The Flaggs enjoy a picnic on the Columbia River across from Multnomah Falls.
The Goonies Road Trip, Pt. 2
Ande Flagg
Last week I shared my family’s adventures on the first leg of our road trip journey. The trip combined our boys’ desire to adventure with their Dad and my wish to relive some 80’s movie magic. We explored Cape Disappointment and uncovered quirky gems in Long Beach, Washington. Then we headed to Astoria, Oregon to see all the sights from my favorite childhood movie “The Goonies” along with a super neat restaurant that delivered more than food.
Just like last week, this leg of our Oregon road trip delivered plenty of fun and surprises.
Treacherous Waters
While in Astoria, we also checked out the Columbia River Maritime Museum, where we learned about the confluence of the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean. These are among the most treacherous waters in the world. As you might expect, it is an ideal location to train Coasties. Think the “Rangers” or “Special Forces” of the Coast Guard. I gained a new respect for what Coasties endure in their training and day to day missions after my trip to the Columbia River Maritime Museum.
The Lightship Columbia functions as a floating lighthouse.
The Maritime Museum had an interesting outside feature: the Lightship Columbia. Vessels like the Columbia temporarily acted as a lighthouse if one were under construction or needed repairs due to damage. It was an eye-opening tour as to how the sailors and Coasties at the turn of the twentieth century lived.
The boys imagine steering the ship through stormy waters.
Next, we were on to the famous Cannon Beach just 45 minutes south of Astoria. If you are into all things Hollywood or “Goonies” or both, you will recognize the area for sure. I have seen photos of the beach on sunny days, but alas, our visit looked very much like Mikey’s visit the day he hiked his bike up the cliff to the Fratelli’s hideout.
The beach from “The Goonies” gave us a beautiful surprise.
No matter. The beach was a great place to get out and walk albeit briefly, for the rain and wind was biting. As I roamed the beach, I remembered the race and pirate ship scenes and tried to imagine where those were filmed on the beach.
I also remembered my favorite quote from the movie, “Ande, you Goonie!”
You Can’t Top This!
We worked up an appetite walking. We were ready for our featured meal. It was why we took to the road trip in the first place. We journeyed on to Tillamook Creamery!
My family loves all things dairy. I love ice cream and my husband loves cheese. The boys love it all! Needless to say, we are not lactose intolerant. (Sorry if you are!)
Victoria with Adobe Stock
The Tillamook Creamery beckons to visitors who enjoy all things dairy.
The visit was delightful! The creamery features all the best dairy products from the Pacific Northwest created by farmers in the Tillamook cooperative. It is located just southeast of Tillamook Bay, a little north of the town of Tillamook, still on Route 101.
Boy 2 and I experience all that Tillamook Creamery offers, including life as cow and farmer.
On our visit we got to taste test cheeses and ice cream. The self-guided tour allowed us to peer down into the cheese-making area. The tour was as fast or slow as we wanted to make it.
We took a break from touring and stopped for lunch. The creamery restaurant had a variety of grilled cheese sandwiches and soups to offer. I had the best grilled cheese sandwich I have ever tasted. Yes, better than mom used to make!
Our family enjoys the BEST grilled cheese ever!
The bread was perfectly crispy and buttery. The cheese melted evenly so that with the first bite the cheese streamed from between my lips in a long ribbon. I questioned how many ounces of cheese and slabs of butter were used to make my sandwich so delectable. Ultimately, I decided you only live once!
Tillamook has since been renovated. It has a great deal more to see and do. I would have said it was “a don’t miss” before the renovations. Based on pictures from the website, it looks substantially bigger than in November 2016. It may be worth spending the better part of a day now. Note: they now offer guided tours and a much bigger restaurant and shopping area.
Falling Waters
We went home after our taste testing, as work called us back. However, if I had it to do again, I would have taken the family to Multnomah Falls before heading north.
Multnomah Falls is just a short drive past the on-ramp to I-5 near the Benson State Recreation Area on the Oregon side of the Columbia River.
The falls are the largest west of the Mississippi River. We stood at the bottom of the falls and bent our necks all the way back so we could see most of the way to the top. It was “way, way, WAY, up there,” to put it in kiddo terms.
Don’t miss Multnomah Falls, a beautiful spot along the Columbia River.
The waterfall, seemingly as tall as the mountain, disappeared into the rocks. It was just too tall to see the top. Quite amazing!
Since the lower part of the recreation area was all that had reopened after an extreme fire the spring before, we did not get to hike to the top or even walk up to the observation bridge above street level.
According to the USDA website, all the amenities are now open (check it out here) . The picnic and recreation area across the Historic Columbia River Highway (which parallels U.S. Interstate 84) was convenient for resting and eating prior to heading home. We bathed in the sunshine since it was spring and recharged one last time before turning north to the hustle and bustle of our Army world.
This little road trip was a great way to explore some lesser-known sites in the PNW. It was calmer than visiting the big city and more restful than hiking the mountains. We saw new things and ate great food. Truly, it was a great way to reconnect with one another after missing our soldier for so long. It helped us embrace the journey of life in the Pacific Northwest.
Closest Military Installations
These distances are from the first stop in the road trip, Cape Disappointment State Park, WA.
MWR Locations Nearby
If You Go:
- We went on this trip pre-Covid. As discussed in the article, Bouy Beer Company has moved. Please check out their blog for the latest information.
- We have a habit of going on trips to see one or two specific things and then looking up information about what is nearby. I recommend checking out these websites first to maximize your sightseeing opportunities.
https://www.visitlongbeachpeninsula.com/activities-and-attractions/
https://parks.wa.gov/find-parks/state-parks/cape-disappointment-state-park
https://www.cannonbeach.org/things-to-do/
Barges line up along the Columbia River.
- AND if you want to remember the 80’s movie so you can relive your childhood once in Astoria (or your parents’ childhoods) check out the IMDB summary.
- FYI, Goonies was filmed before there was a PG-13 rating, so it is rated PG. I saw this as a child in the edited-for-TV version, as many children of the 80’s did. I recommend you rewatch before sharing it with your littlest kiddos to be sure you are good with the content.