After leaving Portland yesterday afternoon and cruising north, downstream, on the Willamette River, National Geographic Quest entered the great Columbia River and turned west toward the river’s mouth and the lovely little town of Astoria. Our day was filled with explorations of the history of the region, beginning with a visit to the excellent Columbia River Maritime Museum. The rest of the day took us to two historic forts on the south side of the estuary: Fort Clatsop, where Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery spent the winter, and Fort Stevens, which is a military battery that defended the entrance to the river in the early 20th Century.
4/27/2024
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National Geographic Sea Bird
Astoria, Oregon
We reached the penultimate day of our journey in Astoria, Oregon, where the Columbia River collides with the open ocean. We were met with a typical Pacific Northwest day of gentle rains punctuated by moments of sunshine. The guests were divided to conquer this gem of a city, nestled under bridges; half headed across the river to Washington to visit the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center at Cape Disappointment, while the other half visited the Columbia River Maritime Museum and Astoria Column. The museum and the interpretive center are both excellent examples of what the west coast can offer with regard to history and culture. Each has thoughtful exhibits that cover broad swaths of topics, and are staffed with informative and helpful faculty. After a hearty lunch on board, the groups swapped in order to have the best of both worlds. Finally, all met back aboard for the week’s final recap and guest slideshow.
