During the night we navigated north on the Willamette River and then westward onto the Columbia. We had a full day outdoors from our base in Astoria, and the uncharacteristic balmy fall weather was quite welcome. We strolled the beach at the wreck of the Peter Iredale, walked the grounds of Fort Stevens in the sunshine and ducked in and out of the shady forest at Fort Clatsop. In all it was a great day to absorb a bit of history along with the warmth of the autumn sun.
10/23/2024
Read
National Geographic Sea Lion
Walla Walla
We awoke anchored at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers, National Geographic Sea Lion perfectly framed by the Ed Hendler and Pioneer Memorial Bridges. Departing shortly after breakfast, everyone headed to shore for a full day of adventure, education, and indulgent wine tasting. Once ashore, some of us headed to Seven Hills Vineyard for an exclusive tour while others explored the rich cultural history of Fort Walla Walla. We reconvened at the stunning Seven Hills Tasting Room in downtown Walla Walla for a spectacular lunch and our first tasting of the day. After lunch we split up again, with options for excursions ranging from wine tasting to ice cream sampling, shopping, and a visit to the Whitman Mission National Historic Site. Our Zodiac rides back to the ship were perfectly timed with the sunset, making for a beautiful end to a busy day exploring the Pasco and Walla Walla area. After yet another exceptional wine and dinner pairing by Wine Specialist Kristine, a sporty game of Pacific Northwest Trivia ensued!
