Skip to Content

Pacific Northwest Girls’ Weekend in Astoria, Oregon

Pacific Northwest Girls’ Weekend in Astoria, Oregon

Sharing is caring!

Are you looking for a cute girls’ getaway in the Pacific Northwest? Check out how to spend a weekend in Astoria, Oregon!

I’m a big fan of girlfriend getaways. Since I have little kids, I don’t get to do them very often. But, I think it’s so important to get away from my #momlife every once in a while and recharge.

When I was invited on an Astoria, Oregon girls’ getaway, I didn’t think twice.

Keep scrolling to find out exactly what we did on a Seattle weekend getaway to Astoria, Oregon.

Where is Astoria, Oregon?

Astoria is located about 3.5 hours South of Seattle and about 2 hours West of Portland. If you are driving up the coast, Astoria makes a great Oregon road trip stop.

The Astoria, Oregon history is very PNW. It started out as a salmon cannery town and still has much of that charm. You’ll find a lot of historic homes, small businesses, and an unbeatable view of the Columbia River. There are so many things to do in Astoria, Oregon that it’s totally worth a weekend trip.

The Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa

We were lucky enough to stay at the upscale Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa. This is one of the premier Astoria, Oregon hotels and has an impressive view of the Astoria-Megler Bridge.

They also offer pet-friendly rooms complete with dog beds, treats, and a toy. My friend brought her dog, Lili, who was quite a happy camper!

The Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa is pet friendly Astoria, Oregon hotel and is one of the top Astoria, Oregon accommodations #astoriaoregon #cannerypierhotel #visitastoria #cannerypierhotelandspa #pnw
The Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa has breathtaking views of the Columbia River. Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

What makes the Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa extra cool is that they have an on-site spa, that is fabulous! They also offer complimentary bicycles and chauffeur service. It’s truly a top-notch Astoria, Oregon accommodation.

If you’d like to know more about the Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa, read my full review. Or check the latest rates and availability.

Astoria, Oregon Things To Do

If you’re wondering about Astoria, Oregon attractions, I’ll tell you what we did in our weekend getaway.

We walked around downtown Astoria, Oregon a few times. It’s quite a small area, but it’s filled with quirky shops and little restaurants.

It’s awesome that our hotel had bikes because it’s a very bike-friendly area. We could walk everywhere we wanted to see from our hotel.

OREGON FILM MUSEUM

Have you seen The Goonies? This is a must-stop on any Astoria, Oregon Goonies tour. The opening scenes of that movie are filmed right there at the Oregon Film Museum.

When we walked around town on our first day, I hadn’t seen the movie yet. My friend was absolutely giddy about seeing the jailhouse!

So, that night we rented The Goonies and I’m so glad we did! It made exploring the Oregon Film Museum that much more fascinating!

Photo of the Oregon Film Museum, which is a stop on any Astoria, Oregon Goonies Tour, since that's the Goonies Jeep and jailhouse from The Goonies! #thegoonies #astoriaoregon #visitastoria #oregonfilmmuseum
Yes! That’s the vehicle used in the opening scenes of The Goonies and that’s the jailhouse! Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

For fans of The Goonies, this is a must-visit attraction. Located in the actual jail cells of the old Clatsop County Jail, the Goonie Gallery contains all the Goonies information you’ll ever want, including the Corey Connection, Goonies Memorabilia, the Goonies Jailcam, and even Data’s Jacket.

Guests are encouraged to leave a message for the Goonies and vote for their favorite Goonies character. There are also fun cutouts of the characters.

Photo of The Goonies area at the Oregon Film Museum, which is a top Astoria, Oregon attraction #thegoonies #goondocks #oregonfilmmuseum #astoriaoregon #visitastoria
We got a kick out of the photo ops available at the Oregon Film Museum. Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

The Oregon Film Museum invites visitors to explore the films and production behind making movies in Oregon.

