Set sail from Vancouver's scenic beauty, journeying to Astoria's historic charm and embracing the iconic vibrancy of San Francisco, before concluding in the glamorous embrace of Los Angeles. A stunning West Coast voyage awaits.
Vancouver – the cool and cosmopolitan beating heart of British Columbia – is cradled on all sides by some of Canada’s most captivating wilderness.
Float in from the wild and remote outdoors, leaving behind the orcas and grizzlies, the skeet shooting and fly fishing, and take a foodie foray to Granville Island for the best fork-to-table fare and a perimeter seawall stroll around must-see Stanley Park.
Sailing south we trace the contours of the North Pacific coastline, passaging the less-explored landscapes of Oregon and getting lost in old forests and rugged national parks, before giving in to the irresistible tug of the Golden State. Our California dreamin’ begins as we pass the soaring burnt sienna towers of the Golden Gate Bridge and soak up the glories of San Francisco. Tracing Big Sur along the wave-crashed shoreline we arrive in ever-seductive, sun kissed LA.
Surrounded by mountains, vibrant Vancouver is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and cosmopolitan adventurers alike. Meandering oceanside pathways surround eclectic neighbourhoods – Stanley Park, the West End, Gastown, Yaletown, Chinatown. A major global city, it is renowned for its cultural diversity and thriving art, theatre, music and food scenes. Its perfectly picturesque setting makes it popular filming location – with old-growth cedar forests, mountains covering 75% and two-thirds of Canada's bird species and land mammals. A big, bustling city perched on the edge of wilderness.
Day 3Astoria, Oregon
Astoria bears the watermark of its history as a strategic port on the mighty Columbia River overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The native Clatsop devised an extensive waterfront trade system. In 1805, the Lewis and Clark expedition established a tiny, tactical fort. A few years later, Astoria was founded as a fur-trading post and the first U.S. city west of the Rockies. Soon, the maritime industry lead growth and remains today. Stroll into the solitude of the surrounding forests or along the town’s pleasant river walk, take in its deftly curated museums and growing arts scene. Witness American history unique to the pure and natural Pacific Northwest.
Day 5San Francisco, California
The city delights with its iconic Golden Gate Bridge and surrounding parks for mindfulness and a strong community committed to oceanic and marine wildlife conservation efforts. You can hear the earth breathing in Muir Woods, as the wind whistles through some of her tallest and longest living redwood trees. Sip the temperate terroir in the valleys of Napa and Sonoma, the most acclaimed wine regions of America. Feel the love of the 1960s that still permeates through Haight Ashbury, where hippy culture still stokes the fires of free-thinkers. Step into iconic cable cars that lumber through gilded Nob Hill or climb the famously steep streets of classic “Dirty Harry” movies. A melting pot of cultures — gold rush pioneers, American farmers, Asian immigrants — is a recipe for the city’s ubiquitous dishes including delicate dim sum to cioppino seafood soup to rustic sour dough bread. San Francisco is to be enjoyed with your imagination fulfilled and your appetite thoroughly sated.
Day 6San Francisco, California
The city delights with its iconic Golden Gate Bridge and surrounding parks for mindfulness and a strong community committed to oceanic and marine wildlife conservation efforts. You can hear the earth breathing in Muir Woods, as the wind whistles through some of her tallest and longest living redwood trees. Sip the temperate terroir in the valleys of Napa and Sonoma, the most acclaimed wine regions of America. Feel the love of the 1960s that still permeates through Haight Ashbury, where hippy culture still stokes the fires of free-thinkers. Step into iconic cable cars that lumber through gilded Nob Hill or climb the famously steep streets of classic “Dirty Harry” movies. A melting pot of cultures — gold rush pioneers, American farmers, Asian immigrants — is a recipe for the city’s ubiquitous dishes including delicate dim sum to cioppino seafood soup to rustic sour dough bread. San Francisco is to be enjoyed with your imagination fulfilled and your appetite thoroughly sated.
Day 8Los Angeles, California
Surrounded by ocean, mountains, forest, and desert, gilded with crystal-clear light and the rich diversity of people, LA glows with a heavenly quality. A blend of neighbourhoods each radiating with their own distinct vibe and character: Beverly Hills with its legendary shopping along Rodeo Drive; Hollywood with its movie studios; and Bel Air with its stately mansions. Relive the glory days of Tinseltown in downtown landmarks. Discover museums that hold illuminating works of Shakespeare, Thoreau and one of 12 surviving original Guttenberg Bibles. Then feel the creative firmament of mother nature at Santa Monica and Malibu Beaches. Truly, the stars have aligned to create such a legendary galaxy of sites.
