Destination
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A River Voyage of Discovery 2007
You cruise down the winding Snake River through scenic Hells Canyon, ancient Nez Perce horse trails still visible from the river. As your small ship approaches the mouth of the mighty Columbia, you disembark to visit the Fort Clatsop. Passing the heavy wooden gates, you can feel the presence of buckskin-clad Lewis and Clark who sheltered here from the elements during the rainy winter of 1805. |
Here, some new wonder awaits around every bend. Dramatic waterfalls dropping into the Columbia River Gorge. Historic forts where blue-coated U.S. Cavalry strived to tame the new frontier. And a fascinating look at how the rivers themselves were tamed, as you transit more than 800 miles and navigate eight major sets of locks and dams-twice.
The Pacific Northwest's pioneer history is made more enriching by the casual, congenial atmosphere of our small ship cruises. Our crew and Exploration Leaders have gathered a rich trove of lore and insider knowledge that they are eager to share, and a special series of excursions, guest speakers, and narration help you recapture the past in intimate ways. You'll meet those who can tell of the hardships of establishing the Whitman Mission in the midst of wilderness, and from a Nez Perce speaker, who will share their historical contributions in the shaping of this region and the vision for the future of their culture.
The historical tapestry flows right down to the present day, from the saga of dam construction in the 1930s, to the awesome new profile of Mt. St. Helens and the modern environmental issues of salmon survival and irrigation rights.
A River Voyage of Discovery 2007
- Tour Costs From: $2,049 pp
- 8 Days, 7 Nights
- Portland to Portland
- Departures: Late March to early May and September, October 2007
Day 1 - SAIL FROM PORTLAND
On arrival in Portland, you will transfer to our Hospitality Suite downtown. After boarding, slowly cruise the Willamette River to view the downtown skyline. This 240-mile tributary of the Columbia River is crossed by 19 bridges and three ferries. D
Day 2 - CRUISING THE WORLD-RENOWNED COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE NATIONAL SCENIC AREA
Your ship slips through the locks of Bonneville Dam at the entrance to the Columbia River Gorge. Stop at the DamÕs Visitor Center, then tour by motorcoach to breathtaking Multnomah Falls, the tallest falls in Oregon. Visit the Hood River Valley to take in some local flavor. Return to the ship to continue cruising upriver, passing through The Dalles and John Day Lock and Dam. This dam was completed in 1968 and includes a fish ladder. BLD
Day 3 - CRUISING THE SNAKE RIVER
Over the course of the day, cruise from the Columbia River into the Snake, with several lock passages. Explore the rugged cliffs and buttes along the shores. McNary Dam was completed in 1953 and created Lake Wallula. Ice Harbor Dam near the confluence of the two rivers was completed in 1961, and includes a fish ladder. It creates Lake Sacajawea. BLD
Day 4 - HELLS CANYON
After your final upriver locking at Lower Granite Dam, the vessel will dock in historic Clarkston, Washington, where you'll hear the story of the Nez Perce from their perspective. Board jet boats for an exhilarating excursion deep into Hells Canyon. This free-flowing stretch of the Snake River boasts lovely scenery beneath steep cliffs rising thousands of feet on both sides of the gorge. BLD
Day 5 - WALLA WALLA
Today, relive history at the Fort Walla Walla Museum with a collection of over 35,000 catalogued artifacts. Enjoy a delicious lunch at Walla Walla's 26Brix restaurant, located in the 130-year-old Dacres Hotel, on the National Register of Historic Places. You will have time to explore the town, taste local wine, or take a walking tour and enjoy the sculptures you'll find throughout town. Return to the ship for some relaxing late afternoon cruising. BLD
Day 6 - THE DALLES AND MARYHILL MUSEUM
The Maryhill Museum is your morning treat, a historic mansion sitting in solitary splendor on
a bluff over the Columbia River. You'll discover an eclectic collection of Native arts, European paintings, and the Queen of Romania's personal effects. Then explore the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center in The Dalles and see plants like Lewis & Clark saw on the nature trails, with spectacular dioramas and displays of the region's geography and history. Enjoy lunch in this impressive setting. Return to the ship by way of Rowena Crest, one of America's Scenic Byways. Continue cruising into the dramatically beautiful Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. BLD
Day 7 - ASTORIA AND FORT CLATSOP
Stand in Lewis & Clark's footsteps at Fort Clatsop National Historic Park. See the fascinating Columbia River Maritime Museum, the site of Lewis & Clark's fort. Step off the beaten path to Astoria and return to the ship for lunch. Later, you can see the best of downtown Astoria on your own, equipped with a city map and recommendations from the crew. You're free to discover the hidden treasures of this Victorian seaport. BLD
Day 8 - BACK TO PORTLAND
Return to Portland's attractive riverfront where your week-long voyage into history ends. A transfer is included to the Portland Airport. B
B=Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner
Highlights
- Tour the reconstructed log fort where Lewis and Clark spent the winter of 1805
- Listen to the sad tale of Chief Joseph from a Nez Perce storyteller
- Learn about the dam construction that began in the 1930s, changing life along the river
- Walk up to the base of Multnomah Falls in the spectacular Columbia River Gorge
- Roar by jetboat deep into Hells Canyon, with its 8,000-foot-high canyon walls
- Visit the site of the Whitman Mission Indian massacre of 1847
- Walk in the ruts of the original Oregon Trail, which led the pioneers westward
- Stroll through the galleries of the Maryhill Museum of Art, formerly railroad baron Sam Hill's country mansion on a bluff above the Columbia
