Encounter Portland and Seattle

Day 1

Fly into Portland, check into your hotel.

Overnight: The Benson Hotel

Day 2
Portland

Enjoy your full day exploring Portland, known for its artisan coffee shops, indie boutiques, micro-breweries and quirky restaurants. Shop to your hearts content with a multitude of shops in the Pearl District with no sales tax across the city! See the iconic Powell’s Bookstore, explore the tranquil Japanese Garden or perhaps visit the International Rose Test Garden with over 650 varieties giving the city its name the “City of Roses”.

Take the Portland Aerial Tram for stunning views of the city and Willamette River Valley. Enjoy drinks on the patio as you take in Portland’s lush city, check out Aalto’s Lounge for some happy hour cocktails.

Overnight: The Benson Hotel

Day 3
Portland

Today pick up the car and visit Oregon’s most iconic landmark – Mount Hood, a stratovolcano part of the Cascade Arc; sitting over 3,400 metres, it has over 12 glacier peaks and its summit covered in snowfields. Travel along the Mt Hood Scenic Byway taking in its spectacular, luscious scenery and observing the Columbia River Gorge.
En-route to Mt Hood, stop by the towering Multnomah Falls and see this majestic waterfall standing over 185 metres tall. Stand on Benson Bridge for a closer view and feel its misty spray. Once reached the top of Mt Hood stop by the impressive Timberline Lodge for a spot of lunch, movie buffs will recognise this iconic building from “The Shining”.

Overnight: The Benson Hotel

Day 4
Portland – Astoria – Seattle

Today we leave Portland behind as we take the scenic route towards the stunning Cannon Beach, a beautiful coastline with the imposing Haystack Rock sitting on the gorgeous shoreline. Make your way towards Astoria, a city that sits on the Columbia River with a history of fur trade and famous explorers Lewis and Clark having made their final stop here. Enjoy lunch at Buoy Beer Company as it boasts panoramic views of the Columbia River, locally sourced menu and brewery.

Arriving in Seattle, drop off your car and check into your hotel. Enjoy exploring downtown Seattle, how about seeing the Woodland Park Zoo lit up with hundreds of thousands of LED lights creating a multicoloured wonderland?

Overnight: Kimpton Hotel Vintage Seattle

Day 5
Seattle

This morning, stroll down the leafy Pioneer Square with artisan coffee in hand, reminding you of Parisian streets. Explore Seattle’s Waterfront on the Great Wheel or how about taking in a cruise along Seattle Harbour? Sail on the Puget Sound and take in the city’s skyline.

Find something special at Pike Place Market, the bustling market filled with local produce and handmade crafts – see the famous fishmongers throw their catch of the day to customers in this exciting alcove. Make sure you check out the original Starbucks store located here too. Around the corner is one of Seattle’s weird and wonderful landmarks – The Gum Wall, mark your place with a piece of your own!

Overnight: Kimpton Hotel Vintage Seattle

Day 6
Seattle

A trip to Seattle would not be complete without going up the Space Needle, at over 155 metres high the observation deck has unparallel views of the city and stunning views of Mount Rainer, Olympic Range mountains and Lake Union, choose to see this day or night. Explore the Museum of Pop Culture – MoPOP for short, with its continuous modern exhibitions from music to film and gaming to art. Another must see is the amazing Chihuly Garden and Glass, a museum in the Seattle Center showcasing Dale Chihuly’s masterful glasswork.

Take a cultural detour and head north to the Fremont and West Woodland neighbourhood, a district full of microbreweries. Seattle is the top city in the US for its microbreweries and home to over 174! If you’re a love of craft beer we recommend seeking out: Stoup Brewing, Fremont Brewing and Urban Family Brewing Co. or better yet check out Seattle’s brewery walking tours.

Overnight: Kimpton Hotel Vintage Seattle

Day 7
Seattle

Say goodbye to the northwest as you fly home from Seattle International Airport.