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Washington

The Many Faces of Seattle: Cultural & Natural History

Program No. 25255RJ
Discover Seattle, from its rich multicultural history to its stunning natural surroundings. Explore iconic sites, unique museums and the breathtaking beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
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  • A flock of birds flies over Deception Pass in Washington during a vibrant sunset.
  • The Seattle, Washington skyline, featuring the Space Needle, is set against a vibrant and cloudy sunset.
  • The iconic neon signs of Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington, glow against the dark evening sky during the holidays.
  • The large, green Deception Pass Bridge in Washington state spans a wide waterway under a clear blue sky, with forested islands on either side.
  • Snow-capped Mount Rainier in Washington rises above a dense evergreen forest and a calm lake on a clear day.
  • Wildflowers fill a green meadow below the snow-capped peak of Mount Rainier in Washington, with a single cloud covering its summit.
National ParksSmall GroupCity DiscoveriesNew
Length
7 days
Rating
New
Activity Level
Starts at
3,399
Special Offer
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
7 days
6 nights
What's Included
14 meals ( 6B, 3L, 5D )
1 expert-led lecture
12 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
6 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 4:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
Program Registration: 4:00 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table to meet with 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. Orientation: 5:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This program is staffed with a Group Leader. Travel for program-related activities will be via private motorcoach (onboard lavatory) unless noted otherwise. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable 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.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Use of public transportation. Walking up to 3 miles over 3 hours at one time and up to 4 miles over the course of the day; city streets and sidewalks may be uneven at times; standing for extended periods of time.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll start our day with an expert-led walking field trip to explore the city’s beautiful waterfront, bustling Pioneer Square and historic downtown. Our tour will also introduce us to the development and history of Pike Place Market as we explore the bustling area. We will have great views of the skyline overlooking the Puget Sound and will learn about the history and development of this dynamic city. Pioneer Square went through periods of expansion, decline, and renewal. After Pioneer Square was established as a historic district in 1969, it flourished as the result of entrepreneurs and younger residents who transformed it into a vibrant neighborhood with galleries, music venues, and trendy living spaces. Our guided tour will include a visit to the top of the Sky View Observatory- a 73-floor high observatory with unparalleled 360 views of the city. Weather permitting, we'll see cruise lines and cargo ships crossing Elliot Bay, the sparkling water of Lake Union and the iconic Space Needle against a backdrop of the majestic Olympic Mountains. Our walking field trip will end at Pike Place Market where we will hear an overview of the layout of the market before enjoying lunch at one of the many vendors or restaurants.
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:
Next, we'll ride the monorail and walk together to the Seattle Center to visit the magnificent Chihuly Garden and Glass, Dale Chihuly’s permanent exhibit of his art, the largest he’s ever presented. Chihuly studied glassmaking at the University of Washington, University of Wisconsin, and Rhode Island School of Design, before going to work in the Venini glass factory of Venice. He co-founded the Pilchuck Glass School in Washington State and has led the contemporary development of glass as a fine art. In addition to the centerpiece Glasshouse, the Chihuly exhibition includes eight galleries and a lush garden. See what interests you most during this self-directed field trip.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 55 miles throughout the day. Walking up to 3 miles on flat trails; standing for extended periods of time. Getting on/off a boat; riding approximately 1 hour.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll depart early for a full-day field trip to Whidbey Island. Located in the Puget Sound north of Seattle, Whidbey Island features peaceful landscapes, scenic beaches and clifftop views. We’ll begin our exploration of the island with a visit to Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve, our nation’s first national historical reserve, a distinctive preservation model that highlights collaboration between government and local communities. We will learn about the history of the Ebey Family and early life on the island, and enjoy a short, optional walk to view the stunning bluffs that overlook the Puget Sound. Following our visit to Ebey's Landing, we will head into the town of Coupeville to visit the Island County Historical Museum for a self-guided exploration. Engaging exhibits follow the Pre-historic, Native American, and early settler history of the island to give visitors a true sense of how Whidbey Island has changed over time.
Lunch:
We will enjoy boxed lunches and time to explore on your own along the historic waterfront in the town of Coupeville.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will reboard the motorcoach and drive north to Deception Pass. We will board a seated open-deck boat to enjoy an educational wildlife cruise off Whidbey Island. The boat cruise will highlight the diverse wildlife of Skagit Bay and Deception Pass. You may see bald eagles, seals, porpoises and maybe an occasional whale. After our boat cruise, we will reboard our motorcoach and ride back to Seattle.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 30 miles throughout the day. Periods of standing and walking; standing up to an hour at a time.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Before departing for the day, we will enjoy a lecture in our meeting space at the hotel about the geography of Seattle and the greater metro area, and how the city's topography contributed ot the development of the city. Following the lecture we will board our motorcoach and head to the Volunteer Park neighborhood of Seattle for a visit to the Asian Art Museum. Opened in 1994, the SAAM has curated thematic explorations of historic and contemporary art from China, Korea, India, Japan, and other Southeast Asian collections that showcase the depth and complexity of Asia through time. We will enjoy a docent-led visit through the museum followed by a short time to explore on our own. After exploring the Asian Art Museum, we will reboard our motorcoach and head to to the Museum of Flight for lunch and a tour.
Lunch:
We will enjoy boxed lunches at the Museum of Flight.
Afternoon:
After lunch we will enjoy a private docent-led exploration of the Museum of Flight to learn about the evolution of flight and Seattle’s role in the industry. After our visit to the Museum, our group has 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. The motorcoach will bring the group back to the hotel so we can plan our afternoon from there.
Dinner:
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. There are many appealing restaurants to choose from in this food-trendy city.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 180 miles throughout the day, approximately 3 hours riding time with stops. Walking up to 3 miles on paved and unpaved trails.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will depart the hotel early on this day for a full day private, expert-led field trip to Mt. Rainier National Park. The day will be spent experiencing the world-class hiking and natural beauty that surrounds Seattle, from mountains to rivers and lakes. As we enjoy the drive to Mt. Rainier, we will enjoy scenic views as we listen to commentary about the geography and natural history of the park. Our time at Mt. Rainier will include several morning and afternoon guided hikes throughout the park as we learn about the plants, trees, animals and geology of this spectacular landscape.
Lunch:
We will enjoy boxed lunches on the trail.
Afternoon:
We will continue our guided hiking in the park.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 15 miles throughout the day. Periods of standing and walking; standing up to an hour at a time.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will board our motorcoach and drive to the Ballard neighborhood to the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks. Known as the Ballard Locks, it is a complex system that carries more boat traffic than any other lock system in the U.S. The Chittenden Locks was completed in 1917 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and connects Lake Washington, Lake Union, and Salmon Bay to the Puget Sound. We will enjoy a private, expert-led exploration of the Locks to learn about the history, engineering, and salmon conservation of this area. After our field trip, we will walk two blocks to the National Nordic Museum. Founded in 1979, the Museum celebrates Nordic history, art, culture, and the heritage of Seattle’s Nordic immigrants. We will enjoy a private guided visit through the museum.
Lunch:
On your own to enjoy what you like from the variety of eating options in Ballard.
Afternoon:
After lunch we will board our motorcoach to head to the Northwest African American Museum for a tour learning about Black history and experiences in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. After our museum exploration, we will reboard the motorcoach and return to the hotel for some time to freshen up before dinner.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
Returning to the hotel, the evening is at leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 12:00 Noon.
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. Don’t forget to like our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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