Cruise West - taste of the Pacific Northwest

Small-ship operator Cruise West says it will launch "taste of the Pacific Northwest" cruises in September on the 84-passenger Spirit of Discovery. The seven-day trips down the Columbia River will highlight the wines and wine regions of Oregon and Washington, as well as the culinary traditions of the area.

As for the new Cruise West sailings, the line says the itinerary -- the third it has announced this year that's focused on wine and food -- will include visits to family-owned wineries and vineyards along the Columbia River; tastings and meals with owners and growers; and tours through winery cave systems. Other activities include a tractor tour through the Hood River Valley’s renowned family-run Fruit Company, plucking pears and apples along the route; and a private tour with a local farmer through the Hanford Reach National Monument’s towering bluffs. Cruise West says prices for the trip start at $3,149 per person.