Exploring Astoria, Ore.

Launching a balsa-wood airplane from the observation deck at the top of the Astoria Column is a rite of visiting. ( Alex Pulaski/Chicago Tribune )

Chicago Tribune

July 10, 2018 1:17 PM PT

Founded a little over 200 years ago as America¿s first settlement in the West, Astoria, Ore., finds itself buoyed these days by a tourist-fueled revival.

Nine miles of paved cycling trails wind through the 4,300-acre Fort Stevens State Park. ( Alex Pulaski/Chicago Tribune )

A boat passes under the Astoria-Megler Bridge, linking Astoria, Ore., and Washington. ( Alex Pulaski/Chicago Tribune )

The murals on the exterior of the Astoria Column, designed by Attilio Pusterla in 1926 and restored in 1995, trace the region’s history. ( Alex Pulaski/Chicago Tribune )

French toast with fresh berry compote and whipped cream is one of the tasty dishes served at Blue Scorcher Bakery & Cafe. ( Alex Pulaski/Chicago Tribune )

The open, airy lobby of the Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa is a prime spot to watch ships passing on the Columbia River. ( Alex Pulaski/Chicago Tribune )

The 4.1-mile Astoria-Megler Bridge, completed in 1966, links coastal Oregon and Washington. ( Alex Pulaski/Chicago Tribune )

The bare bones of the Peter Iredale, a British four-masted bark that ran aground in 1906, are a magnet for beach visitors to Fort Stevens State Park. ( Alex Pulaski/Chicago Tribune )

The wide stretch of the Columbia River as it meets the Pacific Ocean, seen from the Astoria Column. ( Alex Pulaski/Chicago Tribune )

From May through October, the Astoria Sunday Market features more than 150 vendors of crafts, produce, food and more in downtown. ( Alex Pulaski/Chicago Tribune )