Afternoon: Program registration 4:00-5:00 PM. Welcome reception and orientation program begins at 5:00 PM.

Dinner: Dinner will be served in our hotel conference room. We'll enjoy Mediterranean-crusted salmon; starburst salad, Israeli couscous, tagine vegetables, artisan breads & butter, coffee and hot tea.

Evening: Welcome, get acquainted activities, and "Seattle Beat" introduction.

Lodging: Red Lion Hotel on 5th Avenue

Meals Included: Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast will be served in our hotel conference room. The breakfast buffet features assorted danish, pastries, muffins, scones and breakfast breads, sliced seasonal fruit, whole fruit, yogurt, cold cereals, milk, coffee, hot tea.

Morning: Our morning begins with a field trip to the Hiram Chittenden Locks. The Locks in Ballard are a complex of locks that sit in the middle of Salmon Bay, part of Seattle's Lake Washington Ship Canal. They are known locally as the Ballard Locks after the neighborhood to their north. The locks and associated facilities serve three purposes: to maintain the water level of the fresh water Lake Washington and Lake Union; to prevent the mixing of sea water from Puget Sound with the fresh water of the lakes (saltwater intrusion); to move boats from the water level of the lakes to the water level of Puget Sound, and vice versa.

Lunch: Special seafood lunch at a local restaurant on the Seattle waterfront.

Afternoon: City excursion continues to points of historical and cultural interest, including the Museum of History and Industry. MOHAI has grown to become the largest private heritage organization in the State of Washington. Its engaging exhibits and programs, its collection of nearly 4 million historic artifacts, archives and photographs, and its award-winning educational programs have created an appreciation for the Northwest's diverse cultural, social and economic history. In 2013, MOHAI reopened in its new location on Lake Union, in the heart of Seattle. MOHAI is accredited by The Alliance of American Museums and is a Smithsonian Affiliate.

Dinner: Dinner will be served in our hotel conference room. We'll enjoy Rigatoni chicken pesto; seasonal vegetables; artisan breads & butter, chef's choice dessert, coffee and hot tea.

Evening: Presentation on how Seattle's innovative spirit and eagerness to meet the challenges have shaped the city and region to what we see today.

Lodging: Red Lion Hotel on 5th Avenue

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Pike Place Market / Pioneer Square / Klondike Gold Rush Museum and National Park

Breakfast: Breakfast will be served in our hotel conference room. The breakfast buffet features assorted danish, pastries, muffins, scones and breakfast breads, sliced seasonal fruit, whole fruit, yogurt, cold cereals, milk, coffee, hot tea.

Morning: Presentation on the history of Pike Place Market. Following, enjoy a walking field trip to experience and explore the market. Our guided walk will include “seldom seen spots” along the way, as we take in the aromas, the sights, the culture and creativity, and of course the “flying fish” that have made Pike Place one of the nation’s most popular market sites.

Lunch: Enjoy lunch on your own. With over 40 restaurants to choose from at Pike Place Market, there’s something for every palate!

Afternoon: Field trip continues to explore Historic Pioneer Square. Pioneer Square takes its name from a small triangular plaza near the corner of First Avenue and Yesler Way, originally known as Pioneer Place. The Pioneer Square-Skid Road Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, Pioneer Square is home to art galleries, internet companies, cafés, sports bars, nightclubs, bookstores, and a unit of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park (one of the smallest National Parks in the Nation). Late afternoon provides some free time to explore on your own. Nearby free time possibilities include: Space Needle, EMP Project Music Experience, Gates Visitor’s Center, Century 21 Exhibit, and the Chihuly Garden and Glass Exhibit.

Dinner: Enjoy family-style Japanese cuisine at dinner out at a nearby local restaurant that has been a landmark in Seattle for 30 years.

Lodging: Red Lion Hotel on 5th Avenue

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Travel to Victoria, BC aboard the Victoria Clipper Passenger Ferry/Royal BC Provincial Museum

Breakfast: We’ll start early by packing our breakfast boxes to go, and enjoy breakfast aboard the Victoria Clipper. Hot coffee or tea will be available on board the Victoria Clipper.

Morning: Travel to Victoria, BC aboard the Victoria Clipper passenger ferry. Our three hour cruise will provide ample opportunity for wonderful water vistas along the way.

Lunch: Lunch upon arrival at “Jonathan’s” Restaurant in the Royal Scot Hotel & Suites. Lunch will feature a buffet with two choices of soup, green salad with house dressing, Jonathan's Caesar salad, macaroni salad, roast beef sandwiches, turkey sandwiches, veggie sandwiches with white and brown bread plus coffee, iced tea or tea.

