Astoria

Astoria is located on the mouth of the Columbia River in Oregon. This quaint little town was named after the famous American investor John Jacob Astor who founded the place as Fort Astoria in 1811.

It was pouring rain the morning my mum and I got into Astoria’s port by cruise ship. The weather wasn’t supposed to change so we put on our rain jackets and set out.

We did some research beforehand and quickly learned that there isn't all that much to do in Astoria. During our planning we found out that the town had a maritime museum which we decided to visit. The Columbia River Maritime Museum is not what you would expect for a sleepy seaside town! Well designed, modern, and interesting for young and old. 

The foggy, damp weather outside and the old sailor tales and stories of shipwrecked vessels inside the museum added to the rustic ambiance of the visit.

We left the museum on foot and got soaked pretty quickly, so we decided to seek shelter in a coffee shop to warm up with a hot drink. We stopped in Street 14 Coffee. This place is exactly how a coffee shop should be – delicious drinks, fair prices, charming ambiance and décor.

Luckily for me I was even able to have a coffee with hemp milk plus some vegan and gluten free baked goods.

I know it's cliche but I felt that this was the quintessential Oregon experience: rainy weather, woolen sweaters, and tasty coffee, all in a small seaside town.