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Astoria, OR
Located at the mouth of the Columbia River, Astoria is a wonderfully historic, scenic city. It was the first permanent U.S. settlement on the Pacific coast, and had the first Post Office west of the Rockies. For almost a century it was the salmon fishing and canning capital of the world, reminders of which can be found in the repurposed warehouses along the waterfront. It was also the filming location for The Goonies, which is reason alone to visit this somewhat sleepy town.
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Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa- Astoria, OR
Alright, I admit it. Not all of my favorite hotels are historic. Most are, but not all. On occasion, a hotel of recent vintage is so unique and impressive, I forgive it for being new. And that certainly describes the Cannery Pier Hotel in Astoria; built on a dock 600 feet into the Columbia River, it is a hotel you will never forget.
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Crown Point- Columbia River Gorge, OR
Views do not get much better than the one found at Crown Point. Known one of the most scenic drives in the United States, the Historic Columbia River Highway offers an exhilarating array of overlooks; arguably, the most stunning is found at the hairpin turn located at its apex. Standing 733 feet above the river, and capped with the beautiful 1918 Art Nouveau Vista House, Crown Point is a stop you won’t soon forget. The point itself is a basalt promontory, the remains of an ancient lava flow which filled the entire Columbia River channel to the depth of 700 feet. Glacial activity later created the river gorge, including the…
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Argyle Winery- Dundee, OR
Willamette Valley is a wine wonderland. But with over 500 wineries, and 715 vineyards, choosing even a subset to visit can be overwhelming. A good place to start is Dundee Hills. Home to some of the oldest vines in the valley, the rich volcanic soil and high elevation prove perfect for Pinot Noir. Here you will find over 40 excellent wineries, including one of my all time favorites, Argyle. Founded in 1987, Argyle was the brainchild of iconic Australian winemaker Brian Croser, and protege Rollin Soles. The two worked together at Croser’s Petaluma winery before deciding to take the show on the road; a worldwide search of cool latitude locations…
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Channel House- Depoe Bay, OR
Sometimes the hotel room itself isn’t that important. Not in the “it’s only a place to sleep” respect, used by the parsimonious to justify cheapness; rather, when a hotel’s physical location is so stunning, even a newly remodeled suite at the Four Seasons couldn’t compete. Channel House is one of those hotels.
