WEST COAST WONDERS

Day 1: We’ll arrive at the office, for a transfer to the airport. The flight is into Fresno, CA. We will have gained two hours during our flight, arriving early evening. It’s a short drive to just south of one of our most famous National Parks, Yosemite, into the town of Oakhurst for the night. 

Day 2: Yosemite, one of our most recognized National Parks is ours to explore today. Yosemite is filled with lakes, rivers, vistas, meadows, wildflowers, Giant Sequoias, rock formations and countless waterfalls. For viewing of waterfalls, spring is the best time to see the roaring peak runoff. Yosemite Falls is the world’s fifth tallest. Some fall many feet, while others cascade down various ledges. On our guided tour aboard a tram we will enjoy such natural wonders as El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, Half Dome and many more. Our guide will provide interpretation throughout this scenic tour, allowing plenty of opportunities for pictures along the way. What a day in a very special National Park. Leaving the Park, we will overnight in San Francisco. 

Day 3: The Big City – There’s so much to see and do in San Francisco. We will be seeing many of the world-famous sights, including the Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, Fisherman’s Wharf, Twin Peaks, and Golden Gate Park. Later in the day we will enjoy our ride on the world famous cable cars. Also on the itinerary is a visit to the Alcatraz Island for a close up look at a historic and infamous federal prison long off-limits to the public. A busy day in a busy town, but how exciting. Same motel. 

Day 4: Our route today will be scenic hwy #101 and the famous highway #1 along the coast. What awesome views. We will take our time making picture stops and scenic view points. Turning inland, we will head for the Avenue of the Giants. This world famous scenic drive has over 51,000 acres of redwood groves. It is by far the most outstanding display of these giant trees. It is almost overwhelming to enter a towering redwood grove, experiencing the sense of peace and reverence as we pass the lofty pillars, while high above, the sunlight filters through the canopy. By evening, we will be in Eureka for the night. For our included evening meal, it’s out to the Samoa Cookhouse. It was established in the 1800s as a large lumber camp chowhouse. 

Day 5: Traveling north on #101, we’ll be stopping at the “Tour thru Tree” or you may have heard it as the “Drive thru Tree,” an amazing 725 year old healthy, living Redwood tree. Soon we’ll be at the mouth of the Klamath River. We begin our 30 mile scenic cruise at “Rekwoi,” the Indian name for where the fresh water meets the Pacific Ocean. Our river trip is fully narrated with plenty of stops to photograph spectacular vistas, wildlife, and view nature in its most primitive form as it unfolds before us. Our next stop will be at the Trees of Mystery where some of the world’s oldest and tallest redwoods grow in fantastic, mind-bending forms. Then let your imagination soar as we get a bird’s eye view of the redwoods from the forest gondola gliding us through the forest canopy. We’ll overnight in Crescent City. 

Day 6: Another busy day begins when we visit the Battery Point Light House, but wait, it must be done at low tide so we can get to it!!! Then it’s on to Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park, where redwoods stand in a drier climate of mostly old growth forest. What better way to experience the forest than a short walk. Then it’s on to Bandon, OR for the night. 

Day 7: Our first stop this morning will be at the House of Myrtle Wood where we visit the factory and gift shop and watch master artisans turn this rare wood into unique creations, all the way from log to finished product. Then it’s on to the Dunes for our informative, scenic and fun one-hour tour covering the sand dunes and ocean beach. Climbing and descending through the most beautiful, impressive dunes will be an unforgettable experience. You will enjoy lunch among the stores of Historic Old Town Florence which has rich treasures and great finds in the nooks and crannies of the waterfront district. The Oregon coast is home to the wild stellar sea lions. We’ll visit their extraordinary multi-hued cave. They gather in this natural amphitheater where they have their young on rock ledges just outside the cave. What an experience!! Tonight’s lodging will be in Newport, OR. 

Day 8: After being on the coast for so many days, it’s time to head inland to the Willamette Valley, which is known for their agriculture and logging. After lunch, we will visit a lumber company and see how the logs become boards. All this before arriving in Portland, which will be home for the next three nights. 

Day 9: Today we have so much to see and do in the Portland area with our local guide. We will do the city first and then out to the mighty Mt. Hood. Picture stops are in order; the views will be spectacular. Our included lunch will be at the Timberline Lodge, a perfect setting. Coming off the mountain, we will follow the beautiful Columbia Gorge with stops at the Locks and Dam, the Vista House, the Bonneville Visitor Center and the Multnomah Falls. What a scenic day! 

Day 10: From the comfort of our reserved seats we are eagerly waiting for the Rose Festival to begin. We will see and smell the colorful and fragrant results of the labors of Portland’s best rose growers. Following the parade, we will attend the Showcase of Floats, to see up close the natural materials these spectacular floats are made of as we view them just after they return from the parade route. We’ll then visit the International Rose Test Gardens. If time permits we will also absorb all the interesting and educational information at the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretation Center. It tells the compelling story of the trail journey, of how hundreds of American families packed up to journey the 2,000 miles cross the vast plains, to travel over the Rocky Mountains and struggle through Oregon’s diverse terrain to reach Oregon City and the End of the Oregon Trail. 

Day 11: Leaving Oregon takes us into Washington. Mount St. Helens is our destination. I’m sure we all remember the day Mt. St. Helens threw the side of her mountain into the air. We’ll be visiting two different viewpoints discovering the fascinating ways that plants and animals have reappeared throughout the blast zone. We will see panoramic views of the volcano, the newly formed lakes, and the debris-filled valley. Live interpretive programs offer insights into the many ways life emerged from the ashes of the 1980 eruption. One of the vantage points brings us within five miles of the north side of the volcano and offers spectacular views of the still-steaming lava dome crater, pumice plain and landslide deposit. We'll finish our day with our drive into Seattle that will be home for the next three nights. 

Day 12: This morning we will start our day with a local guide who will show us the downtown area, the international district, historic Pioneer Square, Government locks and fish ladders, and floating bridges along with many other interesting sites. Late afternoon we will board a boat for our cruise to Blake Island to visit the Tillicum Village. Upon arrival we will enjoy a narrated tour with a member of Tillicum’s Native American staff. Once inside the Longhouse we’ll see whole salmon baking in the traditional manner. After the included salmon feast the stage show “Dance on the Wind” brings to life the myth and magic of Native American legends. 

Day 13:This morning we will visit the world’s largest building and center for one of the most modern and busiest aircraft manufacturing facilities in the world. This is the Boeing 747 and 767 assembly plant where Boeing workers can fit eight 747s and eight 767s in this enormous final assembly factory at the same time. We will then enjoy an informative tour of the Seattle Harbor and the Locks. This 2-hour cruise though the locks will take us from salt water to fresh water in the Lake Washington Ship Canal. In the evening we will visit the Space Needle overlooking Seattle and the surrounding area. This has been Seattle’s most visible landmark since it was built for the 1962 World Fair. Back to the same rooms after an interesting and busy day. 

Day 14:We’ll be leaving the West Coast today with wonderful memories of the friends we have made, spectacular scenery we have enjoyed, and the interesting and educational sites that we visited.