OVERVIEW
Enjoy an inspired wine tasting and gourmet lunch at a winery restaurant in the Guadalupe Valley, a fertile area known as the Napa of Mexico, in part because the vast majority of Mexico’s wines are produced there. During the drive inland, you will notice the terrain becoming hillier with an abundance of sprawling farms and idyllic valleys such as Guadalupe. Its microclimate is similar to that in the Mediterranean as the summers are relatively cool with constant ocean breezes. Red wine grapes, in particular, flourish there, and over the past three decades or so, more than 150 wineries have become established along the valley’s wine route. Your introduction to one of the premier wineries will begin with an enlightening, behind-the-scenes tour. Afterwards, you will sample a wide selection of characteristic wines that beautifully represent the Guadalupe Valley. They will be paired with cheeses and artisan bread, which will perfectly complement the fabulous 3-course lunch that follows.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Enjoy a spectacular scenic drive through the Guadalupe Valley, the Napa of Mexico.
• Gain an understanding of the valley’s terroir by touring a premier winery.
• Sample several representative Guadalupe Valley wines and enjoy a gourmet 3-course lunch.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW
Discover the panoramic beauty and must-see highlights of Seattle in just a few hours, leaving time to explore the destinations you find most intriguing later on your own. Your introduction to the city will begin with a photo stop at the Space Needle, an icon since being built for the 1962 World’s Fair. You will also see CenturyLink Field, the sports stadium for Seattle’s professional football and soccer teams, and Pioneer Square, the city’s oldest neighborhood. The term “skid row” was coined in this now-elegant district, a reference to the logged trees that were once slid down greased skids to the sawmill. There will be plenty more to explore in Pike Place Market, the city’s oldest and largest farmers market. Don’t miss the “flying fish,” a spectacle in which the fishmongers toss even large fish to each other to save steps and entertain the onlookers. The original Starbucks is also in the market.

HIGHLIGHTS
• See Seattle’s highlights in just a few hours, leaving you with a great overview of the city.
• Pause for photos at the Space Needle and pass by Seattle’s modern sports stadium.
• Gain a historical perspective at Pioneer Square and the city’s oldest farmers market.

OVERVIEW
Enjoy two unique perspectives of Seattle: from high above the city on the Space Needle and from sea level while cruising Elliott Bay. After riding an elevator up the exterior of the Space Needle, you will arrive at the observation deck, 520 feet above the ground. The views will be spectacular, as you look out over Seattle, Mount Rainer, Puget Sound and the Cascades and Olympic mountain ranges. For the ultimate view straight down, walk along the Loupe, the tower’s rotating glass floor, the only one in the world. The Space Needle is so iconic that Seattle designated it an official landmark. The sights of the city from Elliott Bay will be just as remarkable, but from an entirely different perspective. As you cruise along, you will see lush coastal parks, the edge of historical Pioneer Square and the Seattle Great Wheel, once the tallest Ferris wheel on the west coast. Your cruise ship will also be in sight.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Enjoy the ultimate view of Seattle and beyond from atop the soaring Space Needle.
• Look straight down 500 feet through the Space Needle’s rotating glass floor.
• Cruise through Elliott Bay, admiring the sights along the western shore of Seattle.

Gain an enlightening overview of Seattle by driving around town, browsing a sprawling farmers market and enjoying a bird’s-eye view of the city from atop the Space Needle. The iconic observation tower soars above the Seattle Center, a campus of cultural attractions with roots dating back more than 100 years. For the ultimate views, the Space Needle’s windows are floor-to-ceiling and the glass floor rotates. Founded in 1907, Pike Place Market is Seattle’s oldest and largest farmers market, and as you will discover it is chock full of garden-fresh local produce and other goods. Be sure to stop by the fish market, where the employees famously toss fish to each other with great fanfare, a spectacle that began to simply save time and steps. For an even broader look at Seattle, you will drive through characteristic neighborhoods and past landmarks such as the Seattle Seahawks’ home stadium and Pioneer Square, the historical heart of old town.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Enjoy the ultimate view of Seattle and beyond from atop the soaring Space Needle.
• Spend free time browsing the seemingly endless stalls in Pike Place Market.
• Drive through historical neighborhoods, as the guide describes landmark after landmark.