Afternoon: Field trip on foot to the Royal BC Provincial Museum. Explore the museum's treasures through its unique galleries. The Museum showcases the human and natural history of British Columbia, and features periodic exhibitions of international renown. Highly realistic and inviting displays, such as the Ice Age and Coastal Forest dioramas, provide visitors with a sense of having truly experienced the authentic settings of many exhibits. Walk back to the Royal Scot Hotel & Suites to check-in.

Dinner: Tonight's dinner features your choice of: Seafood fettuccine OR Meatloaf with vegetables, mashed potatoes and gravy, green salad with house dressing and a fresh fruit cup dessert plus coffee, iced tea or tea

Evening: Join the group leader for an optional guided city walk around the Inner Harbour (a great chance to see the lights of the Inner Harbour at night!).

Lodging: Royal Scot Hotel & Suites

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

BC History Presentation / "Behind the Scenes at Butchart's" / Parliament Building

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at “Jonathan’s” Restaurant in the Royal Scot Hotel & Suites features scrambled eggs, bacon, pan fried potatoes, fresh fruit, yogurt, mini-muffins, toast, orange juice coffee, iced tea or tea

Morning: During morning presentations, we'll learn about Victoria's history and gain an insider's view of seasonal highlights to come at Butcharts Gardens.

Lunch: Special lunch in the Legislative Dining room within the Parliament Building. Bring your driver's licence or photo id for admittance to one of Victoria's best-kept dining secrets. Far from being a simple pit stop between debates, the subterranean eatery is a delightful, silver-service restaurant showcasing the best in regional ingredients. Choose from a variety of sandwiches, soups, and salads with coffee, tea or hot tea.

Afternoon: Guided exploration of the Parliament Building. The capital city of Victoria is where the BC Provincial Government assembles to make the laws and decisions of our province and it is also where the legislation assemblies are held. Your guide will take you behind the scenes of the rich history that this spectacular building holds. Late afternoon relax and enjoy time on your own.

Dinner: Tonight's dinner will be Baked halibut in a seafood cream sauce (sauce on side by request) with rice, vegetables and Jonathan's Caesar salad, chocolate mousse plus coffee, iced tea or tea. Vegetarian alternative by advance request.

Evening: Take an optional evening walk to “Fisherman’s Wharf, “ a colourful little fishing village on the water.

Lodging: Royal Scot Hotel & Suites

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Ft. Rodd Hill / Fisgard Lighthouse / Afternoon - Evening Free Time Explorations

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet features scrambled eggs, bacon, pan fried potatoes, fresh fruit, yogurt, mini-muffins, toast, orange juice coffee, iced tea or tea

Morning: Board the bus to Fisgard Lighthouse at Fort Rodd Hill for a guided walk of this National Historic Site.

Lunch: Special group lunch at the oldest pub in British Columbia. The food is made from scratch using the best and freshest ingredients, using herbs and vegetables from their own organic culinary garden. Choose from a variety of sandwiches, soups, and salads with coffee, tea or hot tea.

Afternoon: Take time to explore Victoria or relax at the hotel pool during this free afternoon. Ample free time activities abound within easy walking distance.

Dinner: Dinner on own to experience Victoria's rich dining options! Your group leader will provide you with a list of nearby options.

Evening: Free evening to relax in your room; enjoy the hotel's pool or game rooms or enjoy an evening walk around the harbour.

Lodging: Royal Scot Hotel & Suites

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Butchart Gardens / Washington State Ferry from Sidney BC to San Juan Island

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet features scrambled eggs, bacon, pan fried potatoes, fresh fruit, yogurt, mini-muffins, toast, orange juice coffee, iced tea or tea

Morning: Board motor coach for a field trip via the Peninsula Loop / Marine Drive and Mt. Tolmie where you can see panoramic views of Saanich and Victoria across to the Olympic Mountain Range and to Mt. Baker in the Cascades. Your next stop will be the famous Butchart Gardens, home to 55 acres of beautiful floral displays divided into four main gardens.

Lunch: Indulge in the traditional midday gathering "Afternoon Tea" hosted in the original Butchart family residence. From the Dining Room, enjoy spectacular views of the Private Garden, the Italian Garden and Tod Inlet. Your "Afternoon Tea" features savory tea sandwiches; traditional delicacies such as sausage rolls and quiche; berry trifle; numerous house-made sweets; scones; and choice of tea or coffee.

Afternoon: Board motor coach for Sidney, BC and the ferry dock where you will clear customs/immigration and board the ferry bound for San Juan Island. Then, board the Washington State Ferry for Scenic trip across the Haro Strait into the San Juan Archipelago and arrive to Friday Harbor, San Juan Island.

