The Columbia River is a remarkable place to look for migratory birds; the Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge can be a stopover point for American coots, ducks, and waterfowl of a stunning variety. Perhaps the most wonderful sight to see is the migration of the snow goose. These sturdy white geese with black wing tips array themselves in mass swirling lines and patterns that animate the blue sky above it. Hundreds, even thousands of geese can move across an area in a matter of a few hours. Guests aboard National Geographic Sea Bird enjoy these sights from the comfort of their kayaks below on the calm waters of the Columbia, finding peace in one of the state’s best-kept wildlife refuges.
10/3/2024
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National Geographic Sea Lion
Walla Walla, Washington
We took our Zodiacs to shore and boarded busses for our day’s adventure in and around Walla Walla, Washington. First stop for most was the Whitman Mission National Historic Site. This museum and park preserve the memory of a tragic altercation between Native Americans and early white missionaries that resulted in the death of thirteen missionary settlers and ultimately the decimation of the Cayuse native people of the Walla Walla area. The site is a beautiful and peaceful park with trails to the settler’s graves and a monument dedicated to the memory of the event. We left the mission site for lunch and wine tasting at the Three Rivers Winery in Walla Walla. After lunch, some of the group went venturing to the Fort Walla Walla Museum and others went directly to town. Among its many interesting artifacts, the museum displays a replica pioneer village with buildings reconstructed from original materials dating from the latter-half of the nineteenth century. Last stop for all before heading back to National Geographic Sea Lion was the beautiful downtown center of Walla Walla. While window shopping and exploring the town, nearly all our guests took advantage of a free ice-cream cone.
