UnCruise Adventures took us to the rivers -- and dropped us in the water.
The forward-thinking expedition line led us around the Pacific Northwest and exposed us to a range of exciting things you can do apart from hear tales of Lewis and Clark and Sacagawea.
Instead, we got to get a taste of some of the scenic areas that those legendary pioneers got to discover on their epic travels.
UnCruise Adventures is boldly reshaping what a river cruise can be with its new "Rivers of Adventure" program on the Columbia and Snake Rivers in Washington and Oregon.
While those two big waterways grab the headlines of the itinerary, we played on the Palouse, Deschutes and Salmon rivers, as well.
Check out the UnCruise Adventures excursions we tried during our weeklong cruise from Clarkston, Washington, to Portland, Oregon, on the 90-passenger SS Legacy.
Hiking the Rowena Plateau
Palouse Falls State Park and Palouse River Kayaking
The falls rage over a rock wall and down into the valley. We descended from our starting point down a rocky path and made it to the pools of glacial melt and beyond to a slice of trail along a razorback ridge. The trail through dry steppe area let us see dry grasses, wildflowers and shrubs.
I was the only one brave enough (I call it brave, OK!?; others said I am crazy) to hop in for a couple minutes to cool off. Wowzers, was it cold!
In the late afternoon, we went for kayaking session in the Palouse River through a stunning (of course) stretch of secluded wilderness.
Watch a video of all our excursions . . .
Cycling on the Twin Tunnels Trail
Whitewater Rafting on the Deschutes River
Other Activities
On another afternoon, we were offered the chance to take a short biking outing to a vineyard for wine tasting. We also loved the morning birdwatching tours; we went for a walk one morning and out on a skiff on the river on another. Plus, at the end of our cruise, during a stop at Cascade Locks, we went for a short afternoon hike on the Pacific Crest Trail during our free time.
Tell us: What do you think about the idea of a river cruise with all these activities? I think we know the answer.
Happy travels, and thanks for reading,
John
Watch a video tour of our cruise ship . . .
Read more of our past journeys with UnCruise Adventures:
UnCruise Adventures Alaska Expedition Gives Rise to an "Extreme Team"
UnCruise Offers Unbelievable Experience in Alaska
Nine Amazing Things About an UnCruise Trip in the Pacific Northwest