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Arrive at the airport, pick-up your rental car and proceed to your hotel. Seattle is known as the “Emerald City” because of the beautiful green hue of the waters that surround it. Situated between the jagged Olympic Mountains to the west and the volcanic peaks of the Cascade Range to the east, the city sits on a narrow strip of land between Puget Sound and 18 mile long Lake Washington. The downtown area of Seattle has many excellent shops and restaurants.
Accommodations:
Quality Inn & Suites Seattle or similar (2 nights).
Today, enjoy all the sights and sounds of Seattle. Much of modern Seattle began in 1962 with the World’s Fair. It helped spark the creation of the Space Needle, the Seattle Center, the Coliseum, and other local landmarks. The fair prompted the further development of parks, roads, and transportation systems. One of the city’s major attractions is the Waterfront. Here you will find shops, restaurants and the Seattle Aquarium, Odyssey Maritime Discovery Center, and Ye Olde Curiosity. Take the time to visit Pike Place Market which opened August 17, 1907 making it one of the oldest continually-operated public farmer’s markets in the country. It is a place of business for many small farmers, craftspeople and merchants. Make sure to see the fishmongers tossing their catch from person to person. Have a coffee at the first Starbucks, which was opened at Pike Place Market in 1971. After a long day of walking, relax on a tour boat and enjoy the views of the city from the waters of Puget Sound.
Depart Seattle and drive toward Mount Vernon. Nestled in the beautiful Skagit Valley, Mount Vernon is a pioneer town that was recently voted “Best Small City in America”. The downtown area is home to many specialty boutiques. Comb through an antique shop or enjoy the view with a stroll along the riverfront boardwalk. Seasonally, whale watching cruises area available around San Juan Islands. The San Juan Islands can be reached by ferry which accommodates both automobiles and passengers. Keep a watchful eye for the numerous varied types of birds as you cross. A variety of whale watching tours are available, including those by boat and sea kayak. This is one of the best places to view the Orca (Killer Whale). Another option is to take the scenic drive through North Cascades National Park. Spend an evening at Mount Vernon’s Lincoln Theatre, a 1920’s treasure with a rare Wurlitzer theatre organ and classic movies. An overnight stay has been arranged here.
Accommodations:
(STD) Best Western Plus Skagit Valley Inn (1 night).
Leave Mount Vernon and head toward Quinault, located within Olympic National Park. Often referred to as “three parks in one”, Olympic National Park encompasses three distinctly different ecosystems, rugged glacier capped mountains, over 60 miles of wild Pacific coast and magnificent stands of old-growth and temperate rain forest. Take a scenic drive to Hurricane Ridge. Spectacular views of the Olympic Mountains can be found here. Stop at the visitor center and take one of the popular day hikes. Enjoy a two night stay in Lake Quinault.
Accommodations:
(STD) Lake Quinault Lodge Olympic National Park or similar (2 nights).
Spend today at Olympic National Park. At 7,965 feet, rugged Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in the Olympic Mountain Range and a figurehead for the park. Trails offer an adventure for the climber, or simply capture a photo from afar. The Olympic Coastal Strip is a 57 mile long expanse of rock, seawater, and sand, holds some of the most rugged and picturesque coastline anywhere. Consider a hike along this wilderness coastline. Visit the Hoh Rain Forest, this rain forest receives over 150 inches of rain per year and is part of the only temperate rain forest in the United States. Make a stop at Lake Crescent. Crescent is a popular recreational area in the Olympic National Park. At 660 feet (201 m) deep, it is one of the deepest lakes in the state of Washington. There are raft and kayak facilities available. Several hot springs can also be found in the park. Slip into a hot springs-fed pool at Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort. The hot mineral waters that rise to the surface along the Soleduck River banks have here been channeled into tiled pools. A more rustic option is Olympic Hot Springs; the six sandy pools here are set amid lush deep-emerald lowland forest. Much wildlife can be found in the park, including Roosevelt elk, cougars, black bears, sea otters, and marmots. One of the more interesting spectacles is the migrating salmon. In early September and late October, coho salmon make the arduous journey from the ocean upriver to their spawning grounds, and you can see them leap up small waterfalls at spots like the Salmon Cascades along the Soleduck River.
