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To make your experience as safe as possible, we require all participants to be fully vaccinated. See our Safety Roadmap
We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more
DATES & PRICES
| Ship Balcony |
|---|
Accommodation DetailsA cabin featuring a verandah, or balcony, that allows you to step outside without going to a public deck. |
DATES & PRICES
| Ship Balcony |
|---|
Accommodation DetailsA cabin featuring a verandah, or balcony, that allows you to step outside without going to a public deck. |
Activity note: Hotel check-in from 4:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon: Program Registration: After you have your room assignment, come over to the Road Scholar table to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will review COVID-19 protocols and will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and requirements throughout the program. This is a Road Scholar Adventures Afloat program. In addition to lectures and field trips exclusively for our Road Scholar group, you are invited to take advantage of activities and events aboard ship that are separate from the Road Scholar program. Please note that routes, field trips, and excursions are subject to change as weather and river conditions could require altering the itinerary and/or the progress of the ship, making it run late and possibly miss ports if it cannot dock. The cruise itinerary should therefore be regarded as provisional. The operators reserve the right to change the itinerary without prior notice. Throughout the program, we will be accompanied by a Study Leader who will present educational content. During the land portion, transportation will be provided via motorcoach unless specified otherwise. Some lectures and field trips will be exclusive to Road Scholar while others will be open to all passengers. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like according to your personal preferences. The group leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 5 miles, approximately 1/2 hour riding time. Walking and standing at field trip sites; paved walkways.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We will board a motorcoach and ride to the Lan Su Chinese Garden for an expert-led exploration. The Lan Su Chinese Garden is one of Portland’s greatest treasures: a powerfully inspiring experience that takes us through time, offering a window into Chinese culture, history, and way of thinking.
Lunch: At a local restaurant.
Afternoon: We will reboard our motorcoach for a field trip to the Portland Art Museum where a docent will lead our exploration. The Portland Art Museum is the oldest in the Pacific Northwest. Its collection includes works of European painting and sculpture, American painting and sculpture, English silver, Asian art, Native American art, pre-Columbian art, Cameroon and other African art, contemporary art, sculpture, prints and drawings, and photography. We’ll then walk across the street for a field trip to the Oregon Historical Society Museum. This museum offers an in-depth history of the State of Oregon, with both permanent and temporary installations. A docent will provide insightful commentary as we explore the museum.
Dinner: At a local restaurant.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 20 miles, approximately 1 hour riding time. Walking and standing at field trip sites.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We will board our motorcoach and ride to the iconic International Rose Test Garden for a docent-led field trip. The garden boasts more than 9,500 rose bushes, representing 600 varieties of roses. Next, we will ride to the Japanese American Museum of Oregon where we will enjoy an expert-led visit. The Japanese American Museum of Oregon strives to preserve the history of Japanese Americans in the Pacific Northwest. We’ll learn about the Japanese American experience during WWII, immigration and early life in Oregon, and their roll in Oregon’s multicultural community.
Lunch: At a local restaurant.
Afternoon: We’ll ride to the Port of Vancouver and embark the American Empress. After completing embarkation procedures and getting cabins, take some time to become familiar with the ship before dinner. When announced, we will participate with everyone on board in the required safety drill.
Dinner: Aboard the ship.
Evening: Enjoy entertainment in the Show Lounge and Paddlewheel Lounge, explore the ship, spend time with fellow Road scholars discussing the day’s activities, or just relax.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 20 miles, approximately 1 hour riding time. Walking about 1/2 mile; paths, flat trails. Elective climb at Astoria Column, 164 stairs.
Breakfast: Aboard the ship.
