Readers’ Choice Awards
BEST BIRDWATCHING SITE,
BEST PLACE TO WALK &
BEST PLACE TO WATCH FIREWORKS
BEST NEIGHBORHOOD PARK
Tapiola Park
Astoria, Oregon
Astoria Riverwalk
Runner-up: Shively Park, Astoria
Honorable Mention: Fred Lindstrom Memorial Park, Astoria
Astoria, Oregon
By DWIGHT CASWELL
that it’s a straight shot upriver,
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and the sea lions and boats at
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nally to the Alderbrook Lagoon
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ria Trolley back to your car.
The Riverwalk was also
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goon may be avian central.
There you’ll see shorebirds,
and seabirds love the marshy
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al migratory species like the
Eurasian wigeon have been
The Astoria Riverwalk is
the readers’ choice in three
categories, and deservedly so.
Let’s take the obvious one
Photo by Alex Pajunas
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The Astoria Riverwalk runs parallel to the former Burlington Northern Railroad tracks. In
the 1980s, the city converted the train tracks into a recreational trail thanks to the federal
Riverwalk is six miles of
Rails to Trails program, preserving the riverfront as a public space.
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spotted there, and occasionally
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Astoria, past and present.
species. The tufted duck has
At the western end, you’ll
been seen, and last year a snow
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bunting was spotted, far from
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its home in the high Arctic, as
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the main path takes you to piers
ally found no farther north than
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catches for processors. Next
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The Riverwalk also
steps of the Sixth Street
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BEST PLAC e Beach
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its splendid vista of land,
Photo by Dwight Caswell
Runner-up n: Discovery
tio
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is hard to argue with. The Astoria Riverwalk was voted Best
sea and ships. Along the
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They seem right on top Place to Watch Fireworks this year.
way you pass breweries
each Penin
rail, Long B
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ple spread out along the shoes, grab your binoculars,
lot buildings (with a pilot
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tracks, it’s not crowded.
boat tugging at its mooring),
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Handcrafted
W ith P ride in
Astoria, Oregon
N o. 1 Eighth
(8th) Street, Astoria
503.325.4540
w w w .buoybeer.com
W e than k o u r a m a zin g co m m u n ity fo r vo tin g u s
in to the fo llo w in g top th ree categories :
• Best Bar
• Best Fish an d Chips
• Best Brew pub
• Best Lun ch Spot
• Best Burger
• Best Restaurant
• Best Clam Chow der for K ids!
T HANK Y OU
for voting us
B EST R ADIO
S TATION !
Coast Community Radio
P.O. Box 269, Astoria, OR 97103
503.325.0010
Fu ll lo cally-fo cu sed m en u availab le o n o u r w eb site
12 | January 28, 2016 | coastweekend.com
www.CoastRadio.org
Photo by Joshua Bessex
Located at 900 W. Marine Drive in Astoria, Tapiola Park holds four baseball fi elds, a basket-
ball court, two sets of public restrooms, a skate park, a picnic area and a large playground.
BEST GYM
Astoria Aquatic Center
Astoria, Oregon
Runner-up: Astoria Full Fitness, Astoria
Honorable Mention: Snap Fitness, Long Beach, Washington
Photo by Joshua Bessex
Located at 1997 Marine Drive and run by Astoria Parks & Recreation, the Astoria Aquatic
Center has four pools and a large fi tness area with weights, treadmills and more.