Columbia River Explorer: An Easy-Paced Riverboat Adventure

Activity note: Hotel check-in begins at 4:00 pm.

Afternoon: Program Check-in: After you have your room assignment, come over to the Road Scholar table to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing the up-to-date schedule that reflects any last-minute changes, along with other important information. If your arrival is delayed, please ask for your packet when you check in at the front desk.

Dinner: In our private meeting space at the hotel, enjoy a plated meal with coffee, tea and water. Other beverages are available for purchase.

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. 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. Throughout the program, we will be accompanied by a Study Leader who will present educational content. During the land portion, all transportation will be provided via motorcoach unless specified otherwise. 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. All routes, field trips, and excursions are subject to change as weather and river conditions may affect the itinerary. River conditions could affect the progress of the ship, making it run late and sometimes miss ports because it is not safe to dock. Because of this, the cruise itinerary should always be regarded as provisional. The operators reserve the right to change the content of field trips and excursions without prior notice. The time available in each port is set by the cruise line. Whenever possible, the Road Scholar daily schedule indicates port arrival and departure times (subject to change by the cruise line). Road Scholar delivers a robust educational program in each port, and this may mean that free time in port is limited. After orientation, continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night's sleep for the full day tomorrow.

Activity note: Walking on docent-led tours through the Portland Art Museum and International Rose Test Garden, exploring on your own at Pittock Mansion.

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at the hotel.

Morning: After breakfast we'll board our motorcoach for a visit to the Portland Art Museum for a docent-led tour. The Portland Art Museum is the oldest art museum in the Pacific Northwest. The Museum’s 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.

Lunch: Lunch buffet in a private dining room at the Portland City Grill.

Afternoon: Following lunch we'll board our motorcoach and head to the iconic International Rose Test Garden for a docent-led tour. The garden boasts over 9,500 rose bushes, representing 600 varieties of roses. Next, we'll continue on to Pittock Mansion. This historic location not only has an interesting history involving notable Portlanders, but also provides one of the best views of the city.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, enjoy a plated meal with coffee, tea and water. Other beverages are available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Walking on docent-led tours through the Lan Su Chinese Garden and the Oregon Historical Society Museum. While on the American Empress, some land transportation will be provided via Hop On/Hop Off buses operated by the ship.

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at the hotel.

Morning: After breakfast we'll be treated a lecture by our study leader on Portland's history. Following our lecture, we'll depart via motorcoach for the Lan Su Chinese Garden, where we'll enjoy a guided tour. The Lan Su Chinese Garden is one of Portland’s greatest treasures—a powerfully inspiring experience that takes you through time, offering a window into Chinese culture, history and way of thinking.

Lunch: At a local restaurant offering a variety of locally sourced foods.

Afternoon: Following lunch, we'll reboard our motorcoach for a visit to the Oregon Historical Society Museum for a docent-led tour. 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. Next, we'll depart via motorcoach for the Port of Vancouver to embark the American Empress. Once onboard, take a self-guided tour to familiarize yourself with the ship before dinner.

Dinner: Each evening, we will dine at a specific time in the Astoria Dining Room with 5-course plated and served meals, featuring locally sourced Pacific Northwest ingredients, plus coffee, tea, beer, wine, water.

Evening: Spend the evening relaxing, exploring the ship, or with fellow participants discussing the day's activities.

Activity note: Walking on paved paths and flat trails at Fort Clatsop, self-exploration at the Columbia River Maritime Museum, and an opportunity to climb the Astoria Column (164 stairs) if you wish.

Breakfast: Aboard ship. The River Bar & Grill offers a breakfast buffet featuring a wide variety of items.

Morning: This morning 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.

Lunch: Onboard the ship, choose between a plated meal in the Astoria Dining Room or a buffet in the River Bar & Grill.

Afternoon: Following lunch we'll board our motorcoach to visit the Astoria Column. The Astoria Column is pillar located in the heart of Astoria, which provides the local history in mural form on the exterior walls of the column, and breathtaking views from the top. We'll receive a welcome and brief history when we arrive, followed by an opportunity to climb the column, visit the gift shop, or enjoy the view from the hill. Following the visit to the Astoria Column, we'll head back down to the ship, where we'll enter the Columbia River Maritime Museum. Founded in 1962, the Columbia River Maritime Museum has become one of the top maritime museums in the country, with the mission of preserving the maritime heritage of the Columbia River region and the Pacific Northwest. Visitors can explore the Lightship Columbia- a National Historic Landmark. It was the final lightship to be moored at the mouth of the Columbia River. Visitors can also roam the museum’s 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.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: Spend the evening enjoying the ship's entertainment or with fellow participants discussing the day's activities.

Activity note: Walking on docent-led tours through the Maryhill Museum of Art, exploring on your own at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: Known as the end of the Oregon Trail, The Dalles has long been a destination point for pioneers and adventurers alike. This morning we will visit the Maryhill Museum, whose collections are housed in a castle-like chateau situated on a bluff overlooking the Columbia River Gorge. The museum offers an eclectic collection of Native arts, European paintings and the Queen of Romania's personal effects.

Lunch: At the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, enjoy a plentiful buffet.

