After departing Portland, Oregon last evening, National Geographic Quest sailed down the lower Columbia River in lovely, calm, and clear conditions to Astoria, where the “Great River of the West” meets the North Pacific Ocean. We spent the day exploring both the human and natural histories of this region. Although the area was home to Native Americans for thousands of years, much of the northwestern portion of North America was unknown to Europeans until the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Not long after ship-borne explorers from Spain, Russia, Great Britain, and the United States drew in the outlines mapping the coast, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led the Corps of Discovery across the plains, over the mountains, and down the river from the east to this area, their westward most point. For us, a short bus ride away on the north side of the mouth of the Columbia River, the Washington State Park at Cape Disappointment includes dramatic headlands, massive spruce trees, sandy beaches, and the fascinating story of the expedition as told at the Lewis and Clark Discovery Center. In Astoria, we visited the Columbia River Maritime Museum, which filled in the story of exploration, commerce, fishing, and timber that shaped this region. We reveled in the expansive views at the Astoria Column perched on a hill above town.
10/1/2024
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National Geographic Sea Bird
Walla Walla, Washington
Today we awoke at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia River. After a quick Zodiac cruise to Sacajawea Park, we made our way through the wheat fields and rolling hills into “the town so nice, they named it twice”, Walla Walla, Washington. Many guests took the opportunity to visit the Whitman Mission, while others found their way to the Airport District, an old historic WWII Army hanger to visit Dunham Cellars for a curated wine tasting, and we even got the unique opportunity to enjoy a picture window into the harvest work happening in the cellar. Next, we all reconvened at Three Rivers Winery. We were welcomed and hosted by winemaker Holly Turner and her husband Andy. We enjoyed a beautifully catered lunch with paired wines, a cellar tour, and enjoyed the inviting landscape. Our last stop was a trip to the Fort Walla Walla Museum, or the chance to visit the historic downtown with wine tastings at three unique spots, including Mercer Estates where we savored their reserve cabernet and estate almonds. A great evening was capped off with a discussion about the Palouse earthworm and plans to enjoy the river tomorrow.