OVERVIEW
Discover the panoramic beauty and must-see highlights of Seattle in just a few hours, leaving time to explore the destinations you find most intriguing later on your own. Your introduction to the city will begin with a photo stop at the Space Needle, an icon since being built for the 1962 World’s Fair. You will also see CenturyLink Field, the sports stadium for Seattle’s professional football and soccer teams, and Pioneer Square, the city’s oldest neighborhood. The term “skid row” was coined in this now-elegant district, a reference to the logged trees that were once slid down greased skids to the sawmill. There will be plenty more to explore in Pike Place Market, the city’s oldest and largest farmers market. Don’t miss the “flying fish,” a spectacle in which the fishmongers toss even large fish to each other to save steps and entertain the onlookers. The original Starbucks is also in the market.

HIGHLIGHTS
• See Seattle’s highlights in just a few hours, leaving you with a great overview of the city.
• Pause for photos at the Space Needle and pass by Seattle’s modern sports stadium.
• Gain a historical perspective at Pioneer Square and the city’s oldest farmers market.

OVERVIEW
Enjoy two unique perspectives of Seattle: from high above the city on the Space Needle and from sea level while cruising Elliott Bay. After riding an elevator up the exterior of the Space Needle, you will arrive at the observation deck, 520 feet above the ground. The views will be spectacular, as you look out over Seattle, Mount Rainer, Puget Sound and the Cascades and Olympic mountain ranges. For the ultimate view straight down, walk along the Loupe, the tower’s rotating glass floor, the only one in the world. The Space Needle is so iconic that Seattle designated it an official landmark. The sights of the city from Elliott Bay will be just as remarkable, but from an entirely different perspective. As you cruise along, you will see lush coastal parks, the edge of historical Pioneer Square and the Seattle Great Wheel, once the tallest Ferris wheel on the west coast. Your cruise ship will also be in sight.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Enjoy the ultimate view of Seattle and beyond from atop the soaring Space Needle.
• Look straight down 500 feet through the Space Needle’s rotating glass floor.
• Cruise through Elliott Bay, admiring the sights along the western shore of Seattle.

Board the Alcatraz ferry and sail to the notorious prison that once housed the likes of Al Capone and the Birdman of Alcatraz. During your ferry ride, enjoy a panoramic view of the famous San Francisco skyline. Upon arrival, you'll tour the small jail cells as the audio narration brings you back to days gone by.

You'll return to San Francisco by ferry and board your motorcoach for a journey across the Golden Gate Bridge. After a stop at Vista Point for a fabulous view of the city, it’s a short ride into charming Sausalito. Here, take a stroll and browse some of the specialty shops or galleries.

Take in the highlights of Santa Barbra in this short outing to discover her treasures including free time to browse her quaint streets.

From the pier, depart for a scenic drive to the Old Santa Barbara Mission. With its grand double bell towers, lush gardens and the majestic San Ynez mountains as a backdrop, the Mission is one of the city’s most picturesque landmarks. Known as “Queen of the Missions” for its exceptional beauty, the Santa Barbara Mission was founded by the Spanish Franciscans in 1786. More than 200 years later, it’s still an active parish church and a vital and enduring element of Santa Barbara’s cultural landscape.

Pause here for photos before continuing to the El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park to view the remains of the Spanish Outpost built in 1782. Across the street is the unique County Courthouse built in 1929 in the Spanish-Moorish architectural style with its carved doors, special widows, balconies and turrets. From the courthouse you are introduced to State Street in downtown. Here, free time of afforded to explore the city center and browse her streets for treasures or enjoy a café. At the appointed time rejoin your guide for the return to the ship.

