At 6:00 on this brisk morning as National Geographic Quest makes her way downstream on the Snake River, the constellation Orion stands high in the southern sky as the palest light of dawn glows on the eastern horizon. By 7:00 we are dropping anchor at the Palouse River’s confluence with the Snake. In the growing light we see, rising on either side of the river, dark, layered basalt cliffs trimmed out by the pale, buff-colored grasses of autumn. Here we make preparations for our day of adventures: visiting Palouse Falls where the water of the Palouse River leaps over a precipice of basalt and plunges 198 feet down its tumultuous green plunge pool below; kayaking on still water with Canada geese; taking Zodiac tours upstream into the Palouse River and into the rugged and beautiful Palouse Canyon, carved by Ice Age floods into bold cliffs that rise high above the river.
4/24/2024
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National Geographic Sea Bird
Walla Walla
The spring campaign for the Columbia and Snake Rivers Journey made its final visit of the season to the wine-loving Walla Walla Valley. Nearly 20 of our guests spent the morning tasting and touring Dunham Cellars, Walla Walla’s ninth-oldest winery. Others visited the Whitman Mission National Historic Site. Guests met for lunch at Three Rivers Winery, which is owned by California businessman/philanthropist, William Foley. Bon Appétit Management of Whitman College handled the catering which made for a very tasty meal. Next was a self-guided walking tour of downtown Walla Walla that featured Lindblad-arranged tastings at Bergevin Lane Vineyards, Browne Family Vineyards, Mark Ryan Winery and Rasa Vineyards as well as shopping at the many small businesses along Main Street. Among those favored by guests were Bright’s Candies, Hot Poop Record Store, Pinecone Creamery, and Colville Street Patisserie. Upon returning to National Geographic Sea Bird , after-dinner education featured a presentation titled, ‘Down the Rivers with the Lewis & Clark Expedition’ by historian Robert Heacock.