Astoria is at the far north
end of Oregon’s gorgeous coastline of dramatic headlands, dotted with beaches,
evergreens and lighthouses. You’re likely to be welcomed at the pier by music
from a local band, setting a festive tone for your exploration of the area.
To discover the area’s
maritime history, hop on the colorful Astoria Riverfront Trolley and ride to
the Columbia River Maritime Museum. The trolley also glides along the bank of
the Columbia River and passes beneath the graceful Astoria-Megler Bridge, which
connects Oregon and Washington.
If you’re feeling thirsty,
Astoria has several craft breweries ready to welcome you; or, visit the Flavel
House Museum, a magnificent Queen Anne-style mansion, for a traditional
afternoon tea. You could also take an excursion to the Willamette Valley, home
to vineyards that produce some exceptional Oregon Pinot gris, Pinot noir and other
varieties.
To see the only military site
in the continental U.S. to be fired on during World War II, visit Fort Stevens.
The Civil War-era fort, built to guard the mouth of the Columbia River, came
under attack June 21-22, 1942, when a Japanese submarine fired 17 shells.
(Fortunately, the only damage was to the fort’s baseball field.)
Cannon Beach is a popular
excursion for photos of Haystack Rock and the Needles, a set of impressive
basalt formations just off the beach. At low tide, the tide pools around
Haystack Rock are full of starfish, sea anemone and other sea life. Downtown Cannon Beach has charming galleries
and shops to browse, as well as cafes and bistros where you can relax.
If you enjoy movie trivia,
you’ll also be interested to know that a number of silver screen hits have been
shot on location in Astoria. Scenery-rich Goonies
(1985) truly took advantage of its surroundings when filming in Astoria. Other
big name films include Short Circuit
(1985), Kindergarten Cop (1990), and Free Willy (1992).
To explore cruise itineraries
that include beautiful Astoria, talk with Anita, your Cruise Holidays personal
cruise expert.
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