Oregon Coast
The ruggedly charming coastline of Oregon is entirely State owned, and is fondly referred to by many Oregonians as "The Peoples Coast"....
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The ruggedly charming coastline of Oregon is entirely State owned, and is fondly referred to by many Oregonians as "The Peoples Coast". From the mouth of the Columbia to the California border there are loads of attractions for any traveler.
Situated at the mouth of the mighty Columbia River, Astoria has served as a port of entry for over a century and remains the major trading center for the lower Columbia basin. The infamous Columbia bar, nicknamed "the graveyard of the Pacific" was the ultimate destination of two pivotal and epic expeditions in American history. In1804 the Lewis and Clark "Corps of Discovery" set out to discover a northwest passage and chart lands previously known only to native peoples. Only a few years later in 1810, John Jacob Astor's Pacific Fur Company sent the Astor Expedition on a perilous journey across the country to establish Fort Astoria as its primary fur-trading post in the Northwest, making Astoria the first permanent U.S. settlement on the Pacific coast! Astoria's many museums, bridges, lighthouses, historic forts and growing art scene are all major regional attractions. Other attractions include the Astoria Column; 125 feet (38 m) high tower built atop the hill above the town, and Fort Clatsop; a replica of the fort where in the winter of 1805–1806 the Lewis and Clark Expedition endured torturous rain and cold before heading east after two long years in a foreign land.
Only 90 minutes of travel West from Portland is the lovely town of Cannon Beach. Famous for sea-splitting headlands, miles of sandy beaches, and the giant monolith Haystack Rock - Cannon Beach is Oregon's quintessential beach town. Quaint cedar-clad cottages are home to saltwater taffy shops and glass blowing studios downtown, and beach hiking, elk viewing and surfing can be done at Ecola State Park on the north end of town.
Other coastal activities include whale watching in Depot Bay (March is peak season), kite flying and sand castle building (Cannon Beach has sand castle and kite festivals), fishing and beer tasting in Newport, sandboarding and dune buggy rides in Florence and golf at the famous Banden Dunes golf course. July-September is best for beach activities and storm-watching pilgrimages remain ever popular throughout fall and winter.
Willamette Valley
Bordered in the West by the Coastal Mountains and in the East by the Cascades, the fertile Willamette Valley runs approximately 173 miles...
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Bordered in the West by the Coastal Mountains and in the East by the Cascades, the fertile Willamette Valley runs approximately 173 miles from South to North. It begins in the mountains near Eugene, Oregon and flows into the Columbia River just North of Portland. The Willamette Valley is Oregon’s leading wine region, containing two-thirds of the state’s wineries and vineyards. Its more than 300 wineries are spread across six sub-appellations: Chehalem Mountains, Dundee Hills, Eola-Amity Hills, McMinnville, Ribbon Ridge and Yamhill-Carlton. The long, gentle growing season and mild maritime climate provides the best conditions possible for growing the cool-climate grape variety for which Oregon is best known: Pinot noir. The conditions are so perfect in fact, that the Willamtte Valley is now recognized as one of the premier Pinot noir producing areas in the world! Wineries also produce Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Melon, Gewürztraminer, sparkling wine, Sauvignon Blanc and some Syrah, Cabernet, and Merlot among other lesser-known varieties.
With wineries open year-round and a multitude of attractions to choose from, Willamette Valley has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Pacific Northwest. Helicopter tours and hot air balloon tours are fun options for the more adventurous traveler, and Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum is home to the famous Spruce Goose – a must see for any airplane enthusiast. Biking and zip-line tours are also available most of the year. If you are looking to spend a few days in the Valley, accommodations vary from luxury destination resorts and high-end inns to delightful bed & breakfasts, often located right on a vineyard. The valley also offers a long list of fine dining restaurants. An additional advantage for the wine tourist is the proximity of the wineries to Portland. From Portland, tourists can visit the Willamette Valley winery of their choice in anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours. Let us help you design the perfect Willamette Valley experience!
