Columbia Basin, 10/16/2024, National Geographic Sea Lion
Aboard the
National Geographic Sea Lion
Pacific Northwest
We spent the day cruising east along the Columbia River, passing through two locks, the Dalles and John Day Locks. Our journey took us through the Dalles, a place of great historical significance, once a major fishing site for Indigenous peoples. Now, the river’s landscape tells a tale of both natural forces and human intervention, as we move from the Cascade Mountains into the Columbia Basin plains.
Growing up along the coastal environment of San Diego, Shannon started her first volunteer job at a local nature center at the age of six. Since then, she has built her personal life and professional career around connecting with nature. She received...
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Today we awoke at the confluence of the Columbia and Snake Rivers. We departed the river and set off to Whitman Mission, the site of the act of desperation that changed the fate of many nations. Many of our guests joined the wine specialist for a private tasting at Walla Walla’s 9th established winery, Dunham Cellars, enjoying a peek into the cellar, the new incoming vintage, and a visit with Sadie, the wine dog. All parties gathered for a filling lunch and an introduction to Three Rivers Winery, shared by winemakers Holly and Andy. Our guests soaked up the sun, wine, lawn games, and a production tour of the cellar before heading out for a visit to the Fort Walla Walla Museum or a trip downtown for more wine tasting, a famed chocolate shop, and lots of shopping. Many happy faces were seen enjoying a scoop of hand-crafted ice cream and a warm fall afternoon. On our way home, we were greeted by mule deer, turkeys, blue heron, and a gorgeous sunset. It was great fun in the town so nice they named it twice. Cheers!
We awoke on National Geographic Sea Bird in Hood River. We have transitioned from the arid grasslands of the east into the lush forests, typical of the Pacific Northwest. We began our day by visiting the epic Multnomah Falls. This 620-foot waterfall is a must see. We then set out to have our first hike into the forest along the iconic Beacon Rock. While we had a nature hike along the base, some of our guests hiked up this massive 848 ft. basalt column. We also had the opportunity to have a private wine tasting at the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center. All this before lunch! We gathered back aboard National Geographic Sea Bird for the rest of the afternoon, making our way west again. Guests got to watch from the bow as we transited through our eighth and final lock, Bonneville. It was a great day aboard as we sailed towards the setting sun.