Discover historic Astoria! You’ll make a brief photo stop at the Astoria Column which was built in 1926. This 125-foot tall concrete and steel structure features a cast-iron 164 step staircase that leads to an observation deck. If you decide to climb to the top, you'll see majestic views of Astoria, the Pacific Ocean and the lower Columbia River estuary. Views from the base are just as panoramic, the column stands atop Coxcomb Hill, Astoria's highest point. Continue to the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park for a tour of Fort Clatsop. You’ll also visit the Columbia River Maritime Museum located on Astoria's historic waterfront. The museum features nautical artifacts including the Lightship, which served as a floating lighthouse. Enjoy a scenic drive through Astoria nestled between the Columbia River and Young’s Bay. You’ll see picturesque Victorian and Queen Anne style homes and churches, Uniontown - home of the men who worked at the Union Fish Cannery and the Doughboy monument, dedicated to the soldiers who served in World War I.

Sample the highlights of San Diego during this guided excursion. Take a city drive to see the Embarcadero, Seaport Village and downtown San Diego. You'll drive through the magnificent 1200 acre Balboa Park, the nation’s largest urban cultural park. Then onto the seaside village of La Jolla, considered the "Jewel of Southern California." Indulge in free time to shop and explore this affluent, hilly seaside resort community featuring boutiques, restaurants and galleries. Last stop is San Diego’s historic Old Town offering the finest in theater, galleries, shops and free, live entertainment.

OVERVIEW
Enjoy a 360° view of Seattle from the top of the Space Needle and see the city’s artistic side at Chihuly Garden and Glass. Built for the 1962 World’s Fair to symbolize humanity’s Space Age aspirations, the saucer-shaped Space Needle soars above the city. Its observation tower offers sweeping views of Seattle’s urban sprawl, Mount Rainer, Puget Sound and the Cascades and Olympic mountain ranges. You can also look straight down to the ground 500 feet below by standing on the tower’s rotating glass floor, the only one in the world. Chihuly Garden and Glass lies at the foot of the Space Needle. As you stroll through its indoor and outdoor galleries, you will behold a collection of artist Dale Chihuly’s visually stunning blown-glass artwork. Highlights include a massive suspended glass sculpture, thousands of colorful glass flowers and plants, and all sorts of whimsical pieces that showcase the artist’s prodigious talents.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Enjoy the ultimate view of Seattle and beyond from atop the soaring Space Needle.
• Look straight down 500 feet through the Space Needle’s rotating glass floor.
• Be awed by the whimsical, visually stunning glass art in Chihuly Garden and Glass.

