This morning we woke to another delightfully warm, sunny day on our adventure. The sky was filled with hues of pink and yellow as the sun rose above our ship. The expedition on National Geographic Quest today had several fascinating points of interest, including visits to the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, the Maryhill Winery and the Maryhill Museum in the afternoon. A highlight of the journey included seeing and learning about over 20 plants that were collected and documented carefully during the Lewis and Clark Expedition, such as ponderosa pine, broad leaf lupine, grey rabbit brush, and arrowleaf balsamroot.
10/23/2024
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National Geographic Sea Lion
Walla Walla
We awoke anchored at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers, National Geographic Sea Lion perfectly framed by the Ed Hendler and Pioneer Memorial Bridges. Departing shortly after breakfast, everyone headed to shore for a full day of adventure, education, and indulgent wine tasting. Once ashore, some of us headed to Seven Hills Vineyard for an exclusive tour while others explored the rich cultural history of Fort Walla Walla. We reconvened at the stunning Seven Hills Tasting Room in downtown Walla Walla for a spectacular lunch and our first tasting of the day. After lunch we split up again, with options for excursions ranging from wine tasting to ice cream sampling, shopping, and a visit to the Whitman Mission National Historic Site. Our Zodiac rides back to the ship were perfectly timed with the sunset, making for a beautiful end to a busy day exploring the Pasco and Walla Walla area. After yet another exceptional wine and dinner pairing by Wine Specialist Kristine, a sporty game of Pacific Northwest Trivia ensued!