After your arrival downtown at the luxurious Historic Multnomah Hotel, owned by Embassy Suites, stroll the beautiful streets of Portland. If time permits, you may wish to explore the many blooms of the International Rose Test Garden and wooded trails at the Hoyt Arboretum. This evening meet your fellow travelers for a fun-filled Welcome Reception with entertainment.

The excitement explodes at the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument in Washington. From the still-scarred mountainside, experience the devastation of the volcano that erupted in 1980 with the force of 400 million tons of TNT. Enjoy spectacular views of the mountain while dining at the Hoffstadt Bluffs Restaurant. From this rugged setting, journey to the Columbia Queen for a late afternoon cruises through Oregon's lush Willamette River Valley.

Discover Astoria, America's first settlement on the Pacific coast. Browse, shop or take a leisurely ride on the Waterfront Trolley amidst the decorative Victorian architecture and rich history. Much of this history is retold in murals weaving around the Astoria Column, a striking 125-foot monument atop Coxcomb Hill. Take in some sightseeing at the Columbia River Maritime Museum where you will see one of the country's finest displays on Pacific Northwest shipwrecks, lighthouses, fishing and naval history. This maritime treasure brings to life centuries of whaling, salmon fishing, exploration, fur trade and warfare. Now join the legendary expedition of Lewis and Clark at the restored Fort Clatsop, where the explorers, the crew and the Shoshone squaw Sacagawea camped for winter. Feel their hardship in the cramped conditions of the 50-square-foot log stockade.

A morning sail through the Columbia River Gorge will overwhelm you with spectacular scenery. Shoreline cliffs line a path for the Columbia River through the majestic Cascade Mountains. Snow-melted streams plummet off sheer walls of granite, like the 620-foot Multnomah Falls. See this unspoiled natural wonder that has awed Northwest adventurers for centuries. The boat transits through the locks of numerous dams on its journey. Explore one at The Dalles. Experience the power of massive turbines. See how fish ladders allow thousands of salmon to navigate the obstructed river to spawn. You. ll also experience the sights, sounds and history of this remarkable area at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center. Travel back in time to a 19th century Northwest town. Board a turn-of-the-century sternwheeler. Visit a salmon cannery. Plus, discover the beauty of wildflowers. Your excitement soars as you wander the grounds of the esteemed Maryhill Museum. Inside, a magnificent collection includes priceless Rodin sculptures and Faberge eggs, beautifully woven Native American basketry, glamorous French fashions and more.

Saddle up your enthusiasm for a sensational day in Pendleton, the centerpiece of Oregon's cowboy country. It's hard to lasso your excitement at the famous Pendleton Round Up grounds, site of one of the country's greatest rodeos. Then, head down under...to Underground Pendleton. Explore this unbelievable rock-and-timber subterranean city created by and for Chinese laborers. The maze of shops, laundries, gambling halls and bordellos eventually attracted gold miners and outlaws, who flourished in its fringe-of-the-law lifestyle. Up yonder, tour the historic Pendleton Woolen Mills, an American institution. Today you can still purchase the same sturdy wool blankets unchanged from the classic styles that kept much of the West warm in winter. Across the river, find out how classic wines are made at Washington's award-winning Columbia Crest Winery, housed in a French chateau amidst 2,000 lush acres of estate vineyards. Your visit includes premier vintage tastings.

Take an exhilarating jet boat ride along the Idaho border into Hells Canyon. This breathtaking gorge--the deepest in North America--is home to abundant wildlife and rare Indian petroglyphs carved into stone walls. Racing through the narrow curves and navigating the rapids is sure to build an appetite, and there is no more thrilling place to dine than at the edge of the canyon's scenic Snake River. Feast on the incredible views and a mouth-watering buffet lunch served in rustic comfort at Hellars Bar Lodge. You will also have the opportunity to study Native American cultures and track the desperate 1,700 mile journey of the Nez Perce Indians. At the Nez Perce National Historic Park, relive the compelling story of Chief Joseph and his nation's futile and sometimes brutal attempt to escape confinement on a reservation. You will be among the first to see a treasured collection of Indian artifacts only recently returned to the tribe.

Discover the perils of pioneering at the Whitman Mission National Historic Site, resting place for many Oregon Trail travelers. The mission's founders and 11 guests were massacred in 1847. For an in-depth look at the pioneer way of life, explore Fort Walla Walla in Washington. The 15-acre site offers extensive exhibits about life in the 1800's, including original and restored buildings of the period. You'll find many agricultural artifacts, including a side hill combine hitchd to 33 life-sized fiberglass mules. Don't miss the unique views from the decks of the Columbia Queen on today's journey. See endless hillsides of rolling wheat, cattle ranches decorating the landscape and colorful river activity bustling by.

Tour the picturesque town of Parkdale, Oregon, at the base of glacial Mt. Hood. Bountiful and beautiful fruit orchards provide a lush landscape in every direction. Your adventure turns sharply upward onto the winding road of this rugged, snow-capped mountain. You will be transported 6,000 feet up majestic Mt. Hood to the historic Timberline Lodge, a wilderness retreat with hand-hewn wooden beams and massive stone fireplaces. The lodge's art and decor reflect its alpine surroundings and beg for exploration. You'll especially enjoy the delightful lunch of Northwest cuisine prepared by Timberline's award-winning chef. Upon returning to the Columbia Queen, see Hood River windsurfers with colorful sails dashing about like waterbugs as you cruise into twilight through the breathtaking gorge.

This morning, the Columbia Queen returns to Portland. Bid farewell to new and old friends while taking home memories and photographs to treasure for a lifetime.

Rates from:............................................................... $2,799.00