Astoria is a darling town, set just at the mouth of the Colombia River in Oregon. It is the perfect getaway from Seattle ( or Portland ) for a few nights - only a 3 hour drive on scenic highways through the Southwest corner of the state.
For our October trip, we chose to stay at the Bowline Hotel - situated right on the river in a former fish processing plant. The hotel has been beautifully designed and has all your favorite luxuries for a relaxing and romantic stay.
If you drove into town - the first thing you will want to do is find a good spot for your car, and plan on leaving it for the duration of your stay. Our favorite thing about picking Astoria for our trip is that we did not need to drive or take a ride-share to get around. Everything is literally within walking distance. We felt safe walking around at night, and loved being able to enjoy dinner and a cocktail before heading back to our hotel for the night.
If you do have a car - and want to use it - we suggest taking some time during one of your days to check out the Oregon Coast. Cannon Beach is just 30 minutes away, and the perfect day-trip to go check out the beach, and grab a bite.
What to do on your first day in Astoria
- Get ice cream and crispy french fries at Frite & Scoop
- Walk along the Astoria Riverwalk
- Stop for a beer at Buoy Beer Taproom
- Walk through town and explore the shops - I recommend peeking in Short Wave - it’s so artfully curated!
After exploring the town on foot, we checked into our hotel room and got settled for our stay. We had a River View - which I highly recommend you do when staying here if you plan to hang in your room and use the soaking tub. Waking up with the view of the water was absolutely spectacular!
What to do on your first night in Astoria
- Have a drink at the hotel bar The Knot
- Walk over to Dead Man’s Isle for a late dinner and drinks. It’s a fun, moody and absolutely delicious
- Grab a bottle of wine from Brut Wine Bar on your walk home to enjoy in your room
- Get cozy for the night, enjoy a long-bath and relax!
What to do on day two of your stay
- Sleep in, and enjoy coffee in your room, with a view of the river
- Take a day-trip to Cannon Beach
- Relax in the river-front barrel sauna to un-wind
- Walk over to Merry Time Bar to play a game of pool with the locals
Don’t forget to enjoy the lovely coffee, food and bar at the hotel during your stay. The service is friendly, and you’ll have everything you need - without ever having to leave. But, you would be re-miss to not check out some of our favorites - or simply venture out and discover your own favorite brewery or local coffee shop. There is so much to do and see - all within walking distance - that is perfect for a long-weekend or mid-week getaway.
