39 cannieries on its waterfront, was unsurpassed.

Other interests? There's the Astoria-Megler four-mile long bridge, built in 1966, that connects Oregon and Washington; Fort Stevens State Park in itself, a spot worthy of a day; Astoria's waterfront trail which offers a nice view of ships, ever-so-homely California sea lions and picturesque cannery buildings, including the once-busy Bumble Bee Salmon Cannery; and the column from where you can see forever (if it's a clear day).

AND!! In every direction outside Astoria one can find something exciting to explore.

"the Little San Francisco of the Northwest"
the four-mile Astoria Bridge
The Astoria-Megly Bridges stretches 4.1 miles over the mouth of the Columbia River connecting Oregon and Washington.
the Astoria Bridge
destruct at the foot of the Astoria Bridge
pilings from an old cannery
Not much is left of some of the old canneries that sat at the foot of the Astoria Bridge in Astoria. Today, the Cannery Pier Hotel graces the riverfront.
the Astoria Column
The Astoria Column sits high over the town and offers stunning biews if you're willing to climb the 164-step spiral staircase. You'll be glad you did after you see the sprawling area below ou. We had a haze that kept us from seeing Mt. Ranier and Mt. St. Helens. The column was built in 1926 and is 125 feet tall. The murals on the outside depict 14 significant events in Oregon's history.
the Astoria Column
the Astoria Column
looking over the towon of Astoria and the Columbia fromr the top of the tower
Overlooking the city of Astoria and the Columbia River from the observation deck of the Astoria Column
view of the bridge from the column
an old cannery pier
There are two main reasons the waterfront pilings are still seen sticking out from the water long after the buildings that were once there are gone. One is that the pilings are still intact under the water. So, if a business so desires to build, they need only to level out the top of the pilings. Secondly, if the pilings were to be pulled out, the land would become owned by the state, the once-business having given up the rights to that piece of water.
a fishing boat on the Columbia
Astoria's waterfront trolley
Astoria's beach
Astoria's beach is small but serves the purpose. It's located pretty close to the Astoria Bridge.
A piling comes to life with foliage
Astoria's Waterfront Trolley runs a four-mile 50-minute (RT) track during the summer months. The narration given along the ride is truly informative and entertaining.
Coffee Girl on Pier 39
woman on waterfront dock with baby carriage
Coffee Girl cafe
Coffee Girl's history started during the days that Pier 39 was a cannery. The shop served the employees of the cannery. Today, it's still the locals who seem to frequent more than the tourists. The outdoor seating, on a sunnier day, could be down-right pleasureable.
The Bumble Bee Cannery museum
Also inside the Pier 39, located on the east end of the waterfront at 39th Street, is a now-defunct Bumble Bee Salmon cannery.
The Wet Dog is another fun eating establishment. It's located around 11th Street on the waterfront.
Interior of the Wet Dog Restaurant
a bed of California sea lions on the waterfront
on the waterfront
California sea lions squeak and squawk on their pad on the waterfront near the 39th St. Pier
a sleeping sea lion
one of many abandoned buildings on the waterfront
During the cannery days, fishing and crabbing nets needed to be hung and dried. This building, part of one of the original canneries, is called the Net Loft. It's been long defunct but not totally abandoned. It's eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, and a group of locals are working to restore it.
ship on the Columbia at dusk
freighter ship at sea
ship on the Columbia at night
Ships anchor on the Columbia River to avoid fees that must be paid if docked at port. For various reasons, the ships will be anchored for days at a time. Some are awaiting transport by a bar pilot who will take them through the dangerous waters of the Columbia River Bar. On this foggy night, there were five ships within view from our hotel balcony.
The net loft building from the astoria column
Views from the Astoria Column include the town itself near the waterfront, the Astoria Bridge and the former cannery, the Net Loft.

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