Arrive in Seattle and transfer to the National Geographic Venture to begin your expedition.

Tucked away at the southern end of Puget Sound is 18-square-mile Harstine Island. Kayak or standup paddleboard in one of the quiet bays, or go ashore and look for sand dollars as you stroll the tideline. Join a naturalist for a hike in the ravine, rife with moss covered cedar and fir trees, or choose to go on a foraging adventure and learn about the fascinating world of fungi in this area. If the tides are right, walk across the exposed sandbar to neighboring McMicken Island.

Transit the exciting and narrow waterway of Deception Pass where ebb and flood tides create whirlpools and thrill seeking kayakers can often be seen surfing the standing waves. Come ashore in the pene-exclave of Point Roberts, Washington, where the 1846 Treaty of Oregon between Britain and the United States declared the 49th Parallel the border between the territories and effectively created a geographic oddity. You can’t travel to Point Roberts by land without passing through Canada, and if you have a child in 4th grade or above, you had better pack their passport with their lunch, for they have to pass through two border crossings to attend school on the US mainland.

Spend two days visiting the remote shores of the San Juan Islands, an archipelago in northern Washington State perfect for kayaking, exploring by Zodiac, hiking, and spotting resident orca pods. Walks with our expert staff will familiarize you with the natural and cultural history of the rugged northwest coast region. Gain a unique perspective of the sea life thriving in these cool, rocky waters through the camera lens of our Undersea Specialist.

Today we invite you to explore Olympic National Park. Choose to take in the sweeping views of the Olympic Mountains, subalpine meadows, and the Straits of Juan de Fuca from a viewpoint at Hurricane Ridge or enjoy an easy two-mile hike through the moss laden old-growth forest to Marymere Falls, a stunning 90-foot waterfall at Lake Crescent.

This morning, wake up just off of Protection Island National Wildlife Refuge, an island teeming with bird life. Along with bald eagles and glaucouswinged gulls it is home to one of the last two breeding sites of tufted puffins and the third largest colony of rhinoceros auklet in the Salish Sea. Later this afternoon we will dock in Port Townsend and visit the Victorian-era Fort Worden State Park. Once home to 1,000 troops and officers, the fort and her neighboring sisters of Fort Flagler and Fort Casey made up the coastal defense system known as “The Triangle of Fire” protecting Puget Sound from enemy invaders. This evening, enjoy a tasting of ciders and local eats at a nearby cidery.

Disembark this morning in Seattle and transfer to the airport for your return flight home.