Morning: We will step off the ship, board a motorcoach, and set out on a field trip to the Astoria Column. This pillar, located in the heart of Astoria, presents local history in mural form on the exterior walls of the column, with breathtaking views from the top. There will be an elective opportunity to climb the column and enjoy the view from the hill. Following the Astoria Column field trip, we’ll head back down to the ship, stopping at the Columbia River Maritime Museum on the way. Founded in 1962, the Columbia River Maritime Museum has become one of the top maritime museums in the country. Its mission is preserving the maritime heritage of the Columbia River region and the Pacific Northwest. A highlight is the Lightship Columbia, a National Historic Landmark. It was the final lightship to be moored at the mouth of the Columbia River. We will have an opportunity to roam through the collection of more than 30,000 items, experience what it was like to pilot a tugboat in the tugboat simulator, and hear stories of Coast Guard rescues on the Columbia River Bar.
Lunch: Aboard the ship.
Afternoon: Next, we’ll board our motorcoach and head to Fort Clatsop, where the Lewis & Clark expedition spent the harsh winter of 1805-1806 after realizing no ship was coming to pick them up and take them East. The fort was named in honor of the local Clatsop Indians. The 33-member party spent the winter of 1805-06 learning from the Clatsop people, making moccasins and buckskin clothing, storing food, and reworking their maps and journals in preparation for their long journey back to St. Louis.
Dinner: Aboard the ship.
Evening: Enjoy entertainment or other activities, spend time with fellow Road Scholars to discuss the day’s events, or just relax.
Activity note: Full day aboard ship.
Breakfast: Aboard the ship.
Morning: During our full day aboard ship, we will see picturesque canyon walls, mountains, and fertile fields. We will learn about the area through discussions and interpretation by our Study Leader and onboard expedition staff.
Lunch: Aboard the ship.
Afternoon: As we continue through this area of vertical canyons and scenic views, we’ll gather in a private meeting area for a lecture by our Study Leader.
Dinner: Aboard the ship.
Evening: Enjoy entertainment or other activities, spend time with fellow Road Scholars to discuss the day’s events, or just relax.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 35 miles, approximately 1 hour riding time. Walking up to 1 mile and standing during field trips; paved walkways, groomed paths.
Breakfast: Aboard the ship.
Morning: We will make port in Stevenson on the Washington side of the Columbia Gorge. Boarding a motorcoach, we’ll make our way to the scenic, Multnomah Falls. The second-highest year-round waterfall in the nation, it plummets 620 feet from its origins on Larch Mountain. At the base of the falls is the Historic Multnomah Falls Lodge with a Forest Service Visitors Center we will explore. Trails from the lodge get you close up views of the falls and tie into trails to other waterfalls in the area. Those who wish to walk on the trails are welcome to do so. Next we’ll enjoy a scenic drive along what has been called the “King of Roads,” the Historic Columbia River Highway Scenic Byway. The Historic Columbia River Highway was built in 1913 and specially designed to complement the region’s stunning landscape without interrupting it. We’ll stop at Crown Point and then visit the unique Vista House which offers a stunning view of the Columbia River.
Lunch: Aboard the ship.
Afternoon: After lunch we’ll explore Stevenson, WA via the Hop On/Hop Off bus. The first stop is the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center where exhibits will paint a vivid picture of the history of the area. Exhibits include history of the Cascade Chinook people, timber industry and harvesting resources, and the story of Skamania County. Next stop is the Bonneville Dam that was completed in 1938 and is a hydroelectric generator for the surrounding cities. We’ll learn about its progression and improvements over time and the exhausting building project that encountered numerous obstacles due to the area’s unique geology. Its fish ladders offer a unique way for the dam to assist spawning salmon to pass through the dam to the upstream river. This ladder has a viewing area, allowing us to see the salmon passing by as they are counted. Following this stop we’ll have a chance to explore downtown Stevenson on our own before returning to the ship.
Dinner: Aboard the ship.
Evening: Enjoy entertainment or other activities, spend time with fellow Road Scholars to discuss the day’s events, or just relax.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 50 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Walking up to 1 mile and standing during field trips; paved walkways. Extent of walking at Columbia Gorge Discovery Center according to personal choice.