Besides The Goonies, it features memorabilia from Kindergarten Cop, among other movies filmed in Astoria, Oregon. Fun fact: the elementary school from Kindergarten Cop is also easy to see in Astoria.

Astoria-Megler Bridge

The Astoria-Megler Bridge towers over the western end of Astoria, Oregon. It was right outside our window at the Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa. You really can’t miss it.

This Astoria, Oregon bridge is an attraction of its own and you can see it from some of the top spots around town. I love bridges, so this was one of my favorite attractions in Astoria.

Photo of the Astoria-Megler Bridge, which is one of the top attractions in Astoria, Oregon #astoriabridge #astoriameglerbridge #visitastoria #astoriaoregon #pacificnorthwest #oregoncoast
I couldn’t stop gawking at this massive bridge anytime we walked along the riverfront. Photo credit: Tara Wong

The sturdy bridge is designed to withstand some of the toughest forces of nature, including wind gusts of 150 miles per hour. Another cool thing about this bridge is that it’s the final link in the Mexico-to-Canada highway system.

Astoria Riverfront Trolley

If you walk along the riverfront, you can’t miss the Astoria Riverfront Trolley. This Astoria, Oregon trolley runs Memorial Day to Labor Day Noon-6 p.m. daily.

It takes about an hour to ride round-trip. You can ride all day long for just $2. The trolley runs from the Astoria Red Lion Inn to the foot of 39th Street.

Photo of the Astoria Oregon Trolley, also known as the Astoria Riverfront Trolley as it runs along the Columbia River #astoriatrolley #astoriariverfronttrolley #astoriaoregon #visitoregon #exploreoregon #oregoncoast
The Astoria Riverfront Trolley is just $2 to ride all day long. Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

If I come back with my kids, I know we’ll be riding this trolley up and down all afternoon! There’s also the Uppertown Firefighter’s Museum and Astoria Children’s Museum, which would be perfect for Astoria, Oregon with kids. And playing at the beach, of course!

Flavel House Museum

Another Astoria, Oregon museum is the Flavel House Museum. Built in 1884, the Flavel House was the home of Captain George Flavel and his family. He was Astoria’s first millionaire and employed many of its residents.

His home is one of the best-preserved examples of Queen Anne architecture in the Northwest. The house is massive.

It’s more than 11,000 square feet and features 5 bedchambers, 12-foot ceilings, a flushing toilet, and an enclosed tin-plated copper bathtub.

Photo of the Flavel House museum, which is one of the many Astoria, Oregon museum and is a top Astoria, Oregon attractoin #flavelhouse #astoriaoregon #oregonmuseum #pnw #astoriaOR
In order to enter the Flavel House, you are required to fill out a Victorian calling card. Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

We thought we could just enter the house since we had bought tickets at the Oregon Film Museum. However, we were instructed to head to the Carriage House to pick up a Victorian-style calling card and watch a 13-minute film about the house and the Flavel family.

We were running short on time, so we saw about 5 minutes of the film (which was quite interesting) and then headed back to the house.

While walking through the house, it reminded me a lot of Craigdarroch Castle in Victoria, B.C. Both homes are set up in a way that really allows guests to feel like they have stepped back in time. I was most surprised to find an old high chair in the kitchen.

A really cool feature of the Flavel House Museum is that they have a room for children. They offer an assortment of Victorian-style dress-up clothes for kids, books, and toys. They actually encourage kids to play and explore.

In a museum like this (that has roped-off areas) it’s really refreshing to cater to small children. I know my kids would hang out and play a bit here.

Another feature of the Flavel House Museum is the garden. Head to the back of the house for really beautiful stops to take photos. Or just sit on a bench and soak up the scenery. We were there in the Spring and it was really pretty!

Bridgewater Bistro

When I told some friends that I was visiting Astoria, they highly recommended Bridgewater Bistro. Lucky for me, it was mere feet away from the Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa!

As I said before, we didn’t drive anywhere during our girlfriend getaway in Astoria, Oregon. Having restaurants like this one so nearby was really helpful!

