Adventures in the Wild Northwest

Tour Information

8nt Tour Begins San Francisco, Ends Seattle: 1nt San Francisco; 1nt Garberville; 1nt Gold Beach; 2nts Newport; 1nt Portland; 1nt Olympic National Park; 1nt Seattle

Day 1

Fly from the UK – San Francisco
Welcome to San Francisco! After being whisked from the airport to the hotel at Fisherman’s Wharf, meet your Tour Director this afternoon. Time permitting, explore Pier 39. An easy stroll away, you’ll get a real San Francisco treat as you drink in the atmosphere of this lively marketplace and watch street performers get oohs, aahs, laughter and cheers from the crowd. Also competing for your attention is the pier’s resident sea lion population, known as the “Sea Lebrities.” Then, at 6:00pm, get together with your fellow adventurers at a festive Kick-off Party.
Overnight: Hyatt at Fisherman’s Wharf

Day 2

San Francisco – Richardson Grove State Park – Garberville
What better way to get a taste of San Francisco than by crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world! If you and the family are up for a walk, grab your cameras and join your Tour Director for a stroll across this impressive feat of engineering. Learn how the bridge was built, who built it, and why it’s not painted gold – despite its name! Then, travel through the rolling hills of California’s Wine Country and stop at Richardson Grove State Park for your first encounter with the giants of the forest, the mighty redwoods. Follow trails that meander among these towering redwoods and take the opportunity to walk straight through a tree! (Full breakfast / Dinner)
Overnight: Benbow Hotel

Day 3

Garberville – Redwood National Park – Gold Beach
Get in touch with your inner-conservationist as you travel along the “Avenue of the Giants,” one of America’s most spectacular roads and best display of giant California redwoods. Step back in time in Eureka, a quaint 19th-century Victorian town built during the height of the region’s logging boom. Here, our Tour Director will reveal a Hidden Treasure. Next, drive through Northern California Redwood National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with trees more than 1,000 years old and over 300 feet tall. Anticipation mounts as you cross into Oregon and step aboard a high-speed jet boat for a thrilling ride on the Rogue River. This Congress-designated “National Wild and Scenic River” tumbles and roars from high in the Cascade Range to the shores of the Pacific and is home to tons of native wildlife. Keep an eye out for black bear, river otter, black-tail deer, bald eagles, great blue heron and Canada geese, all commonly seen along the river! (Full breakfast)
Overnight: Jot’s Resort

Day 4

Gold Beach – Oregon Dunes – Newport (2 nights)
Gear up for the trip to Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, a natural wonder of endless shifting sand, unique tree islands and lots of interesting creatures. Hop in a dune buggy for an exhilarating ride up and down these expansive tracts of sand. Then stop at Heceta Head, a beautiful 19th-century lighthouse that casts its beam some 21 miles out to sea, before continuing north to the bayside town of Newport. This evening join the gang on the beach for a good ol’ fashioned clam bake with all the fixin’s. Then gather ‘round a beach bonfire for gooey s’mores and entertaining campfire tales. (Full breakfast / Highlight dinner)
Overnight: Salishan Spa & Golf Resort

Day 5

Newport sightseeing & at leisure
Kick off your shoes, roll up your pants and wade in the Yaquina Heads tide pools for a captivating search for hermit crabs, sea urchins, anemones, sea stars, and even the occasional octopus! Your next look at sea life is even cooler, because you’re headed to the Oregon Coast Aquarium – named one of America’s “Most Awesome Aquariums” by Forbes magazine. Come face-to-face with sharks and bat rays in “Passages of the Deep” – an acrylic walk-through tunnel surrounded by water. With your leisure time this afternoon, maybe explore Newport’s historic waterfront or join an optional Sea Life Cruise; keep an eye out for sea life and marine birds as the onboard naturalist tells you all about your surroundings. (Full breakfast)
Overnight: Salishan Spa & Golf Resort

