Pacific Northwest river cruise
Cruises on the Columbia River aboard small ships have been gaining in popularity, and many of the tours are aimed at oenophiles, with visits to the vineyards that produce many of the Pacific Northwest’s famous wines. UnCruise Adventures offers such voyages, but, true to its name, it has a new itinerary that incorporates other adventures too. The 86-passenger S.S. Legacy sails one way between Portland, Ore., and Clarkston, Wash., (and the reverse) through scenery ranging from temperate rainforests to the hills of the Palouse and high desert. Adventures offered include whitewater rafting on the Deschutes River, biking in the Columbia Gorge, hiking the Rowena Plateau, kayaking, swimming and a jet boat ride into Hells Canyon. Activities such as the hiking generally offer a choice between moderate and more strenuous routes. Not to ignore wine country, there is a visit to a winery, and the trip begins or ends in Portland with a one-night hotel stay and a guided tour of the city. The eight-night trip is priced from $4,995 per person, double occupancy, plus $175 port taxes and fees. Dates are from August through midOctober. Info: 888-862-8881, tinyurl.com/ydbcbkvy
Oldies and goodies
If you like history, you’ll enjoy looking over Business Insider’s list of “the oldest building in every state” to see what’s worth a stop on your next travels. It ranges from Alabama’s Joel Eddins House in Huntsville to Wyoming’s Fort Laramie in Goshen County. Over the years we’ve run afoul of enough errors about what is oldest, highest, smallest or coldest to know that these may not really be the oldest building in every state. But there’s no disputing that they’re old, and you’ll find them interesting. So check them out at tinyurl.com/ya3vh3t6.
Deep dive in Europe
Explore is a company that offers small-group, well-priced trips with an emphasis on getting up close to the destination. It has put together a list of its top 10 summer trips in Europe for those who want to sample the local culture. Though Portugal is on the list, much of it is made up of destinations in less visited parts of Eastern Europe. For example, the 16-day Former Yugoslavia Rail Adventure explores Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia. Transport and lodging on Explore trips are modest as befits the mission of experiencing a destination. On this trip, the website explains, “This is one of the last places in Europe where you can experience authentic rail travel on ex-socialist and Soviet trains, travel with the local people, and it’s the only way to see the incredible scenery along the way.” Check out the 10 trips at tinyurl.com/ycy79tva. Phil Marty is a freelance reporter.