Grandview Bed & Breakfast

Directions from Portland International Airport (PDX) to Astoria - Take Airport way (East) to Interstate 205 North to Interstate 5 North, until you reach the Longview Exit 36, approximately 49 miles/ Travel through Longview 2 miles on Tennant Blvd., left at Oregon Way. GO 1 mile on Oregon Way, cross the river on the Longview Bridge. Turn right (West) onto Highway 30 and follow to Astoria. Approximately 60 miles. Plan on about 2 to 2 1/2 hours of driving time.

Astoria, Oregon is rich in history with historic museums and parks. Fort Clatsop National Memorial commemorates the western end of the Lewis & Clark Trail. (It was on a wet Christmas Eve day in 1805 that Lewis & Clark and their Corps of Discovery moved into a stockade fort surrounded by lush old-growth forest, wetlands and wildlife and rested from their arduous 2,000 mile westward journey. Fort Clatsop, the winter encampment site of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, was named in honor of the local Clatsop Indians.)

Astoria, Oregon has been the home of many Hollywood movies. Some of the movies filmed in Astoria are: Kindergarten Cop, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, The Goonies, Short Circuit, Come See the Paradise, and Free Willy I and II. A driving tour of Astoria gives visitors a chance to see many of the locations.

Discover why Astoria is a delightful romantic getaway. Visit Astoria's many café's, and unique shops. Tour nationally acclaimed Columbia River Maritime Museum (Explore maritime history from dugout canoes to sail ships. Walk the bridge of a World War II warship, marvel at the 44-foot motor lifeboat plowing through a wave in a rescue mission.)

Astoria has enough to culturally please yet still give a small-town atmosphere. Enjoy an opera or concert at the Liberty Theater, explore the end of the Lewis and Clark Trail at the Lewis and Clark National Park, or watch the sea lions along the Riverfront Walk connecting the Cannery Pier Hotel to Astoria's National Downtown Historic District and beyond.

Astoria Column, Coxcomb Hill: Known as the symbol of Astoria, the 125 foot tower has 164 spiral stairs that you can climb for a grand view of the Columbia River, the volcanic cone of Mt. St. Helens and the Pacific Ocean. It was built in 1926 by the Great Northern Railway, and is a favorite of kids.

Astoria Children's Museum, 11th and Exchange Streets: The Museum offers families an opportunity to explore and play in a comfortable indoor setting. Changing exhibits are designed to capture the imagination of children of all ages. Upon entering you will find permanent exhibits that include a child sized grocery store, an active toddler area, boats to sail in our nautical area, and an inspiring art or craft project at the "Creation Station". Other exhibits change periodically. A variety of programs are scheduled for toddlers during the weekday, and school age children on Saturdays. A greater number of activities are scheduled during school breaks and summer vacation. A monthly schedule of these programs can be found at the Museum, the Astoria/Warrenton Chamber of Commerce and the Astoria Public Library. Upcoming programs or events can also be found in the Daily Astorian's Thursday Panache section. Hours of operation are Monday, Thursday and Friday from 11am-3pm. Saturday from 11am-4pm and Sunday 1pm - 4pm. The Museum is closed Tuesday and Wednesday. (Call for school break and summer schedule). For more information, call the Museum at 325-8669.

Uppertown Firefighter's Museum, 30th and Marine Drive: An extensive collection of fire fighting equipment makes this museum fun for kids of all ages! On display are hand-pulled, horse drawn and motorized vehicles, fire fighting equipment and memorabilia.

Heritage Museum, 16th Street and Exchange Ave: Features regional history, natural history, geology, Native American artifacts and important nautical events.

Captain George Flavel Museum, 8th Street and Duane Ave: Elegant Victorian home built by Captain George Flavel. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is a monument to the rich style and architecture of the Victorian age.

Columbia River Maritime Museum, 17th Street and Marine Drive: Seven galleries display and interpret the region's maritime history. 24,000 square feet of exhibit space and the enormous collection of artifacts, models, paintings and displays make it worth the visit. Ft. Clatsop National Memorial, six miles south of Astoria, off Hwy. 101: Winter quarters for Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, this replica has a living history program. Demonstrations on making candles, clothing, smoking meat building canoes and firing flintlocks add life to the expedition displays.

