Our Western National Parks and Historic Sites expedition begins as we join our naturalist/guide for a welcome dinner at 6:30 PM at The Regency Grill. This restaurant is located in The Rouge Regency Inn, our accommodation for the first two nights of our expedition. D

Historical and Educational Tours

In the morning we will begin our adventure as we board our motor coach, travel to Crater Lake National Park and stop at the Visitor Center for an introduction to the park and to discuss some of the issues such as water quality and facility maintenance that challenge park managers. Following a picnic lunch, we descend into the crater and board a boat for an interpretive boat trip to across Crater Lake to Wizard Island. Then we continue our drive around the rim of the crater making frequent stops to take pictures, and discuss the geology and wildlife of this magnificent sanctuary. Our dinner and overnight accommodations are again at The Rouge Regency Inn. CB/PL/D

Following breakfast, we board our motor coach and travel west to the Hiouchi Ranger Station in Redwood National Park for an overview of the park and some of its management and conservation issues. Redwood National Park protects the world's tallest trees; old-growth coast redwoods. Sequoia sempervirens can live to be 2000 years old and grow to over 300 feet tall. Spruce, hemlock, Douglas-fir, and sword ferns create a multiple canopied under story which towers above us as we walk the forested trails. In addition to redwoods, the park’s mosaic of habitats includes prairie/oak woodlands, rivers and streams, and 37 miles of pristine Pacific coastline. Our lunch today is at the Harbor View Grotto, in Crescent City, California, where the fresh seafood is as spectacular as the 180-degree view of the coast. After lunch, we travel across Crescent Harbor to tour the Battery Point Lighthouse and discover the history and secrets of historic preservation in this harsh coastal community. A short walk from the lighthouse takes us to the North coast Marine Mammal Center, a rescue and rehabilitation center for a behind-the-scenes-tour and a look at some of the mammals indigenous to the North coast such otters, seals and sea lions. We will then check into our accommodations at The Best Western Northwood’s Inn and enjoy dinner at the Northwood’s Inn Restaurant. CB/L/D

In the morning, we will visit the seashore for an in-depth look at North coast tide pools, the wide variety of animal and plant life that shelters in them, and the unique rocky point and sandy beach geology typical of this coast. Following a picnic lunch, we board a sightseeing boat to embark on a four-hour pelagic bird, marine mammal, and North coast history voyage to the Point St. George Lighthouse, one of the most dramatic lighthouses on the west coast. Our discussion, while at sea, focuses on the management of our ocean resources. Late this afternoon we travel back to The Best Western Northwood’s Inn for dinner and a night of well-deserved rest. B/PL/D

Today we travel south on Highway 1, past stands of some of the tallest trees in the world, making photo stops and to look for wildlife. At the town of Klamath, we will sample smoked salmon and hear some of the Native American lore regarding the legendary Klamath River before continuing through majestic redwood forests to Prairie Creek State Park. Here we stop to look for and photograph Roosevelt elk and learn about the history and management of these magnificent animals. Continuing on, we stop for a short walk in the magnificent Lady Bird Johnson Grove, the site of the park’s dedication. Our next stop is at the National Park’s Redwood Visitor Center. Here we walk along Redwood Creek and learn about the events that led to the 1968 creation of this National Park. Following a picnic lunch, we drive to the Victorian town of Eureka where our step-on guide will reveal the fascinating history of this famous North coast town, after which we will check into our lodgings at the Best Western Humboldt Bay Inn. Our dinner this evening is at The Sea Grill, one of the finest seafood restaurants on the North coast. CB/PL/D

In the morning, we travel to the Samoa Cookhouse on the Samoa Peninsula. Built in 1885, this is the last of the numerous lumber camp cookhouses which were once such an important aspect of the West’s early timber industry. Our "lumber camp" breakfast is brought to the table in large bowls and platters, allowing us to help ourselves, logger-style. After breakfast and a look at the historic logging equipment on display at the Samoa Cook House, we drive east through the Coastal Range. Making stops along the way as photo opportunities become available, we arrive at Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park for a guided tour. The Weaverville Joss House, a Taoist Temple of Worship, is now a state park and is the oldest continually-used Chinese Temple in California. After touring this 1800s Chinese community and mining camp, we enjoy a picnic lunch, surrounded by the beautiful Trinity Alps. In the afternoon, we travel east to Red Bluff, California and stop at William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park to gain an understanding of the history of the Northern Sacramento Valley. Our overnight accommodations are at the Red Bluff Travelodge. B/PL/D

Lassen National Park, a land of fire and ice, is located in northeastern California at the southern terminus of the Cascade Mountains. Beneath the park’s peaceful forests and gem-like lakes lies evidence of a turbulent and fiery past. The park contains every type of volcanic feature known as well as numerous geothermal features such as Boiling Springs Lake, Devils Kitchen, and Terminal Geyser. Filled with lush old-growth forests, clear mountain streams and lakes, bubbling mud pots, hissing fumaroles, remnants of ancient mountains long gone, and the evidence of recent volcanism, the park abounds with cultural and natural history. Following a full day of exploring this volcanic wonderland, we travel to Redding, California for our final night. Our fare well dinner this evening will be at Cattleman’s Restaurant, at 7:00 pm. CB/PL/D

Breakfast will be available to meet your travel schedule. Have a safe trip back home or where ever you are headed and we will see on our next adventure. CB