Day 1: We will board our bus in our local home town for our transfer to the closest major airport for our flight to the beautiful city of Spokane Washington.

We will be met on arrival in Spokane and transferred to the Davenport Hotel and Towers which will be our home for the next two nights. The Davenport is a historic hotel that first opened its doors in 1914 and was the first hotel with air conditioning, and has been fully restored to full glory. Dinner this evening will be in the hotel and during dinner we will have a power point presentation on the history of the hotel, and after dinner we will take a guided tour of the hotel. (D)

Day 2: After breakfast we will meet our local guide for a tour of Historic Spokane and its Age of Elegance; followed by an afternoon of wine tasting.

We will enjoy a tour which is rich in history, as we learn about where the city began as we travel along the Spokane River where the grounds of the former Expo ’74 site are located. The Falls on the River are the centerfold of this site, and are now the popular Riverfront Park. We will then ascend up “The Hill” with views of the city and its stunning mansions. We will tour the inside of the majestic Saint John’s Cathedral; discover Manito Park while strolling through the formal sunken gardens, Joel Ferris Perennial Gardens and the authentic Japanese Gardens and the flower-filled Conservatory. We will then continue to the historic area called “Browne’s Addition” where many of the old mansions are being restored to their original splendor. Next we will stop for lunch at the historic Glover Mansion, built for the “Father of Spokane” James Glover. This home is a prime example of the famous architect Kirtland Cutter’s design. After lunch we are going to make a stop at Gonzaga University and visit the Crosbyanna Room, which is filled with memorabilia of Bing Crosby who is one of the university’s famous alum. Leaving the university we will follow the Spokane River out to our tour & wine tasting at three of the areas best wineries. Our first stop will be Latah Creek – heralded by Wine Spectator Magazine as one of the top producers of Merlot in Washington State. We will tour the winery, taste their wines & have a chance to shop in their extensive gift shop. Next it is off to Cliff House, once owned by an inventor, now the home of Arbor Crest Winery. This national historic landmark is perched on a rock 450 feet above the Spokane River and gives a panoramic view of the countryside; a perfect setting for tasting some excellent wine. Our last stop is Mountain Dome, Washington’s premier sparkling winery, located in the foothills of Mt. Spokane. Learn the secret of Methode Champenosise and put a sparkle in your day. We will then return to the hotel for the evening – dinner this evening will be on your own either at the hotel or in one of the many fine restaurants within 5 blocks of the our hotel. (B, L)

Day 3: Today after breakfast we will depart Spokane and be transferred to the town of Clarkston to board our cruise ship on the Snake River, we will board the ship and have time to freshen up and meet the crew. We are then off for an adventure on the Hell’s Canyon Jet Boats. Enjoy a thrilling ride up to the Salmon River. We will view native Petroglyphs and we will enjoy a narrated journey through the canyons. Hells Canyon hosts the largest free-roaming elk herd in the United States, as well as bighorn sheep, deer, and mountain goats; areas of rugged terrain also offer ideal habitat for the chukar partridge. Within Hells Canyon you'll find old-growth boreal forests of ponderosa pine, Engelmann spruce, western larch, and Douglas fir—not to mention rare plants such as MacFarlane's four-o'clock and some of the most extensive intact native grasslands remaining in the region. In fact, there are 24 species of plants at Hells Canyon that are found nowhere else on earth. We will then coach back and re-board our ship, in time to enjoy our dinner as we set sail down the Snake River before we anchor for the night. (B, D)  

Day 4: Today is a leisurely day of River cruising. We will transit the various locks on the Snake River and we will have a chance to stretch our legs at Almota. We will then transit the lower Granite dam and lock little Goose dam, lower monumental dam and the Ice Harbor lock and dam. Our Captain will be giving us a complete narration as we transit through this area, as we are following the trail of Lewis & Clark, the famous explorers who were commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson to find the Northwest Passage. We will enjoy a complete presentation on Lewis & Clark and their expedition.  We will continue to cruise the Snake heading westbound en-route to the mighty Columbia River. Tonight we will anchor at Wallula Junction, which is about 20 miles downstream from where the Snake & Columbia Rivers merge. Originally this area was set up as a camp & fur trading post and since about 1882 it has been a railroad junction. Tonight when all else is quiet onboard the ship you will hear the whistle of the evening freight train as it passes. (B, L, D)    

