Photogenic Seattle

Today you’ll arrive in Seattle on your study photography tour, and you’ve probably already gotten a sneak peek of the famous city skyline and the Space Needle from the airplane. You’re in for a treat this week as your tour guide explores the city and region with you. After getting settled into your hotel for the week, the group will head to Pike Place Market for light exploring before dinner. The market is the oldest one like it in the country, in operation in this spot since the early 1900s. It is one of the most popular things to see for visitors in the city and a great place to shop for crafts, souvenirs, and collectibles.

The group will get started early this morning with a ride to the tip-top of the iconic Space Needle. The vantage point from more than 600 feet high is breathtaking. You’ll see the entire city, the Cascade and Olympic mountain chains, the Puget Sound and more. 

The group will spend the rest of the day exploring different photo-ready locations in the city. You’ll visit the city’s famous Chinatown, walk the streets of Pioneer Square – the city’s oldest neighborhood dating back to the days of the Gold Rush, visit Chihuly Garden and Glass, tour the Museum of Pop Culture, and end the day in one of the city’s most popular spots – Gasworks Park.

You’ll travel by ferry today to San Juan Island, the largest island in the archipelago that is collectively known as the San Juan Islands. You’ll have the entire day to explore the island. If the weather is nice, you might choose to kayak around the area. You can also opt to go on a whale watching tours. Orcas are prevalent in this region. There are plenty of shops, restaurants and cafes on the island. Or, you can pack up a picnic and head to one of the islands many beautiful beaches. The group will return to Seattle for dinner and get a good night’s sleep for a day full of hiking tomorrow.

This morning the group will board a bus for a 3-hour drive south to one of the most famous volcanoes in North America – Mount St. Helens. The volcano has been dormant since its last eruption in 1980. The area was devastated by the lava flow that killed miles of trees. But, in the more than 30 years since, much of the forest has regenerated, and the area offers plenty of outdoor recreation. 

The group will visit the Silver Lake Visitor Center for the afternoon. The center has an educational display about the volcano and its famous, deadly eruption. You can choose from many hikes that offer sweeping vistas of Mount St. Helens and the surrounding natural landscape. After a full day outdoors, the group will board the bus and return to Seattle.

The group will be back on the bus this morning but for a much shorter drive, 30 minutes or so to the south, to Snoqualmie Falls. You’ll have time upon arrival to visit the observation deck, hike closer to the falls, visit the gift shop and learn more about the area. The group will head farther outside of Seattle along the Snoqualmie Pass to the ski area of The Summit at Snoqualmie. Take a scenic chair lift ride up the mountain for a spectacular view.

This morning you’ll travel by ferry from Seattle to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The trip will take almost 2 hours. When you arrive, you’ll travel by bicycle around Stanley Park, one of the city’s famous green spaces. After lunch, the group will spend the afternoon exploring the Van Dusen Botanical Gardens before having dinner in The Drive neighborhood. The group will board the ferry after dinner and return to Seattle.

Before it’s time to head to the airport, spend your last couple of hours in the Emerald City with a return trip to the famous Pike Place Market. Pick up any last minute souvenirs before it’s time to leave. You’ve had a tremendous week in this Pacific Northwest jewel, but all good things must come to an end.