Hubs and I went on a romantic weekend away where we explored all the best things to do in Astoria, Oregon. It was a rare kid-free weekend so we got to take advantage of restaurants, museums, cafes, breweries, and the sweetest bed and breakfast you ever did see. 

My husband and I tend to be pretty low-key about holidays and anniversaries with each other. For the most part, we’ll give each other a card, cook a slightly special dinner, or go on a hike as a family. But for our ninth anniversary, my parents offered to watch the kids for an. entire. weekend. (WHAT.)

This trip to Astoria might have spoiled us. If I have anything to do with it, we’ll be stepping up anniversaries from now on.

Whether you’re going for a romantic weekend with your forever person or adventuring with friends, read on for the best things to do in Astoria, Oregon.

Exploring Astoria, Oregon

Thanks to its concentrated population of fishermen and cannery workers, Astoria earned the unruly reputation as being the “most wicked place on earth for its population.” (HA!) Our weekend in Astoria was anything but wicked, though. In fact, it was a sweet, romantic, welcoming town for us to explore on our anniversary vacation.

The weekend in Astoria was the first time Hubs and I have been away from both kids at the same time. We missed our girls, and my parents were definitely tired out by the time we picked up the kids, but a trip away was so worth it. There are so many great things to do in Astoria so no matter whether you’re visiting with your partner, your friends, or your family, you’ll never run out of options of activities to keep you busy.

Unique Things To Do in Astoria, OR

There are so many fun things to do in Astoria, but if you only have a weekend in the city I recommend you add the below activities to your bucket list! They’re a good mix of hiking, drinking, eating and shopping!

Hike Saddle Mountain

Our romantic weekend in Astoria started even before we arrived on the Oregon Coast. We rarely have a chance to tackle challenging hikes, since we have to go at a kid’s pace (or be prepared to carry them). So on our drive to Astoria from Portland, we stopped at Saddle Mountain.

Parts of this 4-mile out-and-back hike are tough: The trail gets really steep, and some of the rocks can slip underfoot. But all the work is worth the sweat and it’s one of the best thing to do in Astoria if you’re in search of adventure!

Atop Saddle Mountain, you get a 360-view of the entire area, from the Pacific Ocean to the west to Mt. Hood and Mt. Rainier to the east. We hiked Saddle Mountain on a clear day, which you’ll definitely want to do, too. The hike took us about 3 hours, so plan accordingly on your drive to Astoria.

Level 10 travel tip: Saddle Mountain bursts into color with wildflowers during the spring, but the crowds increase, too. If you go during peak wildflower time (April), know you’ll be hiking with hundreds of others, and you’ll struggle to find parking.

Climb the Astoria Column

Speaking of heights, you’ll definitely want to climb the 164 steps of the Astoria Column. Set on the top of a hill that overlooks all of Astoria and the Columbia River, this pillar offers beautiful views.

Take your time on the way up. If you’re in decent shape, the number of steps won’t necessarily phase you, but you very well could get a little dizzy circling the spiral staircase!

Level 10 travel tip: You can buy a little wooden airplane from the gift shop at the base of the Astoria Column, which you can launch from the viewing platform. Make sure to plan for this if you go to Astoria with kids!

Hike the Cathedral Tree trail

Within Astoria’s city limits, you’ll find a pristine old-growth forest that makes you feel as if you’re far away, not in the center of town. The Cathedral Tree trail is an easy 1.5-mile hike from the trailhead to the Astoria Column. You’ll park on the road and walk among cedars, Doug firs, and spruce. If you’re looking for fun things to do in Astoria, this is it!

Level 10 travel tip: Follow wooden signs to the Cathedral Tree, an enormous Sitka spruce with a natural nook. And crane your neck to see to the tree’s tippy top—there’s nothing more romantic than feeling small to make you marvel even more that you found your honey.

Visit Astoria museums

Astoria’s Maritime Museum grounds you in time and place with its exhibits on the region’s history. Astoria has been a center of fishing and canning, particularly of salmon, and this museum pays homage to that past. 

You can get a quick taste of this history at the Hanthorn Cannery Museum, which displays photos, boats, and other artifacts. It’s one of the few free things to do in Astoria, but you’re encouraged to give a donation to the nonprofit that preserves the region’s history. Get coffee and a scone at the next-door Coffee Girl cafe, which has been caffeinating Astoria residents since the heyday of canning.

Visitors can also live the dream of their acting career at the Oregon Film Museum, which is housed in the old Astoria jail (where, BTW, scenes from cult favorite Goonies was filmed). You can reenact and film scenes from movies made in Oregon, including The Shining (“Here’s Johnny!”).

Just a block away from the Oregon Film Museum is the historic Flavel House, where you and your partner can imagine living in the romantic home of one of Astoria’s founders.

