Seattle Adventurers

The highway opens up east of the Cascades and the landscape shifts — sage and basalt replacing the evergreens, the sky getting wider, the heat settling in like an old friend. By the time you crest the ridge and catch your first glimpse of Grand Coulee Dam, nearly a mile of concrete holding back the Columbia River, something clicks into place. This is an American landmark in the truest sense — raw, monumental, built by thousands of hands during the Great Depression and still humming with power nearly a century later.
In 2026, America turns 250 years old — and Grand Coulee is throwing one of the most unforgettable birthday parties in the Pacific Northwest. The Festival of America takes over Coulee Dam Visitor Center Park across the holiday weekend, with live music, local food vendors, family activities, and the biggest fireworks finale the dam has ever seen, launched over the water in the dark of a Central Washington night.
But the celebration doesn't end when the fireworks fade. We'll stay the night and wake up on July 5th to catch the dam in the soft morning light — quieter, golden, the river still. Then a stop at the Grand Coulee Dam Visitor Center before the drive home: a free, world-class exhibit that tells the full story of this engineering marvel, capped by the chance to see the laser light show projected across the entire spillway — "One River, Many Voices," narrated against the face of the dam with the Columbia herself as the backdrop.
Just 3.5–4.5 hours from Seattle, this is the July 4th trip that actually lets you breathe. While Gasworks Park fills shoulder-to-shoulder with 100,000+ people, you'll be watching fireworks explode over a mile-wide dam with room to stand, room to sit, and room to look up. No gridlock. No fighting for a patch of grass three hours early. Just the Columbia, the sky, and one of the most dramatic backdrops in the entire country.

***

## 📅 Itinerary

Saturday, July 4

1. 8:00 AM — Depart Seattle/Redmond area. Recommend Redmond Technology Station (carpools coordinate in comments)
2. 11:30 AM–12:00 PM — Arrive Grand Coulee; grab lunch from festival food vendors
3. 12:00 PM–5:00 PM — Festival of America at Coulee Dam Visitor Center Park — live music, vendors, artisans, family activities; explore the festival grounds at your own pace
4. 5:00 PM — Free time: walk the dam overlook, explore Grand Coulee town, relax before evening
5. Dusk (approx. 10:00 PM) — Fireworks show over Grand Coulee Dam — the largest in the festival's history; stake out your spot early on the bleachers or surrounding viewpoints

Sunday, July 5

Set sail on the award-winning Harmony of the Seas for an unforgettable 13-Night Transatlantic journey. This extraordinary voyage takes you from the sun-kissed shores of Spain to the cultural treasures of France, all while enjoying the unmatched entertainment, dining, and amenities Royal Caribbean is famous for. From world-class shows to thrilling onboard experiences, every moment promises adventure and indulgence as you cross the Atlantic in style. ~Claudette

COST: Rates start at $3,113.13 (single occupancy, rates available for double occupancy), including taxed and fees.
EXCLUSIVE BONUS: $50 Shipboard Credit) per Person
PORTS: Barcelona • Palma de Mallorca • Cartegena • Malga • Seville • Orlando

Experience a unique solar adventure in Iceland like never before. This extraordinary 15-night journey from Portsmouth to Edinburgh offers more than just a grand tour of Dublin, Glasgow, Stornoway, Edinburgh, and Iceland—it sets the stage for an unforgettable solar eclipse viewing. One day, you could be wandering through Dublin’s vibrant Temple Bar, and the next, you’ll find yourself in Iceland, marveling at the otherworldly glow of this celestial event. ~Claudette

COST: Rates start at $4,966, including taxed and fees.
BONUSES:
🛳 Book and pay in full a year in advance and get 10% off!
🛳 Up to an Additional $300 in Sailor Loot on Select Categories & Sailings!
🛳 $50 Sailor Loot (Shipboard Credit) per Person in Select Categories!
🛳 Additional Exclusive Bennies Priority Access to Reserve Add-ons and Bookable Experiences:

• 135 Days Prior (instead of 120) for Shore Things
• 60 Days Prior (instead of 45) for onboard activities

AND Solo Sailors get 80% off the double occupancy rate (i.e. the single supplement is 120% vs 200%) - special subject to change or end without notice.
PORTS: Portsmouth • Dublin • Greenock (Glasgow) • Stornoway, Isle of Lewis • Akureyri • Siglufjörður • Ísafjörður • Reykjavik • Edinburgh • Portsmouth

You're invited to send summer off with a bang and in style with a Hosted Cruise in the Western Caribbean. I was just notified of this flash sale on this beautiful ship and booked my cabin on the spot! Thought I'd share this with you to come join me! FYI if you have loyalty status (cruise, hotel, etc.) MSC will match it!!! ~Claudette

FLASH SALE
Cabins starting at $621 (no frills Bella option, single occupancy)
Balcony cabins range from $981 to $1,181 (for Bella and Fantastica experiences)
Rates and availability subject to change without notice.

WHERE: Roundtrip out of Galveston, TX
PORTS: Galveston, TX · Costa Maya Mexico · Isla de Roatán Honduras · Cozumel Mexico · Galveston, TX