Leave Quinault behind and travel to Puyallup where an overnight stay has been arranged. The valley in which Puyallup was originally settled is the heart of the town. Its fertile soil is optimal for the acres of Daffodils which are grown for distribution world-wide, and are featured in the town’s annual spring parade. From most perspectives in the town of Puyallup, Mt. Rainier is visible to the south east, making the snow-covered cascade volcano a symbol of the town’s strong northwestern natural tradition and culture. Downtown Puyallup has several notable landmarks, including Ezra Meeker’s mansion, which was built and inhabited by one of the town’s founding families, who made their way to Puyallup via the Oregon Trail. The downtown shopping district is made up of historic buildings, which date to the town’s origin, and maintain the architecture of the pioneer spirit that formed much of the west. Pioneer Park, the town’s center, is a community focal point, which boasts an impressive new public library, and a pleasant civic park, with a playground, and walking paths that wind through cut green grass, between shady old trees. As the focal point of the town, the park’s main attraction is a bronze statue honoring Ezra Meeker. Continue on to Federal Way where overnight stay has been arranged here.
Accommodations:
(STD) Clarion Suites Federal Way (1 night).
Via a scenic route the tour continues toward Mount Rainier. Mt Rainier is an active cascade volcano encased in over 35 square miles of snow and glacial ice. The 14,410’ mountain is surrounded by lush old growth forests, spectacular subalpine meadows and a National Historic Landmark District. There are a variety of hiking trails available for all skill levels. Visit the Longmire Museum. Pioneer James Longmire discovered mineral springs here in 1883 and built Mt. Rainier’s first hotel; his ads for miraculous water cures helped generate early tourism and a constituency for the creation of the park. Take time for the easy 0.5-mile (0.8-kilometer) Trail of the Shadows that starts on the opposite side of the main road. While in Longmire, also visit the Wilderness Information Center for trail and weather information. After visiting the National Park continue toward Yakima.
Accommodations:
(STD) Red Lion Hotel Yakima or similar (1 night).
Depart Yakima this morning and drive toward Toppenish. This is where “The West Still Lives”. Toppenish is nationally known as the “City of Murals” with over 70 murals painted on buildings throughout town. You can ride aboard a horse drawn wagon for a guided tour of the murals. The Yakama Cultural Heritage Center is located next to Toppenish, and is worth visiting. The Cultural Heritage Center is a unique facility offering a museum that exhibits the history and art of the Plateau People, the Yakamas. The Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806) was the first United States overland expedition to the Pacific coast and back, led by Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant William Clark of the United States Army. Hood River, a friendly little town perched over the river of the same name, is now renowned as the wind-surfing capital of the world. An overnight accommodation has been arranged here. Just a short drive away, and well worth the visit, is The Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area. Visit the Discovery Center. Located in The Dalles, this is the official interpretive center for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Geology and other natural history are featured here, as is the history of early white explorers and settlers in the region. Visitors can experience a recreation of a Lewis and Clark campsite at the Living History Park.
Accommodations:
(STD) Best Western Plus Hood River Inn or similar (1 night).
In the morning explore the route around snowcapped Mt. Hood, a dormant volcano and the tallest mountain in Oregon. The road south from Hood River to Mount Hood is among the most beautiful in the state, offering panoramic views of stunning geologic diversity. This is the same route has been traveled for thousands of years by local Native Americans, and more recently by pioneers traversing the “last leg” of the Oregon Trail in the mid-1800s. Accessible trails, signage, historical markers, monuments, and museums offer guidance and interpretation. Nowhere else can visitors experience the fantastic range of geology and nature entwined with human history. Stop at Timberline Lodge, the lodge is a National Historic Landmark and is the main destination for visitors to the mountain. The lodge’s views of Mount Hood’s peak and of the Oregon Cascades to the south are superb and should not be missed. A two-night stay is arranged in Bend.
Accommodations:
(STD) Shilo Inn & Suites or similar (1 night).
The journey today leads you through fascinating volcanic Lava Lands, and perhaps to Crater Lake National Park. The road around the park generally opens in June through September. The park encompasses the Crater Lake’s Caldera which rests in the remains of a destroyed volcano called Mount Mazama. The lake is 1,949 feet (594 m) deep, making it the deepest lake in the United States. The impressive average depth of this volcanic lake is due to the nearly symmetrical 4000 foot (1220 m) deep caldera formed 7,700 years ago during the violent climactic eruptions and subsequent collapse of Mt. Mazama and the relatively moist climate that is typical of the crest of the Cascade Mountains. Crater Lake has no streams flowing into or out of it; is filled entirely from direct precipitation in the form of snow and rain. The lake’s waters are famous for their striking blue hue. Cross through the forested Cascade Mountains on Scenic Byways en route to the city of Medford.
