Itinerary

With its iconic skyline punctuated by the futuristic Space Needle, the wilderness of the Puget Sound at its back and the peak of Mount Rainier soaring in the distance, Seattle is one of the most recognisable cities on America’s West Coast. Arrive and get settled into your hotel located right in the heart of Seattle’s downtown. You’ll be within walking distance of all of Seattle’s iconic destinations: Pike Place Market, the waterfront and all of the retail stores, boutique shops and fine dining sitting under the prominent gaze of the famous Space Needle. If you are looking to explore Seattle in depth, get a CityPASS to make the most of your stay. You’ll have access to five major attractions across the city, including the renowned Chihuly Gardens and Glass.

No trip to Seattle is complete without a visit to one of the USA’s oldest operating markets: Pike Place. Covering nine acres, it specialises in the finest ingredients and seafood the region has to offer and offers countless stalls and restaurants that demonstrate the city’s fine culinary prowess. Take a chef-guided tour of this incredible space and eat your way through Seattle’s most celebrated culinary landmark. You’ll get to taste locally made foods and meet some of the city’s favourite vendors while learning about the market’s fascinating history.

Spend the rest of the day visiting the places you missed the day before – chances are there will be a few bits you’ll still want to tick off your list, like the renowned Seattle Art Museum or the historic Pioneer Square neighbourhood where you can head beneath the streets to see the remains of the city’s original downtown.

Collect your rental car first thing in the morning and make the two hour drive to Mount Rainier National Park. You’ll be staying in the park itself, going back in time to a simpler time by staying in one of the West’s great lodges, Paradise Inn – and you’ll be glad to be without modern distractions considering Mount Rainier holds some of the USA’s most beguiling mountains and alpine environs.

Boasting more than 260 miles of well-maintained trails, you will find everything from short family friendly paths to strenuous hikes leading to a portion of the famous Pacific Crest Trail, all the while witnessing the forest-covered foothills, wildflower-filled meadows and the majestic, snowcapped summit. Take the day to relax and get out in nature with this incredible taste of the alps in America.

After breakfast make the 2-2.5 hour drive down to America’s leafy metropolis, Portland. Famed for its incredible parks, innumerable bike paths and vibrant scenery, it is also renowned for its eco-friendliness, craft beer culture and delicious food carts.

With so much to explore, spend the day taking in Portland’s key sights. Start by hopping on the Portland Aerial Tram. The 4-minute-long journey takes you 152m up over the city so you can take in all that Portland has to offer. Then, a visit to one of Portland’s many green spaces is a must. Stroll through the stunning Japanese Gardens in Washington Park – you’ll find cherry blossoms, koi ponds and even a traditional tea house – or take advantage of the hiking and mountain biking opportunities in Forest Park.

For a taste of urban living, head over to Portland’s Pearl District brimming with art galleries, independent shops, boutiques and farm-to-table fine dining, or get a taste of Portland’s innovative food scene with a tasting tour of its food carts.

Start your day exploring the breathtaking beauty of one of the most picturesque places in Oregon with a guided half-day tour of Multnomah Falls and the Columbia River Gorge. Created millions of years ago during the formation of the Cascade Mountain Range, the narrative of this spectacular landscape and its transformative history will be introduced to you by an enthusiastic and knowledgeable local guide as you walk through these amazing locations.

Spend the rest of your day exploring Portland, before finishing off your time in the city with a visit to Distillery Row. With over 500 homegrown craft breweries, a tasting is well worth your time.

Drive first thing in the morning to the seaside town and working harbour of Newport right on Oregon’s central coast. Home to one of Oregon’s oldest lighthouses, Yaquina Head, Newport boasts the breathtaking beauty of the Yaquina Head Marine Garden and South Beach State Park, as well as the charming historic district of Nye Beach. You’ll be staying in a hotel on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Discover the unique maritime history of the area with a guided tour of the Yaquina Head Lighthouse, or explore the stunning shores, living tide pools and rugged oceanside cliffs at your leisure. Newport itself is worth a stroll. End the day with a bowl of freshly made chowder before heading back to your hotel to look out on the beautiful blue ocean by a fire – there’s no better way to wind down and relax.

After breakfast and after one more life-affirming view of Oregon’s stunning coast, start the 4-hour drive down to the deepest lake in the United States in Crater Lake National Park. Occupying the remains of a vast volcanic caldera, formed by the collapse of Mount Mazama some 7,700 years ago, Crater Lake is noted for its exceptional clarity and intense, sapphire-blue colour, and is surrounded by sheer cliffs nearly 650 metres high providing an almost otherworldly setting.

