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Autumn Adventures in the Pacific Northwest
With wild hillsides ablaze in golds and reds, autumn in the Pacific Northwest is a sight to behold. This closer-to-home destination offers geologically diverse landscapes and fascinating history. Sail in the wake of Lewis and Clark or explore remote channels teeming with sea life. Visit picturesque coastal towns. Hike meadows and lush forest trails. Along the way, our culinary program brings you the bounty of the region using some of the freshest local ingredients.
JUST ANNOUNCED! In 2024, Lindblad Expeditions and Food & Wine magazine will be combining their expertise to deliver the most stimulating and satiating experience of the Pacific Northwest possible. Find out more about the new 2024 Columbia & Snake Rivers Journey itinerary presented by Food & Wine.
New
Columbia and Snake Rivers: Food, Wine and History 6-Day
Duration
6 days
Apr
From
$3,665
Top Highlights
Indulge in gourmet menus guided by the rhythms of the season, featuring sustainable ingredients sourced exclusively within 250 miles of our route
Witness the region’s geological wonders—from the Columbia River Gorge to Multnomah Falls and Beacon Rock—and explore up close and at water level while hiking, kayaking, or Zodiac cruising
Taste more than 40 of the region’s best wines, sampling bottles personally selected by Food & Wine magazine’s Executive Wine Editor Ray Isle
Columbia and Snake Rivers: Food, Wine and History 8-Day
Duration
8 days
Apr
Sep
Oct
From
$5,327
Top Highlights
Indulge in gourmet menus guided by the rhythms of the season, featuring sustainable ingredients sourced exclusively within 250 miles of our route
Witness the region’s geological wonders—from the Columbia River Gorge to Multnomah Falls and Beacon Rock—and explore up close and at water level while hiking, kayaking, or Zodiac cruising
Taste more than 40 of the region’s best wines, sampling bottles personally selected by Food & Wine magazine’s Executive Wine Editor Ray Isle
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.
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.
Expedition Dining—Then & Now
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.
See, do, and learn more by going with engaging experts who have been exploring this region for decades.
Expedition Leader
Veteran expedition leaders are the orchestrators of your experience. Many have advanced degrees and have conducted research or taught for years. They have achieved expedition leader status because they possess the skills, the experience, and the depth of knowledge necessary to continually craft the best expedition possible for our guests.
Our naturalists, passionate about the geographies they explore (and return to regularly), illuminate each facet through their enthusiasm and knowledge. Our guests consistently cite the expertise and engaging company of our staff as key reasons to repeatedly travel with us.
Every expedition aboard a ship in our National Geographic-flagged fleet offers an exclusive service—a Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic certified photo instructor. This naturalist is specially trained to offer assistance with camera settings and the basics of composition and to help you become a better, more confident photographer.
On the Columbia River, enjoy the company and perspective of a historian who can quote extensively from the journals of Lewis and Clark. And on expeditions that sail along the coast, go with a cultural interpreter or an anthropologist who has lived among the Coast Salish peoples of the San Juan Islands.
Our wellness program embodies the belief that nature is vitalizing and that wildness, as Thoreau famously said, supplies a tonic. Wellness Specialists are fully accredited and experienced licensed massage therapists and are aboard every ship in the National Geographic-flagged fleet. They lead morning stretch class on the deck, aerobic walks ashore, kayak outings, and more.
Doesn't get better, a brilliant staff.
Stephanie O.
Making a Difference
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.
National Geographic Sea Bird docked in Hood River, Oregon this morning so we could visit the famous Multnomah Falls. A light rain allowed us to have the waterfall all to ourselves! Beacon Rock State Park and the Columbia River Museum were additional highlights today where guests had the opportunity to explore trails though the temperate rainforest, discover the history of the region, and enjoy a local wine tasting.
National Geographic Sea Bird anchored off the island of Crow Butte this morning so guests could explore hiking trails through sagebrush steppe on foot and pay a visit to wetland habitats via our fleet of kayaks. Opportunities for enrichment onboard abound this afternoon! Guests chose to learn about geology, cultural sustainability, and local history. As we voyaged down the Columbia River, we had ample opportunities to hear from our onboard experts- our National Geographic Explorer, Ashli Aikens, along with our Lindblad Expeditions naturalists, geologist, and historian.
Five tasting rooms, an ice cream shop, an independent bookstore, a welcoming city, and a crisp fall day. We stirred it all together and came up with a flavor-filled day of exploration. Historical elements were added with a visit to the Whitman Mission, a National Park Service historic site, and the Fort Walla Walla Museum. It was a full and diverse day that fed all of our senses.
This morning National Geographic Sea Bird saw the sunrise while anchored at the confluence of the Palouse and Snake Rivers. Our day began with an exhilarating morning Zodiac ride along the Palouse River. The calm, reflective waters made for the ideal conditions to observe this beautiful basalt canyon landscape. Golden eagles, red-tail hawks, and Northern flickers are just a few birds that we spotted in this perfect morning light. Guests then were able to take a quick bus ride over to Palouse Falls. This impressive 200-foot waterfall is one of the most picturesque views. Seeing these landscapes, we begin to understand how powerful the Missoula floods were that carved these lands just 15,000 years ago. After lunch aboard National Geographic Sea Bird , we continued our journey along the Snake River. Our first lock to navigate through was the Lower Monumental Lock. This passage showcases the engineering marvel that make river travel possible. It was a day that perfectly defines the very spirit of discovery, the contrast of tranquil nature to the powerful structures that allow us to explore these lands and rivers.
The first full day of our expedition began at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater Rivers. This morning, we boarded jet boats and continued up the Snake River over 50 miles to the confluence of the Snake and Salmon rivers. The wildlife viewing was astonishing throughout the expedition into Hells Canyon. As we explored the Hells Canyon area on the Snake Rivers, we had a delightful lunch at a quaint river lodge on the western bank. The wildlife and river history provided a new perspective of the canyon, including ancient petroglyphs dating back at least 7,100 years and the only vineyard in the canyon on the same site as a small root cellar equipped with winemaking carboys. Upon our return to National Geographic Sea Bird , we were treated to colorful stories by Nez Pierce storyteller, J.R. Spencer, followed by a scrumptious dinner paired with extraordinary wines from the region.
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.
