Arrive in Seattle for the start of your Pacific Northwest self drive. Seattle is known as the ‘Emerald City’ because of the green hue of the waters that surround it. The downtown area of Seattle has many excellent restaurants and you have two nights here to enjoy the city area.

Executive Hotel Pacific or similar

Today, enjoy all the sights and sounds Seattle has to offer. One of the city’s major attractions is the Waterfront. Here you will find a great variety of shops, restaurants and the Seattle Aquarium. After a long day of walking, relax on a tour boat and enjoy the views of the city from the waters of Puget Sound.

Executive Hotel Pacific or similar

Depart early his morning and make your way toward Olympic National Park. When you enter the park keep a look out for Hurricane Ridge, from here you will get the best scenic views of the Olympic Mountains. The rest of the day is yours to explore the park.

Kalaloch Lodge or similar

Enjoy a scenic drive towards Mount Rainier, an active cascade volcano encased in over 35 square miles of snow and ice. Here there are a variety of hiking trails available for all skill levels so spend some time exploring the area before hopping back in the car.

Continuing on towards Portland, drive past Mt. St. Helen where the earthquake in 1980 caused the volcano to erupt blanketing towns, hundreds of miles away, in volcanic ash and permanently altering the mountain’s face.

The Hotel Zags or similar

Today is yours to spend in Portland. Known as the ‘City of Roses’ Portland is a big city which retains many small town charms. But its true beauty can be found in one of the local public gardens or parks within the city. Here you can visit the International Rose Test Garden, the largest and oldest rose test gardens in the United States. The gardens were established in 1917 by the American Rose Society and are used as testing grounds for new varieties of roses. Though you will probably see some familiar roses in the Gold Medal Garden, most of the 400 varieties on display are new hybrids being tested before marketing.

The Hotel Zags or similar

The tour continues today toward Newport, by way of Seaside and Cannon Beach. Seaside lies at the end of the Lewis & Clark trail, where the two explorers reached the Pacific Ocean. A monument celebrating the discovery stands at the circular loop drive where Broadway Street ends and the stairway down to the beachfront begins. Along the promenade, a two-mile long boardwalk, there are plenty of shops and restaurants to keep you busy. Just a few miles further you will encounter Cannon Beach, recognised by its well-known landmark, Haystack Rock. After a break here continue to Newport where the picturesque Yaquina Head Lighthouse welcomes you.

Shilo Inn Oceanfront Resort or similar

Explore the second part of Oregon’s Pacific coast today. En-route to Coos Bay keep an eye out for the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. If you’re feeling adventurous, these wind-sculpted sand dunes towering to 500 feet above sea level provide opportunities for hiking, fishing, canoeing, horseback riding and for the ultimate thrill, you can navigate the dunes in a dune buggy. After some excitement, continue on to Coos Bay where you will spend the evening.

Red Lion Hotel Coos Bay or similar

The journey today leads you through fascinating volcanic Lava Lands to Crater Lake National Park. The park encompasses Crater Lake’s caldera which rests in the remains of the destroyed Mount Mazama volcano. After making your way through this dramatic landscape with many photo opportunities along the way, continue on to Medford for an overnight stay.

Ashland Springs Hotel or similar

As you leave Medford this morning consider stopping at the Oregon Caves National Monument. Although small in size, this national monument offers the opportunity to explore an active marble cave created by natural forces over the course of millions of year. Continue your journey to Redwood National Park located along the northern California coast. Take a serene hike on one of the fascinating trails and discover the wonder of these ancient trees before continuing on to Eureka for an overnight stay.

Red Lion Hotel Eureka or similar

Driving south along the stunning Pacific Coast you will arrive into California’s picturesque wine country. Many of the wineries here offer tastings and tours of their facilities, today is your opportunity to explore the region and test out the best wines in California. For a unique experience jump aboard the ‘Wine Train’ and tour the Napa wine making region in comfort and style – sit back and take in the scenery whilst sampling California’s finest wines.

Flamingo Conference Resort & Spa or similar

Continuing further south you will soon spot the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Along the way, you will pass Muir Woods National Monument and Sausalito. Located at the North end of the Golden Gate Bridge this town is a nice place to stop and take a break before making your way into San Francisco. The rest of the day is yours to wander the rolling hills, ethnic neighbourhoods and the colourful waterfront.

The Kimpton Alton Fisherman’s Wharf Hotel or similar

Today you have a whole day to enjoy the many sights and sounds of San Francisco. The city is nice and compact so easily travelled on foot but for a more authentic experience; jump aboard the famous cable cars to make your way around the city’s many attractions. The one place you won’t be able to get to on a cable car is Alcatraz Island! Sitting in the middle of San Francisco Bay, through the years, this island has served as a lighthouse, a military fortification, and finally as a federal prison. This evening make the most of the city’s vibrant night life and dine in one of San Francisco’s many distinctive neighbourhoods, from Chinatown to the very Italian flavoured North Beach, each of these lively areas offers its own distinctive culture and cuisine.

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCE – Alcatraz Cruise & Tour
Alcatraz and history go hand in hand. Once home to some of America’s most notorious criminals, the federal penitentiary that operated here from 1934 to 1963 brought a dark mystique to the Rock. The presence of infamous inmates like Al ‘Scarface’ Capone and the ‘Birdman’ Robert Stroud helped to establish the island’s notoriety. To this day, Alcatraz is best known as one of the world’s most legendary prisons. Many people, though, are unaware of the wealth of other stories to be learned on the island. Alcatraz is now home to rare flowers and plants, marine wildlife, and thousands of roosting and nesting seabirds.

The Kimpton Alton Fisherman’s Wharf Hotel or similar

Bid farewell the ‘City by the Bay’ and head to the airport for your flight to the UK, or choose to extend your stay in San Francisco to discover more of this wonderful city.