Venture into the natural and human history of the Pacific Northwest—and discover its modern charms and formidable culinary scene as well. Your ship will be your home for an unforgettable journey and will feel like home in no time, as the community camaraderie kindles over local wines in the lounge or lingering on the ship’s bow, appreciating the views. You’ll explore by Zodiac, stroll forests and historical sites, kayak, and visit out-of-the-way art galleries and museums—all in the company of an attentive and fun expedition team who are your experienced guides in discovering the best of Pacific Northwest travel.
Pacific Northwest
Special Offers
Length
8 days
From
$5,590
Prices are per person
Pacific Northwest
Special Offers
Pacific Northwest
Special Offers
Length
8 days
From
$5,290
Prices are per person
Pacific Northwest
Special Offers
Hike island forest trails in search of wildlife, kayak verdant shorelines, and bike the waterfront of a scenic city—or cruise by Zodiac and visit a mixture of quaint and world-class museums. Options abound for indulging your interests in the Pacific Northwest. Hear the legends and learn the traditions of Native Americans and First Nations through their art or moving performances. Taste the bounty of the region. Dine on salmon straight from local waters, foraged wild mushrooms picked within 50 miles, and provisions delivered directly from farmers along our route.
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The Pacific Northwest is known for its incredible bounty and some of the freshest ingredients around. You can look forward to meals that celebrate the region’s world-famous flavors, like a vibrantly pink coho salmon filet, bright green coils of fiddlehead ferns, and a bottle of terroir-rich pinot noir.
Read moreDoesn't get better, a brilliant staff.
Stephanie O.
Relax and settle in to life aboard as you cruise the waters of the Pacific Northwest. Your expedition ship offers the absolute best way to access all the sites, culture, and history along the river—without ever having to change hotels or wheel luggage around. We add to that the luxury of comfort with a quality of shipboard life and a philosophy of wellness designed to relax and rejuvenate body, mind, and spirit as you cruise the Pacific Northwest.
Lindblad Expeditions supports stewardship efforts in the places we explore, and one way we do that is through the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic (LEX-NG) Fund. Traveler contributions to the LEX-NG Fund in the Pacific Northwest currently support the National Geographic Society’s Early Career Grants, which promote future leaders with novel and exploratory projects that span the fields of conservation, education, research, storytelling, and technology.
Oct 19
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National Geographic Quest
Today we had the opportunity to experience the brisk wind on our faces and pelting of cool, occasional raindrops as we visited Cape Disappointment in Washington and the Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria, Oregon. This was nowhere near the level of discomfort the Corps of Discovery endurred when they explored these same grounds in the fall of 1805. As the Corps came west, they were excited to get to the Pacific Ocean, but that excitement was literally and figuratively dampened with the white-capped waters of the Columbia and miserable weather that initially pinned them and their canoes to the Washington shoreline at a campsite to be later named Dismal Nitch. A most notable feature was the sound created by 30-knot winds as they swept through the needled branches of Sitka spruce and the leafy limbs of Red Alder. We ended our day taking refuge on National Geographic Quest , warm, dried off and with a glass of wine to enhance our internal warmth. Our journey has been diverse and that has been reflected in the weather as well as the landscape and the flora and fauna that call the Pacific Northwest home.
Oct 19
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National Geographic Quest
When we woke this morning, we were met with an almost completely different environment than the one we’ve traveled through the last few days. We had arrived at the town of Hood River, in the Columbia River Gorge. The slopes on both sides of the Columbia were covered in Douglas fir, ponderosa pines, bigleaf maple, and Oregon white oaks. And the weather, too, had changed. It was rainy and dark with clouds. This is exactly what one should expect at this time of year when moving westwards across the great Cascades Range toward the Pacific Ocean. After another wonderful breakfast, we took a short Zodiac ride to the dock in Hood River and then rode in coaches to several great sites in the Hood River area. Some of us went to the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center. This museum has excellent interpretive displays on the local natural and human history. Naturalists Grace and Linda led nature walks outside of the museum. Another group went to WAAAM—the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum. The buildings of this museum cover about three acres and house dozens of fully functional and beautiful classic airplanes and cars. It was a fascinating walk down memory lane for many of us. We enjoyed a catered lunch at the Crag Rat Hut, overlooking the picturesque Hood River Valley, with its extensive apple, pear, and cherry orchards. We then returned to the ship, dodging the rain and wind as best we could. From the warmth and comfort of National Geographic Quest , we journeyed further down the Columbia River to experience the Bonneville Lock, our eighth and final on this voyage.
