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Outdoor Activities in Warrenton

28 Saturday Jul 2012

Posted by in Warrenton

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On the northwestern tip of Oregon you will find Warrenton on a finger of land between the beautiful Pacific Ocean and the Columbia River. A small town of approximately 4,000 people, Warrenton has a several interesting attractions.

On the beach lies the Peter Iredale, a sailboat that shipwrecked over 100 years ago. Since it was possible to pull the boat out of the sand, it has remained where it became stuck. The ocean is slowly claiming the remains of the vessel. However, at low tide you can still walk up to the boat.

Battery Russell, a part of Fort Stevens was built and activated in 1904. It remained in use until the end of World War II. Battery Russell has the distinction of being one of the few places on the mainland of the United States to have been fired upon by the Japanese during World War II. There is no record of anyone being killed at Battery Russell, but there are many reports of ghost sightings there. There are even photographs that claim to show moving orbs and ectoplasmic masses. So, if you would like to see a scary ghost or two, check out Battery Russell.

For those who crave excitement, Warren offers two activities sure to get your heart pounding. How about trying paragliding? On Sunset Beach you can get training and fly either single or duo up to 3,000 feet above the beach and the ocean. For something a little less thrilling, you can take a Zip Line Tour. High Life Adventures provides a 2 ½ hour tour over thirty acres of breath taking scenery. Once you have on your safety gear, a harness, helmet, lanyard, and a trolley, you are hooked to a line. As you soar between 15′ – 60′ above seasoned timber, ponds, and a private lake, you will experience the one of the closest things to flying. Children under 15 years of age must be accompanied by a parent.

If you enjoy playing gold, and can qualify, you can sign up to participate in the Annual Oregon Coast Invitational Amateur Match Play Tournament. You can enjoy yourself and contribute to a good cause at the same time. The proceeds from the tournament, now in its 102 year, go to fund a scholarship for local high school graduates to further their education. This year’s tournament began on July 21st and will end on July 28th. Some divisions fill up rapidly so you need up register well ahead of time.

Warrenton is an delightful place to visit. Being only about an hour’s drive from Portland, Portlanders can easily slip over for a day, or an afternoon.
Article written by Mary Boyer

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Astoria Oregon – Mouth of the Columbia River

17 Tuesday Jul 2012

Posted by in Astoria, Uncategorized

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The area surrounding Astoria, Oregon, near the mouth of the Columbia River, has a long and varied history. Lewis and Clark spent the winter of 1805-1806 at Fort Clatsop, which is south and west of today’s Astoria. In 1810, the Astor Company made Fort Astor the center of its fur business. From 1813 to 1818, the area was under British control. In 1818, it became joint British/U.S. territory and remained so until 1846, when it became a permanent part of the United States. The first post office west of the Rocky Mountains was founded in Astoria in 1847. It was not until 1876, that Astoria was incorporated as a city.

Washington Irving published a romanticized novel of the fur traders entitled “Astoria” in 1836 with the encouragement of John Jacob Astor. Astor felt that the nation did not realize the importance of the fur traders and wanted them memorialized. “ Astoria” cemented the importance of the Western territories in the public psyche.

The Astoria Column was built by the Astor family in 1926, on the highest hill in Astoria to commemorate Astoria’s early history. The view of the surrounding area from the column is magnificent. You can climb the 164 steps of the column to the observation platform for and even more amazing view.

Nearby Fort Stevens guarded the entrance to the Columbia River from the time of the Civil War through World War II. Fort Stevens is one of two places in Oregon that was bombed by the Japanese. On June 21, 1942 a Japanese submarine fired 17 shells in the direction of the fort. Luckily the bombs only did damage to a baseball field and some telephone cables.

Astoria remained a major port on the west coast for well over a century. It was a thriving community until the mid-1970s when Bumble Bee Seafood closed its headquarters here. The lumber industry also began to fade and in 1989, the plywood mill that was the city’s largest employer shut down.

A partial replica of Fort Astoria is located in downtown Astoria at the site where John Jacob Astor’s fur traders originally built their fort. A replica of Fort Clatsop invites you to step back into history, where National Park Rangers dressed in buckskin explain muzzle loading and shooting, hide tanning and candle making. Fort Stevens is now a State Park. When you visit Fort Stevens you can take a self-guided tour of the fort and explore the gun batteries and visit the Military Museum.

Astoria today looks more towards tourists and artists than fishermen and lumberjacks. However, Astoria has not abandoned its marine past. Every February for the past 15 years, Astoria has hosted the Fisher Poets Gathering, an event that celebrates all things maritime in art, music, and literature.
Article written by Mary Boyer


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For more information about Astoria, Oregon check out the following resources.

http://www.beachconnection.net/news/battruss061912_510.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astoria,_Oregon

http://www.nps.gov/lewi/planyourvisit/index.htm