When visiting small, historic towns along the coast, antique and vintage shops are a must. So much history can be packed into a well-curated collection of treasures, relics and curios.

Each object holds a story, just waiting to continue its journey.

The Columbia-Pacific region has dozens of antique and vintage shops that are home to ever-changing collections. But without a roadmap, it can be intimidating to know where to begin.

Start in Astoria, below hillsides of historic homes, then head north, as far as Ocean Park, to find maritime artwork and vintage books at Long Beach Peninsula Trading. Or, head south to explore the many stairwells and rooms of Wheeler Station Antiques.

Vintage Hardware, Astoria

As the oldest European settlement west of the Rocky Mountains, Astoria has many historic homes. This Commercial Street shop stocks pieces to fill their interiors — antique furniture, lighting and hardware items.

Much of the stock is locally sourced from Clatsop and Pacific counties. In addition to home goods, there are also troves of old pictures, records and maritime artifacts, as well as collections of jewelry and clothing.

The shop is housed in the former J.C. Penney building, in a large space that has continued to grow since owner Becky Johnson opened it more than 15 years ago.

Some items are now posted online. A sample of offerings: An Eastlake dresser, an antique bakers’ cabinet, a library card catalog cabinet and a vintage Regatta board game.

Reclamation Marketplace, Astoria

Also on Commercial Street, arranged windows greet visitors with style and interior design ideas at this shop, enticing them to look around. Golden light washes in through large panes of glass.

In 2019, this century-old building — which once operated as a bank — was transformed into a vintage collection.

The space is separated into several booths, including the old bank vault, that are managed by over 20 different vendors.

Home goods and accent furniture span decades of different regional tastes. Visitors can find mugs, dishes, lamps and wall decor. Or, stock a kitchen or dining area with vintage Pyrex and handmade ceramics.

While home goods are a specialty, visitors will find many other surprises strolling from booth to booth, from wool sweaters and button-downs to customizable leather western belts or handmade crocheted tops and hats.

Upstairs, between two rooms offering vintage and handmade clothing, the halls are lined with locally-made artwork.

Phog Bounders Antique Mall, Astoria

Housed in the historic former Astorian building, this shop on Marine Drive brings visitors into an exhibit of historic nautical artifacts — propellers, steering wheels and ship bells that are sure to spark conversation about the area’s maritime past.

With decades in business, Phog Bounders is a pioneering Astoria antique mall that features over 50 vendors, with an assortment of local history and curiosities from around the world.

Here, find historic anvils and Columbia River sea glass, or goods and furnishings to match home styles from Victorian to ranch.

Browse the fine china and midcentury modern dinnerware, discover a new tea cup pattern or maybe find a missing piece to a collection. One booth offers restored cast iron cookware, ready to serve up a breakfast skillet or be placed on display in the kitchen.

Find antique and vintage jewelry in cases full of gems, handmade necklaces, costume earrings and rings. Antique hunters may even find an exact match to a ring they lost long ago.

There is also an abundance of crystalware and silver-plated servingware, old toys, cameras and suitcases that invite one to travel through memories or contemplate the experiences of past generations.

North Coast Antique Mall, Seaview

A short drive from Astoria, Seaview is home to historic houses and buildings that line quiet streets, drawing visitors to a slower pace of observation and contemplation.

Antiques dealer Martin Martinez’s love for old buildings was his gateway into the world of antiques. North Coast Antique Mall is housed in a historic lumber yard that is now one of the largest spaces of its kind in the region.

Martinez sees each shopper’s visit as an experience. If antiquing was choosing your adventure, the quest at North Coast Antique Mall is the expedition rather than the prize.

Exploring the large building nearly never ends. Every turn somehow keeps going and going, with furniture, artwork, local nautical artifacts and items from around the world.

Martinez gives his vendors the flexibility to curate their booths — bringing in objects that are “new, old and everything in between.”

“I love doing this,” said Michelle Hutton, one of Martinez’s vendors, “you can’t come here once and think, ‘Oh, I’ve seen it.'” Hutton began dealing in antiques only a few years ago as a way to find new homes for items from her family’s estate. Her booth features items from many decades and is constantly changing.

“New things are always coming in,” she said.

Seaside Antique Mall, Seaside

Antiquing goes beyond collecting and keeping treasures behind glass cases. Many items have proven their durability by standing the test of time and certain older items, like appliances and furniture, were built to last — many designed to be passed down from generation to generation.

Repurposing antiques has grown in popularity with younger visitors, explained Jodie Mathison, owner of Seaside Antique Mall. “They’re well-built and can be used for a long time,” she said.

Repurposed antiques can pull generations together through memory. A mixer or a table may remind some of their mother or grandmother, and adding those pieces to the home places a personal touch of comfort.

So much can be learned from old relics and objects. As Mathison has gotten to know her customers and the many dealers who stock the booths in her store, she has gained knowledge on just about every type of antique. When it comes to specific antiques, “collectors know everything,” and are more or less experts in their interests.

The shop spans thousands of square feet, curated to avoid too much of the same thing. Here, visitors will find everything from historic planers to toy cars to glass floats.

From sharing childhood stories to explaining the history of certain objects, Mathison learns something new every day.