Afternoon: After lunch we will explore the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, whose interactive displays bring to life the volcanic upheavals and historic floods that created the Columbia River Gorge. After receiving an introduction from a Discovery Center staff member, we will tour the museum. Under the National Scenic Act in 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.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: Spend the evening enjoying the ship's entertainment or with fellow participants discussing the day's activities.

Activity note: Walking on docent-led tour through Bonneville Dam powerhouse, exploring on your own at Chanticleer Point State Scenic Viewpoint and Multnomah Falls.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: We will make port in Stevenson, on the Washington side of the Columbia Gorge. After breakfast, we'll board our Road Scholar exclusive motorcoach and head to the Bonneville Dam where we'll be lead on a guided tour of the dam and powerhouse. Bonneville Dam, completed in 1938, is a hydroelectric generator for the surrounding cities. Our guide will tell us about its progression and improvements over time and the exhausting building project that encountered numerous obstacles due to the unique geology of the area. 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 you to see the salmon passing by as they are counted. After touring Bonneville Dam we'll head back to the ship for lunch.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: After lunch, we'll set off for a breathtaking drive aboard a Road Scholar exclusive motorcoach along America’s most scenic stretch of highway. Our Study Leader will offer in-depth commentary while we imagine the trials of the Corps of Discovery as they continued their journey on the river below. The Historic Columbia River Highway was built in 1913 and specially designed to compliment the regions stunning landscape without interrupting it. A National Historic and Engineering Landmark, we will ride into the mountains with an opportunity to stop at the Women’s Forum State Scenic Viewpoint (Chanticleer Point) for spectacular views of the gorge - we will hope for clear skies for a spectacular panoramic view of the river and the 13 million year old gorge. En route back to the ship, we will stop at Multnomah Falls, which plummets 620 feet from its origins on Larch Mountain, and is the second highest year-round waterfall in the nation. At the base of the falls is the Historic Multnomah Falls Lodge which offers a Forest Service Visitors Center. Trails from the lodge get you close up views of the falls and tie into trails to other waterfalls in the area. Returning to the coach, we will journey back down the highway to the American Empress.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: Spend the evening with fellow participants discussing the day's activities or take in some entertainment aboard the ship.

Activity note: Road Scholar lecture aboard the ship.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: Today we will remain on the ship cruising through the area. We will see picturesque canyon walls, mountains and fertile fields as we learn about the learn about the area through informal lectures from our study leader and onboard expedition staff.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: As we continue through this area of vertical canyons and scenic views, we'll be treated to a formal lecture by our study leader in a private meeting area aboard the ship.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: Spend the evening enjoying the ship's entertainment or with fellow participants discussing the day's activities.

Activity note: Educational walk through Sacajawea State Park with our study leader, walking on docent-led tour through Franklin County Historical Society Museum, self-exploration at the REACH Museum.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: With our study leader, we will depart via motorcoach and head to Sacajawea Historical State Park and Interpretive Center. It offers fascinating exhibits on the Lewis & Clark expedition. At this location the Columbia and Snake rivers converge. You will also have some free time to experience the Confluence Project. Working with Pacific Northwest tribes, local civics groups, and landscape artists and architects, renowned artist Maya Lin has designed installations that draw from Lewis and Clark’s journey as well as the region's natural and indigenous peoples’ history. The project stretches more than 300 miles, referencing passages from the Lewis and Clark's journals at seven unique sites that each feature a different art installation by Ms. Lin. After our time at the Sacajawea Historical State Park, we'll depart for the Franklin County Historical Society Museum for a docent-led tour. The museum, built in 1910, offers a unique view of local history through a vast collection of artifacts and information, painting a vivid picture of of life and history in the eastern gorge.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: After lunch re-board our motorcoach for a visit to the REACH Museum for an introduction by museum staff, followed by an opportunity for self-exploration. 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.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure. Enjoy the evening entertainment program aboard the ship.

Activity note: Getting into and out of a jet boat.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: This morning we will be treated to a lecture from our Study Leader in a private meeting area aboard the ship.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: This afternoon, we will ride on a 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 that were the earliest inhabitants of the canyon.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: Enjoy the onboard entertainment or take time to share memories with your fellow travelers. Be sure to take some time to ready yourselves for disembarkation in the morning.

Activity note: Total driving time today is approximately 2.5 hours (110 miles); getting on/off the motorcoach.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: This morning we'll disembark the American Empress at the Port of Clarkston, where we'll board our motorcoach for transfer to Spokane, WA where we'll be staying tonight. Upon arrival in Spokane, we'll store our luggage at the hotel.

Lunch: Participants are free to explore downtown Spokane and enjoy lunch on your own.

Afternoon: The rest of the afternoon, participants are free to continue exploring Spokane on your own.

Dinner: At the hotel, enjoy a catered, multi-course farewell dinner, plus coffee, tea, water.

Evening: In our private dining room at the hotel we'll share experiences and exchange farewells with new Road Scholar friends. Then prepare for departure in the morning.

Activity note: Transfer to the airport is included in program cost.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: This concludes our program. Hotel provides complimentary airport transfer - check with the front desk to schedule your airport shuttle. 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!