The gorgeous Columbia River is situated in the northwestern portion of the United States. It measures 1,243 miles in length and is the largest river to empty into the Pacific in terms of water volume. Columbia River cruises are popular with many area visitors and locals. One reason is because this river is so rich in history and heritage, as it was once traveled by the legendary explorers Lewis and Clark. There are even specialty tours that focus on this aspect of the river.

One such tour is the Journey Into History cruise on the Sternwheeler Columbia George, which is owned by the Portland Spirit company. The boat boards at Marine Park which is located in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The gorge is a canyon that spans 80 miles in length and 4,000 feet in depth. The north canyon walls of the gorge are located in Washington State while the south canyon walls are located in Oregon State. On your journey through this area, you will learn about the historic trip made by Lewis and Clark on their way to the Pacific. Although the mode of river transportation has changed quite a bit, the spectacular scenery has not.