Mt. Hood
When visiting the Portland area, Mt. Hood should be a must on anyone's list. Its majestic beauty from afar is only the beginning....
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When visiting the Portland area, Mt. Hood should be a must on anyone's list. Its majestic beauty from afar is only the beginning. Once up close and personal you will feel a connection with the real wildness of the Pacific Northwest. Our guides can design a custom tour of Mt. Hood that is tailored specifically to your travel goals.
Most trips to the mountain begin with a visit to a few of the nearly 100 waterfalls that exist in the famous Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. After a nature walk and a morning snack near one of these natural wonders, we continue East to the town of Hood River. Here you can find just about any outdoor activity you can imagine, but windsurfing and kite boarding are by far the most popular. After a delicious lunch and maybe a visit to a boutique or two, we continue towards Mt. Hood via the pastoral and picturesque Hood River Valley. Take your pick from a variety of local wineries and fruit stands, or even a short hike to stretch your legs as we approach the most iconic destination in Oregon, Timberline Lodge.
A tour to Mt. Hood can take you hiking or mountain climbing the second most climbed mountain in the world with a elevation of 11,245 feet, or enjoy the adventure of a lifetime and bathe in the overwhelming views on a 2 mile hike around Trillium Lake - offering some of the best possible views of the mountain itself. Snowshoe trips are popular in the winter, and our guides are trained to help make sure the tour you choose is inline with your skill level as well as your interests. We can even help you plan an overnight excursion for the family or a corporate retreat, and we are always happy to offer up ideas for the rest of your time in Oregon. If you would like to know more about how our guided tours of Mount Hood can be part of your trip to Portland, please contact us today. We love the Northwest and are sure with us as your guides, you will too!
Mt. Ranier
At a colossal 14,400ft (4,390 meters) Mt. Rainier is the largest peak in the Cascade Range. Its majestic peak is encased in more than 35 square miles...
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At a colossal 14,400ft (4,390 meters) Mt. Rainier is the largest peak in the Cascade Range. Its majestic peak is encased in more than 35 square miles of snow and ice, and surrounded by old-growth forests, alpine meadows, lakes, and waterfalls. Experience a private tour of this amazing National Park with an expert naturalist tour guide on a Mt. Rainier tour from either Portland or Seattle. Your guide will reveal the natural and cultural history of Mt. Rainier as you wind through the Park to the Paradise area (weather-permitting), and embark on a scenic hike or snowshoe (depending on the season). Learn about the geology behind this active volcano, watch for elk, bears, and other wildlife, and take in stunning mountain views and moments of solitude.
On East side of the Mountain a short hike into the Grove of the Patriarchs leads to some of the oldest and largest trees in Pacific Northwest, and sitting at an elevation of 6,400-feet in the parkland meadows of Yakima Park, Sunrise is Mount Rainier’s highest visitor center, offering close-up views of the massive Emmons Glacier above hundreds of acres of meadows bursting with wildflowers. Sunrise rivals the more popular Paradise when it comes to scenic splendor and like it’s name implies, it's one of the first places in the park to capture morning’s early light.
Mt. St. Helens
On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted in a mushroom shaped column of ash that rose thousands...
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On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted in a mushroom shaped column of ash that rose thousands of feet skyward, turning day in tonight. In 1982, Congress created the 110,000 acre National Volcanic Monument for research, recreation and education. The Monument, which left to respond naturally to disturbance, is a one of a kind destination for mountain climbing, hiking, fishing and exploration.
