Astoria is a small coastal town in the northwest corner of Oregon. The city was named after the American investor (and first millionaire) John Jacob Astor. His American Fur Company founded Fort Astoria at the site in 1810. In 1926, Vincent Astor, the great grandson of John Jacob Astor, built The Astoria Column, to commemorate his great grandfather and the region's early history. Today, the town has approximately 10,000 residents.
Steph and I decided to visit Astoria after her sister, Lyn, recommended a trip. We pulled into town in the early afternoon and checked into The Commodore, a small hotel located in downtown Astoria.
The Commodore originally opened its doors in 1920 and served primarily as a traveler's hotel. The Commodore mysteriously shut down in 1965 without any explanation. The upper floors of the building were sealed shut for over 40 years.
In 2009, The Commodore re-opened it's doors after a major renovation. Today, The Commodore is a unique hotel that combines an urban aesthetic with a vintage charm (all original wood and fixtures).
The hotel's lobby is connected to a great coffee shop that serves coffee during the day and wine during the evening. The hotel and coffee shop both have a noticeable Portland or Seattle vibe (Fleet Foxes were on repeat) - even the barista looked like a city hipster, complete with the beanie, long hair and five o'clock shadow.
The rooms at The Commodore are small with shared bathrooms at the end of the hallway.
After checking in, we spent the next two days wandering around the town, eating, drinking and enjoying Astoria. Taking recommendations from the locals, we went to the Voodoo, the Astoria Coffee House, Fort George and T. Paul's Supper Club.
Astoria is filled with coffee shops, bars and great restaurants. The entire town feels a lot like miniature NE Portland, with a large population of youngish, tattooed adults operating quirky businesses and bars.
The Astoria column is approximately 125-feet tall and stands atop Coxcomb Hill. The column includes an interior spiral staircase that leads to an observation deck at the top. On May 2, 1974 the column was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Astoria surprised me -- it is nothing like Seaside or any other coastal town I've been to in Oregon. It's a small town that wants to be a big city. Good for Astoria!
Steph and I left Astoria and agreed to visit again in the spring or summer, when climbing the column might be rewarded with a view of the town (instead of fog).
