Peerless Pier

Hello again folks!  We decided to take a quick trip to Astoria, one of our favorite destinations. It’s full of history and scenery, seafood stores and great restaurants and bars, and did we mention gift shops and tattoo parlors?

Astoria-Megler Bridge

Astoria is the home of Truth in Advertising

Our “go to” site for booking hotels is Hotels.com (product placement) and they offered a real deal to stay at the Cannery Pier Hotel. It’s delightful and right on the water. So fantastic when ships are moving up and down the river.

Complete with chauffeur driven limos

Breakfast in the morning, wine and cheese in the afternoon

Room with a killer view...

...snd a tub with a view too

The view off our balcony.  Grain carriers picking up...

...car carriers dropping off

We can’t go any further without highlighting a dish at Fulio’s – one of the very best places to eat in town. The dish is Spedini – Italian bread with mozzarella cheese, garlic, capers, olive oil and more garlic.

It's as good as it looks

Next day, lots of exploring to do across the river on the Long Beach peninsula.  Oysterville is charming, and very, very quiet. 

  

Living lawn ornaments in Oysterville

We always stop into Jack’s Country Store in Ocean Shores and marvel at the old-time atmosphere there. It’s like nothing else.

You want it...

...they got it

We decided to visit the North Head lighthouse on this trip.  Our first stop was the pay kiosk to purchase our daily Discover Pass.  50 yards later there is a sign telling us the lighthouse is closed for renovation.  Some would consider it helpful to have that sign next to the pay kiosk.

Closed, but still picturesque 

We’re interested in historic structures, views off of cliffs, and old, old Army forts, so we stopped at Fort Columbia on our way back to Astoria.  

Officers quarters and enlisted barracks.  Now vacation rentals

Gun emplacement from the 1890's

What a wonderful part of the country to live near. We already want to go back!