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Tour Code: 8570
Tour Length: 12 days
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PACIFIC NORTHWEST EXPLORER
Day 1 - Tue. SAN FRANCISCO. Welcome to the "City by the Bay!" Enjoy some time at leisure to relax or do some independent exploring. Your Tour Director is on hand this evening to answer any questions. Day 2 - Wed. SAN FRANCISCO. A full day at leisure to explore the regularly voted "Best City in the USA." San Francisco is a visual feast that offers something for every eye. A visit to Fisherman's Wharf for shopping and dining could be of interest. Then there is Grant Street, the city's oldest, running the length of Chinatown and Haight-Ashbury, which rekindles memories of Flower Power and the Beat Generation. Day 3 - Thu. SAN FRANCISCO - WINE COUNTRY - EUREKA. Leave San Francisco and cross the bay over the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge. Head north into the lush wine-growing valley of Sonoma. Enjoy a guided tour and WINE TASTING at one of the well-known wineries. Afterward, travel the AVENUE OF THE GIANTS. This world-famous scenic drive is a 31-mile portion of highway 101 with 51,222 acres of redwood groves. An evening arrival in Eureka, California's premier lumber center, situated on scenic Humboldt Bay. On the way to your overnight hotel, see the grand Carson Mansion, once the home of a local lumber baron. Day 4 - Fri. EUREKA - REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK - GOLD BEACH. Travel the coastal highway through REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK with its majestic sequoias. Enter Oregon and motor along the scenic coastal road to Gold Beach. This afternoon is a perfect time to relax and enjoy the scenic Rogue River while watching seals and birds at play. Day 5 - Sat. GOLD BEACH - COOS BAY - NEWPORT. Today is all about scenic beauty at a leisurely pace. Take advantage of the sunrise that sets the forest sparkling before departing on a scenic drive to the seacoast town of Bandon-by-the-Sea. A sightseeing tour will show you its scenic beauty and charm. A photo stop at the Bandon Lighthouse, long the symbol of this coastal community. Continue north to the quaint town of Florence, one of Oregon's most beautiful and charming cities along the coast. Time on your own to explore Historic Old Town, with its shops, boutiques, and coffee houses. From Florence, continue north through the SIUSLAW NATIONAL FOREST, past popular beach resorts, to one of Oregon's favorite vacation spots - Newport on pretty Yaquina Bay. Late this afternoon, visit the OREGON COAST AQUARIUM. Day 6 - Sun. NEWPORT - TILLAMOOK - PORTLAND. Follow the shoreline with
magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean. For a taste of the dramatic Oregon Coastline, we follow the Three Capes Scenic Route to Tillamook. One thing not to miss along the route is the reading of signs which tell you the brief story of the ghost community, now gone, that existed there 35 to 55 years ago. Our first stop is Cape Kiwanda to experience spectacular waves. Next, Cape Lookout State Park. The park was named for Cape Lookout, a rocky headland extending one and three-quarter miles into the ocean. From here, continue on to Three Arch Rocks to see hang gliders riding the winds until they finally land on the beach. Our last stop takes us to Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint situated on a headland 200 feet above the ocean. A "must- see" is the Cape Meares Lighthouse - at 38-feet high it is the shortest lighthouse in the state of Oregon. A break in Tillamook, a coastal town best known for its famous cheese and tasty saltwater taffy, before heading inland to Portland, Oregon's largest city. Day 7 - Mon. PORTLAND-SEATTLE. This morning, a sightseeing tour shows why Portland is better known as the "City of Roses," with its numerous parks and beautiful flower gardens. Visit the largest rose garden in the U.S. WASHINGTON PARK INTERNATIONAL ROSE TEST GARDEN. Time on your own to explore the sunken rose garden, walk through lush paths and sweeping archways. Cross the majestic Columbia River and head north into Washington State to the VOLCANO VISITORS CENTER to learn of the dramatic eruption of Mount St. Helens. Then, if weather conditions are favorable, see the ice-clad dormant volcano Mount Rainier before reaching Seattle. This afternoon's sightseeing includes the Seattle Center, site of the 1962 World's Fair and the 605-foot-high Space Needle, and a stop at the colorful Pike Place Market. Day 8 - Tue. SEATTLE. The day is free for you to explore the "Emerald City." Perhaps take a sightseeing tour that soaks up the Asian flavor of the International District. Explore downtown where the possibilities are endless for shopping and dining. The Waterfront is Seattle's gateway to the rest of the world. Take a ferry across Puget Sound or just relax and experience the spectacular views of Elliott Bay and enjoy fresh seafood. Tonight, join your fellow traveling companions for a fabulous waterfront meal and panoramic views from the observation deck of the Space Needle. Day 9 - Wed. SEATTLE - FERRY CROSSING - VICTORIA. Cross the U.S.-Canadian border and board the ferry for a scenic ride through the Gulf Islands to Vancouver Island. Upon arrival, visit the world-famous BUTCHART GARDENS, 35-acres of showcase exhibits, including the English Rose Garden, the Italian Garden, Star Pond, and the Japanese Garden. This afternoon, see the sights of Victoria, British Columbia's beautiful capital, including the Legislature Buildings, Bastion Square, Beacon Hill Park, Chinatown, and Thunderbird Park with its unusual collection of totem poles. Day 10 - Thu. VICTORIA. A full free day. Be sure to check out some of the attractions this splendid city has to offer, including the Royal British Columbia Museum, afternoon tea at the Empress Hotel, the IMAX presentation at the National Geographic Theatre, whale watching on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and fine shopping along Government Street. Suggestion for this evening is an optional outing that includes a harbor cruise, followed by a delightful dinner at one of Victoria's waterfront restaurants. Day 11 - Fri. VICTORIA - NANAIMO - FERRY CROSSING - VANCOUVER. North this morning along the east coast of Vancouver Island to the charming village of Chemainus, Canada's only permanent outdoor art gallery. Throughout the village you - ll see 32 larger-than-life-sized murals depicting the early settlement of pioneers in the area. At Nanaimo, board the ferry for the scenic crossing to Horseshoe Bay. Then it's a short drive to Vancouver, Canada's "Gem of the Pacific." Sightseeing on the way to the hotel includes Stanley Park with its unique totem poles, as well as Gastown and Chinatown. Day 12 - Sat. VANCOUVER. The trip ends this morning with guests departing on individual schedules. Transfers are provided to Vancouver International Airport. |
