Extraordinary Pacific Northwest Itinerary

After arriving at Seattle Airport and picking up your rental car, you will drive to the Four Seasons Seattle, your upscale base for the first two nights of your Pacific Northwest adventure. Conveniently located downtown, close to Pike Place Market, the hotel is the ideal base for exploring the city. Following a good night’s sleep, your first full day is full of action-packed opportunities. Choose from a private guided city tour or a full-day seaplane excursion to the San Juan Islands, before ending the evening with a cooking class and dinner at Pike Place Market.
The city tour is a private guided experience taking in Seattle’s major landmarks and attractions. Highlights include a chance to learn about the history and fish trade of Pike Place Market, a visit to the site of the ‘original Starbucks,’ and enjoying the panoramic views from the observation deck of the Space Needle. Famous as the birthplace of grunge, the city is now home to artisans and big tech companies and there will also be a chance to visit the superlative Chihuly Glass Museum. Showcasing the work of Dale Chihuly, an American blown glass sculptor, this astonishing work leaves a lasting impression. The tour includes lunch and depending on time constraints, may also allow for a visit to other attractions, such as the 19th century buildings of affluent Queen Anne Hill, one of the city’s oldest residential neighbourhoods. Do let your guide know of any specific tour requests you have, so the tour can be tailored to your interests.
Alternatively, you may wish to spend the day exploring further afield, with a private scenic ‘flightseeing’ trip onboard a seaplane to the San Juan Islands. With a transfer time of around 50-minutes, the day starts with a bird’s eye view of the cityscape, rocky shoreline of Seattle and Puget Sound. Known for their natural beauty, marine wildlife and excellent sea kayaking, the islands make a fabulous day trip. Based at the historic and attractive resort of Roche Harbour, you will enjoy a guided kayaking adventure along the coastline and coves of the islands, scouting for whales, sea lions, porpoises, seals, and otters, among many others. A superb lunch is included, along with the return transfer to Seattle by seaplane.
The evening is a real treat for foodies, with a market-to-table cooking and dining experience at Pike Place Market. Accompanied by chef, Traci Calderon you will tour the stalls learning more about the produce and the market’s lesser-known secrets, while buying the ingredients for an interactive cooking lesson. After you’ve bought the produce, you will head to Atrium Kitchen. Based in the market itself, the kitchen is a community resource and once you’ve settled in, Traci will guide you in the techniques and processes involved in creating the flavours and textures of Pacific Northwest cuisine. Once the meal is prepared, you get to enjoy the fruits of your labour, with a delicious and convivial dinner.

The following morning, you bid farewell to Seattle to journey to Port Angeles on the Olympic Peninsula. The day begins crossing the Puget Sound on Washington’s famous Bainbridge Island ferry, a scenic 35-minute journey. With a delightful mix of charming small-town cafés, restaurants, and shops, we would recommend a stroll around the waterfront and a trip to the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, before heading north. Along the way, Port Townsend is also worthy of a stop. Resplendent with Victorian architecture, this thriving maritime community boasts world-class restaurants, glorious beaches and a long history dating back hundreds of years, when the town was once home to the S’Klallam tribe.
The day ends at Port Angeles and the total driving time including the ferry crossing is around 3-hours. On your arrival check-in to Domaine Madeline Bed & Breakfast, your base for the following two nights. This lovely property is infused with serene elegance and charm. Located on the waterfront of Olympic National Park and perched high on the cliffs, guests enjoy stunning views of the ocean and mountains. 
Following a restful sleep and hearty breakfast, there’s the chance to explore Olympic National Park with a private naturalist guide, on a full day tour which includes scenic hikes and lunch. The UNESCO-listed park protects various ecosystems within its vast and diverse terrain. Enjoy mossy rainforest trails, old-growth forest, gushing rivers, snow-capped mountains, and plentiful wildlife. The park is home to deer, marmot, elk, bald eagles, mountain goats and black bear, among many others, so do keep a watchful eye over the landscape.
During the day, your guide will enlighten you on the park’s natural, geological, and human history. A highlight is the trail leading to Hurricane Ridge which rewards hikers with panoramic views of the peninsula. Lunch is enjoyed at the glacier lake, Lake Crescent surrounded by fern-filled forest and close to Marymere Falls and the day also includes a visit to La Push along the rugged coastline. This Quileute Indian Reservation town is a chance to learn about the history, traditions, and customs of the Native American peoples.
Alternatively, there is an upgrade option for a 2-3-hour private ‘flightseeing’ tour of the peninsula. Offering a bird’s eye view of the snow-capped mountains, blue iced glaciers, forested mountain slopes and stunning coastline, the flight is full of exceptional natural beauty and spectacular scenery. Spot the wild herds of elk, see La Push from the air and scout for whales, dolphins, and seals in the Pacific Ocean.
The next day you will leave Port Angeles to make your way to Lake Quinault. In the southwest corner of the park, the drive takes around 3-hours, and we would suggest a stop at the UNESCO-listed Hoh Rainforest, one of the finest temperate rainforests remaining in North America. Draped with moss, the lush green world of old-growth trees and misty trails are stunningly atmospheric. 

