Walla Walla, Washington, 10/29/2024, National Geographic Sea Bird
Aboard the
National Geographic Sea Bird
Pacific Northwest
Five tasting rooms, an ice cream shop, an independent bookstore, a welcoming city, and a crisp fall day. We stirred it all together and came up with a flavor-filled day of exploration. Historical elements were added with a visit to the Whitman Mission, a National Park Service historic site, and the Fort Walla Walla Museum. It was a full and diverse day that fed all of our senses.
Born in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Linda and her Air Force family moved extensively throughout the U.S. when she was a child. Linda continues to travel and explore a broader spectrum of the world as a naturalist with Lindblad Expeditions-National Geogr...
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This morning National Geographic Sea Bird saw the sunrise while anchored at the confluence of the Palouse and Snake Rivers. Our day began with an exhilarating morning Zodiac ride along the Palouse River. The calm, reflective waters made for the ideal conditions to observe this beautiful basalt canyon landscape. Golden eagles, red-tail hawks, and Northern flickers are just a few birds that we spotted in this perfect morning light. Guests then were able to take a quick bus ride over to Palouse Falls. This impressive 200-foot waterfall is one of the most picturesque views. Seeing these landscapes, we begin to understand how powerful the Missoula floods were that carved these lands just 15,000 years ago. After lunch aboard National Geographic Sea Bird , we continued our journey along the Snake River. Our first lock to navigate through was the Lower Monumental Lock. This passage showcases the engineering marvel that make river travel possible. It was a day that perfectly defines the very spirit of discovery, the contrast of tranquil nature to the powerful structures that allow us to explore these lands and rivers.
The first full day of our expedition began at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater Rivers. This morning, we boarded jet boats and continued up the Snake River over 50 miles to the confluence of the Snake and Salmon rivers. The wildlife viewing was astonishing throughout the expedition into Hells Canyon. As we explored the Hells Canyon area on the Snake Rivers, we had a delightful lunch at a quaint river lodge on the western bank. The wildlife and river history provided a new perspective of the canyon, including ancient petroglyphs dating back at least 7,100 years and the only vineyard in the canyon on the same site as a small root cellar equipped with winemaking carboys. Upon our return to National Geographic Sea Bird , we were treated to colorful stories by Nez Pierce storyteller, J.R. Spencer, followed by a scrumptious dinner paired with extraordinary wines from the region.
