10 fun things to do in Astoria will lead you through town, take you for a trolley ride, and refresh you when you need to take a break.
Being active in Astoria, Oregon, is easy. Stroll the 6-mile Riverwalk along the historic waterfront. Climb a massive column for a stellar view. And when you’re ready, a place to taste beer and devour a wood-fired pizza. Astoria will keep you busy. Our 10 fun things to do in Astoria, Oregon, will lead you through town, take you for a trolley ride, and refresh you when you need a break.
Astoria, Oregon History
Astoria’s history is fascinating. For thousands of years, the mouth of the Columbia River was home to Chinook and Clatsop Indians. The area was rich in salmon fishing, berry picking, and hunting and served as a trade route with other tribes.
Although explorers Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery stayed nearby during the harsh winter of 1805-1806, the town of Astoria was established in 1811 when the crew aboard John Jacob Astor’s ship, the Tonquin, staked their claim and established a fur-trading post. Under the British, Astoria, initially called Fort George, became the first permanent US settlement west of the Rocky Mountains.
Artifacts from Astoria’s fur-trading days can be seen at the maritime museum. Photo by Elizabeth R Rose
Through the years, the town attracted immigrants from Nordic countries who were drawn to fishing. Many Chinese (22 percent of Astoria’s population at one point) came to work in the fish canneries. Astoria grew into a major port city, was part of the Oregon Territory, and then became part of the State of Oregon in 1876.
Fun Things to Do in Astoria
Many of the fun things to do in Astoria relate to this rich history of the mouth of the Columbia River and the development of the Pacific Northwest.
Explore the Columbia River Maritime Museum
The Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria is one of the main attractions for visitors. The vast museum has full-sized vessels, hands-on exhibits, and artifacts telling the Pacific Northwest maritime stories of the past and today. If you want to know about the dangers of the Columbia River Bar and the brave Bar Pilots who guide ships across it almost daily, this is the place to come. If you are a fan of WWII history, the maritime museum has the bridge of the Destroyer USS Knapp. It features specialty displays about little-known aspects of WWII life.
Add stories and displays of the local fishing industry, exciting explanations of Columbia River weather patterns, and a well-stocked bookstore and gift shop, and you’ll know why this museum is number one on my “to-do” list. Soon to open is an exhibit about the area’s shipwrecks. Plenty of them have been at the Columbia River’s mouth over the years. The Columbia River Maritime Museum is open daily from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM,​​ and there is an entry fee.
Inside the museum this U.S. Coast Guard Motor Lifeboat is shown in action climbing a 20-foot wave, attempting a daring rescue. Photo by Elizabeth R Rose
Have a Brew and Pizza at Fort George Brewery
Known for wood-fired pizza and brews with names like Atomic Juke Box and Vortex IPA, Fort George Brewery is an ideal place to rest after an active day in Astoria. Eating here is one of my favorite fun things to do in Astoria.
You can enjoy cider, soft drinks, and wine with your pizza or salad. Fort George was named after King George III, while the Astoria area was under temporary British Authority during the War of 1812. Fort George Brewery has grown from a single Astoria brewpub to a city block filled with restaurants, tasting rooms, breweries, community spaces, and music venues. A street-level patio and upper deck welcome your furry friends and plenty of indoor seating. Even so, I recommend you make a reservation. Fort George is about a block up from the river, and because it is located in the two-story 1920s Lovell Auto Company building, you can enjoy some great Columbia River views.
Chris, from the Portland podcast, Right at the Fork, sits down with us to enjoy brews, sunshine, and pizza. Photo by Elizabeth R Rose
Cruise the River and Port
Columbia River Eco Tours, aboard their 40-foot Tollycraft Yacht, departs from the West Mooring Basin west of the Astoria-Megler Bridge, takes you under this magnificent bridge, and continues along the waterfront to get a view of the buildings, including the restored Bumble Bee Seafood Cannery, now a museum.
The tour will take you close to both docked and anchored ships to get a good view and continues up the estuary to the Lewis & Clark National Wildlife Refuge. On the tour, you’ll often see eagles at the Twilight Creek Eagle Sanctuary, nesting osprey, great blue herons, and migrating birds. The yacht has both indoor and outdoor seating and restroom facilities. Public tours are available by reservation at $150 per person.
Get up close to the ships, go birding, and see Astoria from the river by taking a motor yacht cruise. Photo by Elizabeth R Rose
Taste Spirits at the Pilot House Distillery
As I wandered Astoria’s historic downtown one day, I saw a sign advertising Pilot House Distilling on Duane Street. I entered the tasting room, filled with Astoria memorabilia, bottles of locally distilled spirits, and a window where you could see the distillery. Pilot House Distilling, established in 2013, produces small batches of vodkas, gins, whiskies, agave spirits, canned cocktails, and other specialty items. They offer tastings of their award-winning spirits and bottle sales seven days a week. I was surprised that they distill Absinthe and import agave from Mexico to make their Agave spirits. A flight of three tastes is $10, and the unique, high-proof herbal liquor, Columbia Absinthe Verte, costs $10 per taste.
Some of the award-winning spirits on hand at Pilot House Distilling in Astoria. Photo by Elizabeth R Rose
Ride the Astoria Riverfront Trolley
The Astoria Trolley takes you from the Astoria Red Lion Inn past the Columbia River Maritime Museum to Pier 39. The narrated round trip is about an hour. This 1913 trolley, on loan from the San Antonio Museum Association, runs on old freight railroad tracks. In season, the trolley operates daily from 12 noon to 6 pm. The fare is $1 for a round trip or $2 for all-day (hop on and hop off).
