There is no season quite like the holidays in Seattle, and we arrive the most relaxing way possible, by train. Over four festive days we spend an evening with Scrooge at a beloved Seattle production of A Christmas Carol, sail Puget Sound aboard the Christmas Ship, and watch the Pacific Northwest Ballet perform George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker. Between the performances, we taste our way through Pike Place Market, wander among the glowing works of Chihuly Garden and Glass, and browse a European-style Christmas market, with every detail handled for us.

Guests board the Amtrak Cascades in Albany, Salem or Portland and are welcomed aboard by the Tour Director. Travel north to Seattle, arriving at historic King Street Station.

Hotel is just across the street from King Street Station, allowing time to check in, freshen up and enjoy lunch on your own in Pioneer Square.

Tour Director leads an easy welcome walk through Seattle’s original neighborhood, with its Klondike Gold Rush history, iron pergola and holiday-lit storefronts.

Gather for an early welcome dinner together downtown before attending A Christmas Carol.

Attend a cherished Seattle holiday tradition: Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, a warm and moving production.

After breakfast at our hotel, we travel to Pike Place Market, dressed in its holiday finest.

A guided holiday tasting tour introduces us to the market’s stories, hidden corners and seasonal flavors, followed by time to browse the stalls, artisan crafts and cafés on our own.

We return to our hotel for a free afternoon. Rest before the evening ahead, explore the waterfront or simply enjoy the festive city at your own pace.

After an early dinner together, we head to the waterfront to board the Argosy Christmas Ship.

Aglow with lights, the ship sails along the shores of Puget Sound as a choir performs carols for those on board and the crowds gathered on shore, a magical evening on the water.

Overnight: Pioneer Square, Seattle, Washington

After breakfast, we travel to Seattle Center, home of the Space Needle, for a visit to Chihuly Garden and Glass.

Dale Chihuly’s extraordinary glass sculptures fill the galleries, the soaring Glasshouse and the garden, glowing in brilliant color against the winter sky.

Just steps away, the Seattle Christmas Market transforms the grounds into a European-style holiday village of artisan gifts, carolers and warm treats.

We enjoy lunch together before the centerpiece of our holiday, a performance of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker by the Pacific Northwest Ballet at McCaw Hall.

A performance of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker by the Pacific Northwest Ballet at McCaw Hall. With a full orchestra, enchanting sets and costumes and the full company on stage, it is a performance that delights first-timers and lifelong devotees alike.

After time to freshen up at our hotel, we gather for dinner together to celebrate a truly unforgettable day.

We gather for dinner together to celebrate a truly unforgettable day.

Overnight: Pioneer Square, Seattle, Washington

After a final breakfast at our hotel, guests may join an optional stroll along Seattle’s revitalized waterfront, with views across Elliott Bay to the Olympic Mountains, or enjoy a relaxed morning of shopping and coffee in Pioneer Square.

Guests may join an optional stroll along Seattle’s revitalized waterfront, with views across Elliott Bay to the Olympic Mountains, or enjoy a relaxed morning of shopping and coffee in Pioneer Square. The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park is just steps from our hotel.

We share a farewell lunch together, reliving the highlights of our holiday, before boarding the Amtrak Cascades for the journey south.

Board the Amtrak Cascades for the journey south. Our Tour Director sees each guest off at their home station in Portland, Salem or Albany, with the glow of the season to carry us home.