Located in the heart of the Blast Zone, Johnston Ridge Observatory offers a wide-screen theater presentation, interactive displays, photos and artifacts from the 1980 eruption, and stunning views into the steaming volcano including the growing lava dome and the world’s youngest glacier. Learn how volcanoes are monitored and discover how Mt. St. Helens has taught us new answers to old mysteries from other volcanoes around the globe. While hiking on one of the many trails you can see first hand how nature has sprung back from the devastation and is now flourishing once again. Your guide will be on the lookout for wildlife, including deer, elk, beavers, otters, and a diverse array of bird species as you explore this young landscape. If you want a closer look at the crater, consider a thrilling helicopter tour of the mountain and Blast Zone! On the South side of the mountain is Ape Cave, the largest continuous lava tube in the continental United States. Here you can enjoy hiking in old growth forest and spelunking in caves that once contained rivers of molten rock.
Another family-friendly option is Sea quest State Park, Which offers scenic camping, hiking and picnic areas, and the Silver Lake Wetlands Trail. With First Nature you can always pick and choose from a long list of options to make your experience a perfect fit!
Columbia Gorge
Head east from Portland and in only 30 minutes you can be in the spectacular Columbia Gorge...
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Head east from Portland and in only 30 minutes you can be in the spectacular Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area enjoying a few of nearly 100 waterfalls in the region – including 620 foot tall Multnomah Falls, the second tallest perennial waterfall in the US. While taking in the towering basalt cliffs keep an eye out for Osprey and Eagles and learn about Oregon's diverse ecosystems as the scenery changes from the lush wet forests of douglas fir, cedar and hemlock to dry ponderosa pine and oak forests of the eastern Cascades. If fish fascinate you, you can learn the life cycle of Pacific Northwest Salmon with a quick stop at the Bonneville Dam, home of 70-year-old Herman the Sturgeon and migrating adult salmon that can be seen through windows on the fish ladder.
Within an hour drive from Portland you can find yourself in the picturesque town of Hood River and exploring the vineyards and farms of pastoral Hood River Valley. Hood River’s laid-back, surf town vibe make it one of the most popular places in the Pacific Northwest for both tourists and local adventure enthusiasts. The town sports several breweries, wine tasting, fine dining and a variety of boutiques and outfitters. This part of the Gorge is essentially a year-round recreational paradise, offering excellent mountain biking, hiking, kite boarding, wind surfing and pretty much anything you can imagine doing on the water in the summer. In winter there is great access to Mt. Hood for skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing. Hood River Valley is home to Cascade Alpaca Ranch and Hood River Lavender Farm along with renowned wineries like Marchesi, Cathedral Ridge, Pheasant Valley and Wy’East. As we continue heading east, the wet forests of the coastal Pacific Northwest give way to more arid vegetation. By the time we reach the town of The Dalles, the landscape is true desert. Here we can visit The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, full of Pioneer and Oregon Trail history, as well as exhibits on native peoples of the Columbia River and the treacherous journey of Lewis and Clark through this region in 1805 and 1806. A bit further east gets us to Maryhill Museum where you’ll encounter an impressive collection of art from around the world, including more than 80 works by French sculptor Auguste Rodin and a vast array of artifacts from Pacific Northwest indigenous groups featuring ancient petrogylphs, intricate baskets and beadwork. Whatever your interests, there is sure to be something for the whole family in the Columbia Gorge!
Crater Lake
So you want to see a crater and go swimming in pristine waters? Our guided tours to Crater Lake will leave you breathless....
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So you want to see a crater and go swimming in pristine waters? Our guided tours to Crater Lake will leave you breathless. Truly there is no place on earth like Crater Lake which is one of the oldest national parks in our country and the only national park in the State of Oregon. You will engage in hikes along the beautiful Cascade Mountain Range, Swim and Cook out at Crater Lake, and take in the sites at the Hatchery where you will see thousands of Salmon in their natural habitat. Private tours to Crater Lake National Park is one of our favorite options people hire us for and once you get there you will see why.
This 2,000 feet deep and 30 miles wide natural wonder is a site to see and we want to be the tour guides that show it to you. Let our Tour Guide to Crater Lake put together a personalized package for you, your family, or your company outing to help you make the most of it. We can plan for hikes, climbs, swims, and places to see and great places to eat while you are with us at Crater Lake National Park. Tour Guides to Crater Lake will provide quotes that include all transportation and accommodations based on your needs and wants as well as suggestions that have enticed past travelers. Let us help you create great memories and contact our tour guides in Crater Lake National Park today for more information on what we can do for you.