Accommodations:
(STD) Shilo Inn Medford or similar (1 night).
Depart Medford this morning and drive toward Coos Bay. Consider taking a jet boat ride on the on the Rogue River. Then, head north and west to the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area near the town of Florence, where you may choose to go on an exhilarating dune buggy ride. Historic Old Town Florence is one of the most beautiful and charming of the Oregon coast cities. Located on the waterfront below Highway 101’s Siuslaw River Bridge, this un-crowded district is the perfect place to spend time exploring art galleries, antique stores, gift and specialty shops, wine tasting and restaurants serving regional foods and wines. Old Town features many activities. Take a river cruise on an old fashioned sternwheeler and see the sand dunes, lush forests, river wildlife and a cormorant rookery. The area surrounding Florence offers many activities. Visit the most photographed lighthouse in the United States, go horseback riding along the beach, golfing or rent a dune buggy to explore the magnificent Oregon Dunes National Recreational Area. Whale watching, tide pooling, deep sea or fresh water fishing, hiking, bird watching, crabbing, and clamming are just a few of the many local activities. After a busy day of shopping, golfing or exploring the area’s many attractions enjoy a dinner and a movie or dance to live music in Historic Old Town Florence. An overnight stay has been arranged here.
Accommodations:
(STD) Red Lion Coos Bay or similar (1 night).
Explore Oregon’s Pacific coast today. Make a stop at the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. Wind-sculpted sand dunes towering to 500 feet above sea level provide numerous recreational opportunities including off-highway vehicle use, hiking, photography, fishing, canoeing and horseback riding. But the most exciting thing to do is ride the Dune Buggies in the dunes! Enjoy thick “tree islands”, open dunes, marsh-like deflation plains and beaches. The picturesque Yaquina Head Lighthouse welcomes you to Newport, a town known for its Dungeness crab and glorious harbor under the graceful Yaquina Bay Bridge. You may visit the Yaquina Head Lighthouse; this 93-foot-high tower is the tallest on the Oregon coast. The historic Bay Front offers a mixture of shops, galleries, canneries and restaurants that serve fresh clam chowder, shrimp, oysters, crab and salmon. Across the bay, the Oregon Coast Aquarium which has four indoor Aquarium galleries showcasing coastal habitats and the animals that live there. Seals, sea lions and otters play in rocky pools, while birds soar and dive in North America’s largest walk-through sea bird aviary. An overnight stay has been arranged here.
Accommodations:
(STD) Shilo Inn Oceanfront Resort or similar (1 Night).
Depart Newport this morning and drive toward Portland. Known as the “City of Roses” Portland retains many big city charms, but the true beauty can be found in one of the local public gardens or parks within the city. Visit the International Rose Test Garden. Covering more than 5 acres of hillside in the West Hills above downtown Portland, these are among the largest and oldest rose test gardens in the United States. The gardens were established in 1917 by the American Rose Society and are used as a testing ground for new varieties of roses. Though you will probably see some familiar roses in the Gold Medal Garden, most of the 400 varieties on display are new hybrids being tested before marketing. Visit Portland’s Pioneer Courthouse Square, here a mechanical sculpture called the Weather Machine forecasts the weather everyday at noon. Dine and shop in the many neighborhoods of Portland. With a strong artistic and musical community, unique boutiques and eateries can be found easily. An overnight stay has been arranged here.
Accommodations:
(STD) Shilo Inn Beaverton or similar (1 Night).
Depart at leisure for the Seattle International Airport. Drop-off rental car.
Rivers run wild through the Pacific Northwest and are often the focal point of communities and the nature that surrounds them. This tour takes you through the unmistakable landscape of the Hood River Valley and the Cascade mountains and introduces you to the cities of Portland and Seattle, and the seaside towns of Newport and Port Angeles.
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R. and L. C. Australia –
We are on our way home today after two months of great traveling. We are very appreciative of all your help and the detailed plans and explanation your company provided.