The Port of Astoria is in a breathtaking location on Oregon's west coast. It is also home to a growing art community and waterfront. Abundant natural features bring a wide range of recreational opportunities to residents and visitors. Being at the western end of the Lewis and Clark Trail, the area is an important historic region as one of the oldest settlements west of the Rocky Mountains. The Port of Astoria's architecture is dominated by Victorian houses on steep wooded hillsides, and it features a 1920s-era downtown district. In addition to the many recreational opportunities, the Port of Astoria is home to many attractions.
The Port of Astoria has a marine west coast climate with mild temperatures throughout the year. Summers are generally cool, and winters are usually mild and wet. Rainfall comes in the late autumn and winter, and snowfall is rare. Temperatures in the Port of Astoria range from an average high of 20°C (68°F) in August to an average low of 2.6°C (under 37°F) in January. Precipitation can be over 260 centimeters (ten inches) in November and December. Snow comes to the Port of Astoria from November through April in small amounts, peaking in January at about three centimeters (1.2 inches).
The Port of Astoria's Columbia River Maritime Museum tells the story of life and work on the Columbia River. Featuring wonderful views of the River, the museum combines history with state-of-the-art technology in six galleries full of over 30 thousand artifacts and exhibits. There is also a research library with more than ten thousand volumes and over 20 thousand photographs. The film, The Great River of the West illustrates the dangers of the Columbia River for pilots, and an interactive display identifies shipwrecks at the mouth of the Columbia, sometime called "The Graveyard of the Pacific." Visitors can experience being a pilot in the museum's tugboat simulator. The collections include a US Coast Guard lifeboat, a pilot boat, artifacts from shipwrecks, and many other fascinating objects.
The Fort Clatsop National Memorial is located at the site where Lewis and Clark wintered in 1805-06. During the peak season from mid-June through Labor Day, living history demonstrations compliment the historic exhibits, hiking trails, and museum. In the Visitor Center is a replica of the old Fort Clatsop, an interpretive center, a gift shop, and ranger-led programs. Costumed rangers are stationed in the fort and on the Fort to Sea and Netul River trails during the summer season from mid-June through Labor Day. The park is open daily except for Christmas Day. Admission during the summer season is $5 for adults and $2 for children under 16 years old. Off-season admission is $3 for adults, and children are free. The Fort to Sea Trail begins at the Visitor Center, climbing to the top of Clatsop Ridge, then descending into deep woods and wooded pasture until arriving at Sunset Beach. This one-way trail requires pick-up by cab or car.
The 1913 Astoria Riverfront Trolley travels the Port of Astoria Riverfront on a seasonally-changing schedule. Tickets can be purchased for round trips or whole days, and a transportation sticker is available for all-day use of the shuttle and the trolley. Volunteers narrate the riverfront tour.
For information on scheduled cruises to/from the Port of Astoria, visit the Cruise Compete website.
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