Astoria, Oregon Promenade and Old Houses

We walked the route described in 100 Hikes/Travel Guide: Oregon Coast & Coast Range (Oregon 100 Hikes). From the Columbia River Maritime Museum (which I'll talk about later), we walked west along the waterfront promenade. After watching the activity there, we turned south into town to take a look at the grand old houses of Astoria (some of them built even before the Old Broad was born!). I was huffing to make it to the best houses, yes, uphill, between Grand and Franklin Streets. The Flavel House Museum (pictured above) at 8th and Duane Streets, sells a guide to the old beauties.

We found a nice concrete bench at the corner of 16th and Franklin to enjoy the view of the Columbia River, but then, it was a sunny day and how often does that happen in Astoria?

Astoria Column View of the Columbia River Meeting the Pacific

From Coxcomb Park, this was a "wow" view even before I dragged myself up the 164 steps to the top. Climbing the circular staircase inside the Column, I stopped on nearly every landing for a little breather. Old Broad privilege.

I did not fly a glider from the top, but that's only because I didn't see them until after I was down. Note to self: it's not always good to avoid the gift shop.

In Astoria, Oregon at the top of Coxcomb Hill. Follow the signs (some on the pavement) from 15th St. More information.

Fort To Sea Trail-North Oregon Coast

We walked about three miles of the Fort to Sea Trail north of Seaside, starting at the Sunset Beach trailhead and turning around at the Skipanon River (which makes it the Sea to River trail for us). About the hardest part of this hike is squeezing through the cattle guards. There's a few short climbs but I managed to hobble up them.

As far as natural scenery, you be better off somewhere else. There's a short section where I creaked my neck up long enough to see some birds, but then it was all cow pasture until the highway tunnel. (But maybe you were raised on a farm and are looking for a little nostalgia.) Some deer and elk tracks and scat, which I managed to avoid stepping in.

If you really can't follow in our footsteps, try the 1/3 of a mile to the Sunset Beach viewing platform. (Come on, you probably walk that far in Walmart every time you go in there.) From the platform, we saw..... the beach (and we were expecting.....?) If it's not too cloudy (and it probably is), there's a nice view of Tillamook Head to the south.

Both hikes start from the Sunset Beach trailhead. Look for signs about 8 miles north of Seaside on Highway 101.