!–paging_filter–pstrongWHERE: /strongThe historic port city of Astoria, Oregon, the oldest American settlement west of the Rockies. strongWHY:/strong For the kickoff of the seasonal Sunday Market (5/11–10/12; a href=”http://www.astoriasundaymarket.com” target=”_blank”astoriasundaymarket.com/a). strongWHAT: /strongMore than 100 rotating local vendors offer everything from handmade goat’s milk soaps to guitars made out of cigar boxes to mountains of delicious local salmon, oysters and locally grown produce. Watch for newcomer Lolivia Gifts, offering lovely vertical succulent gardens. strongWHILE YOU’RE THERE: /strongStop in for a cold pint at the brand-new Buoy Beer Company (a href=”http://www.buoybeer.com” target=”_blank”buoybeer.com/a). Housed in a former fish cannery, with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto the Columbia River, the brewery specializes in German-style lagers, Czech-style pilsners and ales. The taproom menu offers Northwest bounty, including Oregon quahog clams, Willapa Bay oysters and locally smoked salmon, with a full restaurant set to open this spring. Joining Astoria Brewing Company and Fort George Brewery, Buoy is helping to make this small town a beer lover’s seaside paradise. /p