A romantic weekend in Astoria: Where to shop

Astoria is one of Oregon’s oldest cities, and it has stayed true to its small-town roots by supporting independent businesses. Browse hand-in-hand with your partner among these quirky, uniquely Northwest shops.

Maiden Astoria sells made-in-Oregon gifts like enameled metal camping mugs, delicate jewelry, and scarves; I swooned over the letterpress prints and original artwork.

I could have spent days mining through the treasures in Vintage Hardware. From the big—wall-sized window panes and vintage doors—to the small—a basket of antique keys and old black and white photos—this spot offers gems for home renovation pros and dabblers alike.

Cargo is like a trip around the world without ever leaving Oregon. I bought a gift for my parents as a thank-you for watching our kids, and I probably would have continued to fill my basket with trinkets from Mexico, India and beyond had I not popped in right before the shop closed.

Do & Arrow sells vintage and new alongside each other, staying true to its hip aesthetic. You’ll find vinyl, wool blankets, air plants, leather hats and more in this clothing and home goods shop.

Where to stay for a weekend in Astoria, Oregon

Astoria, Oregon doesn’t allow full-home rentals (only letting out rooms if the owner is on-site), which makes short-term stays like AirBnB hard to find. Eric and I usually rent out a house like this when we travel, but in hindsight, the scarcity of AirBnBs was a benefit.

After all, without that push to go outside our typical rental routine, we would have never been introduced to the beautiful Rose River Inn Bed and Breakfast, just minutes from downtown Astoria.

The Rose River Inn Bed and Breakfast is a quaint, cozy place in a historic home that overlooks the Columbia River—and it was ideal for a romantic getaway in Astoria. We ended up getting the attic suite, which has two beds (enough for two couples or parents plus kids, though on this trip it was just us), plus a private bath and a sitting area. The room was comfortable, and I loved taking a bath in the claw foot tub.

Did I mention the breakfast yet? Because you guys, not only did I have someone else cook for me (and do the dishes!), I ate so well! We enjoyed yogurt with fruit, OJ, coffee, tea, homemade scones, and a delicious quiche.

Hubs and I were full until mid-afternoon, and the hearty breakfast fortified us as we planned what to do in Astoria.

Level 10 travel tip: Let your Bed and Breakfast hosts know if you have to leave early and will miss breakfast; they’ll pack you a to-go back with fruit, a muffin and granola bars.

If you’d rather stay at a hotel, check out the lodging along the waterfront. This prime location puts you in easy walking distance of Astoria, Oregon restaurants, museums, shopping, the trolley and more.

Astoria, Oregon Restaurants 

My favorite restaurant in Astoria was also the most romantic. We celebrated our anniversary over dinner at Baked Alaska, where we watched pilot boats moving giant barges down the Columbia River at sunset right outside the restaurant. (Pilot boats help huge ships maneuver safely through this stretch of the river.)

I usually order vegetarian dishes, but I figured I might as well eat seafood since we were near the Oregon Coast—and I’m so glad I did! Their signature dish, the seafood stew, was beyond delicious. It wasn’t a heavy, creamy clam chowder (though they offered that on the menu, too); it was a seafood broth with a generous amount of scallops, salmon, clams and prawns. I ate every last bite.

They also serve wood-fired pizza, steaks and a wine list that’s nothing to sneeze at. I couldn’t have asked for a better restaurant in Astoria to celebrate our anniversary.

Level 10 travel tip: Make reservations for the tables at the very back of Baked Alaska, which is parallel to the Columbia River, for the best (and most romantic) views.

There are a few top-notch ice cream spots in Astoria, too. So save room for dessert at Frite & Scoop, where you can sample your way to your favorite flavor—or opt for the frites, if salty and savory is more your bag.

Visit the breweries in Astoria

Astoria has plenty of breweries, too. Check out the live music schedule at Fort George Brewery and Pub (just blocks from the Rose River Inn Bed and Breakfast). And order a pint at Buoy Beer Co., which is right on a pier. You can snag a table that overlooks the Columbia River, but even if you don’t get a primo seat, you can check out the heavyweight sea lions resting below the building through the glass floor.

So many things to do in Astoria!

If you’re planning a romantic getaway or weekend away in Oregon, a weekend in Astoria is a great bet. You can connect with your partner while you enjoy the best things to do in Astoria including hiking, dining, shopping — and, of course, make memories to savor for all the anniversaries to come.

Have you spent a weekend in Astoria, Oregon? What were your favorite things to do, eat, and see?

The post The best things to do in Astoria, Oregon, for a romantic weekend getaway appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

Good news: It can be easier for you, too.

All my business travel has armed me with a few techniques for traveling without kids. For parents leaving their littles at home, then, I have a few pieces of advice. Whether you’re a business travel newbie or you’re used to going on a business trip without kids, these tips will help you feel more comfortable being away from the family. They’ll also help the transition at home.

