Day 1: Hello Seattle
Welcome to Seattle, called the Emerald City due to its lush evergreen forests. Relax after your arrival or explore on your own terms before joining your Travel Director and fellow travellers this evening for a dinner.
Day 2: Scenic Seattle Dive Into Culture
Get oriented in dazzling Seattle at Pike Place Market, where the fish fly low from one fishmonger's hands to the next. Explore on your own to become a market insider experiencing the sights, sounds and flavours of this historic 100+ year old landmark. Then get a bird’s eye view of the city from the iconic, futuristic-looking Seattle Space Needle.
Day 3: Travel through the Olympic Peninsula
Leave the city behind as you take the ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island, with views across Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. Travel onward to Jardin du Soleil, a family-run lavender farm in the Sequim Valley. Dive into Culture as you meet a local lavender farmer and learn how lavender is grown, harvested and distilled. You’ll even make your own lavender essential oil using ingredients produced right on the farm. The journey continues through the Olympic Peninsula, to your Stays with Stories accommodation, Lake Quinault Lodge. Surrounded by nature and steeped in regional character, this historic property offers a relaxed end to your day and a deep sense of connection to the landscape.
Day 4: Explore Olympic National Park
Spend a slow-paced morning in Quinault, with time to take a stroll, browse local shops or simply enjoy the forested surroundings. From here, follow the coastline south into Oregon, arriving in the port city of Astoria where the Columbia River flows into the Pacific. Visit the Columbia River Maritime Museum, home to one of the most comprehensive collections of maritime artefacts in the country. Through a self-guided visit, you’ll get a deeper understanding of how this river shaped trade, exploration and daily life in the Pacific Northwest. Afterwards, enjoy some free time to explore Astoria’s historic downtown, known for its waterfront views, Victorian-era homes and small-town charm.
Day 5: Onwards to Newport
Discover more of Astoria, the oldest American settlement west of the Rocky Mountains, aboard a restored streetcar for a ride on the Astoria Riverfront Trolley. Continue to the towering Astoria Column monument dedicated by the Great Northern Railway in 1926, and learn about the experiences of the first people to live in this corner of the world. Call into the coastal town of Newport where stretches of sand invite you to pause and take in the scenery.
Day 6: Taste the Flavours of the Pacific Northwest Connect with Locals Dive Into Culture
Begin your journey towards Portland today in the Willamette Valley and stop at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum. Here you can see a fascinating display of military and civilian air and space craft, most notably the Hughes H-4 Hercules. Then it’s on to Connect With Locals over an exclusive Be My Guest experience at Kramer Vineyards. Arrive in the quirky city of Portland for a sightseeing tour.
Day 7: Experience The Unforgettable Columbia River Gorge Make Travel Matter
Take a day trip outside the city to soak up views of the magnificent and powerful Multnomah Falls. Spend the day exploring the Columbia River Gorge, a region known for its dramatic landscapes and natural beauty. Continue to TMK Creamery for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. See where their cheese, ice cream and Cowcohol are made, meet the “Cowlebrities” and learn how the creamery upcyles remnants from each of their processes into a consumable product. It’s a tasty look at local innovation and responsible farming. End the day back in Portland, where you’ll enjoy dinner with your travel companions.
Day 8: Until Next Time Portland
Say goodbye to Portland as you make your way to the airport. Or perhaps extend your stay to enjoy more of the city.