Photo of Bridgewater Bistro, which is an Astoria, Oregon restaurant near the Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa #bridgewaterbistro #astoriameglerbridge #oregoncoast #girlsgetaway #girlsweekend #pnw
The view from Bridgewater Bistro in Astoria is fantastic! Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

Since my friend had her dog with her, we requested outdoor seating. We really lucked out with the weather because it was sunny and we had an undisturbed view of the bridge.

Between the sun, the view, and the food, it was an awesome lunch! It was quite windy, though.

Photo of a burger at Bridgewater Bistro, an Astoria, Oregon restaurant near the Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa #cougargold #cougargoldcheese #cheeseburger #bridgewaterbistro #astoriaoregon
This was one of the tastiest burgers I’ve eaten in a long time! Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

As soon as I opened the menu, my eyes zeroed in on my three favorite words: Cougar Gold Cheese.

For those who don’t know, I’m a proud Washington State University graduate. Our mascot is the cougar. WSU Creamery makes Cougar Gold Cheese that is tangy and absolutely incredible. But, it’s hard to find!

So, I knew I needed to try their cheeseburger! It was one of the best burgers I’ve experienced!

Astoria Column

The Astoria Column is a definite must-do attraction in Astoria, Oregon! There are tons of signs to direct cars up to the parking lot at the top of a hill. It is $5 for an annual parking pass.

The lady who sold me my parking pass also recommended I purchase a glider for $1. She said that people throw them from the observation deck. I thought that sounded like such a fun idea so I bought one!

Photo of the lookout at Astoria Column, a top Astoria, Oregon attraction on the Oregon Coast #astoriacolumn #astoriaoregon #astoriaattraction #visitastoria
My friend is checking out the stunning view from the grounds at Astoria Column. Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

The park itself is gorgeous. There are stunning views of the water and lush greenery. It features an unrivaled view of Young’s Bay, the Coast Range, the mighty Columbia River, and the Pacific Ocean.

Going up in the column was surprisingly exhausting. There are 164 steps in the spiral staircase to climb to the top. Thankfully, there are several areas to rest on the way up.

When I got to the observation deck, I couldn’t believe how gusty the wind was. It was perfect for flying my glider! It was absolutely exhilarating to see my glider take off and soar beyond the trees! There were a few other people up there and we cheered each other on.

This was the best way to end my Astoria, Oregon weekend getaway!

Other Astoria, OR Things To Do

If you have more time, check out some of these other Astoria attractions and activities:

MUSEUM OF WHIMSY

The Museum of Whimsy in downtown Astoria is a museum like no other. It’s located in a neo-classical bank building from 1934 that has been refurbished. It’s two floors filled with a collection of oddities and quirky objects you’ve never seen before.

Some of the exhibits include Iroquois beadwork, masks from around the world, a canal narrow-boat cabin replica and even a tiny taxidermy horse. I bet it would be fun to go wine tasting and then come here!

LEWIS & CLARK NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK

This is the number one thing I wished we had time to do. If you’ve ever played the epic game Oregon Trail, you’ll want to come here. This is where the Lewis and Clark Expedition team spent the winter.

This park has a replica of the 50-foot square fort, a visitor center, hiking trails, kayaking, and more. Come in the summer to experience living history programs, ranger-led hikes, and a canoeing program.

Doesn’t that sound cool?

COLUMBIA RIVER MARITIME MUSEUM

Take a turn steering a tugboat in one of their four interactive and hands-on exhibits. Plus, you can watch a film about Bar and River Pilots as they worked on the Columbia River. It covers the gamut of boats, from early canoes to sailing vessels to modern boats.

Oh, and they have a new 3D theater!

PACIFIC COAST CRANBERRY RESEARCH FOUNDATION

Ok, I love quirky tourist attractions and this is something I really want to do. Here, you’ll find a demonstration cranberry farm.

They have a self-guided walking tour of the cranberry bogs, a gift shop filled with cranberry products (including cranberry ice cream!) and a museum about everything cranberry. And if you come the second weekend of October, you can see the cranberry harvest.

