Californian lifestyle meets Canadian charm

San Francisco is a storied Pacific port city where Gold Rush history, world-class gastronomy, and dramatic natural beauty converge at the edge of the American West. Visitors should not miss the ancient redwood groves of Muir Woods and a sourdough-and-oyster pilgrimage through the Ferry Building, while the cruise terminal at Pier 27 offers stunning Golden Gate departures to Alaska and the Mexican Riviera. The ideal season stretches from September through November, when warm, fog-free skies reveal the city at its most luminous.

Astoria, Oregon — the oldest American settlement west of the Rockies — sits where the Columbia River meets the Pacific, offering a compelling blend of maritime heritage, independent culinary culture, and dramatic coastal scenery. Climb the Astoria Column for sweeping river-and-ocean views, then feast on Bowpicker's legendary albacore fish and chips or Dungeness crab along the historic Riverwalk. Late spring through early autumn delivers the most agreeable weather, with July and August bringing warm days, lingering twilight, and the clearest panoramas of the Coast Range.

Victoria, British Columbia, is a charming port city known for its British-inspired architecture, vibrant food scene, and rich cultural heritage. Must-do experiences include indulging in afternoon tea at the Fairmont Empress and exploring the lively Victoria Public Market. The best time to visit is in the summer, when the city's gardens and outdoor attractions are in full bloom.

Victoria is the world's smallest capital city, heart of the Seychelles archipelago on the granite island of Mahé, where endemic coco de mer palms, spectacular beaches framed by massive boulders, and a vibrant Creole market culture converge. Must-do experiences include browsing the Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market, hiking the Copolia Trail through endemic forests, and swimming at Anse Intendance beach. May through September offers the coolest, driest conditions for exploration.

Nanaimo, on Vancouver Island's eastern shore, has transformed from coal-mining origins into a vibrant Pacific Northwest destination where the iconic Nanaimo Bar Trail, craft breweries, and wild Pacific seafood define an emerging culinary scene. Newcastle Island marine park, ancient Cathedral Grove forests, and Snuneymuxw First Nation petroglyphs extend the natural and cultural depth. Azamara brings travelers to this authentic British Columbia port where orca-frequented straits and old-growth forests reveal the Pacific Northwest beyond the Alaska cruise circuit.

Pressed between the Pacific and the Coast Mountains, Vancouver is the natural gateway to Alaska's Inside Passage — a city where temperate rainforest meets glass towers and where Dungeness crab and wild sockeye salmon define a Pacific Rim cuisine that rivals any in North America. Walk the 22-kilometre Stanley Park seawall, lose yourself in the Granville Island market, then ferry across to Victoria's Edwardian splendour. Alaska cruise season peaks from May through September, making Vancouver an ideal starting point for one of the world's great ocean journeys.

Seattle, the Pacific Northwest's rain-kissed metropolis, commands one of America's most spectacular urban settings — a skyline of glass towers reflected in Elliott Bay with the white cone of Mount Rainier presiding over the horizon on clear days. Pike Place Market, one of the oldest and most vibrant public markets in the country, overflows with Dungeness crab, wild salmon, and blooms of tulips from the Skagit Valley. The neighbourhood of Capitol Hill pulses with independent bookshops and craft breweries; the Space Needle delivers sweeping views of the Cascades and the Olympic Peninsula. Summer, from June through September, offers Seattle's most generous sunshine.

Eureka is a Victorian-era port city on California's north coast, home to the most photographed Victorian mansion in America and gateway to the world's tallest trees in Redwood National Park. Must-dos include exploring Old Town's architectural treasures, eating Humboldt Bay oysters fresh from the water, and driving the Avenue of the Giants through ancient redwood groves. October-November offers the clearest weather, crab season, and fall colour in the surrounding forests.

San Francisco is a storied Pacific port city where Gold Rush history, world-class gastronomy, and dramatic natural beauty converge at the edge of the American West. Visitors should not miss the ancient redwood groves of Muir Woods and a sourdough-and-oyster pilgrimage through the Ferry Building, while the cruise terminal at Pier 27 offers stunning Golden Gate departures to Alaska and the Mexican Riviera. The ideal season stretches from September through November, when warm, fog-free skies reveal the city at its most luminous.

San Francisco is a storied Pacific port city where Gold Rush history, world-class gastronomy, and dramatic natural beauty converge at the edge of the American West. Visitors should not miss the ancient redwood groves of Muir Woods and a sourdough-and-oyster pilgrimage through the Ferry Building, while the cruise terminal at Pier 27 offers stunning Golden Gate departures to Alaska and the Mexican Riviera. The ideal season stretches from September through November, when warm, fog-free skies reveal the city at its most luminous.