Day Trip Ideas in Astoria, Oregon

Today we are exploring all your options for a day trip with your student group in Astoria, Oregon, a true seaside delight! 

Astoria is a popular Northwest port city, trading hub, and cultural hotspot. This seaside city sits at the mouth of the Columbia River and holds a very unique blend of 'riverfront, coastal, and cannery culture'. Groups visiting on a day trip will have excellent options for heritage and maritime museums, local architecture and landmarks, and outdoor adventure.

Take a look, decide what you like and what you don't, then give us a call and customize your own day trip adventure!

Astoria Oregon Waves Pixabay Public Domain

#1. Flavel Flavor

Architecture

A local landmark of national significance, the Flavel House Museum in Astoria Oregon is a must-visit for any aged school group. Sometimes called the Carriage House or Flavel Mansion, this house museum serves as one of the best examples of Queen Anne architecture in the Northwest. The home was first completed in 1885 by architect Carl W Leick. Today you can walk through the home and see period furniture, formal gardens, and unique woodwork that allows you to 'experience the elegance of the late Victorian period'. See the music room, formal parlor, dining room, and more as you explore the 2.5 story home and learn all about Captain George Flavel, the Columbia River bar pilot and real estate investor that made a big splash in Astoria.

#2. River Roving

Maritime History

The Columbia River is a powerful force that shaped this area's history in more ways than guests often realize, which is why we always suggest visiting groups stop at the Columbia River Maritime Museum, located just 10 miles southeast of the mouth of the Columbia River in Astoria. This museum of maritime history was founded in 1962 and features a 30,000 object collection cering fishing, shipping, and military history. The museum works to preserve and share the rich maritime history and culture of the Columbia River and has the largest collection of artifacts in the Pacific Northwest. Your group can learn about the river from dugout canoes to today by exploring the 10,000 volume research library, lightship, and 3D theater, and by taking advantage of all of the regular classes, demonstrations, lectures, and more.

Astoria Megler Bridge Pixabay Public Domain

#3. Astoria Historia

Local History

One of the most visually noticeable and locally important landmarks in all of Astoria, the Astoria Column, welcomes guests at the 30-acre Astor Park atop Coxcomb Hill. This massive stone and steel structure is a 'treasured tradition' for school groups and visitors in general, the 126-foot column first built here in 1926. The column features murals of Oregon history plus an observation deck 164 steps up that provides an incredible 360-degree view, overlooking the mouth of the Columbia River. The column is dedicated to the Great Northern Railway and to the people involved in it over history, as you will see by observing all the amazing murals on its walls.

#4. Outdoors in Oregon

Outdoor Recreation

Astoria, like much of Oregon, is very naturally gorgeous, boasting several great forested hiking paths and seaside panoramas that are worthy of a postcard. One of our favorite outdoor attractions to send groups to is Cathedral Tree Trailhead, a 1.6-mile, moderately trafficked, dog-friendly hiking trail near Coxcomb Hill. You can enjoy views of wildflowers, ferns, moss, trees, and local critters as you hike the forested ridge of Coxcomb Hill and make your way to Cathedral Tree, the giant Sitka Spruce that has survived over 3 centuries of hurricane-force winds and recent human development. Extend your trip by 1 mile and see the aforementioned Astoria Column at the top of Coxcomb Hill as well.

Admiring Astoria, Oregon Pixabay Public Domain