GOONIES DAY

Back in 2010, June 7th was declared “Goonies Day” in Astoria, Oregon. It usually takes place on the weekend closest to June 7th and features trivia events and Truffle Shuffle opportunities. Plus, there’s a screening of The Goonies film.

Visiting Astoria Oregon FAQs

What are the must-see attractions in Astoria, Oregon?

Key attractions include the Columbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria Column, Fort Clatsop in the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, and the Oregon Film Museum.

What outdoor activities can I enjoy in Astoria?

Astoria offers numerous outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and bird watching in Fort Stevens State Park, and fishing, boating, or kayaking in the Columbia River.

What’s unique about the local cuisine in Astoria?

Astoria is known for its fresh seafood, especially Dungeness crab and oysters, as well as a thriving craft beer scene, with several local breweries to visit.

What is the best time to visit Astoria?

The best time to visit Astoria is between June and September when the weather is warmest and the days are longest.

How can I reach Astoria from Portland, Oregon?

Astoria is approximately a two-hour drive from Portland along U.S. Route 26 West and U.S. Route 101 North. There’s also a bus service operated by NorthWest POINT.

Where can I stay in Astoria?

There are numerous hotels, inns, and bed & breakfasts to stay at in Astoria, ranging from historic buildings like the Commodore Hotel to modern accommodations like the Cannery Pier Hotel and Hampton Inn and Suites.

Is Astoria family-friendly?

Absolutely, with attractions like the Columbia River Maritime Museum, Fort Stevens State Park, and the Astoria Riverfront Trolley, there are plenty of activities for families to enjoy.

Weekend in Downton Astoria Wrap-Up

Astoria, Oregon offers an ideal girls’ weekend getaway with its rich history, picturesque surroundings, and cultural delights.

Start with a visit to the local museums, take a hike in the Fort Stevens State Park, and don’t miss the stunning views from the Astoria Column.

Indulge in the freshest seafood at local eateries, followed by sampling craft beers at the town’s renowned breweries.

Whether you’re antiquing in the charming downtown, catching a movie at the historic Liberty Theater, or simply strolling along the Riverwalk, Astoria ensures a memorable weekend packed with laughter, bonding, and adventure.

Thank you to The Astoria and Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce and The Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa for hosting our 2-night stay and spa treatments. All opinions are my own.

Looking for more Pacific Northwest weekend getaways? Check out my posts about Alderbrook Resort and Spa, Semiahmoo Resort and Spa, and Cannery Pier Hotel and Spa! And don’t miss my top romantic spots in the U.S.!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Jeannette

Saturday 8th of July 2017

Girls weekend looked like so much fun. I would be interested in taking that mug shot. I'm glad you are still able to make time for yourself especially because you're a mommy.

marciecheung

Saturday 8th of July 2017

Thanks! We had a blast and I highly recommend taking time away from kiddos to recharge.

Courtney

Thursday 29th of June 2017

Oooo sounds like you had one fabulous girls weekend!!! I just love getting away with the girls. Always a blast

Portia @ Obsessed by Portia

Thursday 29th of June 2017

This looks amazing!!! I need to make a trip there ASAP! Thanks for sharing Marcie :)

marciecheung

Thursday 29th of June 2017

It's a really cute place to recharge!

Trisha R (@Rosewood_Grace)

Thursday 29th of June 2017

I've never been to Oregon, but I'm planning my first trip there for this fall. I'm not sure I'll have time to leave Portland, but this looks like an amazing place to visit! It's so nice to hear of a museum that actually encourages young children to play and explore!

marciecheung

Thursday 29th of June 2017

Yay! I'll be back in Portland in August and September! It's such a cool city!

Rachel

Thursday 29th of June 2017

My friends and I were just talking about taking a girls weekend...in three years. LOL. Isn't it crazy that's how far in advance we have to plan it?

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.