Fort Astoria, 15th and Exchange Streets: A small park is located at the intersection of 15th and Exchange streets, where John J. Astor's fur traders originally constructed a small fort.

The Astoria Aquatics Center: The latest addition to the City of Astoria and its residents is the Astoria Aquatic Center, located on the east end of town at the juncture of 20th Street and Marine Drive. The project began in 1996 and opened in June, 1998. The Aquatic Center has four pools and almost 200,000 gallons of water. The center is open seven days a week. The hours are: Monday through Friday 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Saturday 12:00 pm. to 7:00 p.m., and Sunday 12:00 pm. to 4:00 p.m. The main pool is a six lane, 25 yard lap pool. The shallow end is 3-1/2 feet deep and the deep end is eight feet deep. Users may enter by stairs, or a handicapped lift is available. The pool temperature is maintained at 84 degrees. The second pool is a warm water pool with depths from 1-1/2 feet to five feet. 88 degrees is the normal maintained temperature and there are stairs and a ramp for entry and exit. This pool has a water play feature, a 105 foot open slide with a 20 foot drop, and it features Oregon's first lazy river. The spa pool holds 10 adults and the temperature is a steady 100 to 102 degrees. A Kiddies Pool has a water temperature of 88 degrees and offers a variety of interactive features. A fitness room is available for adults. The equipment includes an In-Shape multi-station gym, an assortment of dumbbells with benches, a treadmill and recumbent bike. There are locker rooms for men and women and, for those with small children, there are also family change rooms. The Aquatic Center also has a Food Bar/Concession Stand. Programs include: Lap Swimming, Open Family Swim, Water and Land Exercise, Therapy Swim, Learn to Swim Parties, Birthday Parties, Scuba Lessons, Open Kayak, and Pool Rentals. Aquatic Center staff members are professionally trained and wish to offer the highest level of service. For information call (503) 325-7027.

Fort Stevens State Park (Fees): Fort Stevens State Park (503-861-1671) features camping and day use areas located near several mile of ocean beach and a variety of historical and recreational attractions.

Freshwater Lakes: Coffenbury Lake provides two swimming areas, restroom, picnicking and a boat ramp. The speed limit on the lake is 10 mpg. Creep, Crawl and Crabapple Lakes are small, but each does have a boat ramp for fishing or canoeing.

Hiking Trails and Bike Paths: Fort Stevens has over six miles of hiking trails and nine miles of bike paths, and is the beginning of the Oregon Coast Trail traversing south to California.

Abandoned Fort: The Fort Stevens Military Reservation guarded the mouth of the Columbia River from the Civil War until World War II. The fort, located one mile north of the campground, was turned over to the State Parks and Recreation Department in 1976. Park visitors can explore the abandoned gun batteries. You can climb to the nearby commander's station for a scenic view of the Columbia River and South Jetty. A brochure for a self-guided walking tour is available on request.

Shipwreck Remains: Near the beach parking area is the rusting wreck of the "Peter Iredale". The English sailing ship ran aground during a storm in 1906.

Military Museum: The Military Museum contains many military artifacts and interpretive displays depicting the history of the fort from the Civil War era to the shelling of Battery Russell by a Japanese submarine during World War II. The museum is open daily from June through September and Wednesday through Sunday during the remainder of the year.

Guided Tours: During the summer months, guided tours of one-of-a-kind underground Battery Mishler and a tour in the back of a restored 1954 "deuce-and-a-half" army truck are also available. Group tours may be arranged by calling the Historic Area Military Museum at (503) 861-2000 between 10 am and 2 pm Monday through Friday. Allow two weeks advance notice. Tours, special events and museum services are provided by the Friends of Old Fort Stevens, a private, non-profit group.

South Jetty on Clatsop Spit: South Jetty was built in the late 1800's by the Corps of Engineers. An observation platform located near the jetty is a good spot to watch waves breaking and see big ships crossing the Columbia River bar. Wildlife viewing platforms, located on the Clatsop Spit overlooking the Columbia River and near Swash Lake, are excellent spots for bird watching.

Excerpt From http://www.astoria-usa.com