You’ll be arriving at the beautiful Prospect Historic Hotel just a 20 minute drive from the park itself, so get settled in before delving into the depths of Crater Lake. After all that driving chances are you’ll want to get out of the car so take a short, guided hike through the breathtaking alpine surroundings or sail across Crater Lake’s pristine waters with a boat tour. Doing the latter guarantees a stop on Wizard Island, the lush volcanic cinder cone that rises out of the lake.

A visit to this incredible body of water offers astounding natural beauty and a true sense of serenity, so make the most of this spectacular place by spending a full day exploring it. Start with a drive on the 33-mile long road around the lake, called Rim Drive, to get dramatic views and numerous viewpoints for photo opportunities. If you didn’t go on a hike the day before, now’s your chance, and vice versa with the boat tour – you won’t want to miss either. If you happen to be a fan of bird watching, you’re in luck: Crater Lake National Park is home to America’s richest bird refuge, boasting species such as the bald eagle and the peregrine falcon.

End your time here with a sunset dinner at the park’s lodgings, Crater Lake Lodge, where you’ll find a well-deserved and delicious meal with stunning views to match.

Make the 3-hour drive down to Crescent City just below the Oregon border after breakfast. Known for its stunning coastal scenery, Crescent City is home to one of the most picturesque lighthouses in the Pacific Northwest, the 1856 Battery Point Lighthouse, and spectacular public walking trails along the bluffs at Point St. George. Crescent City also lies in close proximity to the world-famous Redwoods National Forest making it an ideal base for an afternoon spent roaming these magnificent woods. Your hotel is well-located for easy access to all of Crescent City’s highlights so drop off your bags and get exploring!

Leave first thing in the morning for the scenic 4-hour drive down to Fort Bragg. You’ll be staying at the Surf & Sand Lodge with spectacular views of unspoiled scenery, just minutes away from the town’s best sights. Fort Bragg is known for Glass Beach, a shoreline full of colourful glass stones in the sprawling MacKerricher State Park, which also features diverse birdlife and local seals, and the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. Both are well worth a visit, but if you’re a true outdoor enthusiast, you’ll be happy to hear Fort Bragg also offers easy access to the coastal trails of Noyo Headlands, Pomo Bluffs Park and the beautiful Jughandle State Reserve.

Start the morning with the nearly 3-hour drive down to the historic city of Sonoma in California’s internationally renowned winemaking region. Feted for its world-class wineries, award-wining dining and delightful art galleries, Sonoma has a quaint, old-world feel boasting 19th -century architecture and the Mexican colonial-era Sonoma Plaza.

Spend the afternoon stretching your legs with a 3-mile hike through flower-filled meadows and verdant grasslands on the Sonoma Overlook Trail. You’ll get excellent views of Sonoma Valley and the city itself to get your bearings. Or, if you’d like to get straight into some wine tasting, grab a map from your hotel – you’ll be staying at the centrally-located Inn at Sonoma – and visit one of over 75 family-owned and operated vineyards. From small establishments to large, historic estates, you’ll be spoiled for choice with generous opening hours all week long.

Start your day with breakfast or brunch at one of the city’s fine establishments. Sonoma is known for its excellent dining, and you won’t have trouble finding somewhere worthwhile to eat. Spend the rest of the day vineyard hopping and wine tasting. You can rent a bike and easily cycle from winery to winery or take a guided tour that includes a picnic lunch – you’ll find the natural scenery and the quality of the wines outstanding.

Come evening, dine at one of Sonoma’s award-winning restaurants. The city is renowned for its culinary prowess so don’t miss out on a memorable dining experience.

Take the 1-hour drive down to San Francisco after breakfast and drop off your rental car. You won’t be needing it with the city’s walkable distances, classic cable cars and BART metro system. Arrive at the Hotel Caza in the Fisherman’s Wharf neighbourhood – where you’ll have great access to many of San Francisco’s landmarks including the famous 3-mile long Lombard Street – and get settled in before heading back out to explore. Widely considered the cultural capital of California, San Francisco is famous for its old-fashioned cable cars, stunning Victorian architecture, dynamic waterfront and soaring Golden Gate bridge, not to mention world-renowned ballet, symphony and opera, trend-defining cuisine, and individual neighbourhoods that have as much history as character. Take your pick from the city’s endless cultural options or start you time here by seeing it from another perspective with a guided cycle tour across the Golden Gate Bridge.

San Francisco is famous for its diverse neighbourhoods so spend part of your day getting to know one of them with a guided food tour. You can walk through nearby North Beach or head further into the city’s interior to Chinatown or the Mission District and learn about each district’s distinct history while tasting its respective culinary delights.

Another option is to take a guided half day tour outside of the city to see Bay Area landmarks like the redwoods in Muir Wood, the famed prison, Alcatraz and the artistic enclave across the Golden Gate Bridge of Sausalito.

Spend whatever remaining time you have strolling the streets of this world-famous city, stopping at all the places you still want to see before you leave.