SEATTLE WINE, WILDERNESS & SUNSET PADDLE
FULL DAY TOUR

Tour Length: 9 Hours
Tour Code: EV09
Pick-Up: City Hotels / Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal at Pier 66
Departing: 12:00pm (dependant on time of year)
Returns: 9:00pm (dependant on time of year)
Activities: Padlding, wildlife viewing, walking, birding, wine tasting
Difficulty: Easy
Carbon Footprint:
Cost: $175 per person
Season: Year round
Min No of Passengers:


Inclusions:
Hotel pick up and drop off, highly qualified and knowledgeable naturalist guide, travel in luxury air - conditioned vehicles, home made afternoon tea, authentic northwest dinner , selected Washington wines and refreshments, all park entry fees and comprehensive commentary.

Description:
Accessible wilderness areas and miles of beautiful shoreline along the Puget Sound and Lake Washington is what make the city of Seattle a great embarkation point for your Pacific Northwest adventure. 

Revel in this Seattle escape which takes in the best features of this fantastic city and environs; the history, nature, waterways, cuisine, wine and the spectacular biodiversity found all around. It is truly a scenic paradise. Snowcapped peaks loom above the forested foothills—to the west the rugged Olympic Peninsula, to the east the Cascade Mountains the many deep blue lakes and fast flowing rivers nearby are a testament to this.

Beginning amongst the historical Pioneer Square area of old Seattle you will learn of the convergence of the early settlers and Native Americans of over 150 years ago, the Great Seattle Fire of 1889 and the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897. We will take you around the city, taking in the history of the Space Needle, Smith Tower and other famous sites, including the celebrated Pike Place Market where we have a chance to pick up a scone and latte.

It is here we leave the ‘average’ Seattle tourist behind and experience what makes the city so special to the locals.  You will unlock a piece of Washington you would never have known existed. Go from a bustling city to wilderness adventures just around the corner. A few miles in any direction and you find yourself paddling a kayak, whitewater rafting, mountain biking, hiking or climbing one of a hundred nearby peaks. From the stately flanks of its Cascade volcanoes to the stony shores of its myriad waterways, the region offers an unmatched wealth of al fresco activities.

Get your first taste of “MetroNatural” with a nature walk in the gorgeous 534 acre Discovery Park.  The site is one of breathtaking majesty. Situated on Magnolia Bluff overlooking Puget Sound, Discovery Park offers spectacular view of both the Cascade and the Olympic Mountain ranges. The secluded site includes two miles of protected tidal beaches as well as open meadowlands, dramatic sea cliffs, forest groves, active sand dunes, thickets and streams.

A trip to Seattle is not complete without a visit to the world-class wineries of Woodinville. Crossing over one of the distinctive floating bridges we wind our way through the leafy Eastern Suburbs, before embarking upon rolling hills of vineyards, a picturesque opportunity to experience some of Washington’s finest wines.  If we feel up to it, we hop on our bikes and cycle winery to winery and begin our tastings at a few of the very special boutique wineries in the area. We chat with the owners, admire their cottage locations and let them show off the best of their vintages.

Break for dinner and enjoy an authentic Pacific Northwest meal featuring local organic seafood, fresh salads and the finest Washington wines.

This evening we take a sunset paddle along Alki Beach in Elliott Bay, overlooking the inspiring cityscape.  This bustling harbor flourishes with marine biodiversity. Orcas, porpoise and harbor seals frolic here, as does the gigantic Pacific octopus that can grow up to 20 feet in the these chilly waters. Rockfish, cod, cabezon, wolf eel, six-gilled shark and spiny-finned sculpin are in it’s depths; barnacles and mussels encrust the shore where tiny hermit crabs lurk at low tide; and a beach walk and paddle can reveal a bounty of wonders including sea stars, anemones and many other invertebrates.

All of this in a city amongst towering mountains, glistening waterways, and within close proximity to some refreshingly beautiful wilderness. You'll be one of the privileged few to discover the secrets of Seattle.

This tour can be customized as a private tour, call or email for a quote.