Seattle, Washington Wine Country and Peaks

Arrive in Seattle and transfer to your hotel. Seattle, Washington, where there’s no better introduction to this lively city than Pike Place Market, a historic bazaar known for its amazing array of goods, including handmade crafts and colorful produce, and the famous fish mongers tossing fresh catches to their customers. Seattle’s Chinatown is legendary for Asian food, grocery stores and attractions. See the panoramic views from the top of the Space Needle, marvel at the glass sculptures at Chihuly Garden and Glass and explore the Frank O. Gehry- designed Museum of Pop Culture, all within walking distance of each other. Stroll to the nearby waterfront to see the Olympic Sculpture Park. Overnight in Seattle.

Continue to explore what Seattle has to offer. Harbor cruises are a fantastic way to get picture-perfect views of the city, mountains and bay. Overnight in Seattle.

This morning, pick-up your rent-a-car. Take the easy drive south to Toledo and then commence the fifty mile climb towards Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument. The Forest Learning Centre is located inside the blast zone of the May 18, 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. Walk through a life-like forest and experience the Eruption Chamber. Learn about forest recovery, reforestation and conservation of forest resources.
Visit Hoffsted Bluffs Visitor Centre which houses the Memories of a Lost Landscape exhibit. This gives the best depiction of the mountain prior to the blast.
Why not make a stop at Johnston Ridge Observatory. This is a popular visitor centre, open daily mid-May through October, offering ranger talks, interactive exhibits, and award-winning films.
On the way down follow Route 504 to the Mount St Helen’s Visitor Centre at Silver Lake to recapture what you have seen. Outside, a mile-long trail takes you into marshy plains surrounding Silver Lake where you can see plenty of waterfowl and a picture-perfect view of the mountain. Drive south to Vancouver for the night. Overnight in Vancouver.

After breakfast, explore Fort Vancouver, a reconstructed 19th-century fur trading outpost along the Columbia River. Learn about the diverse cultures that lived and worked here. Experience costumed programs and engaging living history events that connect you to the past.
Depart for Skamania County and the Columbia Gorge. The Gorge stretches 90 miles east-west cutting through the north-south Cascade Range of volcanoes including Mount Adams, Mount St. Helens and Oregon’s tallest volcano, Mount Hood. Relax with an early lunch at the Skamania Lodge. Craving exhilaration and excitement? Get ready to fly on the Skamania Zip Line Tour which will send you soaring through tree-tops of an old growth forest with panoramas of the magnificent Columbia River. For a quieter experience, there are wooded nature trails with glorious views of the surrounding Columbia River Gorge and Cascade Mountains.
The next stop is at the Stonehenge Memorial built as a tribute to the soldiers of Klickitat County, Washington, who lost their lives in World War I.
Arrive in Walla Walla to unwind. Whether or not you stay at the elegant 1920s-era Marcus Whitman Hotel, make sure to experience one or more or the hotel’s seven on-site wine tasting rooms and dine in the Marc Restaurant, a foodie’s dream come true. Overnight in Walla Walla.

Discover the fascinating history of downtown Walla Walla with its Main Street ambience. A walk down tree-lined streets reveals a mix of vintage shops, museums, cafes and bookstores. As the downtown tasting rooms begin to open mid-morning, sample one or two. After a delicious early lunch, set off for Yakima.
The 130 mile direct route from Walla Walla to Yakima has mile after mile of vineyards. The journey passes through, or close to, seven American Viticultural Areas (AVAs). More than two hundred vineyards have some opening hours for tastings. Wine trails’ expert Steve Roberts estimates it would take 35 full days of touring to cover the main tasting rooms in this prodigious wine belt.
One compromise is to pick a couple of tasting rooms en route, say, one in Red Mountain AVA near Benton, and one in Rattlesnake Hills near Zillah. Tasting on the site of a vineyard provides different experiences from in town tasting rooms. Then press on to Yakima. If you have a remaining thirst, there are several excellent tasting rooms in downtown Yakima, after you have checked into your hotel. Overnight in Yakima.

From Yakima take Route 410 the Chinook Scenic Byway . Dense forests, towering peaks, rocky ridges and river canyons dominate this journey. Pass by the unique basalt flows of the Columbia Plateau, old growth forests, and lush subalpine meadows. Amazing views of Mount Rainier emerge.
Drive round to Crystal Mountain Resort and ride the scenic Mt. Rainier Gondola. At the top you’ll find unparalleled vistas of Mount Rainier, the Cascade Range. Lunch at the Summit House—this is the highest elevation restaurant in Washington State, sitting at 6,872 feet.
Drive to Sunrise Visitor Center to learn about Mount Rainier National Park. At an elevation of 6,400 feet, Sunrise is the highest point that can be reached by vehicle in the Park. Enjoy the spectacular vistas of Mount Rainier, Emmons Glaciers and a nearly 360-degree view of the surrounding valleys, the mountain and other volcanoes in the Cascade Range.
Retrace your route over the Cayuse Pass and approach the southern side of Mount Rainier. Just inside the Ohanapecosh Entrance, stop for a walk on the mile long Grove of the Patriarchs. Overnight in Paradise.

Soaring nearly three miles from the coastal plain and capped by 26 glaciers, majestic Mount Rainier beckons outdoor lovers and nature enthusiasts year round. “The Mountain,” as locals call it, is the tallest free-standing volcano in the Lower 48 States of the USA. It is Washington State’s most recognized natural icon. Over one million travellers visit Mount Rainier National Park annually to enjoy its abundant wildflowers, waterfalls, wildlife, hiking and skiing opportunities.
Starting from Paradise, first visit Henry M. Jackson Visitor Centre for help choosing a hike such as the classic Skyline, or shorter trails from Paradise such as Nisqually Vista. The memories of Mount Rainier etched into your memory from these days will insist that you return. Leave mid afternoon to return to Seattle Airport for your flight home or why not add a cruise to Alaska from Seattle.