Columbia River: Harvests, History, and Landscapes of the Pacific Northwest

Witness natural and man-made marvels as you navigate the scenic Columbia River Gorge and pass through the Bonneville Lock and Dam. Enjoy a fresh-brewed coffee on the bow, where your naturalists offer insightful perspectives on the controversial history of dams along the river. Later, enjoy an onboard tasting with your wine specialist while learning about the local terroirs.

Drive through some of the most fertile agricultural areas in the nation, with bright, rolling green and purple fields of sprouting wheat, asparagus and famous Walla Walla sweet onions. This morning, discover the city’s thriving art scene on a guided tour, or choose to visit the Whitman Mission, a standout National Historic Site where friction between Native Americans and white missionaries erupted into an event that continues to reverberate in American culture today. After lunch at a local winery, explore charming downtown Walla Walla at your leisure, perusing local galleries, sampling sweets at one of the country’s best candy stores or stopping in cozy wine-tasting rooms.

Spend the day cruising through some of the most picturesque and geologically significant stretches of the Columbia River and the Columbia Plateau. Your geologists will provide insight on the glacial floods that sculpted the landscape 13,000 years ago, as your food and wine expert highlights the tastes and tannins of this unique terrain. Relive the historic tales of Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery through the eyes of a historian as you sail by key landmarks.

Make a stop at the towering Multnomah Falls before an optional hike to the iconic Beacon Rock, a basalt column towering 848 feet above the Columbia River. Later, enjoy a private event with Syncline Winery at the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center. Savor canapes and Syncline’s distinctive wines as you take in 15,000 years of cultural history, including Indigenous art and a massive working steam engine.

In the morning, navigate the Columbia River to its mouth in Astoria. Later, choose to explore Cape Disappointment and take in the dramatic scenery where Meriwether Lewis first glimpsed the Pacific Ocean in 1805. Alternatively, enjoy a scenic hike to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center or embark on a culinary heritage walk.

This morning, choose to visit the Columbia River Maritime Museum and learn about the estuary’s navigational hazards and history of shipwrecks. Alternatively, take a shuttle to the Astoria Column—a monument to the natural riches of the Pacific Northwest—or explore Astoria’s shops and restaurants at your own pace. In the afternoon, enjoy a scenic cruise accompanied by local wine tastings on board.

Disembark in Portland after breakfast and transfer to the airport for flights home.