Going Coastal for Sanity’s Sake: A Weekend in Astoria, OR

A beautiful evening at the Oregon coast.

I live for the ocean.

Having grown up on a small Alaskan island, the scent of seawater was one ubiquitous thing about my childhood. And after I moved away from Kodiak, I made sure to always live near water, since I was no longer surrounded by it.

I went to college in Arcata, CA where there were several beaches (both rocky and sandy) just minutes away. Then I moved north to Portland where the Willamette River is just a five-minute walk from my office in the industrial southeast. If I’m having a stressful day (which is every day lately), I take what I like to call a “rage walk” to the riverfront to have some alone time by the water.

But sometimes the Willamette is just not enough and I feel the pull to the Oregon coast to breath in some salty ocean air. Happily, my husband feels the same and it’s easy to convince him that a trip to the beach is a necessity.

Often when the mood strikes, we head to Depoe Bay and then on to Newport, but another favorite spot for us is Astoria. For a sleepy town, Astoria certainly has its allures – state parks, historical markers from the Lewis & Clark expedition, rivers plus the ocean, and several breweries (yay!).

And out of all the coastal towns in this state, it reminds me the most of home — a small, windy, rainy, foggy place where the docks are full of fishing boats and the people tend to be a bit bedraggled.

On my most recent trip there a few weeks ago with my dad, stepmother and their ridiculously spoiled dog Pépe, the sun was actually shining. And while the wind was whipping with some ferocity, it was still a wonderfully dry weekend, perfect for exploring.

Since sometimes I don’t “explore” any further than the local breweries, this time I made an effort to see some new things. Here’s some of the sights, bites and suds we enjoyed during our stay:

The original “Goon Docks” from the movie The Goonies. I was obsessed with the film as a kid so it’s always fun to make this pilgrimage. And every time I go, plenty of others – both  young and old – are on the same mission. Fun fact: this year is the movie’s 30th anniversary!

A Native American burial canoe dedicated to Coboway, a leader of the Clatsop tribe who was friendly with explorers Lewis and Clark. This symbolic memorial is located by the Astoria Column.

It’s not a trip to Astoria unless you’ve seen the Column. This was my second visit and it was still impressive. The artwork around the sides is my favorite part – it tells the history of the town.

The Iredale shipwreck at the Ft. Stevens Park. The ship ran ashore in 1906 during a storm and was unable to be salvaged. More than a century later, its skeleton still remains.

Walking the beach at Ft Stevens State Park

A tasting flight from the Rogue Brewery, a staple in the Oregon beer scene.

Sausage sampler (all housemade) at the Fort George Brewery & Public House.

Beer flight from the Fort George Brewery. So many tasty beverages on this board!

A replica of the original fort that Lewis and Clark (and around 30 others including Sacagawea) stayed in during the winter encampment of 1805-1806 in Fort Clatsop.

A walk by the Columbia River

Under the Astoria Bridge

Click on this bad boy for an awesome panoramic view of a waterfront sunset.

Just like my past visits to the coast, this trip was amazingly effective in restoring some peace to my soul — someone really should market beach trips as “saltwater therapy.”

The best part though? I’m headed back to Astoria tomorrow with my husband, who was unable to go last time. I doubt that the weather will be as nice but I know the beer will be just as delicious and I am confident that the ocean will again work its magic.

Advertisement