Day 5: Today we will enjoy some early morning cruising as we have our breakfast, we will then transfer to motor coaches at Umatilla, Oregon. We are bound for town of Pendleton – home of the famous Pendleton Woolen Mills, we spend the day on solid ground as we visit this historic town, its mills and of course all of its fantastic shops. We will visit and tour the underground rock and timber city that was created and used by the 19th century laborers of the time, later in the afternoon we will visit the Stonehenge World War I Memorial ~ this memorial a replica of the ancient Stonehenge in England was dedicated to all the locals of this area of Washington State who fought in the “War to end all Wars” later it was rededicated to all soldiers who fought in all our foreign wars. We will then coach back to our ship and re-board just as the chef has our dinner prepared. We will anchor in the Hood River area tonight, wind surfing capital of the world is Hood River's latest distinction. Previously known for growing luscious apples, pears, cherries, peaches and other fruits, and for the view of the majestic snowcapped peak of Mt. Hood, Hood River has become the destination of choice for wind surfers from around the world. The winds from the Columbia River Gorge, best during the middle of the day, create ideal conditions for riding the waves. (B, BL, D)

Day 6: Today we will enjoy the Hood River area and its view of Mt. Hood which are spectacular from this point. We will take a journey on the Mt. Hood Scenic Railroad which offers trips through the beautiful apple and pear orchards in the area. The circa 1910 railcars are pulled by a diesel locomotive along the route of an old fruit train line through the scenic valley between Mt. Hood and the Columbia River. We will enjoy views of the Columbia River from a height of over 730 feet above sea level as the railroad makes its way through the area. You will also visit Multnomah Falls and Vista house – the falls are the second highest year-round falls in the United States and is visited by millions each year. You will also be able to view Washington’s Mt. Adams from this area as well ~ as well you will have a chance to view the many windsurfers who come to this area as midday is the best time for the surfers. We will enjoy some evening entertainment on board our ship tonight & you might want to take an evening stroll and enjoy the riverfront community after dinner. (B, L, D)

Day 7: Today we will enjoy a leisurely cruise downriver; as we will visit Bonneville Lock and dam~ you will have a chance to be thrilled by the Powerhouse tour and the Salmon ladders. You will learn a lot about the tremendous electrical power and conservation efforts of the Lock and dam system along the mighty Columbia. You will enjoy many of the spectacular views of the Columbia Gorge Region – this area has some 400 foot high canyon walls. We will then cross under the “Bridge of the Gods” The name "Bridge of the Gods" originates from a Native American legend. As the tale goes, two competing brothers were separated by the Columbia River. They were reconnected when the Great Spirit built the Bridge of the Gods across the river. When the two tribes began to fight, the Great Spirit destroyed the bridge. The rapids were created from the remnants of the collapsed bridge. The legend explains an actual landslide and the resulting Cascade rapids. Today, water from the Bonneville Dam covers the rapids, and an actual bridge, also named the "Bridge of the Gods," has been built to span the river in the same location. The bridge took six years to build and began in 1920. It is 1,858 feet long and 135 feet above the water. We will continue cruising towards the town of St. Helens, where we will anchor for the evening. (B, L, D)

Day 8: This morning we after breakfast we are off for an adventure to Mt. St. Helens, the famous local volcano that shook Washington back in 1980. We will learn about the cataclysmic eruption that devastated the local region. Ash clouds could be seen all around Washington State. We will visit the interpretive center and view how the Mountain is starting to rebuild and you will see the timber recovering on the mountain side. The initial blast of the volcano was rated at 400 million tons of TNT explosive power, it made the skies over Washington turn dark. Later in the afternoon we will visit the Pendleton Woolen Mills in Washougel, WA. Later, we cruise west toward our Pacific Ocean goal, Astoria Oregon – it will be the Captains choice to anchor or dock in Astoria. (B, BL, D)

Day 9: Today is a day of local touring with lots to see and do – we will visit the Astor column, which was named for John Jacob Astor of New York, climb the 164 steps and view the magnificent Pacific Ocean from the top. You also visit Fort Clatsop and the Lewis and Clark visitor center. We also have time to enjoy the wonderful waterfront Columbia River Maritime Museum. Later this evening we will enjoy a farewell dinner on board the ship. (B, L, D)

Day 10: Breakfast will be served on board the ship, then it is time to say farewell to the crew and the Captain, as we board a motor coach for the ride into Portland and our flight back home. (B)

• Roundtrip transportation to and from the local airport
• Roundtrip air transportation from your city to Spokane and return from Portland
• Deluxe motorcoach transportation while on tour.
• 9 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches and 8 Dinners (all with wine)
• Visits and wine tasting at three wineries in the Spokane region
• Evening cocktail hour every day while on board the cruise
• Tours and admissions as listed in the itinerary
• Luggage handling (one bag per person)
• All taxes and gratuities for hotels, bellman, waiters, etc for included meals
• Full travel / medical insurance
• Create – A – Video
• Professional BRT Tour Escort and step on guides as mentioned

What is not included on the Tour?

• The air/land price of your tour does not include items of a personal nature; meals not included in the itinerary; and gratuities to the full time Tour Manager, and the crew of the ship.