, a revitalized former fishing town with Victorian architecture and a restored 1913 riverfront trolley . Take in the town -- and the mouth of the Columbia River -- from the 125-foot Astoria Column , and for a dramatic close-up of the Astoria Bridge , which connects Oregon and Washington , check in to the Cannery Pier Hotel -LRB- doubles from $ 299 -RRB- . Built on the site of a fish-packing facility on a pier that extends 600 feet into the river , the four-year-old hotel embraces a Pacific Northwest version of loft architecture , with exposed steel beams in the atrium-style lobby and hardwood floors in the 46 balconied rooms . The best place to eat is just a short stroll down the pier at the Bridgewater Bistro -LRB- dinner for two $ 75 ; 503 / 325-6777 -RRB- . The restaurant offers exceptional views of the river and bridge , a tasting room for the Oregon Coast 's Flying Dutchman Winery , and a small-plates menu featuring watermelon-and-feta salad and a savory cheesecake with Dungeness crab . Day 2 : Astoria to Arch Cape The Oregon Coast Highway -LRB- U.S. 26 -RRB- crosses Youngs Bay and snakes
-LRB- Travel + Leisure -RRB- -- Portland , Oregon , does n't lack for fashionable boutique hotels , but to the west , along the Pacific Ocean , the options have tended to be as primal as the shoreline . Recently , however , a group of properties has sprung up on the northern coast , aiming to seduce 21st-century travelers with designs steeped in post-World War II Modernism . The Cannery Pier Hotel was built on the site of a fish-packing facility on the Columbia River . Each stop on this easy three-night itinerary provides a stylish Oregon beach getaway -- along with postcard-worthy water views . Day 1 : Portland to Astoria Follow the Columbia River Highway -LRB- U.S. 30 -RRB- as it meanders along the waterway that led Lewis and Clark to the sea . -LRB- For more shore-hugging river views , cross the Oregon Way Bridge , just west of Rainier , and drive on Washington 's Ocean Beach Highway -- but be sure to return to Route 30 by crossing back over at Cathlamet . -RRB- Make your way to Astoria , the oldest American settlement west of the Rockies -LRB- founded in 1811 -RRB-