For all you land lubbers, city slickers, or couch surfers, if you're in the Port of Ilwaca, go see…read moreLarry & Cindy at Skywater Boat Tours. Incredibly friendly, very accommodating, and affordable for a few or more hours out on the water! Their charter boat, Maiden Heaven, is comfortable, two bathrooms, heated interior, great view on the upper deck, and so much to see out on Cape Disappointment, the mouth to the Columbia River, history, possible shipwrecks & marine animals to view! Larry explained he has over 50 years of maritime experience so you'll be in good hands. Cindy was very friendly and even provided a custom, signed photo of me and my friend upon docking at the Port of Ilwaca after our ocean/bay/river voyage. The treats were nice on the boat, bottled water, and nature provided the sunshine for our trip (I can't guarantee it for your trip). Larry and Cindy. FIVE STARS!

My mother lived in Astoria as a teenager in the 1940s and early 50s and she fondly looked back as…read morethe best times in her long life. Her request to have her ashes strewn in the Columbia River at the foot of 15th street was accomplished thanks to Mark and his beautiful tug! His knowledge of Astoria along with the boat ride made for a wonderful memorial for our group to send my mother off.

Our friends arrange this experience and we loved it. The tugboat is in wonderful condition and…read morewell maintained. The captain and crew are very knowledgeable about the local area. It was extra special to see the container ship pilot exchange up close. The views of Astoria and surroundings were great to see---drives home how oriented to the water this city is. Also had some great bird sightings.

I enjoyed our visit back in June 2018…read more I was looking at some photos from that trip and just realized I never wrote a review. We didn't wander around near the ship for long but I have good memories of the beach walk and love that it's likely to look different each visit (and in each photo you see) due to the sand and tides.

After lunch we took a drive to see the shipwreck. It was a BEAUTIFUL sunny afternoon and was high…read moretide. Been here years ago and it was as just as stunning as it was then. Will return at low tide.

It was very entertaining. I had gotten tickets for the wrong date and they still accommodated us.read more

Super fun and funny tour. Chad and "fingers" made the tour interesting and very entertaining. How…read morehas a documentary or film not been made of the Clowns of Astoria!?

This was one of the coolest experiences I've ever had! My wife and I were recently on a vacation to…read moreOceanside when we came across and ad for Jim's Biplane Rides. We are really into planes and thought this would be a cool experience. It was! Jim was a great host and an absolute blast to be with. He is super knowledgeable and friendly and a great pilot. I was a little anxious before we started the flight, but he showed me his guest book with hundreds of other customers who have ridden on his plane and had an amazing time. If you are in the area and enjoy planes and flying, I HIGHLY recommend checking out Jim's Biplane Rides.

Saw a banner advertising biplane rides as I was driving into Seaside on my way to Cannon Beach…read more Decided to stop, and check it out. I met Jim, a very affable gentlemen who obviously knows his aircraft inside and out - it really shows. His biplane is in mint condition - especially when you consider it was made in 1929! You get to sit in the front cockpit while Jim flies in the seat behind you. He gives you all the safety details, makes sure you're comfortable, tells you how to get great pictures, and then take you up in the air! He'll even take pictures of you while you're in the air and share them with you. Did I mention, it's a blast to ride in the plane? No? Best. Time. Ever. The views are spectacular from the moment you take off. Took my son up with me, and we both loved it. The ocean, the mountains, the river, the city, the sights - they're are all jaw dropping. Jim offers many different flight options, from a basic flight to the more scenic and longer flights. Quite a bargain considering what you get. You do need two people per flight (or be willing to pay double) - it's just the economics of running an antique aircraft. But Jim makes it totally worth it. No better time to be had in Seaside!

Battery Russell was one of the most fascinating stops we made while exploring the Oregon Coast. If…read moreyou enjoy history, old military sites, or simply exploring places that feel a little mysterious, this is definitely worth visiting. The massive concrete structures are incredibly interesting to walk through. You can explore the old rooms, passageways, stairs, and gun emplacements while imagining what this place must have been like when soldiers were stationed here protecting the mouth of the Columbia River. What made the experience especially memorable for us was learning about Battery Russell's connection to World War II. In June 1942, a Japanese submarine surfaced offshore and fired shells toward Fort Stevens. Knowing that history while standing among these old military structures gave our visit an entirely different perspective. I also appreciated being able to explore at our own pace. There are plenty of opportunities for photos, and the weathered concrete and surrounding forest make the area incredibly atmospheric. Battery Russell is a great addition to a visit to Fort Stevens State Park, especially if you're already road-tripping along the northern Oregon Coast. I highly recommend taking some time to stop, walk around, read about the history, and explore. It's an unusual and memorable piece of Oregon history that I'm really glad we didn't skip!

