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.

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.

OVERVIEW

Spend hours browsing the San Diego Zoo Safari Park on your own and discover a collection of some of the world’s most extraordinary animals. A scenic drive into the San Pascal Valley will bring you to the famed zoo, which sprawls over 1,800 acres of open-range enclosures, climate-controlled exhibits and areas that replicate natural habitats. You will have hours to meander at your leisure, but be sure to get a map to make the most of your time. You might visit the Cheetah Safari to watch the world’s fastest land mammal demonstrate running at speeds approaching 70 miles per hour. Other safari experiences present close-up views of rhinos, giraffes and gorillas. Pretty much any animal you have in mind can be found at the zoo, including somewhat unusual species such as gerenuks and okapis and favorites such as Sumatran tigers and African elephants.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Spend nearly four hours browsing the zoo at your own pace.
• Linger at the exhibitions that house your favorite animals.
• Discover creatures that you may have never seen or even knew existed.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

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

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.

No trip to Alaska is complete without a ride on the White Pass & Yukon Route narrow gauge railroad. Take the unforgettable journey aboard the "Scenic Railway of the World" and travel from tidewater to the summit of White Pass, a 2,865 foot elevation. Ride 40 miles round-trip in vintage rail cars as you retrace the original route to White Pass Summit passing Bridal Veil Falls, Inspiration Point and Dead Horse Gulch. This fully narrated tour features panoramic views of mountains, gorges, waterfalls, tunnels, trestles and historic sites. See the original Klondike Trail of '98 worn into the rocks, a tribute to the thousands that took this route to seek their fortune. The narrow gauge railroad is a designated International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, shared with the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty.

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.

OVERVIEW

Look for wildlife while cruising through Sitka Sound and enjoy a close-up encounter with a raptor that will greatly enhance your understanding of one of Alaska’s most iconic animals. After considering the water conditions, seasonal migration patterns and recent wildlife sightings, the captain will chose a route through the sound that offers the best chance to see humpback whales, porpoises, sea otters and eagles. The breathtaking mountainous scenery will make the onboard experience all the more memorable. In Alaskan Odyssey Theater, you will watch a high-definition movie on a 180° screen that focuses entirely on bald eagles, the only sea eagle native to North America. The filmmakers used the most cutting-edge techniques to show these majestic birds in their natural habitats. Still, nothing compares to observing a raptor close-up in person, which is the show’s finale. It may be a bald eagle, peregrine falcon, snowy owl or another bird being rehabilitated at the center.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise through pristine Sitka Sound on a sleek catamaran and take in the natural beauty.
• Look for whales, porpoises, sea otters and bald eagles soaring overhead.
• Watch a movie on bald eagles on a big screen for an immersive experience.
• See a raptor up close during a live demonstration after the movie.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Upon arrival at the Sitka cruise terminal, you will head outdoors for a leisurely self-guided walk in the Sitka National Historical Park. The trail is lined with colorful totem poles that the indigenous Tlingit and Haida people carved and painted. Bald eagles are frequently spotted in the forest, preying on salmon in the river that you will cross there. At the end of the walk you will return to the cruise terminal and head into the Alaskan Odyssey Theater, and watch a film about bald eagles on a large high-definition screen, followed by a real-life encounter with raptors and the chance to see Alaska’s most iconic animals in the wild. The film will be shown in the Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal on a 5-story high, 180° dome screen for an immersive experience that is as close to reality as possible. After the show, a professional raptor handler will bring in a real bird of prey and talk about its behavior and characteristics. It may be a peregrine falcon, a snowy owl or golden eagle as all reside at the nearby Alaska Raptor Center, which rehabilitates injured birds.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Watch a film about bald eagles on a high-def screen so large, the images appear lifelike.
• See a real bird of prey up close in the theater following the show.
• Keep an eye out for bald eagles while hiking in Sitka National Historical Park.
• Cross a river where bald eagles often prey on fish, especially spawning salmon.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Hike though America’s largest national forest at a leisurely pace that will allow you to truly appreciate the serenity and majesty of the woods. It won’t take long to reach the trail, yet it is still remote enough where you will feel as if the wilderness is yours alone. The hike is about two miles long without any steep inclines or stairs so it will be a relatively easy and thoroughly enjoyable walk. Along the way, the naturalist guide will describe the various ecosystems, the diversity of flora and fauna perhaps how the rainforest sequesters carbon to help reduce climate change. Animals are abundant. Sitka black-tailed deer are frequently spotted, bald eagles can often be seen in the tree canopy and if the salmon are spawning black bears will be gathered around the waterfalls. It is always quite the sight to see a bear snatching a salmon in mid-air as it leaps upstream.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy a leisurely hike through the Tongass National Forest, America’s largest such landscape.
• Follow the trail to a waterfall where bears often gather to feast on spawning salmon.
• Learn about the forest’s ecosystems and biodiversity from the naturalist guide.

HELPFUL HINTS

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