The USA Today travel section has discovered Astoria. The “Summer travel ’09: Freebies across the USA” article that appeared online May 21 lists free events and attractions in each state. Oregon’s listing is interesting in that Astoria is the only city mentioned. Here’s the blurb:

“Oregon is celebrating its 150th birthday this year – and Astoria, a city at the mouth of the Columbia River that dates to the Lewis & Clark expedition – is the state’s oldest American settlement. Visitors to the city, which boasts Victorian homes on steep hills, as well as neighboring Warrenton, with its marine beaches, can download audio tours to their iPods or burn onto CDs. One tour, ‘The Reel Astoria,’ showcases locales where films such as ‘Free Willy,’ ‘Kindergarten Cop’ and ‘The Goonies’ were set.” Then the Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce number and Web site are listed.

Geez, you couldn’t even buy publicity that good. Here’s the link to the whole article: (http://tinyurl.com/orfreebies)