A warm, sunny morning greeted National Geographic Sea Bird where it was docked alongside the Tri-Cities pier. Guests enjoyed breakfast before departing by coach for the fertile farmlands of the Walla Walla Valley. The first stop of the day was a 19th century military fort, the Fort Walla Walla Museum. The museum offers a 17-building historical settlement with beautifully kept lawns, gardens, and large exhibit halls full of historical artifacts. As guests walked through the museum, they discovered stories and artifacts from the Oregon Trail, trains, and a replica of a 33-mule team that was used to harvest wheat. After exploring the grounds, coaches took the guests to the Three Rivers Winery for lunch, a tour of the premises, and a wine tasting. After the winery tour, guests relaxed on the veranda and enjoyed the warm afternoon. The coach eventually departed for the second museum of the day, Whitman Mission. After an introduction by the rangers and a tour around the grounds and museum, the coaches departed for Tri-Cities. After arriving at the ship, guests enjoyed recap before dinner, which was followed by an informative documentary on the Columbia River dams.
11/4/2023
Read
National Geographic Sea Bird
Astoria, Oregon
O! the Joy! Hmm, we needed to rethink that one this morning, as we woke to a rainy and blustery Astoria. What this weather did give us was a taste of historic authenticity in relation to the Corps of Discovery and their experiences here in the winter of 1805-06. Our first activity this morning was amongst the magnificent exhibits of the Columbia River Maritime Museum. This world-class facility tells the story of the mighty Columbia and the treacherous results to mariners when the river shoves against the incoming tides of the Pacific Ocean. As our day progressed, we crossed the Astoria-Megler bridge to the state of Washington. At the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center the winds continued but the rain subsided, and we enjoyed a sun-drenched afternoon with an option to walk a forest trail down to Waikiki Beach. The sun and sand were a siren to us and we made an additional stop at the North Jetty to get a water-level view of the waves crashing against the rocks of the Cape Disappointment lighthouse. The day turned out anything but disappointing.