Oct 19
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National Geographic Quest
Come 6:15 a.m. – in the very earliest light of dawn – the constellation Orion, the Mighty Hunter, studded the southern sky just below a waning gibbous moon. Overnight we had sailed from the Snake River onto the mighty Columbia, the Great River of the West. We entered the lock at McNary Dam and down we went. The great barn-door-style gates split before us, and we continued our way downriver. In the morning, we enjoyed presentations by our naturalist Ivan and photo instructor Linda. Our afternoon destination was Crow Butte Island where we hiked and launched our kayaks for some quality paddling. Crow Butte Island has an arid sagebrush steppe climate with many interesting plants adapted to this environment.
Oct 19
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National Geographic Venture
We concluded our expedition in the Pacific Northwest by exploring picturesque Sucia Island, one of the many islands that make up the San Juan Archipelago. Comprised entirely of sedimentary rock and nearly entirely forested, it provided a perfect setting for our last operations of the week. Setting out in almost all directions on the well-manicured trails of this State Park, and from the driftwood strewn beach, we launched our kayaks in the protected waters of Shallow Bay. Still others set out by Zodiac to examine the many nooks and crannies of the shoreline and witness the current and windswept seas bringing productivity to the fish and birds that call these waters home. After wrapping up our morning outings we set out in search of wildlife, cruising the many channels that wind their way through the various islands in the Salish Sea. As luck would have it, we came across a group of 9 Biggs (transient) killer whales. These largest members of the dolphin family are common in these waters but are constantly on the move in search of prey such as harbor seals, porpoises, and Steller sea lions. It would appear this tight-knit family group had just recently made a kill as they were being very playful at times, breaching, tail lobbing, and spy hopping, as well as rolling along the surface in close contact with each other, likely portioning their recent kill. It was a truly grand performance and an iconic and fitting conclusion to our expedition in this rich and diverse area of the world.
Oct 19
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National Geographic Quest
The day began as the sun rose across the Snake River, illuminating expansive basaltic landscapes connected by historic bridges. Completed in 1912 for a staggering sum of 2 million dollars, the 3920-foot-long bridge — with supports dug 65 feet below the riverbed — stands 260 feet above the Snake River. After a buffet breakfast, guests enjoyed "Fire, Ice, and Flood," a presentation by geologist Grace Winer on the Columbia Basin basalt flows caused by the historic Missoula Floods. Guests then embarked on two excursions: Kayaking in Lyon's State Park before driving over to see the majestic Palouse Falls; or cruising up the Palouse River in Zodiacs. CANYONS & CASCADING WATER Arriving at Palouse Falls, guests were inspired by the power and majesty of basaltic flows that formed dramatic landscapes. The 200-foot Palouse Falls was formed from ravished basalt canyons, still pumping thick mist hundreds of feet in the air and thrusting white water 100 cubic feet per second towards the Snake River Basin. The sediment-laden water penetrated through cracks, fractures, and basalt columns causing sections of the falls to calve or fall off into the plunge pool below. Guests listened intently to our historian’s account of the connection of historical Palouse Indian fishing at the falls, and its immense spiritual value to tribes from all over the region. SAIL THE COLUMBIA & SNAKE RIVERS THIS FALL > THE POWER OF ICE AGE FLOODS Other guests took Zodiacs up the Palouse River absorbing the vast basaltic landscapes formed when the dramatic Missoula Floods scoured the region from Montana to Oregon through the Columbia Gorge. Over 15,000 years ago, these cataclysmic floods carved out coulees and canyons that sculpted the Palouse River Basin. We learned about 10,000-year-old human remains found in the Marmes Rockshelter, excavated in 1962, but unexpectedly flooded during the construction of Lower Monumental Dam in 1969. They witnessed first-hand how the floods formed distinct colonnades overtopped by thick entablatures and receded by steep talus slopes. The canyons bustled with abandoned cliff swallow nests, clumsy coots, soaring ravens, fluttering northern flickers, majestic golden eagles, and commanding bald eagles. VIEWING THE DAM AT DUSK Following the Zodiac and bus tours in the Palouse River Basin, National Geographic Quest passed through Lower Monumental Dam at dusk, the third of four dams on the Snake River, dropping over 95 feet approaching the Columbia River. Guests also gained expertise on smartphone photography, followed by animated recaps and a gourmet dinner. After dinner, guests were treated to a historic talk on Thomas Jefferson’s obsession with Lewis and Clark’s journey to open the Pacific Northwest to the world. Tomorrow another thrilling day of discovery awaits.
Exploring the Pacific Northwest reveals great natural beauty, and yet it features modern incredible feats of human engineering—an imposing system of locks and large-span bridges. To explore it by ship offers a chance to marvel at both.
Sven-Olof Lindblad
