…After departing Portland and embarking upon a 95-mile journey on Highway 30, complete with sweeping visual landscapes, I found myself at the mouth of the Columbia River in Astoria, one of the state’s most historic cities. Both rich in tradition and architecture (there are over 300 Victorian homes throughout the city), this fabled fishing community makes you feel as if you’re stepping back in time to the days when the waterfront was cluttered with salmon canneries and dance halls, where saloons lined every corner.
While no longer the fishing capital it once was in its hey-day, you can still purchase sardines, Dungeness crab, sturgeon, shrimp, Albacore tuna, and salmon down at Union Town Fish Market located at 229 West Marine Drive. There are also an array of boutiques, art galleries, wineries, great restaurants and hotels, and the Columbia River Maritime Museum, which is actually much more amazing than you’d ever expect. The lightship is a real treat.
My first stop after checking into the Cannery Pier Hotel was to try some of the most talked about lightly beer battered fish and chips in the region at the famed Bowpicker (which is right across from the Columbia River Maritime Museum). Let me tell you: I wasn’t disappointed. Upon arriving at the tiny gill net boat, I was warmly greeted by co-owner Linda Ford. She then proceeded to whip me up some of the best fish and chips I’ve ever had. End of story.
Next stop was the Fort George Brewery, since there’s no better way to follow-up one of the best meals in your life than to enjoy an ice-cold glass of Quick Wit and charming views of the city.
And if you just so happened to grow up in the 80s like I did (hey, you guys!) making a brief stop at the Goonies House is an absolute must.
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Story by Elysia McMahan Article features Portland, Astoria and Newport.