The weather continues to be chilly and somewhat foggy as we drive on to Astoria where the sun is a little brighter through higher wisps of clouds. We are excited to be visiting this historical town but find it not quite as quaint as we expected. There are a few pockets of personality but it seems to lack energy and enthusiasm. We also expected it to be bustling with tourism and instead it feels like we are visiting during the ‘off season’.
We make our way downtown and find place to park on Main Street. Not finding any particular direction to go, we start walking down the street to see what is around. Many of the shops are closed and buildings seem vacant. There is a JC Penny’s store that is open and Julia just has to go in, not to shop, but because it is like stepping back into childhood! Except for having contemporary styles on the racks, this store looks, smells, and feels like the Penny’s in Buhl, Idaho, where she grew up! It even has the mezzanine. What a fun nostalgic experience.
Leaving the store, and memories behind, we head toward the waterfront exploring along the wharf. There are a few seafood processors and warehouses but no activity and all appear closed…it feels deserted. There are a few restaurants open and being almost noon, there are a few lunch patrons. We discover tracks and soon a little trolley comes by.
We choose to continue walking back the other direction rather than take the trolley and stop at one of the cafés for some lunch.… Andrew and Steve’s — a funky little place, established in 1924 or something and advertising homemade food (pies…? hmmm…) We share the lunch special seafood combo with a salad…good choice, but just ok food… We pass on the pie.
After lunch, we continue along the river walk and discover the Maritime Museum of Columbia Gorge, an interesting contemporary building. We meander through the gift shop at the museum but opt out of the museum itself. Two Coast Guard cutters are moored outside the museum, so we walk out on the dock to see those.
Before heading toward the car, we wander back along the wharf and stop in at the Wheelhouse Coffee Co for our afternoon coffee and tea. This is a cute little place with a fun nautical theme. They also offer homemade pies, and in keeping with their nautical them– fishy cookies (cute little frosted fish-shaped sugar cookies We buy a couple ‘fish’ for our dinner dessert and pie to have with our coffee/tea now, which we enjoy while observing the interaction of the owners and ‘regulars’ -local patrons.
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