My Day Trip to Astoria, Oregon
Water, history, and small towns are all things I thoroughly enjoy. It’s no wonder visiting Astoria on the Oregon coast has long been on my bucket list. According to the city’s website, Astoria has a population of 10,000 people. If it looks familiar, you’ve probably seen it in The Goonies; the movie was filmed here.
On a chilly Friday morning, my friend Dana and I made the 2-hour drive from Portland to Astoria. My first thoughts on arrival were that the town has charm and an edge. Although everything looks old, the buildings are in pristine condition; it’s as if Astoria was frozen in time.
Our only plan for that day was to visit the Fort George Brewery and the Flavel House Museum. Like me, Dana is a slut for history and architecture. Needless to say, we make good travel companions and after having fish and chips, Dana and I braved the cold and walked to the museum.
The Flavel House Museum was built in the 1880s and was home to Captain George Flavel. He, of course, was a very wealthy man and he built this Victorian mansion for his family. Because I’m me, I did ask if the home was haunted. The docent rolled her eyes at me and said that some rooms had reported paranormal activity but nothing major.
Beyond this, Dana and I roamed the streets of Astoria and walked toward the pier and the Columbia River. It almost felt like I was in a dream and I felt incredibly lucky that I have the opportunity to go on adventures like this.
Dana pointed out that he loves Astoria because he believed it’s what our hometown of Redondo Beach looked like before it was modernized and I couldn’t agree more. Both are quirky historic coastal towns. The only difference is Astoria refuses to change while Redondo continues to build McMansions. Anyways…
Dana and I actually returned to Fort George Brewery to have a snack before heading back to Portland. Our day trip was relatively short but we were exhausted. Astoria was everything I imagine and my only regret is that I didn’t get to explore more of this cute little town.
Dana and I in Astoria, Oregon