10 tips for a smooth business trip without kids

1. Facetime every day.

When I’m out of town for business, I make a point of Facetiming with the kids every day so they can at least see me. (Skype and Google hangouts work just as well.) Our “conversations” often end up with my 2-year-old carrying the phone room to room (and inducing some seasickness), but it’s the closeness that matter. And with your partner’s help, you may even get a glimpse of what they’re up to—like climbing a tree!

Both my kids hug and kiss the phone goodbye, and I swear I can feel the love over the miles.

2. Ask for updates all the time.

Your child’s caretaker—whether it’s your partner, a grandparent or daycare—may not want to bother or overwhelm you when you’re traveling for business. So specifically ask them to send updates as often as you want them (which is, for me, as often as they can). I worry a lot less when I get a quick text saying Kiwi slept through the night, or that Peeper ate a good lunch. And I feel closer to my kids when I get snapshots of what they’re doing throughout the day.

3. Write a postcard.

Whenever I take a business trip without kids, I make a point of buying a postcard from my destination—even if it’s not that scenic—and sending it home. The messages I scrawl on the postcard aren’t that interesting (recaps of a business trip usually don’t have the same excitement of a vacation, after all) but the girls love getting mail, and it makes me feel more connected to them.

If there’s truly nothing to report, I’ll draw a doodle about something random—like the barista who clearly had drunk at least 18 cups of coffee, or a pigeon that was walking in circles in the park. My kids like these illustrated postcards the best!

4. Send photos back and forth.

I text my partner photos of myself throughout my business trip so he can show the girls what Mama is doing. Here’s me at the airport! Here’s me in front of a mural I thought you’d love! Here’s me after 9 hours of uninterrupted sleep!!!!

5. Stay busy.

The devil, and loneliness, love idle hands. Work will keep you occupied when you’re on a business trip without kids, but if you have downtime and you’re starting to miss your littles, dive into another project—whether that’s a side hustle or getting ahead of the ball for your job.

On the other hand…

6. Relax.

If you have kids, I’m guessing you haven’t painted your toenails or watched a movie start-to-finish in a very long time. Do it! When I travel for work, I buy a new nail polish color and paint my nails, or I take a bath, or I crawl into bed at 8pm without an ounce of guilt. So kick back in your hotel room, relish the fact you don’t have to do the dishes after eating your takeout, and take a very deep breath. Ahhhhhhh.

7. Know there will be lonely times.

If you’re traveling without kids, you’ll miss them—even if you’re also doing a happy dance that you don’t have to fight over toothbrushing or diaper changes. For me, slow moments at work and the moments right before bed are the saddest and when I miss my kids the most.

I figure I can’t avoid being sad, and it’s a totally normal emotion, so I just let it be. Sometimes I’ll text my partner or another mom friend who will get it. These are also the times I scroll through my Instagram history, which always makes me laugh at the ridiculous moments I’ve captured—like Peeper’s first taste of fried chicken. (And that bib—iPood! Hahaha!)

8. Tell your kids you’re leaving.

As tempting as it is to slip out without saying goodbye, ghosting your kids will only make them more confused—and more anxious about when you’ll disappear next. So prep your kids a day or two ahead of time. “Mom is going on a trip for a few days, but I’ll think about you all the time when I’m gone, and we can still talk every day!”

9. Tell your kids when you’ll be back.

Make a point of clearly explaining when you’ll come home from your business trip. I tell Kiwi, who is not yet 3, that I’ll be back in two sleeps—or however long I’ll be. With Peeper, who will turn 5 this year, we look at the calendar together, and she circles the day she’ll get to see me. (She doesn’t circle the day I get back, necessarily, because I’ll often fly in after she has gone to bed.) Then they have a reference point when they ask your partner or their caretaker, “When does Mom get home?”

10. Embrace your kid-free time.

If you’re anything like me, most of your waking hours are dictated by the whims of your kids. (Good luck listening to anything besides kidbop in the car. If you’re going out to eat, you better make sure grilled cheese is on the menu.) So since you’re doing a little kid-free travel, own it! Go to sushi. Catch up on podcasts. Pop in an antique store. In short, do all the things on your business trip you wouldn’t be able to do if you were traveling with kids.

(For me, my ritual is getting takeout, drinking an impossibly tiny and cute bottle of Prosecco, and watching Vikings or some other totally kid-inappropriate TV.)

And even if your business trip without kids is hard and you miss your munchkins like woah, remember that you’ll be home—and in their peanut butter-smeared arms—soon.

What helps you when you’re on a business trip without kids, far away from your littles?

The post 10 tips to survive (and even enjoy!) a business trip—without your kids appeared first on To & Fro Fam.