Experience the breathtaking natural beauty of the nations only National Scenic Area, the Columbia River Gorge. Visit historic places like Fort Vancouver National Historic Site and explore the awesome landscapes of Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.
Day One – Northwest History – Vancouver, WA
Take a guided tour of Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, established in 1825 as the British-based Hudson’s Bay Company extensive fur trading network in the Pacific Northwest. The reconstructed buildings in the Fort come alive with interpreters in period clothing who re-enact daily fort life. Plan a tour around one of the many special events and reenactments. From there, visit Pearson Air Museum, located at one of the oldest continually operating airfields in the United States, to learn about aviation history and view airplanes from pre-WWII. Tour Officers Row and the General George C. Marshall House built in 1886 for the commander of the Vancouver Barracks and named for this famous resident. The house is a shining example of Queen Anne Victorian-style architecture. Enjoy a fabulous dinner at The Restaurant at the Historic Reserve in the historic Grant House also on Officers Row. Overnight in Vancouver, Washington.
Day Two – Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Take a loop drive along the Columbia River Gorge for a full day of breathtaking views and Native American History. From Vancouver, head east along Hwy. 14 and stop in Washougal to take a tour of Pendleton Woolen Mill. See first-hand the state-of-the-art dye house, the spinning, weaving, and finishing of the distinctive Indian blankets. Finish up by shopping at the Mill store stocked with a full array of men’s and women’s clothing, and the world famous blankets. Stop and take a rest at Beacon Rock, the core of an extinct volcano. For the more adventurous, trek the mile-long trail up to the peak. The magnificent view of the Columbia River Gorge makes the climb worth the effort. Continue on to the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center in Stevenson, Washington, where over 11,000 square feet of exhibits interpret the area’s cultural and natural history. Some of the exhibits feature Native American Life, Heritage Quilts, Lewis & Clark, and the world’s Largest Rosary Collection. Stop for lunch in Skamania County. Next travel south across the breathtaking “Bridge of the Gods” into Oregon and continue east on I-84. Stop in the small town of Cascade Locks for a scenic cruise on the Sternwheeler Columbia Gorge. This triple-decker paddle wheeler affords 360 degree views of the Columbia River Gorge, the only National Scenic Area in the nation. Loop back on I-84 heading west and stop for a tour at the newest and oldest hydropower houses on the Columbia River at the Bonneville Dam. Explore historical exhibits and an underwater fish viewing station to see large salmon and sturgeon swim by. You will not want to miss the fish hatchery next door where you can view salmon in rearing ponds and 15-20 foot sturgeon in a viewing tank. Here you can also feed trout in the trout ponds in a beautiful park-like setting. A gift shop is available. Make sure you have film in your camera as you stop and explore Multnomah Falls, the second highest year-round waterfall in the United States. A restaurant and gift shop is available. Then stop and enjoy shopping at the Columbia Gorge Premium Outlets, where you will find an exciting collection of 45 designer and name-brand outlet stores offering additional discounts for groups. Head back to Vancouver by crossing over the Columbia River into Washington on I-205 North. Enjoy dinner at one of Vancouver’s waterfront restaurants to complete this Columbia Gorge loop tour. Overnight in Vancouver, Washington.
Day Three – Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
Learn about the May 18, 1980 eruption that forever changed the landscape of Mount St. Helens. This world-class natural attraction offers year-round educational visitor centers and an abundance of scenic and wildlife viewing. At the Mount St. Helens Silver Lake Visitor Center (Fee Area) visitors will be introduced to area history and the powerful events that took place during the 1980 eruption. Take in outstanding views as you walk the Silver Lake Wetlands Trail. Tour the Hoffstadt Bluffs Visitor Center (Free Admission) with great views of Mount St. Helens and the mudflow. Around the center you can watch Ash Glassblowing demonstrations or walk through the Memorial Grove for those who died at Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980. For the more adventurous traveler, get a bird’s eye view of Mount St. Helens with a helicopter ride to the edge of the safety zone. A restaurant is available for group reservations. Tour the Weyerhaeuser Forest Learning Center (Free Admission.) Inside the center you can take a walk through a lifelike forest, experience the Eruption Theater, view grazing elk, and discover how private forests are managed for products. Johnston Ridge Observatory (Fee Area) has great views of the lava dome, crater, pumice plain and the landslide deposits. Programs display the sequence of geologic events and a dramatic film relives the eruption. Call ahead for hours of operation and to arrange for group tour admission. Overnight in Vancouver, Washington.
 Day Four – Lewis & Clark Trail and the Pacific Ocean The Pacific Ocean is only a 90-mile drive from Vancouver. Visitors will find pristine beaches and spectacular scenery on the Pacific Coast. History buffs will appreciate the Lewis & Clark attractions and stories told along this drive. Visit Cathlapotle Plankhouse, a full-scale replica of a Chinookan-style cedar plankhouse at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, home to many species of spring and fall migrating birds. The Lewis & Clark expedition stopped here in November 1805 and again in March 1806 to trade with the Native American’s who resided ehre at on eof the largest Chinookan villages in the area. As you continue on to the Long Beach Peninsula, stop and stretch your legs at the Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for White-Tailed Deer. Viewing platforms allow you to see deer and elk species first described for science by Lewis & Clark. Continue west to the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center at Cape Disappointment. Exhibits focus on the history of Lewis & Clark’s experience at the mouth of the Columbia River and include an award-winning film, “Dreams and Discovery: Lewis & Clark’s Arrival to the Pacific.” Take a leisurely walk along Discovery Trail which includes a boardwalk along the Pacific Ocean. This spectacular trail traces the path William Clark and a party of his men carved across Cape Disappointment and along the Pacific Coast in November 1805. Interpretive displays along the way include a 20-foot bronze tree, recreating the tree William Clark marked his name in four miles up the beach from Beard’s Hollow, and a full skeleton of a gray whale, commemorating William Clark’s observation of March 19, 1805, of which he noted, “I saw…several joints of a backbone of a whale which must have foundered on this part of the coast.” While in the seaside town of Long Beach, spend a few hours exploring the boutique shops and museums. With the variety of restaurants available, this would make a good location for lunch on your own. Recommended must sees in this area include: International Kite Museum, Marshall’s Free Museum, Cranberry Museum and the historic town of Oysterville. Return and overnight in Vancouver, Washington.
Day Five – Your Choice of Mount Rainier in Washington or various destinations in Oregon
Travel north to Mount Rainier and view outstanding examples of old growth forests and sub alpine meadows. Take in the Longmire Museum and the Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise. Or head south to Portland, Oregon which offers many visitor attractions including the Oregon Zoo, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and the Portland Classical Chinese Garden. Just South of Portland in Oregon City, visit the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center to learn about the Oregon Trail and the early period of settlement in the Pacific Northwest. Or visit Oregon’s Wine Country in scenic Willamette Valley offering incredible views and tasting at many of the Northwest's premium wineries.
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