Gain an enlightening overview of Seattle by driving around town, browsing a sprawling farmers market and enjoying a bird’s-eye view of the city from atop the Space Needle. The iconic observation tower soars above the Seattle Center, a campus of cultural attractions with roots dating back more than 100 years. For the ultimate views, the Space Needle’s windows are floor-to-ceiling and the glass floor rotates. Founded in 1907, Pike Place Market is Seattle’s oldest and largest farmers market, and as you will discover it is chock full of garden-fresh local produce and other goods. Be sure to stop by the fish market, where the employees famously toss fish to each other with great fanfare, a spectacle that began to simply save time and steps. For an even broader look at Seattle, you will drive through characteristic neighborhoods and past landmarks such as the Seattle Seahawks’ home stadium and Pioneer Square, the historical heart of old town.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Enjoy the ultimate view of Seattle and beyond from atop the soaring Space Needle.
• Spend free time browsing the seemingly endless stalls in Pike Place Market.
• Drive through historical neighborhoods, as the guide describes landmark after landmark.

Discover historic Astoria! You’ll make a brief photo stop at the Astoria Column which was built in 1926. This 125-foot tall concrete and steel structure features a cast-iron 164 step staircase that leads to an observation deck. If you decide to climb to the top, you'll see majestic views of Astoria, the Pacific Ocean and the lower Columbia River estuary. Views from the base are just as panoramic, the column stands atop Coxcomb Hill, Astoria's highest point. Continue to the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park for a tour of Fort Clatsop. You’ll also visit the Columbia River Maritime Museum located on Astoria's historic waterfront. The museum features nautical artifacts including the Lightship, which served as a floating lighthouse. Enjoy a scenic drive through Astoria nestled between the Columbia River and Young’s Bay. You’ll see picturesque Victorian and Queen Anne style homes and churches, Uniontown - home of the men who worked at the Union Fish Cannery and the Doughboy monument, dedicated to the soldiers who served in World War I.

Settle in for a full immersion into the world of Santa Barbara wines at the Deep Sea Tasting Room, a delightful venue on Stearns Wharf. The Conway family owns the business and primarily serves Conway wines in the tasting room. As certified sommelier Gillian Conway shares her love of wine, you will gain a deeper understanding of how to properly sample wine, how to choose one to your liking and what wines pair best with certain cuisines. Even wine aficionados will find the experience wonderfully informative and entertaining. You will sample about a half dozen wines, while Gillian describes their characteristics. You might taste a Malbec named for Ringo, the Conway’s rescue dog, a crisp “Sea Horse” Sauvignon Blanc with citrusy notes and a fruity “Sea Star” Pinot Noir. All the grapes come from California vineyards, most of them in coastal Santa Barbara, an area that fog and sea breezes typically cool and influence the oceanic terroir.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Sample a selection of California wines in a tasting room on the Santa Barbara pier.
• Deepen your understanding of local wines as the sommelier describes their characteristics.
• Taste how the wines reflect the oceanic terroir with which Santa Barbara is blessed.

