Planning a trip to Astoria
ESSENTIALS
GETTING THERE 95 miles NW of Portland. From Portland, take U.S. 30 west. From the north or south, take U.S. 101.
GETTING AROUND Astoria has a fairly small downtown core, so you can walk just about everywhere, including to the waterfront. On weekends and in summer (2–6pm) the restored 1913 Astoria Riverfront Trolley ([tel] 503/325-8790; fare $1) runs between Pier 39 and the Astoria Red Lion Inn, making several stops along the way; the round trip takes about an hour. The 5-mile Astoria Riverwalk, a flat, paved trail between the Port of Astoria and 40th Street, is a perfect way to explore Astoria’s revitalized waterfront on foot, by trolley or by bike.
VISITOR INFORMATION Contact or visit the Astoria-Warrenton Area Visitor Center, 111 W. Marine Dr. (www.travelastoria.com; [tel] 800/875-6807 or 503/325-6311), open Monday through Saturday 9am to 5pm (daily summer).
FESTIVALS Astoria has many festivals and events that draw visitors from all over. The annual Fisher Poets Gathering (www.fisherpoets.org; [tel] 503/338-2438), held in late February (usually at Clemente’s cafe), celebrates the poetry of commercial fishermen and women; you have to be a fisherperson to read your poetry, but everyone is welcome to attend. In late April, the Astoria Warrenton Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival (www.astoriacrabfest.com) draws big crowds to the Clatsop County Fairgrounds. In June, the fairgrounds and the Liberty Theater play host to the fun-and-food-loving Scandinavian Midsummer Festival (www.astoriascanfest.com) with performers from Scandinavia and Canada. Also in June, the Liberty Theater serves as the primary venue for the celebrated Astoria Music Festival (www.astoriamusicfestival.org; [tel] 503/325-9896) with a surprisingly sophisticated lineup of classical and pop performances. The Astoria Regatta (www.astoriaregatta.org; [tel] 800/535-8767 or 503/861-2288), held every year in mid-August, is the city’s biggest festival and includes lots of sailboat races. For a complete listing of all the festivals in the area, visit www.travelastoria.com.
