The first full day of the trip let the guests of National Geographic Quest explore Astoria, Oregon. This was the final stop for Lewis and Clark on their epic journey to the Pacific. It is also where they spent a dismal winter in 1805. Our time here was a little more pleasant than it was for the Corp of Discovery. We had a chance to browse through the Columbia River Maritime Museum, wander through downtown Astoria, and visit the recreated Fort Clatsop that the Corp called home that wet, dreary winter.
4/27/2024
Read
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.