Clean park with great hiking trails. Fairly clean restrooms. Drove down to the beach and took the…read moredogs to see the Peter irondale. This camping trip they had a free concert on the lawn by the battery. I love that the golf carts drive by to bring you firewood for a standard $7 fee. Terrible reception and cellular in the park. Overall great trip with lots of sunshine.

Fort Clatsop was one of the most memorable historical sites we visited on our Oregon Coast road…read moretrip. Even if you're not a huge history buff, this place does an incredible job of bringing the Lewis and Clark Expedition to life. Walking through the reconstructed fort made it easy to imagine what life was like for the Corps of Discovery as they spent the winter of 1805-1806 preparing for the long journey home. The visitor center is well done, with informative exhibits, friendly park rangers, and plenty of historical information that adds context before you explore the fort. The reconstruction itself is impressive, and the surrounding forest helps create an authentic atmosphere. It's amazing to think that after traveling more than 4,000 miles, Lewis and Clark and their team called this place home for 106 days. The walking trails around the fort are peaceful and beautifully maintained, making it easy to spend a couple of hours exploring the area. We appreciated how clean the park was and how passionate the staff were about sharing the site's history. Whether you're interested in American history, the Oregon Coast, or simply looking for a unique stop near Astoria, Fort Clatsop is well worth visiting. It's educational without feeling overwhelming, family-friendly, and offers a deeper appreciation for one of the greatest expeditions in American history. I would absolutely recommend adding it to your itinerary. Check out our video on our socials @reessroots

Fort Clatsop is part of this area. The museum and movies were excellent. I did not realize how…read morelittle I really knew about the Lewis and Clark expedition until I saw all the history in the exhibits. If you have your National Park pass make sure to take it for free admission.

Amazing views! The drive into Ecola was just beautiful, dense forest all around. Currently love in…read morethe desert, so all the green was a treat. We only did the Ecola Point viewpoint which has some short trails from the parking lot. You can see the lighthouse a little bit from some of the views, but probably not as well as grub the lighthouse view trail. Still amazing views tho down into Cannon Beach, haystack rock, etc. If you're going to visit a lot of state parks, I recommend getting the state park pass. Worth the price!

Another beautiful state park in Oregon. The beautiful views include the Cannon Beach haystack from…read moreafar and the terrible Tilly( Tillamook) lighthouse. A scene from The Goonies was also filmed here. There are hiking trails here too but unfortunately we were short of time on this trip but next time I will definitely check it out.

Well organized. Easy to book ticket and they were very helpful. Had fun with my brother at the…read morebeach on the steam engine train from garibaldi to rockway beach. Everyone on and off the train were smiling! Little kids loved it too. And as the train rolled by slowly, the people in the shops waved at you and you of course, waved back. Mother's with toddlers stood near the tracks just to wave as it went by. The weather was perfect with lots of sun yet just enough wind to keep you cooled off. Perfect! And rockway felt like it was in a time warp... like a normal Rockwell painting on life magazine! Seriously... felt like you were in 1952's!!! Oh and many people also brought their dogs with them! Wonderful! Only wish it was cleaner and they could fully refurbish the cars. Could be a great organised joint volunteer project... for seniors and teens. All and all we loved it and the town!

This is for the 4/19 Spring Splendor Excursion from Rockaway Beach to Wheeler…read more Overall a nice pleasant experience, except that the person on the microphone spoke too quickly and didn't explain some of the train specific terms that are not very common. It would have been nice to spend more time in Wheeler shopping. The train seems to move at a snails pace in some parts.

t was a beautiful evening tour. Capt Bruce points out historical points along the way and shares…read moreintersting stories. It's nice to see Astoria from the river and then travel through tucked away areas you can't get to by car.

We went on a 3 hour tour with Captain Bruce on Saturday morning and thoroughly enjoyed it. He was…read morefunny and super knowledgeable without feeling overdone tour guide-like. So much great information about the river and shipping!!! We saw a harbor seal, sea lions, a bald eagle, a crane and lots of seagulls and other birds. It was a little chilly so we were glad for our coats, hats and gloves. Watching from below wouldn't have been nearly as fun as being up on the deck. I have two suggestions for improvement and would have given 5 stars: 1. The boat needs some tidying up. Even if someone lives here sometimes, put things away, dust, vacuum, etc. so the first impression upon boarding isn't one of entering a messy dorm room. 2. Offer bottled water or some sort of light snack and beverage. It's a 3 hour trip. Sure we brought our own but it would be a nice touch. I imagine some of the local companies would give you a deal to offer their products and help spread the word about their delicious beer, chocolate, baked goods, etc. Well worth the cost and a great way to really see Astoria and understand this river town.