Enjoy your complimentary stay at the pre-cruise hotel. The evening is yours to become acquainted with the city. Our Hospitality Desk will be located in the hotel, and our friendly staff can assist with everything from general questions about your upcoming voyage to reserving premium experiences. Both American Queen Steamboat Company and local representatives will be readily available to provide you with dining, entertainment and sightseeing options to maximize your time here.

A suburb of Portland, Oregon, Vancouver, Washington, has taken on a distinctive identity of its own. Located in an ideal spot among Mount St. Helens, the Columbia River Gorge and the Pacific Coast, Vancouver boasts a newly renovated waterfront and an abundance of activities, scenic landscapes and historic attractions for all to enjoy.

Stevenson embraces the adventurist – with hiking trails, hot springs and local wineries, a visitor is sure to find plenty to do. Opportunities for educational enlightenment abound within the Columbia River Gorge Interpretive Center and at Bonneville Dam. Consider a stop downtown to visit restaurants, cafés and small locally owned shops in which reside treasures of the Pacific Northwest.

Astoria is known to be the oldest American settlement west of the Rocky Mountains. There is no doubting the richness of the history grounded in this Columbia River town. For thousands of years, the Clatsop Tribe inhabited the lands. Today, you can climb to the top of the Astoria Column – wrapped in depictions of history – look out over the landscape toward the Pacific Ocean and watch your model wooden airplane glide through the air to its rest below.

Camas and Washougal are located side-by-side on the banks of the Columbia River. Part of the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area, this community serves as the “Gateway to the Gorge.” A highlight to a visit here is a drive through the Columbia River Gorge, the largest national scenic area in the United States. Up to 4,000 feet deep, the Gorge stretches for more than 80 miles as the Columbia River winds westward through the Cascade Range, forming the boundary between the State of Washington to the north and Oregon to the south. Three volcanoes dominate the Cascades and are major attractions when visiting the Gorge. Majestic Mt. Hood is the highest point in Oregon. It is one of the three dormant volcanoes in this region, with Mt. Adams and Mt. St. Helens located across the river in Washington state. The western Gorge, with an average annual rainfall of 75 inches, is lush and green with misty mountains, old growth forest and over 40 plus waterfalls. The eastern Gorge, with an annual rainfall of less than 15 inches, is a region of rocky bluffs, rolling hills, desert wildflowers and wide, open spaces. 

At the end of the overland Oregon Trail, The Dalles holds a unique place in history as a jumping-off spot for pioneers, soldiers, gold miners, adventurers, gun-slingers, floozies and scallywags. The Dalles, although a part of the Oregon High Desert, features a long growing season and a relatively warm climate that supports the growing of grapes. As a result, the region is home to a wine scene unlike any other in Oregon. Visitors will be pleased to see the rolling hills speckled with vineyards.

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS: The Dalles' Included Hop-On Hop-Off
Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum  
Enjoy the beautiful paved walking trails, a pond, and scenic overlooks.  The Discovery Center is located in a beautiful and unique ecosystem native to the area. The multimedia, interactive museum inspires appreciation and stewardship of the natural and cultural treasures of the gorge and Wasco County. Exhibits focus on the volcanic upheaval and raging floods that shaped the gorge, the unique flora and fauna of the region, and 11,000 years of cultural history. 

Original Wasco County Courthouse Museum  
In 1854,  The Dalles was designated by the Territorial Legislature as the county seat of one of the largest counties ever formed in the United States. Wasco County extended from the crest of the Cascade Mountains to the Great Divide in the Rockies and encompassed 130,000 square miles.

The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce  
Discover the history of this beautiful city. Learn about the many local attractions and buildings, and get a listing of the best places to grab a bite to eat, get a fine glass of wine, find a pharmacy, or do the most unique shopping.  The friendly hosts will assist you in any way possible while informing you about their hometown.    

Fort Dalles Museum  
Located in the former fort's Surgeon's Quarters built in 1856, the Fort Dalles Museum opened in 1905, making it one of Oregon's oldest history museums. Take a tour of the unique collection of pioneer and military artifacts at one of the old west's most pivotal places in history. Enjoy walking on the grounds of this military fort and viewing the historic collection of wagons and antique vehicles. 

National Neon Sign Museum 
Brand new in The Dalles, the National Neon Sign Museum is a walk through the evolution of light, from the earliest of light bulb signs (1880-1920) to the introduction of neon to the United States in 1923. The museum provides a dynamic and entertaining environment that promotes an understanding and appreciation of advertising and signage and the unique role it has played in American history. 

 

As your American Queen Voyages journey concludes, there are other opportunities for you to take in the town -- whether it's an optional premier post-cruise experience or a quick transfer to the airport for your final trip home -- your AQV team can pre-arrange everything for you.