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The Astoria Column

Thrilling Views Await

Sweeping Views of the Columbia River Gorge
When we visited the Goonies House (post coming soon) we stopped and chatted with the neighbor girl selling hot chocolate to tourists. We asked her what else we should visit, and her number one pick was the Astoria Column. On a whim, and since we had a car for the day, we decided to follow her advice.

After weaving our way past the barking seals and crowds of tourists downtown, we finally reached the column – which turned out to be a 125 foot tower at the top of a 600 foot hill. The Column commands a sweeping view of the mouth of the Columbia River Gorge and Young’s Bay and it feels like you are Lewis & Clark, seeing the West for the first time.

Sgraffito on The Column, Astoria, Oregon
The Column was built in the 1920s, and features sgraffito scenes of Oregon history. Stop by the gift shop, pay a buck to park and buy a balsa wood plane or two. Then, make your way to the top to enjoy the views and launch your plane.
Fly a balsa wood plane from the top of The Column

Know Before You Go:

There is a $1 donation fee to park your car in the parking lot. Pay at the gift shop & pick up a balsa wood airplane to fly from the top of The Column.

Bottom Line:

Breathtaking views of the Columbia River Gorge

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