Episode
The weird, hidden attractions found in one of the Oregon coast’s coolest towns
- Podcast
- Peak Northwest
- Published
- Mar 26, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2037
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/ADLM8752323255.mp3
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Summary
There’s no denying that Astoria is a cool place. From the natural splendor to the maritime history and the cultural cachet (at least in the ‘80s and ‘90s), the Oregon coast town naturally draws a community of creatives who are passionate about their home. But while most of the town’s greatest sights are out in the open — standing tall and proud like the Astoria Column — many of Astoria’s weirder, more offbeat attractions are hidden away. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we descend into basements, enter unmarked doors and find hidden entrances to some of the weird, hidden attractions of Astoria. Samantha Swindler, features reporter for The Oregonian/OregonLive, gives us her latest recommendations after another visit to the coastal destination. Here are some highlights from this week’s show: A 1980s sci-fi movie still draws fans to filming locations in town. How cable TV was born in Astoria. Why the Vampira Walking Tour is one of the best historical tours around. An underground spaceship arcade, a speakeasy izakaya and a basement “freak boutique.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices