If you’re looking for a weekend escape that doesn’t involve a TSA line, I would love to suggest heading west to the quirky, coastal gem of Astoria. From Vancouver, it’s a scenic two-ish hour drive; just enough time to feel like a proper getaway, but not so far that your snacks run out.
We recently did just that, and I have to say: Astoria is the kind of place that surprises you in the best ways. History buffs, foodies, museum-goers, and people who just want to watch ships pass by while holding a really good coffee or a glass of wine . . . this one’s for you.
Downtown Astoria is full of quirky shops, local art, bookstores and delightful restaurants. And my favorite thing: MUSEUMS.
We booked a room at the Cannery Pier Hotel and Spa, perched right on the water, and it was a treat. Literally, every room has a spectacular and unobstructed view of the Columbia River, and the rooms are equipped with binoculars and a schedule of the ships coming through. I would have been perfectly happy just lounging in the room all weekend watching the water and clocking the ships. But there were MUSEUMS calling my name.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I love a museum. Favorite museum of all time: Museum of Innocence in Istanbul, but the Columbia River Maritime Museum is a close 2nd.
Astoria is kind of obsessed with its maritime roots—and I mean that in the best way. The Maritime Museum is packed with fascinating exhibits on shipwrecks, lighthouses, and the famously treacherous Columbia River Bar (a.k.a. the “Graveyard of the Pacific” . . . yipes). There’s even a retired Coast Guard rescue boat you can board and explore, wandering through the “bedrooms” and dining hall while trying to imagine what life was like aboard.
Next we went to the Heritage Museum, tucked inside a stately old building that feels straight out of an Edwardian drama. It dives into the city’s rich (and sometimes rough-around-the-edges) past, with exhibits on fur trading, logging, and the kind of frontier life that involved more mud and fewer lattes.
No trip to Astoria is complete without a visit to the Astoria Column. Yes, you’ll have to climb 164 spiral steps, but trust me, the view from the top is worth every quad-burning moment. From up there, you can see the river meeting the Pacific, Washington across the way, and the rolling hills that seem to go on forever.
And then—you throw airplanes.
No, really. You can buy little biodegradable wooden gliders at the base, hike them up, and then send them sailing off the top. It’s goofy and delightful and one of those little rituals that makes Astoria feel like its own universe.
Before we left, we took a morning stroll along the Riverwalk Trail. It runs for miles along the water, past old canneries, sea lions barking on the docks, and the iconic Astoria-Megler Bridge stretching impossibly far across the river. It’s peaceful, a little wild, and the perfect way to soak in the town’s character. Someone was launching giant bubbles from one of the docks, making the scenery even more magical.
In all, our Astoria weekend felt like the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation—just enough to feel like we’d escaped, but not so far that Monday felt rude. So if you’re looking for a weekend that’s part salty sea air, part history, and part pure coastal charm, pack your bag (lightly) and point your car toward the Pacific.
Just don’t forget to buy a little airplane.
