DAY 1:

VANCOUVER, BC TO PORTLAND, OR & WILLAMETTE RIVER CRUISE

Welcome to Vancouver! This morning we board our luxury coach. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the luxury of our modern motorcoach. Of course it is air-conditioned and washroom equipped, for your comfort and enjoyment. We travel south to Everett, Seattle and Tacoma. Onward we’ll travel south on Interstate 5 to Portland. Upon arrival to Portland we check into our first class Monarch Hotel & Convention Center for a three nights stay. We rest and freshen up at the hotel for a couple of hours & have an early dinner. This evening’s treat comes as a scenic two & a half hour cruise. The Portland Spirit offers a unique sightseeing experience. We board from downtown Portland and cruise on the Willamette River. We enjoy the scenery of downtown Portland, Ross Island, Waverly Country Club, many floating homes and several unique historical bridges that Portland is known for.

Portland Waterfront

DAY 2:

COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE, MULTNOMAH FALLS & WASHINGTON SQUARE

After an included breakfast this morning, we view the unparalleled beauty of the fabulous Columbia River Scenic highways, Multnomah Falls, Crown Point and more. We return to Portland by lunch time to enjoy the tax-free shopping at Washington Square Mall. This premier shopping center boasts five anchor stores, including Oregon’s largest Nordstrom, various dining opportunities and 170 distinctive specialty shops. Later on, we visit the historical Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge and enjoy the one hour live presentation. We return to our hotel by 5:30PM.

Squabbling Swallows

DAY 3:

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GRAND FLORAL PARADE

After an included breakfast, we enjoy the Reserved Grand Stand Seating to watch the Grand Floral Parade. Have your camera in hand to capture the breathtaking fresh flower floats! After the parade we head to the Portland International Rose Test Garden located in Washington Park. Walk amongst the roses and have time to stop in the Rose Garden Store for sweet-smelling souvenirs. Located directly across the street from the Rose Gardens are the Portland Japanese Gardens, a haven of tranquil beauty nestled in the scenic west hills of Portland, Oregon. Spend the remainder of your afternoon strolling through the five distinct Japanese garden styles offering you a sense of peace, harmony, and tranquility.

Grand Floral Parade Float

DAY 4:

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WINERY TOUR & OREGON COAST

GrapesAfter an included leisurely breakfast, we enjoy a locally guided City Tour of Portland before going to the Ponzi Winery. We make our way to perhaps the best-known wineries in the state, the Ponzi Vineyards. As visionaries and pioneers of Oregon Wine, founders Dick and Nancy helped build the industry. Founded in 1970, Ponzi is internationally recognized for its wine. We view the cellar while tasting current releases in the tasting room and can walk through the old vines on the historic grounds. We enjoy an included delicious lunch at the Winery. After lunch, we visit the Evergreen Aviation Museum in the beautiful Willamette Valley this afternoon. The museum is home to Howard Hughes’ “Spruce Goose” and more than 80 other historic aircraft and exhibits. Catch the “dream to Fly” spirit and explore the fascination world of aviation and space history. See replicas of WWI aircraft; learn about WWII fighters; view supersonic jets and modern day space vehicles. Later on, we travel to the magnificent Oregon Coast making our home for the night in Lincoln City. We check into our oceanfront hotel and freshen up. In Lincoln City we have the opportunity to awaken to view the magnificent sight of the waves crashing against the cliffs outside your hotel. Definitely a scene, which makes one appreciate the silent strength of these majestic shores. We visit the Chinook Winds Casino this evening for entertainment.

DAY 5:

LINCOLN CITY TO SEASIDE TO VANCOUVER, BC

After an included breakfast, we travel north along the Oregon Coast so that you may view more of the wave-sculptured offshore rock formations which, aside from their picturesque beauty, also form sanctuaries for very large birds and animal life. Turning inland, we return to the more familiar highway system of Interstate 5 and continue north through the state of Washington. We return home to Vancouver taking lots of pictures and memories home with us!

Oregon Coast by Larry Geddis