Off to Astoria today to look for Goonies; much of the movie was filmed in and around Astoria.
This city at the end of the Lewis and Clark Trail was the first permanent settlement west of the Rockies, and dates back to 1805. Throughout its history it has been a logging and fishing hub, a U.S. Naval base, and today people come from all over to visit the city as Astoria has more points of historical interest than any other city on the Oregon coast.
Astoria is on the south side of the Columbia River, while Washington is on the other side. We parked along the main highway and strolled along the riverfront and watched some giant ships traversing the waterway. Then we got back in the car and drove to the top of the highest hill in Astoria to see the Astoria column and some spectacular views of the city and the Columbia River. The column, built in 1925, is 125-feet tall and the 14 murals that cover it commemorates the areas history. The views from there were amazing, and with the clear skies we could see for miles all around. The Astoria-Megler Bridge was clearly visible. This bridge spans the Columbia River and carries traffic between Washington and Oregon. Built between 1962 and 1966, it completed Highway 101 and made it an unbroken link between the Canadian and Mexican borders.

Mike: Nice town! Becc, did you find a goonie?

Astorian Houses

Astorian hills

Waiting on the trolley

Bloody big ship

Astoria Column

Astoria-Megler Bridge

Also visible were the steep hills of Astoria dotted with really cool houses. The city is known as ‘The Little San Francisco of the Northwest’ and as we drove around it was easy to see why. All the houses are built on the hillsides and they are all different and distinct. While driving around we managed to find our way to the house from the Goonies that the ‘Walsh’ family lived in. We didn’t walk up to it but we could have as the owners are used to people gawking at their house; they even have a sign saying that Goonies are welcome - cool people!

View of Astoria from Astoria Column hill

Columbia River

'Walsh' house from The Goonies

We parked along the river to have lunch after we’d finished looking at the homes here, and watched the trolley go by on it’s 2.6 mile journey along the Columbia river. After lunch we headed home but not before deciding that I think I’d like to live in a place like this.