OVERVIEW
Enjoy a 360° view of Seattle from the top of the Space Needle and see the city’s artistic side at Chihuly Garden and Glass. Built for the 1962 World’s Fair to symbolize humanity’s Space Age aspirations, the saucer-shaped Space Needle soars above the city. Its observation tower offers sweeping views of Seattle’s urban sprawl, Mount Rainer, Puget Sound and the Cascades and Olympic mountain ranges. You can also look straight down to the ground 500 feet below by standing on the tower’s rotating glass floor, the only one in the world. Chihuly Garden and Glass lies at the foot of the Space Needle. As you stroll through its indoor and outdoor galleries, you will behold a collection of artist Dale Chihuly’s visually stunning blown-glass artwork. Highlights include a massive suspended glass sculpture, thousands of colorful glass flowers and plants, and all sorts of whimsical pieces that showcase the artist’s prodigious talents.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Enjoy the ultimate view of Seattle and beyond from atop the soaring Space Needle.
• Look straight down 500 feet through the Space Needle’s rotating glass floor.
• Be awed by the whimsical, visually stunning glass art in Chihuly Garden and Glass.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy a delightful and spectacularly panoramic drive through San Francisco in the evening when the city is beautifully illuminated. With no stops along the way, you can comfortably settle into a seat and watch the ever-changing vistas as you follow a route past many of the most well-known attractions. The sights begin at Fisherman’s Wharf, whose iconic crab wheel-shaped sign is particularly easy to spot at night. You will then proceed into the Nob Hill district, from which you will enjoy a close-up view of Grace Cathedral. Its façade is typically illuminated with lights of different colors, making the cathedral look all the more glorious. Next, you will cross the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge to Treasure Island, which will afford extraordinary views of the skylines of both cities. Once you return to the mainland, you will drive to the Embarcadero, an ideal waterfront setting to view the Transamerica Building twinkling against the night sky.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Settle in for an evening drive through San Francisco when it is beautifully illuminated.
• See iconic attractions such as Fisherman’s Wharf, Grace Cathedral and the Embarcadero.
• Enjoy skyline views of San Francisco and Oakland from Treasure Island.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Join your Alaskan captain and their crew on a cruise through the waters surrounding the naturally beautiful islands around Ketchikan. Once onboard, relax inside the heated main cabin or out on the observation deck, as you prepare for your first sighting of the iconic American bald eagle. Along the way, you will be treated to panoramic views of the historic lighthouse on Guard Island and the Tlingit and Haida hand-carved totem poles and clan house at Totem Bight State Park. You will also witness a diversity of ecosystems as you cruise past coastal residential areas on Revillagigedo Island and along the undeveloped shoreline of Gravina Island, much of which is blanketed by the Tongass National Forest, our world’s largest temperate rainforest. Wildlife is abundant, so keep an eye out for not just bald eagles, but harbor seals, sea lions, seabirds, and whales. While taking in the scenery, enjoy a hot chocolate, freshly brewed coffee, or soda of your choice alongside a snack sampler plate of Alaskan specialties, including a traditional alder-smoked salmon.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Admire Alaska’s natural beauty while cruising to and from Guard Island.
• Relax in the boat’s heated main cabin or out on the observation deck.
• See the colorful, carved Tlingit and Haida totem poles at Totem Bight State Park.
• Look for wildlife such as bald eagles, harbor seals and humpback or orca whales.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW
Sample a selection of wines at two celebrated wineries around Woodinville, an idyllic river valley setting on the outskirts of Seattle. You will first stop at Chateau Ste. Michelle, a winery established more than 50 years ago on the early 20th-century estate of a lumber baron. It eventually branched into two wineries—one for reds, the other for whites, which you will visit. Following an enlightening tour of the vineyards, you will taste several wines that may include a Chardonnay with ripe pineapple and butterscotch flavors and perhaps a Sauvignon Blanc that offers the bright fruit character of melons. The second winery will be chosen the day of the excursion from the hundreds in the Columbia Valley wine country. As the valley encompasses more than a third of the state, the terroir varies considerably from winery to winery. Even so, the Merlots are typically redolent of flavors such as sweet cherries, raspberries and chocolate.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Enjoy wine tastings at two esteemed wineries in the river valley around Woodinville.
• Discover why certain varietals were planted while touring the vineyards.
• Learn about the various terroirs that produce the valley’s award-winning wines.

Delve into the gastronomy of Sitka, which reflects the rich heritage of this city once known as the “Paris of the Pacific" As the second largest exporter of seafood in the state with a rich history of diverse cultures, Sitka has become a mecca for the culinary arts. Sitka’s breweries use the local naturally filtered glacial water to produce their hand-crafted beers, several of which you will sample at a popular tap room. Similarly, during a tasting of Alaska Pure Sea Salt Company, you will discover how the salt extracted from the local waters is used in various foods, chocolates, sauces and seasonings. The versatility of sea salt may surprise you. The restaurant Sitka Pelmeni serves Russia food that pays homage to the city’s past as the capital of Russian America. Pelmeni means “dumplings” in Russia so they are a likely choice for your sampling there. The guide will bring you to other venues for tastings that may include cod tips, reindeer hot dogs, ceviche and chowder, all made with locally sourced ingredients.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Sample a variety of delicious seasonal foods and beverages unique to Sitka.
• Meet restaurateurs and food vendors and learn how their unique products are made.
• Enjoy a selection of craft beers made with glacial water at a local brewery.
• Discover the versatility of sea salt as a seasoning in foods and beverages.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.