Day 203 – We were gone much of today. We drove across the bridge from Washington to Oregon to finish off our sightseeing in Astoria. We both really like this city; it has a kind of old time historic maritime vibe about it. We’d been busy the past several days and we did have a few recommendations in Astoria to follow up on.
We had an early lunch at the Astoria Brewing Company and got a window seat on the Columbia River since they weren’t busy yet. We were introduced to this very good, casual restaurant by his cousins the first day we met with them. We had the same meal today that we had then: two large salads with chopped romaine, crumbly bleu cheese, dried cranberries, and hazelnuts topped with lots of Oregon shrimp. Excellent! Afterwards we took pictures along the River of ships and the bridge.
Cargo ships on the Columbia River, Astoria, ORCargo ships on the Columbia River, Astoria, ORAstoria Bridge, Astoria, ORAstoria Bridge, Astoria, ORAstoria, OR
His cousins had recommended we go to the Astoria Column to get great views of the River & Astoria. (They were right.) The column was originally built in 1926, restored in 1995, and is part of a 30-acre City Park. It is 125 feet tall, and has a 164-step spiral staircase inside. Coxcomb Hill, which rises 600 feet above the south bank of the Columbia River, was considered the ideal site of its magnificent panoramic view of the Astoria countryside. The Tower is lit up in color at night. Attilio Pusterla was the artistic genius behind the 525 foot-long mural that wraps around the Column. The mural shows 14 significant events in the early history of Oregon as well as 18 scenes from the history of the region. Including Captain Gray’s discovery of the Columbia River in 1792 and the Lewis & Clark expedition, the mural starts with the pristine forest and concludes with the arrival of the railroad in Astoria.
Astoria Column, Astoria, ORAstoria Column, Astoria, ORAstoria Column, Astoria, ORAstoria Column, Astoria, ORAstoria Column, Astoria, ORAstoria Column, Astoria, ORAstoria Column, Astoria, ORAstoria Column, Astoria, ORAstoria Column, Astoria, ORAstoria Column, Astoria, ORRob getting ready to climb the Astoria Column, Astoria, ORLewis and Clark Expedition, Astoria Column, Astoria, ORReplica of the lewis and Clark Expedition caone, Astoria Column, Astoria, ORView from the Astoria Column, Astoria, ORView from the Astoria Column, Astoria, ORView from the Astoria Column, Astoria, ORView from the Astoria Column, Astoria, ORView from the Astoria Column, Astoria, ORView from the Astoria Column, Astoria, ORView from the Astoria Column, Astoria, ORAstoria Column, Astoria, ORAstoria Column, Astoria, ORAstoria Column, Astoria, ORPigeon, Astoria Column, Astoria, ORAstoria Column, Astoria, OR
Our next stop was the Columbia River Maritime Museum, also recommended to us, and we loved it. We spent lots of time there reading about the history of the area and viewing the displays. We also saw a ½ hour 3-D movie on the Ocean currents and Whales. Very good.
Columbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, ORColumbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, ORPilot Boat Peacock, Columbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, ORPilot boat Peacock, Columbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, ORCargo ships on the Columbia River, Astoria, ORPilot boat Peacock, Columbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, ORPilot boat Peacock, Columbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, ORRiver cruise ship, Columbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, ORColumbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, ORColumbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, ORColumbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, ORDowntown Trolley, Astoria, ORTrolley tracks, Astoria, ORColumbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, ORColumbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, ORColumbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, ORColumbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, ORColumbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, ORColumbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, ORColumbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, ORColumbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, ORColumbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, ORColumbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, ORColumbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, ORColumbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, ORColumbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, ORColumbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, ORColumbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, ORColumbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, ORColumbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, ORColumbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, ORColumbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, ORColumbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, OR
Thanks, you guys, for your wonderful recommendations. (They also recommended that we go to the Astoria Co-op for our groceries. We did and you were right again; their produce was great!) We had a perfect day in Astoria.
