I was wondering if anyone is going on the Western Discoverer Tour leaving on May 31st 2008?

Sorry if I sound vague - BUT, I forget the names of the tours.

We just did the tour that leaves SFC and goes up through Oregon & Washington States, and ends in Seattle. We tacked on a visit to Victoria and Vancouver. The National forests are magnificent and the animals, sights, overnight stops etc are great. Food and drink (especially beer) are an experience.

We are taking this trip in September, I wonder if you have any suggestions on things we should do. This is our first trip with Trafalgar. Comments or suggestions greatly appreciated

Hi Susann

SFC is one of our favourite cities in the USA. Magnificent setting and lovely city. We stopped a few days at the start - in the SFC Hilton. Wonderful, and not that much more than the Tour's hotel. Much better location - and a great Irish Pub about a block away down towards the City.

I'm pretty sure there are no real "extras' (as in most tours). Some places you are in don't really allow for it anyway - you're way out in the sticks. Take/wear good walking boots and warm clothes - ie a warm jumper. A good all weather jacket/coat is a good idea too.

Also one of those thin "light" - easily folded - rain type jackets - the sort that can be screwed into a little ball - ie taking little space. Preferably with a hood. You can easily take this in a pocket and may need it in some places.

We found a number of lunch stops didn't allow more than one choice or site - so if, like me, you don't particularly want lunch after a big brekkie, then buy a few health bars etc to eat at that time if you want a light snack. The coach had bottled water - an excellent idea.

Definitely (even if you feel like a lie in) go on the Gorge tour in Portland - a great morning.

You'll find the days are pretty full on and a few really good bush walks - so take a camera and DVD movie camera (if you have one). You'll see elk, deer, etc etc.

Portland has some great restaurants, but the food on tour (provided) is generally quite good.

We found the worst hotel was the first one in SFC - it was being renovated. But from then on can't remember a "bad" one. Even the cabins (I'll leave them to you to experience) are fun - no TV/phone but warm and cosy. The hotel in Seattle (if you're staying on) is quite good.

Its not a bad trip for your first. Our favourite one in the USA is "Route 66" (Tour Guide - Gordon). Worth a thought if you're looking for a second one. You could fly Seattle/Chicago and then take the tour - ending up in LA.

Hope this helps - ask anything.

Thanks so much for the information, very helpful. I have a couple questions if you don't mind.

Did you do the wine tasting, if so, was it a good winery

What time of the year did you go? Sounds like it was a bit cool. Glad to know we will need jackets.

We are staying 3 extra days in SF before the tour starts, but not staying any extra time in Seattle.

Thanks again, and I will let you know how our trip goes.........

The tour Saint Mike is describing might be called "Northwest Coastal Adventure".

The "Western Discoverer" starts in Los Angeles and goes south to San Diego, then Phoenix, etc, Las Vegas, the National Parks, then San Francisco, with the last leg travelling down the coast ending in Los Angeles. This is the one I'll be doing in September.

You are correct, it is called the Northwest Coastal Adventure, and it is the one we are going on in Sept.

quote:

Did you do the wine tasting, if so, was it a good winery

Our tour also travels through the Napa and Sonoma Valleys and we are VERY interested in knowing what the guided winery and tasting visit is like.

Numbat,

I am probably the wrong person to speak about winery tours as I think they are amongst the world's greatest bores, however: the one we visited on the WD tour was a mock Tuscan type set up with some pleasant gardens etc (can't remember the name and my paperwork is at home), We were met out the front and got the 'hands up who is from Oz, NZ etc' (which I hate) then some chat on basics of how to taste wine etc.
We then went inside and were given a white and a red to taste (not sure of the varieties) - I didn't like either, so went outside and enjoyed the view (and found a hummingbird flitting about in a bush - much more interesting than the wine). The wine chatter went on for some time inside, but we didn't tour the winery as such thank heavens (if I get dragged through yet another lot of vats, presses etc I will scream) - then we were off.
This wasn't what I would call a really serious wine enthusiasts tour.

