30 VISITTHEOREGONCOAST.COM point out noteworthy attractions. Hop on and off to explore old waterfront buildings reinvented as cafes, shops and breweries. At the new Astoria Nordic Heritage Park, watch ships from around the world plying the river, and admire the AstoriaMegler Bridge, the longest continuous truss bridge in North America. The North Coast Craft Beer Trail stops at several notable breweries. Sample craft beer at Fort George Brewery + Public House, sited atop the original 1811 settlement of Astoria, or Buoy Beer Company, housed in the Astoria Food Hub downtown. Rogue Ales Pier 39 Public House, Obelisk Beer Co., Hondo’s Brewery & Pub and Astoria Brewing Company are other options not to be missed. Astoria’s historic city center is compact and walkable. Downtown shopping includes: Finn Ware, celebrating the region’s Scandinavian heritage; Short Wave, with goods produced primarily by Northwest makers; Shift & Wheeler, an inclusive, plus-size fashion and accessory boutique; and one-of-a-kind antiques at Astoria Vintage Hardware. Astoria is a bustling hub of activity year-round. The Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival presents three days of music, dance, food and crafts in the summer, and the Pacific Northwest Brew Cup combines local craft brew with live music on the riverfront in the fall. Come wintertime, the FisherPoets Gathering brings poets, songwriters and storytellers from across the country to Astoria’s pubs, restaurants and galleries to share poetry, songs and stories. Two parks, one in Astoria and the other in Warrenton, offer hiking trails and waterways that connect nature and history. Straddling both the Washington and Oregon banks of the Columbia, Lewis and Clark National Historical Park is home to Fort Clatsop, the 1805-06 winter encampment of Lewis and Clark’s famous Corps of Discovery. You can tour the replica fort and interpretive center; and in the summer months, rangers in period dress answer questions and demonstrate homesteading skills. Walk the 6.5-mile (10.5-km) Fort to Sea Trail through the same fields and dunes the corps traveled; shorter hikes, including paved trails and easy walks for kids, fan out from the visitor center. Beachcombing and bike riding are popular at Fort Stevens State Park, and shutterbugs will love capturing photos of the impressive 1906 Peter Iredale shipwreck. The ruins of this four-masted steel sailing vessel rise dramatically out of the sands. History buffs will enjoy the displays at the park’s military museum or tours of the gun battery that also served as a World War II command center. Take a self-guided tour of the Lewis and Clark Columbia River Water Trail by renting a kayak through Astoria Scuba and Kayak located at Pier 39 in Astoria. Clatsop Spit is a vast, sandy plain with excellent birding. For a bit more zing, head to High Life Adventures, where eight zip lines 75 feet (22.9 m) above the ground will whiz you through the treetops and over a lake. GEARHART While it’s less than 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Seaside, quiet Gearhart feels worlds away. Cedar-shingled beach houses and miles of beach give it a Cape Cod feel, with a handful of laid-back eateries and cafes adding to the summer-at-the-shore vibe. Birds and birdies are favorite pastimes in Gearhart, which attracts bird- watchers and golfers in equal measure. Spring and fall migrations bring hundreds of shorebirds to the Necanicum Estuary, while golfers have flocked to Gearhart since the late 1800s when, legend has it, a klatch of homesick Scotsmen knocked balls through a makeshift three-hole course. Today Gearhart Golf Links, the oldest golf course west of the Mississippi, offers a pleasant 18 holes among seaside meadows. Stop in for coffee or a full-service meal at The Pacific Way, a bakery and coffee shop with a separate sit-down restaurant. NORTH COAST FOOD TRAIL There’s a reason food lovers flock to the North Oregon Coast. Cheese, for example, is practically a way of life in this area. You can see how it’s made on a tour of the Tillamook Creamery, or visit the nearby Blue Heron French Cheese Company for a wide selection of flavorful snacks. These nibbles pair nicely with a visit to a brewery for an afternoon pint. Pelican Brewing Company and Public Coast Brewing can both be found in Cannon Beach, de Garde Brewing is in Tillamook, and Fort George Brewery sits right up the road in Astoria. During your stay in Seaside, start your day off right with an Ocean Vista breakfast hash from Osprey Café; mornings in Astoria aren’t complete without a pastry from Blue Scorcher Bakery & Cafe. Seafood enthusiasts also have some great restaurants to choose from. For inventive takes on local fish and Dungeness crab, check out the menus at South Bay Wild Fish House in Astoria, the Offshore Grill in Manzanita, Bell Buoy in Seaside and The Schooner Restaurant & Lounge in Netarts — which also serves fresh oysters from the bay it overlooks. If you’re visiting when the regional markets are taking place, meet the makers and enjoy their handmade or farm-grown products. You’ll find intimate stalls and great conversations at the Pacific City Farmers Market, Neskowin Farmers Market and Seaside Farmers Market. Find out more at NorthCoastFoodTrail.com. GREG KOZAWA Josi Farms produce stand
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