Mount Rainer. Rattlesnake Ridge. Mount Si. Anyone here can tell you that the Pacific Northwest has some of the most gorgeous outdoor recreational destinations in the United States, and during the summer these places act as stages to some of the finest scenic summer memories. Now add in some of the best bevvies the region has to offer and you might ask yourself… what’s the catch here?
Outdoor booze cruises are a relatively new concept. Whether it be by boat, bike or even plane, check out some of the ways to take your night out on the town to the great outdoors.
Sound Excursions || This Seattle event company offers luxurious excursions for out of towners and locals alike. Pick a weekend from this upcoming August through September for a 10-hour tubing trip on the Wenatchee River complete with transportation to/from the water, snacks and entertaining trivia. Sit back in a deluxe tube featuring a headrest, a hammock and cup holder. They will even provide a waterproof bag to keep your cellphone safe and dry for the duration of the trip. Pull up to shore near the heart of Leavenworth and head over to the beer garden cookout, where participants can choose from more than 20 different craft beers. This day trip costs $75 and you must be 18+ to sign up for one of these trips, 21+ to enjoy the beer garden.
Paddle Oregon || This five-day excursion, starting Monday August 17, will take you 85 miles down along the Willamette River in Oregon, starting at Marshall Island Access in Junction City, Crystal Lake in Corvallis and all the way down to Wallace Marine Park in Salem. Although the excursion will have experienced pod leaders and safety paddlers to help keep all boaters safe, it is recommended that participants use kayaks no less than 13 feet in length, and have moderate boating experience, to insure smooth sailing through the patches of rapids. If you are in need of a nicely-sized kayak for your adventures, it might be wise to check out a site like https://bestkayaks.reviews/pelican-trailblazer-100-kayak-review so that you can come to an informed decision about what kayak to use for your watercraft fun. As far as sustenance goes, there is no ordinary camping food on this trip – although, those bringing their own survival food pouches will likely save themselves a small fortune. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all catered with beer and wine on stock. Registration costs $749.00 for adults and $699.00 for youth 17 and under, which includes food, camp sites, ACA insurance, safety paddlers, and even waterproof trail maps. Participants can end the trip with a special treat. Friday night, the folks at Arcane Cellars at Wheatland Winery & Vineyard invite trip partakers to enjoy a place to camp, a hot shower and a night of wine tasting.
Cascadia Expeditions || Cascadia Expedition’s $89, six-hour Craft Brew River Tour leaves from Corvallis, Oregon and leads participants along the shores of the Willamette River, where boaters get to secure their boats along the shore and sample local craft brews. Excursion ends with a meal at Block 15’s local brew pub. Nervous about adding alcohol to potential sea-sickness? Non-alcoholic drinks and snacks will be provided. This is a 21+ event.
Cycle Saloon || Experience a whole new way to pub crawl by grabbing friends and booking a seat on the Cycle Saloon, a 16-passenger pedal powered vehicle that the riders pedal from bar to bar. Explore the bar scene while cruising through the streets of Ballard and Fremont. Or hit the waters of Lake Union on the new Cycle Pontoon, similar in experience of the street-cycling saloon, but on a boat. Drivers will always be provided. A seat for a brewery tour goes for just $28, or groups can book an entire vehicle or boat in advance.
Bend Cycle || Sight-see your way through Bend, Oregon on the Bend Cycle, a group pedaling vehicle that lets participants pedal through the streets, stopping at a handful of custom-selected breweries. No drinking and driving here; drivers will be provided so that all each guest peddler has to worry about is what kind of beer to get at the next place. Guests can book a pre-routed tour, or choose a more flexible option where only one stop is assigned, Silver Moon Brewing, and the rest is left up to the riders to decide. Tours last about two hours, and depending on the group size two bike sizes are available, $165 for the 4-6 person bike and $350 for the 8-14 big bike.
Taste Vacations || Taste Vacations invites you to savor your world. Whether you fancy beer, wine, food or spirits, Taste Vacations spares no expense in offering a gourmet experience for worldly cravings. Sign up for the Chile and Argentina Wine Tour to spend nine days in South America sampling the regions many wine varietals, or spend a week stopping at six different cities throughout Belgium to sample true Belgian beer. Keep it local with the Washington Wine County Tour. Prices vary to fit the costs of the different travel expenses, so make sure to read up on each trip to find the best fit for you!
