Pacific Northwest & California featuring Washington, Oregon and California

Your tour opens with an overnight stay in Seattle, dubbed the “Emerald City” for its lush green surroundings. Get to know your fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner.

Explore Seattle’s colorful 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 Center. 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 center or make your way down to Cobble Beach to explore the tide pools of colorful sea anemones and starfish. Stop in the seaside town of Newport before traveling further along the coast. End your day strolling North Bend’s lively boardwalk, perched along scen