Breakfast: Aboard the ship.
Morning: This morning, we will ride to explore the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, whose interactive displays bring to life the volcanic upheavals and historic floods that created the Columbia River Gorge. A member of the Discovery Center staff will give us an introduction followed by time for a self-directed exploration of the museum. Under the National Scenic Act of 1986, the incredible natural and cultural history of the region was protected to help preserve the magnificent landscapes, diverse flora and fauna, ancient Indian rock art, and more. After this we’ll have a chance to explore the other Hop On/Hop Off stops on our own before going back to the ship for lunch.
Lunch: Aboard the ship.
Afternoon: After lunch we’ll board a motorcoach and make our way to the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum (WAAAM). Here we’ll learn about the evolution of transportation and view an extensive collection of antique cars, motorcycles, and airplanes. We’ll also have a chance to view the Aircraft Restoration Shop where these antique vehicles are restored until operational. One amazing fact about WAAAM is that all of their vehicles are fully operational! On the museum’s runway, you’ll get the chance to ride in an authentic Model T. After this field trip, we’ll head back to the ship.
Dinner: Aboard the ship.
Evening: Enjoy entertainment or other activities, spend time with fellow Road Scholars to discuss the day’s events, or just relax.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 30 miles, approximately 1 hour riding time. Walking up to 1 mile and standing during field trips; paved walkways, groomed trails.
Breakfast: Aboard the ship.
Morning: We will board the motorcoach with our Study Leader and set out on a field trip to Sacajawea Historical State Park and Interpretive Center that features fascinating exhibits on the Lewis & Clark expedition. At this location, the Columbia and Snake rivers converge. We’ll then ride to the Franklin County Historical Society Museum where a docent will lead our exploration. The museum, built in 1910, provides a unique view of local history through a vast collection of artifacts and information, painting a vivid picture of life and history in the Eastern Gorge.
Lunch: Aboard the ship.
Afternoon: We will re-board our motorcoach for a field trip to the REACH Museum. As a gateway to the Hanford Reach National Monument, the museum showcases local agricultural history, advancements in technology, the Manhattan Project, Ice Age Floods, and other stories of the community through the lens of the Columbia River. Museum staff will give us an introduction, followed by time for self-directed exploration.
Dinner: Aboard the ship.
Evening: Enjoy entertainment or other activities, spend time with fellow Road Scholars to discuss the day’s events, or just relax.
Activity note: Getting in/out of a jet boat.
Breakfast: Aboard the ship.
Morning: We will gather in a private meeting area aboard the ship for a lecture by our Study Leader.
Lunch: Aboard the ship.
Afternoon: We will set out on a study cruise by jet boat through Hells Canyon with commentary by onboard expedition staff. Hells Canyon is North America’s deepest river gorge at 7,993 feet. Protected as a National Recreation Area since 1975, it preserves a world of fascinating natural and cultural elements. Vertical cliffs carved by the river now hem in the rushing waters. Watch dramatic scenery unfold as we jet upriver. We’ll watch for big horn sheep and hawks throughout the journey. Along the route, we will view petroglyphs, reminders of the Nez Perce people who were the earliest inhabitants of the canyon.
Dinner: Aboard the ship.
Evening: Enjoy entertainment or other activities, spend time with fellow Road Scholars to discuss the day’s events, or just relax. Prepare for disembarkation and transfer in the morning.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 110 miles, approximately 2.5 hours riding time.
Breakfast: Aboard the ship.
Morning: We’ll disembark the American Empress at the Port of Clarkston, where we’ll board a motorcoach for the transfer to Spokane, Washington, where we’ll be staying tonight. Upon arrival in Spokane, we’ll store our luggage at the hotel.
Lunch: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Afternoon: Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration.
Dinner: At the hotel. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening: At leisure. Prepare for departure in the morning.
Activity note: Hotel airport transfer included in program cost. Hotel check-out 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast: At the hotel. This concludes our program.
Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!