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| Pacific Northwest/Canadian Rockies Splendor |
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| Departing: Sunday, September 11, 2011 |
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| 9 Days |
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|  TOUR HIGHLIGHTS: Seattle “highlights” tour, five-night stay at the Silver Reef Hotel & Casino, choice of a day trip to San Juan Island, including guided tour, or a guided shopping and sightseeing tour of Bellingham,, Deception Pass, Whidbey Island and La Conner, full-day trip to Vancouver, including guided tour, Granville Island and Gastown, full-day cruise trip to Victoria, including guided tour and famed Butchart Gardens, Minter Gardens in Chilliwack, Kamloops, Mount Robson, Jasper and Banff National Parks, Athabasca and Sunwapta Falls, Icefields Parkway, Athabasca Glacier Snocoach, Lake Louise, two nights Banff, area touring, Sulphur Mountain Gondola. Eighteen meals included: five deluxe continental breakfasts, three full breakfasts, two box lunches, eight dinners. |
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|  | | | Daily Itinerary: | | | Day 1 | After a mid-day flight arrival at Sea-Tac International Airport, our sightseeing begins with an afternoon “highlights” tour of Seattle, including such points of interest as Waterfront Park and Waterfront Drive, the famed Pike Place Market and bustling downtown area, Pioneer Square Historic District, Safeco Field…home of the Seattle Mariners, the International District, plus Seattle Center and the Space Needle, built as the centerpiece of the 1962 World’s Fair. Then we’ll head north on Interstate 5 to Ferndale, Washington, situated between Bellingham and the Canadian border. Here we’ll be guests for he next four nights of the excellent Silver Reef Hotel & Casino. After a “welcome” wine & cheese reception, enjoy dinner in the hotel’s Red River Café. (D) | | | Day 2 | Today your group may choose (in advance) from two outstanding, full-day sightseeing trips at no additional cost. Your first alternative is a visit to beautiful San Juan Island, traveling via the Washington State Ferry from Anacortes across the Rosario Strait. Upon arrival in Friday Harbor, the island’s largest town and a bustling port, you’ll be treated to a guided tour of the island and San Juan Island National Historic Park, site of the infamous “Pig War” of 1859, as well as free time for lunch and browsing the numerous shops of downtown Friday Harbor. Your second choice is no less interesting…an extensive guided sightseeing and shopping tour visiting Bellingham, Fairhaven, impressive Deception Pass, Whidbey Island, and such picturesque, picture-postcard seaside communities as Oak Harbor, Coupeville and La Conner. Either way, a delightful dinner will be included at the Farmhouse Restaurant, near La Conner, before we return to the Silver Reef for the night. (CB, D) | | | Day 3 | Our featured excursion today will take us to Vancouver, the “crown jewel” of Canada and site of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Our Guided Vancouver city tour will include such sights as Stanley Park, one of the finest natural parks on the ontinent, the modern downtown skyscrapers, Chinatown, Harbour Center and Canada Place Pier (the departure point for many cruises to Alaska), domed B.C. Place Stadium, and a stop at the Bloedel Conservatory in Queen Elizabeth Park. Next is a stop for lunch (on your own) at the colorful Granville Island Public Market. This afternoon there will be time for shopping and exploring in Gastown, the historic heart of the city, before we return to our hotel. Dinner is included in the Red River Café at our hotel, or, if you wish, apply your available food vouchers to a meal in one of the Silver Reef’s other fine restaurants. (CB, D) | | | Day 4 | Traveling aboard Victoria/San Juan Cruises from Bellingham Harbor, today’s destination is stately Victoria. Here a delightful English flavor is spiced with red double-decker buses, Tudor-style buildings and immaculate gardens. Our guided tour will feature such sights as the Parliament Buildings, the British Columbia Provincial Museum, Beacon Hill Park, Christ Church Cathedral, the Helmcken House, and a visit to Butchart Gardens, world-renowned for ornate landscaping and superb Italian, Japanese and rose gardens. A box lunch and brief time for shopping will also be provided before we board our return boat to Bellingham. A delicious dinner will be served aboard the vessel as we travel through the San Juan Islands en route to Bellingham. (CB, L, D)
| | | Day 5 | Bidding the Silver Reef Hotel farewell, we’ll head north and clear Canadian customs and immigrations near Abbotsford, British Columbia. Then it’s only a short drive on to Chilliwack for a visit to lovely Minter Gardens, containing 11 different theme gardens in some 27 acres. A box lunch will be provided here, then an afternoon scenic drive along the Fraser and Thompson River brings us to Kamloops, where lodging and dinner have been arranged at the Comfort Inn & Suites. (CB, L, D) | | | Day 6 | Heading north from Kamloops, we’ll follow the scenic Yellowhead South Highway along the Clearwater and North Thompson Rivers through the towns of Clearwater, Blue River and Valemount, as well as the Columbia Mountains. This afternoon we’ll continue on through Mt. Robson Provincial Park…at 12,972 feet, Mt. Robson is the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies…into the Province of Alberta and Jasper National Park. Here we’ll begin our trip along the breathtaking Icefields Parkway, making a stop at much-photographed Athabasca Falls before arriving at the splendid scenic location of Sunwapta Falls Lodge, where we’ll be guests for a memorable overnight and cookout dinner. After a fascinating presentation by a naturalist, you’ll also want to take the short walk through the woods to witness the rushing waters of the falls before turning in for the night. (CB, D) | | | Day 7 | A day of incredible sightseeing begins as we travel from Sunwapta Falls along the incredible Icefields Parkway scenic drive through the heart of Canada’s Rocky Mountains. One of the most extraordinary scenic highways in the world, the parkway connects Jasper and Banff National Parks. We’ll thrill to spectacular views of snowcapped peaks, glacial lakes, misty waterfalls and the massive Columbia Icefields, just a few of the attractions to be seen along the way. An unforgettable morning “Snocoach” tour of the Athabasca Glacier is included before our lunch stop. The afternoon features panoramic views of beautiful Peyto Lake before our visits to storied Lake Louise, the blue-green jewel fed by water from Victoria Glacier, as well as the historic Chateau Lake Louise along the shoreline. Then, traveling through the Bow River Valley, we’ll soon arrive for a two-night stay at the ideally-located Best Western Siding 29 Lodge in Banff Town. “Siding 29” was the original name of Banff before it was developed as a premier mountain resort town by the Canadian Pacific Railway. (B, D) | | | Day 8 | This morning, our sightseeing in the Banff area will include such sights as the Tunnel Mountain Road, Mount Rundle, the Banff Gondola ride to the summit of Sulphur Mountain, the Bow River and Bow Falls, plus a visit to the famed, castle-like Banff Springs Hotel. After a free afternoon for shopping within easy walking distance of our hotel, relaxing or exploring on your own in picturesque Banff Town, we’re sure to enjoy our “farewell” dinner at one of the community’s most popular restaurants. (B, D) | | | Day 9 | After breakfast, we’ll depart Banff and continue east to Calgary (Alberta) International Airport to connect with mid-day or early afternoon, homeward-bound flights. (B) | |
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| | | | | Meals included: 5 continental breakfasts, 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 8 dinners. We include the gratuities to the tour director, motorcoach driver and step-on guides.
Suggested flight arrival at Sea-Tac International Airport: by 12:00 noon; suggested flight departure from Sea-Tac International Airport: after 3 pm. IMPORTANT NOTE: Passports will be required for this tour.
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| Hub & Spoke PRICE PER PERSON: Land Only From $1989.00 per person, double occupancy |
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