Happy to answer questions Susann.

We did go to one wine tasting - on the first (?) day. It was at about 10 or 11am ... but was still OK. The wine was OK - but the winery grounds were quite spectacular - although you weren't really shown the "workings" of the place - just the gardens etc. A tad early to be drinking wine - but it was 5 o'clock somewhere ...

It wasn't what we might expect as a wine trip in Oz. Few wines to taste, a bit on the costly side, and may be hard to really buy much - ie transport etc.

We went in June. AND, in places it was quite cold - ie snow. Up in the Olympic Park and Washington State. Hard to believe - and I quite like the cold - so a good coat and walking boots (good sox) are essential. (NB: Make sure you use slip ons for the plane - ie security check - lace ups are a bore to take off/unlace etc etc). Cords or jeans are OK - you don't really go anywhere where you need to dress up that much.

Maybe - if you have one - take a "sleeveless" "polofleece" type jacket. (Kathmandu stores have them in Oz). That way you can wear a polo top on the coach - with maybe a singlet - and wear the sleeveless jacket for the stops (?). It was not that windy so although the temps were down it was generally sunny. The sleeveless is also good for the plane as you can slip odds and ends in the pockets when you go through security - and easily take it off on the plane.

If you are staying extra days in SFC I'd recommend the Hilton over the Tour's hotel. Although you probably won't be disappointed either way. The Tour hotel is situated on the Bay and is a reasonable walk to the main shops. The Bay area where the Tour hotel is, is "populated" with some pretty awful "touristy" bargain shops. The actual town itself is very good - wonderful Borders, Macys, cafes, Disney Shop (for kids), and shopping centres. You can take the trolley either way.

The Alcatraz tour leaves from the Bay area - and is worth a go - if only for the ferry ride ...

On tour you'll love the dune buggy ride and the jet boat river ride. Also, the overnights are different - but well worth it. St Helens, and the redwoods are great and the mountains spectacular - but it did drop to just above freezing on one day at Mt Olympus. And - it was meant to be their summer !

Just go with the flow.

C'ya

quote:

Originally posted by Colleen Anne2:
We were met out the front and got the 'hands up who is from Oz, NZ etc' (which I hate)

I can't agree more, being treated like a bunch of school kids is unpleasant. Also, I'm glad the tour isn't about the process of making wine.

My interest lies in seeing the Napa Valley region. Visiting one of the wineries for a tasting is a bonus. I hope the visit is a gauge to the scale and standard of the industry which I've heard so much about.

I'll be able to compare this experience to that of Australian wineries, being more familiar with the Margaret River and Swan Valley regions in Western Australia, which I enjoy visiting from time to time.

Thanks so much Mike, you probably saved our trip, I had no idea it would be that cold. Sounds like the shorts we had in mind will not be in order. We are in the mist of 98 to 100 degrees at home, hard to beleive it will be that cool.

I was hoping the winery would be much better than what you described. We are excited about the trip and good to hear that your trip was so nice.
We have our 3 days in SF so packed that I hope we get it all done. Alcatraz is on our list.

I think you have the right idea, just go with the flow.

Thanks again, I really appreciate the info.

Will let you know how it goes.

Susann

OK - have a great time. Shorts may be OK in SFC and for the first few days, but if its like it was for us, I wouldn't be in them after that. Funnily - inside the jetboat (it had a sort of glass roof) it was quite warm, and a hat was well worth it - but the dune buggy wasn't. Also, at night it could cool down a mite. On the bus was OK - but even then some days it can cool down.

I'm sure you'll enjoy it - and the food (eg salmon, halibut etc) was excellent. I even had Ribs in Portland at a place about a block towards the city from the front door of the hotel. Just a steak and beer place, but fun. I'm a bit of a beer man - so really enjoyed drinking the local ales etc.

Sorry, one last thing - I found getting up early (?) in the morning - especially in the "rural" areas was worth it - ie 6am-ish. At that time few others are about and it is quite lovely for a short walk. Amazing what you might see.

M

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