Astoria
Around Astoria
Photo: Pete Forsyth · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Oregon · 41k people
Astoria
Locals say North Coast
Where the Columbia meets the Pacific, and fog keeps secrets.
Columbia River BlueCoastal Forest GreenSandy Shore
Welcome to the North Coast! Whether you're here for the fog, the fishing, or just a beach fire, you'll find a community that loves the salt air. Grab a bowl of chowder and settle in.
Clubs for Astoria
No clubs for Astoria yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Astoria. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Astoria. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Astoria Column Tower with murals and panoramic views of the river and coast.
- Columbia River Maritime Museum Exhibits on shipwrecks, lighthouses, and the Columbia bar.
- Fort Stevens State Park Historic military fort with beach access and a shipwreck.
- Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock Iconic sea stack and tide pools at low tide.
- Seaside Promenade Paved boardwalk along the beach, perfect for walking and biking.
- Lewis and Clark National Historical Park Fort Clatsop, the winter encampment of the expedition.
- Outdoors Beachcombing for agates and glass floats
- Outdoors Hiking the trails at Ecola State Park
- With kids Visit the Columbia River Maritime Museum
- With kids Explore tide pools at Cannon Beach
- Evenings Live music at local pubs and breweries
- Evenings Bonfire gatherings on the beach
- Locals love Fishing piers and docks
- Locals love Maritime museums
Through the year
- Astoria Regatta August Boat races, waterfront festival, and parade in August.
- FisherPoets Gathering February Poetry and storytelling about fishing life in February.
- Hood to Coast Relay August Long-distance relay race ending on the Seaside beach.
- Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest June Sand sculpture competition on the beach in June.
- Seaside Beach Volleyball Tournament July Huge amateur volleyball tournament on the sand.
Mild maritime climate with wet winters and cool, dry summers. The best time to be out is summer, especially July through September. Best: July through September are the driest and sunniest months.
Talk like a local
- “The Coast”
- The Oregon Coast, especially the northern stretch.
- “The Prom”
- Seaside's boardwalk.
- “The Column”
- Astoria Column.
- “Dungies”
- Dungeness crab.
Getaways
Local flavour
Rooting for Portland Trail Blazers (NBA), Seattle Seahawks (NFL), Seattle Mariners (MLB), Portland Timbers (MLS)
Eat and drink
- Dungeness crab Fresh from local waters, often served cracked or in crab cakes.
- Fish and chips A staple at seaside shacks, often with wild-caught cod or halibut.
- Clam chowder Creamy New England style, found in many coastal diners.
- Marionberry pie Oregon's signature berry, often served with ice cream.
Where people go
- Fishing piers and docks Where locals gather for crabbing, fishing, and watching boats.
- Maritime museums Celebrating the region's seafaring history and shipwrecks.
- Lighthouses Historic beacons like Cape Disappointment and Tillamook Rock.
- Seaside boardwalks Classic coastal promenades with arcades and saltwater taffy.
- Beach bonfire spots Sandy stretches where locals gather for driftwood fires.
Heritage and traditions
Astoria and the North Coast are proud of their rich maritime history, from the oldest American settlement west of the Rockies to the working fishing fleet, and the rugged natural beauty of the Pacific shoreline.
This time of year in Astoria
- Whale watching Fall Gray whales migrate south along the coast, visible from shore.
Say it like a local: “the river” — the Columbia River
Festivals
- Astoria Crab and Seafood Festival April Celebrates the local crab and seafood harvest with tastings and cooking demos.
- Finnish Midsummer June The Finnish-American community celebrates Juhannus with bonfires and traditional foods.
- Seaside Beach and Chowder Festival March A weekend of chowder tasting and beach activities.
Landmarks with a story
- Suomi Church (Finnish Evangelical Lutheran) Historic Finnish church reflecting the area's Scandinavian heritage.
- Flavel House Victorian mansion built by a Columbia River bar pilot, now a museum.
- St. Mary's Catholic Church Historic church in Astoria's downtown, serving the community since the late 1800s.
Food traditions
- Finnish pulla Sweet cardamom bread brought by Finnish immigrants, often served at community gatherings.
- Smoked salmon A Native American and local tradition of smoking salmon over alder wood.
- Oyster stew A coastal comfort food made with local oysters, especially in colder months.
Music and arts
- Maritime folk music Sea shanties and fishing songs are kept alive by the FisherPoets Gathering and local musicians.
- The Goonies filming location Astoria's historic homes and streets served as the backdrop for the iconic 1985 film, a point of local pride.
A little history
- 1811 Astoria founded by John Jacob Astor's Pacific Fur Company, the first American settlement west of the Rockies.
- 1805-06 Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery wintered at Fort Clatsop near present-day Astoria.
- 1922 A devastating fire destroyed much of downtown Astoria, leading to rebuilding in brick.
- Late 1800s Salmon canning industry boomed, attracting immigrants including Chinese and Finnish workers.
Rivalries
- Astoria vs Seaside High school football and bragging rights on the coast.
- Oregon Ducks vs Oregon State Beavers The Civil War rivalry splits the state.
- Portland Timbers vs Seattle Sounders Soccer fans pick a side in the Cascadia Cup.
- Game day Astoria Regatta
- Game day Surfing at Seaside
- Outdoors Whale watching from shore
- Outdoors Storm watching in winter
- With kids Climbing the Astoria Column
- With kids Exploring the Peter Iredale shipwreck
Locals speak with a Pacific Northwest accent, often saying 'the coast' for the beach and 'the river' for the Columbia. Maritime terms like 'the bar' and 'dungeness' are common, and the pace of speech is relaxed.
Only here
- Astoria is the oldest American settlement west of the Rockies.
- The Columbia River bar is known as the 'Graveyard of the Pacific' due to many shipwrecks.
- The Astoria-Megler Bridge is the longest continuous truss bridge in North America.
- The Goonies house and other filming locations draw fans from around the world.
New here? A few tips
- Bring rain gear and layers; the coast is famously wet and windy.
- Learn to drive in fog and on winding coastal roads.
- Try the local seafood: Dungeness crab, fish and chips, and clam chowder are musts.
- Check tide tables before clamming or tide pooling.
- Embrace the local pace; life here moves slower than in the city.
Make this page better
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Nearby
Every areaWillapa BayWashingtonWhere the river meets the sea and the oysters are always fresh.LongviewWashingtonWhere the river meets the forest.TillamookOregonWhere the forest meets the seaAberdeenWashingtonWhere the rainforest meets the PacificCentraliaWashingtonWhere the pines meet the pastPortlandOregonWhere the river meets the mountain, and the coffee never stops.OlympiaWashingtonWhere the sound beginsSheltonWashingtonOyster capital with a small-town soul.
Astoria, OR. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.