OVERVIEW

Join your Alaskan captain and their crew on a cruise through the waters surrounding the naturally beautiful islands around Ketchikan. Once onboard, relax inside the heated main cabin or out on the observation deck, as you prepare for your first sighting of the iconic American bald eagle. Along the way, you will be treated to panoramic views of the historic lighthouse on Guard Island and the Tlingit and Haida hand-carved totem poles and clan house at Totem Bight State Park. You will also witness a diversity of ecosystems as you cruise past coastal residential areas on Revillagigedo Island and along the undeveloped shoreline of Gravina Island, much of which is blanketed by the Tongass National Forest, our world’s largest temperate rainforest. Wildlife is abundant, so keep an eye out for not just bald eagles, but harbor seals, sea lions, seabirds, and whales. While taking in the scenery, enjoy a hot chocolate, freshly brewed coffee, or soda of your choice alongside a snack sampler plate of Alaskan specialties, including a traditional alder-smoked salmon.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Admire Alaska’s natural beauty while cruising to and from Guard Island.
• Relax in the boat’s heated main cabin or out on the observation deck.
• See the colorful, carved Tlingit and Haida totem poles at Totem Bight State Park.
• Look for wildlife such as bald eagles, harbor seals and humpback or orca whales.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW
Sample a selection of wines at two celebrated wineries around Woodinville, an idyllic river valley setting on the outskirts of Seattle. You will first stop at Chateau Ste. Michelle, a winery established more than 50 years ago on the early 20th-century estate of a lumber baron. It eventually branched into two wineries—one for reds, the other for whites, which you will visit. Following an enlightening tour of the vineyards, you will taste several wines that may include a Chardonnay with ripe pineapple and butterscotch flavors and perhaps a Sauvignon Blanc that offers the bright fruit character of melons. The second winery will be chosen the day of the excursion from the hundreds in the Columbia Valley wine country. As the valley encompasses more than a third of the state, the terroir varies considerably from winery to winery. Even so, the Merlots are typically redolent of flavors such as sweet cherries, raspberries and chocolate.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Enjoy wine tastings at two esteemed wineries in the river valley around Woodinville.
• Discover why certain varietals were planted while touring the vineyards.
• Learn about the various terroirs that produce the valley’s award-winning wines.

No trip to Alaska is complete without a ride on the White Pass & Yukon Route narrow gauge railroad. Take the unforgettable journey aboard the "Scenic Railway of the World" and travel from tidewater to the summit of White Pass, a 2,865 foot elevation. Ride 40 miles round-trip in vintage rail cars as you retrace the original route to White Pass Summit passing Bridal Veil Falls, Inspiration Point and Dead Horse Gulch. This fully narrated tour features panoramic views of mountains, gorges, waterfalls, tunnels, trestles and historic sites. See the original Klondike Trail of '98 worn into the rocks, a tribute to the thousands that took this route to seek their fortune. The narrow gauge railroad is a designated International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, shared with the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty.

Enjoy a leisurely walk through Santa Barbara with a local architect that will point out and elaborate on the prevalent Mediterranean Mission-style architecture. Although you will only walk about a mile, there will be plenty to see. The architectural style reflects Santa Barbara’s Spanish-colonial heritage and Mediterranean climate. Elements such as clay-tiled roofs, white-washed plaster walls and wrought-iron accents became more prominent when the city was rebuilt following an earthquake in 1925. The architect will show you some of the more famous buildings this firm designed, including El Jardin, a mixed-use project with obvious Spanish influences and whimsical features. Ablitt Tower is another distinctive project as the footprint of this vacation-rental residence is a mere 20 x 20 feet. The building could only go up, and it rises spectacularly over an area full of restaurants, shops and nightclubs. The tower’s more than 50 windows offers magnificent views in every direction.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Follow a local architect through Santa Barbara for an enlightening architectural tour.
• Become familiar with architecture that beautifully reflects Santa Barbara’s Spanish roots.
• See some of the whimsical, somewhat controversial projects that the architect designed.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Zip through the sheltered waters of Sitka Sound on a wave runner and pause along the way to hear enlightening commentary about the points of interest. You can either take the helm of the two-person wave runner or ride along as the passenger. Either way, it will be an exhilarating and extraordinarily scenic adventure. After a briefing and a practice run to ensure that you maximize the experience, you will race off caravan-style, following the guide, who is a U.S. Coast Guard captain. Sitka is dotted with islands and the forested mountains provide a breathtaking backdrop. Some of the ride will be through Silver Bay, a slender fjord surrounded by some of the most dramatic scenery on the outskirts of Sitka. The land there hasn’t changed much since the indigenous Tlingit people for time immemorial. During stops along the way, the guide will describe Sitka’s fascinating history.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Race through Sitka Sound and a nearby fjord on a two-person wave runner.
• Marvel at the gorgeous scenery, much of which is raw wilderness.
• Hear fascinating commentary about the history of Sitka while stopping along the way.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.