Pacific Northwest & California

Your tour opens with an overnight stay in Seattle, dubbed the “Emerald City” for its lush green surroundings. As travellers’ arrival times vary greatly, we have no group activities planned during the day. Get to know your fellow travellers at tonight’s welcome dinner.

Explore Seattle’s colourful waterfront area and historic Pioneer Square with a local guide. Mingle with artisans at the lively Pike Place Market, a famous fish and vegetable market dotted with restaurants and shops. Travel by Washington State Ferry across Puget Sound to Bremerton – Seattle’s skyline is spectacular from the water! Back on land, travel south through Olympia, stopping at the Mount St. Helens Visitor Centre. Learn about its 1980 volcanic eruption as well as the history and geology of the state park. Continue to Portland, Oregon for a two-night stay in the picturesque “City of Roses.”

Drive along the Mt. Hood route to the lush Columbia River Gorge. Take in the unforgettable views of Mt. Hood as you leave the valley and enter the Cascade Mountains. Discover the awe-inspiring landscapes of the magnificent Columbia River and Multnomah Falls, a 611-foot-tall roaring cascade. Later, learn about the lavender growing process during a walking tour of the farm where this beneficial perennial herb is grown. Tonight, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

On the way to the Oregon coast, journey through the Willamette Valley. Today known for its wine that rivals that of Napa, this was once the “Promised Land” for the pioneers who followed the Oregon Trail. On the coast, stop at the Yaquina Head Lighthouse, a 93-foot tower buffeted by wind and rain since 1872. Enjoy time at the interpretive centre or make your way down to Cobble Beach to explore the tide pools of colourful sea anemones and starfish. Stop in the seaside town of Newport before travelling further along the coast. End your day strolling North Bend’s lively boardwalk, perched along scenic Coos Bay.

Drive to Bandon State Natural Area. Take in the breathtaking scenery as we travel along the striking Beach Loop. See Bandon Rocks and Face Rock, famous for their American Indian legends. Stop to enjoy a cruise up the spectacular Rogue River, taking you into Oregon’s rugged wilderness for a chance to see bald eagles, cormorants, seals and blue heron. Continuing south to California’s redwood country, travel through Redwood National Park, home to trees that can reach nearly 300 feet. See for yourself why the sun seldom hits the ground.

Return to the majestic beauty and splendid grandeur of the redwood forest as you traverse the “Avenue of the Giants,” a scenic highway loaded with towering redwoods. Next, drive over the legendary Golden Gate Bridge and arrive in "the City by the Bay,” San Francisco. Tonight, enjoy dinner on your own at one of the many restaurants in this eclectic city.

Today, join a local guide on a city tour of San Francisco’s iconic landmarks and neighborhoods including Chinatown, North Beach, Portsmouth Square, “the birthplace of San Francisco”, Haight-Ashbury and Alamo Square. After a farewell lunch, enjoy a cruise on San Francisco Bay where the highlight is a sail under the majestic Golden Gate Bridge with a close-up look at Alcatraz Island.

Your tour comes to a close today, but the memories will stay with you forever.