On arrival at the lake, check-in to the historic Lake Quinault Lodge, which has been welcoming guests since 1926, including President Roosevelt. Full of rustic charm and home-from-home comforts, this is a delightful location for relaxing by the lake or fireside and hiking the ancient forest trails that surround the property.
During the stay, guests have the option for two additional experiences. Storytelling and a ceremonial salmon bake with the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe or guided kayaking on the lake. Reflecting the native peoples’ historic dependence on and close relationship with nature, the ceremonial salmon bake is in honour of the annual return of the salmon who come to spawn in the waters of the lake and river. The S’Klallam Tribe have lived in the Pacific Northwest for centuries and their culture respects and protects the salmon that feeds them. The ceremony includes a welcome song and stories of the species importance to the tribe. Alternatively, guided kayaking on the tranquil waters of Lake Quinault is a relaxing way to explore this pristine glacier-carved lake and can be arranged from Lake Quinault Lodge.

After immersing yourself in the scenic splendour of the Olympic Peninsula, this morning you head south into the state of Oregon. We suggest a stop for lunch in the historic town of Astoria. Once an important fishing, canning and fur trade outpost for the Pacific Northwest, Astoria combines a small-town vibe with big-city attractions and is often referred to as ‘little San Francisco.’
From here you journey to Cannon Beach to your base for the following two nights, the Stephanie Inn. Full of warm hospitality and indulgent accommodation, this beachfront inn offers fabulous ocean views, including the impressive sight of the immense sea stack, Haystack Rock. Total drive time is around 4-hours.
For your first night, dinner involves a fun culinary experience in the form of a Dinner Show hosted by two entertaining professional chefs, Bob Neroni and his wife Leonore. The couple are champions of sustainable and organic ingredients and will use these to prepare, cook and explain more about Pacific Northwest cuisine. Guests are seated around a central kitchen area, while learning how to combine different flavours and the importance of wine pairing to enhance any meal. Full of the couple’s passion for food and cooking, this is a dinner that will live long in the memory.
The Cannon Beach area of Oregon has been named as one of the world’s most beautiful 100 places by National Geographic. After breakfast the following morning, your naturist guide will introduce you to its many and varied landscapes with visits to several of the area’s magnificent state parks. You will explore the stunning Pacific vistas, sea stacks, secluded coves, and forest trails of Ecola State Park, while Oswald West State Park offers a temperate rainforest and the famous Short Sand Beach to explore. 
Other highlights include the sandy cove beach of Hug Point, the sandstone headland of Cape Kiwanda and the scenic viewpoint and lighthouse of Cape Meares. During the day you will also enjoy a crabbing demonstration near Nehalem Bay and a tasty lunch at the Pelican Brewery, the coast’s only beachfront craft brewery.

After a replenishing night’s sleep, the drive south continues to Florence. Along the way, there’s the opportunity to visit Heceta Head, home of Oregon’s landmark lighthouse, offering fabulous views of the coastline. After lunch, which you may wish to enjoy in Florence which boasts several first-rate seafood restaurants, a thrilling sand rail ride awaits.
The Central Oregon Coast is home to one of the largest expanses of sand dunes in the world, protected by the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area and is a great place for a sand rail adventure. Sand rails are purpose built and lightweight off-road vehicles designed to travel across soft sand by skimming across the surface to avoid getting stuck. Ideal for adrenalin junkies, a ride in a sand rail is akin to riding a rollercoaster, with death-defying drops. During this one-hour ride you will cover 19 miles of dunes and one mile of beach terrain. Goggles are provided and we recommend you wear warm clothing and protect any valuables from blowing sand. 
If the sand rail adventure does not appeal, guests can enjoy a scenic jet boat trip along the wild and beautiful Rogue River. Afterwards, head inland to your base for the night the Weaksu Inn. Located along the banks of the Rogue River, just outside of Grants Pass, this historic riverfront lodge first opened in 1924. Full of upscale rustic charm, superb hospitality and comfortably appointed accommodation, the inn has a charming Weaksu, We-Ask-You philosophy. Total drive time today is around 3.5-hours.
That evening brings another memorable dining experience, with a dinner jet boating excursion. Guests enjoy jet boating through the unspoiled beauty of the Rogue River and its valley, while scouting for river otters, turtles, eagles, and even black bear. The 4-hour trip involves boating through the legendary Hellgate Canyon, with its 100-foot-high cliffs and was one of the filming locations for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. After disembarking at the Hellgate River Lodge, you’ll enjoy a tasty homestead meal on the patio, high above the river.