Olympic National Park
Often referred to as “three parks in one”, Olympic National Park encompasses three distinctly different ecosystems...
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Often referred to as “three parks in one”, Olympic National Park encompasses three distinctly different ecosystems — rugged glacier capped mountains, over 60 miles of wild Pacific coast and magnificent stands of old growth and temperate rain forest. These diverse ecosystems are still largely pristine in character, and 95% of the park is designated wilderness. This means much of the interior of Olympic National Park is accessible only by trail. Scenic drives are possible to Hurricane Ridge, along the Pacific Coast and through the forested valleys of the Sol Duc, Hoh and Quinault Rivers provide glimpses of Olympic’s diversity.
More than 60 miles of Pacific Ocean coastline form a vital component of the park. Vibrating with life and energy this rugged coastline has remained little changed except for the impact of the pounding surf and storms. Arches and sea stacks, crashing waves, the calls of gulls, bald eagles and black oystercatchers, dramatic sunsets, the vastness of the ocean and a myriad of other elements impress themselves upon you. It looks much as it did when Native Americans first built their first villages thousands of years before European explorers arrived. Many tribes continue to live along the peninsula’s shores where their ancestors arrived so long ago.
Olympic National Park is also a World Heritage Site, and is home to temperate rain forest as well as lowland, montane, and subalpine forests. Temperate rain forest is found at low elevations along the Pacific Ocean coast and in the western-facing valleys of the peninsula where lots of rain, moderate temperatures, and summer fogs exist. Part of an ecosystem that stretches along the coast from Oregon to Alaska! The Rain Forest, record trees, glaciers, hot springs (including Sol Duc Hot Springs and Olympic Hot Springs). This destination has recently been featured in National Geographic Travel’s top 10 list!
Alaska
Only in Alaska can you meet a moose, walk on a glacier and explore a vast, natural park all in a single day....
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Only in Alaska can you meet a moose, walk on a glacier and explore a vast, natural park all in a single day. From the tallest mountains in North America to the deepest fjords and the largest national park filled with abundant wildlife - Alaska truly feels like the Last Frontier. Did you know Alaska holds more than half of America’s national park lands? With 17 national park units and 16 national wildlife refuges, the options may seem limitless. Luckily, we’re here to help you make the right choice for Alaskan Adventure.
The city of Anchorage is in the center of it all, and besides having many direst flights from all over the US and abroad this city on the edge of the Earth can be a great home base to enjoy private tours of Alaska’s national parks and explore it’s rugged coastline. Only a short drive from Anchorage is the beautiful mountain town of Girdwood - home to the famous Alyeska Resort and an excellent place to experience heli-skiing tours, glacier trek tours, private kayaking tours, whitewater rafting tours… you can even take a helicopter tour to a glacier and ride a dog sled with professional Iditarod mushers!
With tremendous glaciers, wildlife like moose, bear, wolves and caribou in stunning abundance, and outdoor opportunities unlike those anywhere else, Alaska national parks are show-stopping. Take a scenic boat tour or an expedition cruise and see humpback whales feed and otters bob in the glacier-filled Kenai Fjords National Park. A private flight seeing tour of Denali National Park gives you up-close access to North America’s tallest peak and amazing wildlife. Go on a bear viewing tour to see Grizzly bears feeding on Alaska’s epic salmon runs. Take a tour of Lake Clark National Park and Katmai National Park for excellent Alaska hiking or private fishing charter with an Alaskan guide. Mighty Wrangell-Saint Elias has glaciers larger than Rhode Island, and a gold history runs deep!
Ready to start your adventure to the great Alaskan frontier? Send us an email and we’ll help you design the perfect private tour of Alaska!