The drive to Astoria from Anacortes was mainly in the pouring rain, but when we got to our destination, the clouds parted and sunshine warmed our faces. A small town of around 10,000, Astoria is near the mouth of the Columbia River and is a busy port town with an economy centered on fishing, lumber, and tourism. The downtown is located along the riverfront and most of the residential neighborhoods are scattered on the hillsides above, so many homes have lovely views of the river or ocean below. Perhaps you've seen the movie "The Goonies." It was filmed in part here, and there's even an annual Goonies Day every June 7th to commemorate the film.
One of the best places to get a view of the town and its surroundings is on Coxcomb Hill, where the Astoria Column is located.
Coxcomb Hill and the Columbia River below...
The Astoria Column - 125 feet high...
The Astoria-Megler Bridge connects Oregon and Washington...
There's lots of ship traffic to watch...
Astoria is filled with colorful houses...
This one has been abandoned for many years...
The former Columbia Hospital (red brick building)...
A colorful Victorian...
The Masonic Temple...
Downtown...
There are lots of cafes and pubs...
Street scenes...
Astoria is a delightful town, but because of its proximity to the ocean it is prone to quite extreme weather patterns - hold on to your hat! We got really good vibes, though, and should you find yourself near the northwest corner of Oregon, do check it out.
Our next stop was Seaside, only a short 30 minute drive from Astoria. Seaside is a fun-filled town and has historically been the most popular oceanfront resort in Oregon. It has beautiful beaches, lots of nice hotels, a vibrant downtown filled with restaurants, shops, and arcades, and a lengthy boardwalk that you can stroll along and enjoy the natural beauty from. Unfortunately, it was very cold during our visit, and we got rained on periodically so we really couldn't enjoy the outdoors as much as we would have liked.
Welcome to Seaside...
A statue of the explorers Lewis and Clark...
View from the Turnaround...
Our final stop before heading back to Interstate 5 through Tillamook was Cannon Beach, just a bit south of Seaside. Cannon Beach is known for its rock outcroppings, especially Haystack Rock. The town has an affluent feel to it and has the same architectural style throughout. It's much quieter than Seaside and in an effort to support the local economy and maintain the small town ambiance, the town folk have discouraged chain stores and fast food joints from putting down roots.
Haystack Rock in the distance...
Haystack Rock...
The shoreline just a bit north of town...
A stormy ending to our coastal road trip...
So we accomplished our goal of traversing the Oregon Coastal Highway from Reedsport to Astoria. We still have to do the stretch of highway between the California border and Reedsport. It's a lovely part of Oregon, and I can only imagine that it is even more stunning in the warmer summer months than what we experienced in the cold wintertime. I definitely want to come back and explore more of the state parks and hiking trails.