Note: Check the website for seasonal hours and days, which may change due to volunteer availability)
The historic trolley carries visitors up and down the waterfront. Photo courtesy Great Columbia Crossing
Climb the Astoria Column
Visible from most areas of Astoria, high upon Coxcomb Hill, is the 125-foot-tall monument dedicated by the Great Northern Railway in 1926. The Astoria Column is decorated with artwork depicting three historic events: Captain Robert Gray’s discovery of the Columbia River, the end of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and the arrival of Astor’s ship, Tonquin.
You can climb the Astoria Column for an expansive view of the Columbia River and Astoria. Photo Courtesy Don Frank AWCC
But the fun part is that you can climb the spiral staircase to the top of the column to enjoy a view of the Columbia River and Astoria. Climbing the 164 steps to the observation tower will take about a half-hour. The tower is open from dawn to dusk but may close due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Going into the tower is free, but parking at the 30-acre city park is $5.00.
Trek Across the Astoria-Megler Bridge
Annually, you can lace up your walking or running shoes and hoof it across the 4-mile Astoria-Megler Bridge during the Great Columbia Crossing. This 10K event will take you across North America’s longest continuous truss bridge, which opened in 1966. The scenery is impressive, and the mostly flat (and car-free) course will surprise you with quite a climb at the bridge’s peak, high enough to allow huge freighters to pass underneath on their journey to the sea. This is the only time of the year when pedestrians can enjoy the bridge and the views of the mouth of the Columbia River.
The Great Columbia Crossing is a fun event when cars are not allowed on the bridge. Photo courtesy Great Columbia Crossing
Walk the Riverwalk
Any day of the year, you can enjoy the sights and sounds of Astoria’s historic waterfront as you walk the 6.4-mile Riverwalk. The walkway follows part of the Astoria & Columbia River Railroad. Park along the east portion at the Columbia River Maritime Museum, the east end at Lagoon Road, or the west trailhead at Pier 3 at the Port of Astoria. Take a moment to view the huge ships, enjoy a close-up view of the Astoria-Megler Bridge, and visit the Maritime Memorial.
You can learn more about Astoria’s history as you walk the Riverwalk. Photo by Elizabeth R Rose
As you walk along this flat trail, you can stop and learn about Astoria’s history at the interpretive kiosks, see the river pilot boats and headquarters, stop for ice cream or a meal, and do some birding. We had a delightful and delicious American breakfast at a local hole in the wall, the Riverwalk Café, visible from the walk at Pier 11. If you get tired, hop aboard the seasonal Astoria Trolley that runs on tracks part of the way. It provides a historical narrative of the area.
Visit Astoria’s Goonies Sites
Two must-see museums were featured in the cult movie Goonies. The first is behind the Clatsop County Courthouse. The old 1914 county jail was featured in Goonies’s jailbreak and chase scene. Right out in front is the black Jeep Cherokee, complete with fake bullet holes used in the movie. The jail is now the Oregon Film Museum, featuring films shot in Oregon and TV shows with Oregon scenes. Admission to the museum is $6 for adults and includes a bar-coded set pass. Scan the bar, and you can video yourself in three film settings: Twilight, Goonies, and The Shining.
The old Clatsop County Jail is now the Oregon Film Museum. Photo by Elizabeth R Rose
The second is the Flavel House, an elaborate Queen Anne Victorian home of Captain George Flavel and his family. The mansion survived the 1922 fire, which destroyed much of Astoria’s downtown. This was the retirement home of Captain George Flavel, who had it built from 1884-1886. Captain Flavel was a successful Astoria entrepreneur and one of the first licensed Columbia River Bar Pilots, those daring mariners who pilot ships across the dangerous bar at the mouth of the Columbia. You can visit the house. There is a 15-minute movie in the carriage house/gift shop, and the home tour is self-guided. Docents are on hand to answer questions. There is a small entry fee.
Captain Flavel was a licensed mariner who established the Bar Pilots and was a successful entrepreneur in Astoria. Photo by Elizabeth R Rose
Sip a Cocktail and Watch the Ships
You may want to relax after all this walking, touring, and learning. There is a cozy chic cocktail lounge and bistro at the Bowline Hotel, right on the river at Ninth Street. You can also opt for patio seating. Either inside or out, you can enjoy craft cocktails and coffee. You can also order locally sourced meals and small plates created by Executive Chef Jake Martin. It’s the place to relax, enjoy some fine food and drink, and watch the ships, pilot boats, and barges go by. And, if you are lucky, you’ll spy a salmon or sturgeon jumping out of the water or a sea lion swimming by in search of its next meal. The Knot has generous hours—Monday through Sunday, 8 AM to11 PM.
The Astor, a specialty martini, made with local spruce tip-infused gin, was a refreshing choice at The Knot. Photo by Elizabeth R Rose
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When You Visit Astoria, Oregon
When we visited Astoria, we stayed at The Bowline Hotel, right on the river. Many of the activities on this list can be done within walking distance of the hotel. To reach Astoria, fly into Portland International Airport (PDX). It’s less than a two-hour drive via I-5 N and US-30 W from the airport. Astoria is very close to additional attractions, including the Oregon Coast and the Long Beach Peninsula of Washington (just across the bridge).
When you visit the area, the weather can be cold and damp, surprisingly sunny, or foggy in the morning and sunny in the afternoon. So, bring layers, including a waterproof outer jacket. These 10 fun things to do in Astoria, Oregon, will be best enjoyed with outdoor clothing and a good pair of walking shoes.
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