Dinner: Late Dinner upon arrival in Friday Harbor. Our dinners are served buffet style so that you choose what works for you. Tonight’s dinner features NW green salad, home-made lasagna (choose from meat or veggie lasagna), and garlic bread – topped off with coffee, tea, iced tea, water and dessert of the day.

Evening: Enjoy a free evening to relax at the hotel or enjoy a stroll the seaside town of Friday Harbor.

Lodging: Best Western Friday Harbor Suites

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

San Juan Island National Historic Park/British Camp/Roche Harbor Sculpture Park/Lime Kiln Point State Park.

Breakfast: Continental Breakfast Buffet: featuring a variety of fresh fruits, assorted hot/cold cereals, assorted breakfast breads (toast, English muffin, bagel, etc.), cottage cheese, boiled eggs, coffee, tea, juice.

Morning: Morning activity begins with a Presentation on Coast Salish Archaeology from native history expert/researcher that uncovers the fascinating story of human occupation in the San Juan's. Before lunch, we'll walk to the San Juan Historical Museum to explore and learn how islanders have adapted to life in the islands over time.

Lunch: Have lunch the way you like it! Lunch will be served buffet-style and features a soup of the day with salad bar (including green leaf / spinach salad, a variety of fresh raw veggies, potato salad, three bean salad, and more) – topped off with coffee, tea, iced, water and dessert of the day.

Afternoon: Field Trip to Lime Kiln Point State Park, one of the best places in the world to view whales from a land and home to Orca research outpost and lighthouse. We'll continue on to San Juan Island National Historic Park- British Camp with historical, cultural and scenic interest. At our final destination at the northern tip of the island, you'll have a choice to visit either the historic Roche Harbor Village (with its lovely marina and English gardens) or visit the Westcott Bay Sculpture Park (where you can view hundreds of outdoor sculptures thoughtfully placed amidst acres of quiet forests, wetlands, meadows and rocky outcroppings).

Dinner: Our dinners are served buffet style so that you choose what works for you. Tonight’s dinner features NW green salad, grilled chicken, steamed veggies, and red potatoes or rice – topped off with coffee, tea, iced tea, water and dessert of the day.

Evening: Presentation on regional exploration and San Juan Island history.

Lodging: Best Western Friday Harbor Suites

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

San Juan Island National Historic Park/American Camp / Whale Museum / Farewell Music Program

Breakfast: Continental Breakfast Buffet: featuring a variety of fresh fruits, assorted hot/cold cereals, assorted breakfast breads (toast, English muffin, bagel, etc.), cottage cheese, boiled eggs, coffee, tea, juice.

Morning: Morning activity begins with a guest artist appearance during a presentation showcasing the creative and artistic spirits that grace these islands.

Lunch: Since we’ll be out exploring, we’ll enjoy a picnic/bag lunch today. Our caterer will provide whole fresh fruit, chips, bottled water, and a chef’s choice fresh bakery treat for everyone. Each member of the group will build their own sandwich to their liking – choosing from an assortment of meats, cheese, breads, and condiments/accoutrements.

Afternoon: Enjoy a field study excursion around the south end of San Juan Island to points of historical, cultural, and natural significance including behind-the-scenes look at a unique lavender farm, and American Camp National Park . We'll round out the afternoon with a visit to The Whale Museum, a delightful museum dedicated to the stewardship and preservation of whales and ecosystems in the Salish Sea. Late afternoon follows, giving a chance to explore the sights and sounds of Friday Harbor.

Dinner: Our dinners are served buffet style so that you choose what works for you. Tonight’s dinner features NW green salad, prawns & scallops (in sun-dried tomato pesto), penne pasta and steamed veggies– topped off with coffee, tea, iced tea, water and dessert of the day.

Evening: Special farewell music program; live historic folk music featuring homespun songs and stories from people who built America while living a simpler life. This unusual and irreverent collection of songs conveys remote history through toe-tapping music.

Lodging: Best Western Friday Harbor Suites

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Continental Breakfast Buffet: featuring a variety of fresh fruits, assorted hot/cold cereals, assorted breakfast breads (toast, English muffin, bagel, etc.), cottage cheese, boiled eggs, coffee, tea, juice. Breakfast is early today, so that we may catch the departing ferry.

Morning: Depart Friday Harbor, San Juan Island via the Washington State ferry and chartered motor coach. Program concludes in Seattle with drop off at SeaTac International airport(approximately 12:30pm) or the Red Lion Hotel on 5th Avenue,Seattle mid-day on final day of the program. We recommend scheduling outbound flights after 2:30 pm.

Meals Included: Breakfast