East Mooring Basin is a working corner of Astoria's riverfront, where fishing boats, docks, gulls, and Columbia River weather make the town feel more maritime than nostalgic. It is less polished than the museum-and-trolley stretch, but that is part of the point.
Stop here for a short waterfront walk, especially if sea lions are hauled out nearby or the light is good across the river. It pairs naturally with the Riverwalk and the Columbia River Maritime Museum rather than standing alone as a major sight.