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The town of Astoria
is the oldest &continuously populated settlement
West of the Rockies and marked the end of the historical
journey of frontiersmen Lewis & Clark. Astoria is
one of the most breathtaking ocean destinations on the
West Coast. Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and where
the Columbia and Young River merge into the sea, Astoria
has many historical landmarks, lighthouses, and culture
to discover. The overcast weather draws the biggest
and independent filmmakers from all over because the
lighting is ideal for shooting. "There's almost
always a movie being filmed," says a man who has
lived in Astoria for 25 years. The Columbian Theatre
is setup more like a restaurant than a theatre with
loveseats, tables, food, and drinks including beer.
The charm of Astoria attracts tourists year round to
dine, shop, relax, explore and even fish. The most popular
time to travel to Astoria though is the summer, in which
the population triples. Wheelchair friendly Astoria
has many sites to be seen. |
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Pier
39 in Astoria
is filled with life surrounded by the Columbia River
and green hills. The sound of the waves crashing against
the pier and sea lions mingling is all around. The pier
is accessible for a wheelchair traveler and one can
travel far out over the water to enjoy beautiful views
of Astoria's green hills and landmark bridge. There
is lots of commercial activity, including a many cafes,
like the Urban Cafe, Schooner Cafe,
and Cannery Cafe. There are also a few pubs
that play live music on the weekends. In fact, all over
the city are bars and pubs that play live music, one
favorite is the Voodoo Room. Of course count on a couple
of fresh fish markets and some fishing exhibits. Pier
39 is also a neat place to be when one of the enormous
international cruise ships ports by the Astoria Bridge. |
Downtown
Astoria is a very cute seafront part of town that is
very close to Pier 39. There are a number of local boutique
and antique stores as well as restaurants, cafes, pubs,
and bakeries. One such bakery that stands out from all
the rest is the Blue
Scorcher Bakery & Cafe.
Come for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or coffee and a cookie.
it doesn't matter because everything on the menu is
good. The pastries were particularly divine. |
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Maritime
Memorial is
located right underneath the Astoria Bridge and is a
dedication to the memories of local people who were
involved in the maritime industry and also honors those
members of the U.S. Coast Guard who lost their lives
while serving here on the Columbia River. |
600
feet above sea level is the Astoria
Column, the highest point of all Oregon
that can be found in a wooded area on Coxcomb Hill.
360 degrees of breathtaking views, including the mighty
Columbia River (above right photo), one of the most
dangerous water passages in the world. Locals say that
there is more berried treasure in these wasters than
all of the Caribbean Sea but even with modern technology,
it still cannot be reached; the waters are too dangerous.
From the Astoria Column, you can also see a clear view
of the Astoria Bridge. |
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There
are many museums also to discover |
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