Following a delicious breakfast at the Weaksu Inn, it’s time to make the 2-hour journey to Crater Lake National Park, where you’ll spend the night at Crater Lake Lodge. First opened in 1915, this is one of the Northwest’s grand old lodges and it has an enviable and unbeatable location perched on the edge of the caldera overlooking the lake. The lake was formed almost 8,000 years ago when the volcano, Mount Mazama collapsed, and the caldera began to fill with snow and rainwater. With no other water inlets, the deep blue water is exceptionally clear and clean. 
Not only is Crater Lake the deepest lake in the US, but it also contains a volcano within a volcano, known as Wizard Island. This was created when Mount Mazama collapsed, causing a ‘post-caldera’ cinder cone to form and this afternoon you will enjoy a boat trip around the lake and a chance to visit this extraordinary island. Cruising the perimeter of the lake allows you to appreciate the sheer 2,000-feet high cliffs that surround it, before a 3-hour visit to the island, where you can explore, swim, fish and hike the Wizard Island Summit Trail to the top for panoramic views. The trail involves a moderate hike of around an hour and is a round trip of 2.2 miles. The boat trips are available July to September.

After a night at the Lodge, you make an early start for the 2-hour drive north to the high desert mountain town of Bend. Flanked by the Cascade Mountains and high desert, the natural scenery of peaks, lakes, rivers, and endless trails, make Bend one of the world’s top locations for outdoor adventure enthusiasts. The town itself was once an outpost for the lumber industry and today Bend has the most breweries per capita in Oregon, along with a thriving food scene, artisan culture and eco-friendly ethos.
For the following two nights, your base is the Oxford Hotel. This smart and stylish property boasts spacious and well-appointed accommodation with fabulous attention to detail, making it the ideal sanctuary after an action-packed day. For those who prefer, alternative accommodation is offered at Sunriver, a premier resort 20-minutes south of Bend. Located on the Deschutes River within the Deschutes National Forest, the resort offers a wide range of family-friendly activities, two swimming pools, onsite spa, golf course, scenic hiking trails and is close to many excellent ski trails.
After settling in, prepare yourself for a magical canoe trip by moonlight, paddling the deep clear waters of the Cascade Lakes under a blanket of starlight. For 2-hours your guide will show you the lakes’ highlights, as you soak up the nocturnal sights and sounds of these high-elevation pools. Enjoy listening to age-old stories, local myths and even learning some basic astronomy. There is also the chance to explore the area’s Lava River Caves. For 2-hours you will immerse yourself in the otherworldly underground atmosphere, while learning how these lava tubes were created by volcanic activity thousands of years ago. After caving, indulge in a warming hot chocolate and sweet treat. These activities are available from October to November and April to May.
The following day is a chance to choose your own adventure with an additional outdoor activity. While guided hiking amid the volcanic scenery, lakes and rivers is included, to enhance your experience several activities can be added on for an additional fee. These include water activities (white water rafting, kayaking, SUP boarding and flyfishing), mountain and road biking, a cycle brewery tour, horseback riding, rock climbing, helicopter sightseeing tours, golfing, and night sky stargazing.

On your last full day, you will leave Central Oregon to visit beautiful Smith State Park, home to Oregon’s tallest peak, Mount Hood, a mesmerising volcano with eleven active glaciers. Your first stop will be the elegant Timberline Lodge, a National Historic Landmark with the only year-round skiing in North America. Built in 1937, you’ll enjoy a tour of its Cascadian architecture and roofline that mimics the peak of Mount Hood itself. 
After a delicious lunch, you’ll have the opportunity to experience one of the many diverse hikes on the mountain, including the famed Pacific Crest Trail, Trillium Lake or Tamanawas Falls. There is also the option to take a Hood River Valley bike tour of the local scenery, featuring access to private vineyards and three wineries for tasting sessions. This 5-hour leisurely ride includes an artisan lunch.
Guests can choose to spend their last night either at Timberline Lodge or drive to Portland for an overnight stay at The Nines. Effortlessly combining history, modern elegance, and eco-sustainability and just steps from Pioneer Square, the Nines makes a luxurious end to your Pacific Northwest adventure.
The following morning you will travel to Portland Airport to make the journey home. The airport is 30-minutes north of downtown Portland, while Timberline Lodge is a 1.5-hour drive. Depending on departure times, there maybe time to add a half-day private Portland city tour or a Columbia River Gorge tour to see the stunning waterfalls.