Day 6

Newport – Tillamook – Portland
Better get moo-ving, because you’re traveling to Tillamook, a city synonymous with the dairy industry. Get the scoop on dairy products during a tour of the Tillamook Creamery and learn about dairy cows. Then you’ll be treated to a fresh waffle cone filled high with your choice of 35 delicious flavors of Tillamook Ice Cream. Next, journey to Portland, where you’ll enjoy a city orientation, complete with a stop at the International Rose Test Garden. (Full breakfast)
Overnight: Portland Marriott City Center

Day 7

Portland – Olympic National Park
Today you’ll visit the award-winning Mount St. Helens Visitors Center, dedicated to the active Ring-of-Fire volcano that erupted on May 18, 1980. Learn about the legendary blast – an eruption so colossal that it spewed ash into 11 states – as you watch a reenactment of the event and experience interactive exhibits such as a step-in volcano model and working seismograph. After being “blown away” by Mount St. Helens, venture west to the rugged coast of Olympic National Park. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve, the park contains no fewer than three distinct ecosystems. Enter the beautiful Hoh Rainforest, one of the world’s few (as well as the largest) temperate rainforests, and trek to the eerie “Hall of Mosses” with trees and branches dripping with moss. Later, enjoy your hotel’s perfect location along the rugged coast with stunning ocean views. (Full breakfast / Dinner)
Overnight: Kalaloch Lodge

Day 8

Olympic National Park – Seattle
Before leaving Olympic National Park this morning, make a stop at dazzling Lake Crescent. Sensational views of the Seattle skyline unfold before you as you make your way by ferry across Puget Sound into the Emerald City. Once ashore in this hip and vibrant town, stop at the historic Pike Place Market, the nation’s oldest farmers market, where the fish fly low – from one fishmonger’s hands to the next! No visit to Seattle would be complete without making the trip to the top of the Space Needle, the iconic landmark of the great Pacific Northwest. This evening, kick up your heels at a fun-filled Farewell Dinner party – here’s to your exciting northwest adventures and newfound friends! (Full breakfast / Farewell dinner)
Overnight: Red Lion Hotel on Fifth Avenue

Day 9

Depart Seattle
Time to bid farewell to your fellow adventurers as you take your complimentary transfer to Seattle International Airport for your return flight. (Full breakfast)

Day 10

Arrival back to the UK

What's Included

Sightseeing Highlights

• San Francisco: Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge with your Tour Director.
• Richardson Grove: Join your Tour Director for a walk through the amazing coastal redwoods.
• Avenue of the Giants: Drive through this living museum of stunning trees.
• Eureka: Admire some of the nation’s fi nest historic Victorian homes.
• Gold Beach: Board a jet boat for a thrilling exploration of the Rogue River.
• Oregon Dunes: Explore sand dunes on a fun dune buggy ride.
• Heceta: Head View this famous lighthouse located in a spectacular setting.
• Newport: Enjoy a clambake on the beach, complete with roaring bonfire and s’mores; visit the renowned Oregon Coast Aquarium.
• Portland: See the city’s highlights and International Rose Test Garden.
• Tillamook: Visit the Tillamook Creamery, learn about the dairy industry and enjoy a scrumptious premium ice cream cone.
• Yaquina: Head Explore the shoreline’s tidepools and search for marine life.
• Redwood National Park: Marvel at the redwood trees in this UNESCO site.
• Mount St.Helens: Stop at the Visitor Center and learn about this volcano.
• Olympic National Park: Explore the Hoh Rainforest and Lake Crescent.
• Puget Sound: Enjoy superb views while cruising this waterway.
• Seattle: See the city’s sights and take a trip up the Space Needle.

Dining Highlights

• 8 full breakfasts
• 2 three-course dinners
• Special Clambake Dinner Beach Party in Newport
• Farewell Dinner with drinks in Seattle
• 12 included meals in total (see day by day itinerary)

First Class Travel Highlights

• First Class hotel accommodation includes two-bedded rooms with private facilities, all hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling fees and local taxes.
• Touring by luxury air-conditioned motorcoach with reclining seats and onboard restroom.
• The services of a top professional Tour Director.
• Ferry across the Puget Sound between Bainbridge Island and Seattle
• A stylish wallet, travel documents and Welcome on Tour book with map.
• Complimentary airport transfers are provided on Day 1 and Day 9.