TMI Tours invites you to enjoy  exclusive 7 night cruises on the might Columbia River this fall aboard the 12-passenger yacht,  Safari Spirit.  Explore the extraordinary wine regions of the Columbia River Gorge with guest Sommeliers, Vintners, Chefs and culinary arts specialists.  

The  Columbia River Gorge is home to some of the finest wineries in the United States.  Washington wineries are welcoming travellers from around the world to their intimate and diverse tasting rooms.  The Columbia Gorge region offers visitors a wide-range of vineyards and wineries to visit as well as a myriad of outdoor activities with outstanding scenery and true Pacific Northwest hospitality.   Guest aboard the intimate yacht, Safari Spirit,  will enjoy an ambiance of refinement, luxury and relaxation  while  cruising between the river ports of Portland, Oregon and Lewiston, Idaho. 

Adventure  is just around each corner and guest will enjoy such activities as a thrilling jet-boat ride into the Snake River’s famous Hells Canyon, a personal tour of the impressive Bonneville Dam and a visit to the enchanting Maryhill Museum and Winery.   Sample hand-crafted, award-winning wines at 5 private, family-owned wineries with private tours and tastings.  On-board you will enjoy locally purchased produce and seafoods of the Pacific Northwest, prepared by expert Chefs and guest culinary hosts.

Indulge your passion for highly-rated wines and hand-crafted meals amidst one of the United States most scenic backdrops–the Columbia River Gorge.  Contact Linda Bruno or Rhonda Sand at TMI Tours & Cruises for details and availability aboard the exquisite yacht, the  Safari Spirit.   Departure dates for 2010: Oct 15, 22, 29 and Nov 05.  TMI Tours 1-800-975-7775 or info @tmitours.com

The Adriatic coast of Croatia, known as Dalmatia, is a colorful blend of old Europe, abruptly rising coastal mountains and golden strands of beach.   With numerous islands and extensive coastline,  exploration by yacht affords the most exotic and intimite method available.  The warm Adriatic Sea sparkles with rare clarity, one of the bluest seas in the world,  and is so inviting for sailing and swimming.

Join long-time Coeur d’Alene locals, Peter and Betsy Grubb, for their 15th season chartering yacht trips in Croatia.  Sailing aboard a 105′ traditional Croatian-made motor/sail vessel, let them show you this coast as they have come to know and love it.  Using local guides and crew, this trip will immerse you in the local culture and history as none other can.  Focusing on the variety of food and wine in Croatia, the goal of this adventure is to mix walking, sailing, history and authentic Croatian food and wine in equal doses.

Accomodations onboard will be in comfortable double-bedded cabins, each with it’s own private bath.   The atmosphere aboard will be casual and the yachts are spacious and elegant with large amounts of deck space and beautifully fitted.  Delicious, traditional meals from the finest ingredients are served including an array of fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and freshly caught seafood.  Croatia has a long tradition of making quality wines and during the course of this trip, there will be plenty of opportunity to taste many of these as we visit several wineries and vineyards.

TMI Tours & Cruises of Coeur d’Alene would like to invite you to join Peter & Betsy Grubb, September 15-26, 2010 for a yachting, walking, historical and cultural cruise along Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast .  For full itinerary details including other sailing dates,  please contact Linda Bruno or Rhonda Sand at TMI Tours & Cruises, 1-800-975-7775 or info@tmitours.com

Washington wineries are welcoming travellers from around the world to their intimate and diverse tasting rooms.  The Columbia Gorge region offers visitors a wide-range of vineyards and wineries to visit as well as a myriad of outdoor activities with outstanding scenery and true Pacific Northwest hospitality.

Enjoy a romantic stay at the  Bonneville Hot Springs Resort located just 35 miles from the Portland, Oregon airport.  Portland is a bustling city on the west coast, easily accessible from anywhere in the world.  The Bonneville Hot Springs Resort and Spa offers guests lush accomodations with private patios or balconies, nestled among the towering waterfalls of the Columbia River Gorge.   Private hot tubs invite you to relax in their natural mineral spring water, perfect after a day of wine tasting or sightseeing. 

Private, custom wine tours are easily arranged with transportation right from your hotel.  These 4 hour tours will entice you with a gourmet picnic lunch, visits to at least 4 wineries on either the Hood River Valley route or the Eastern Washington Gorge route,  exclusive cellar tours and vineyard tours as well as knowledgeable drivers and guides.  You can choose from such wineries as Pheasant Valley Vineyards, Cathedral Ridge, Mt Hood Vineyards,  Maryhill Winery, Cascade Cliffs and Wind River Cellars.

Contact Linda Bruno or Rhonda Sand at TMI Tours for a complete listing of exclusive resorts around the Columbia River Gorge, available wine tours as well as wineries and sighteeing options.  We are the experts for travel to the Pacific Northwest.  1-800-975-7775 or info@tmitours.com

TMI Tours & Cruises is excited about several of the fall Columbia River cruise itineraries being offered in 2009. One of these great upcoming cruises is an exclusive wine and culinary adventure that offers you the opportunity to sample award-winning wines and cruise through history on the Columbia River, witnessing the natural beauty and tastes of the Pacific Northwest.

9 Night / 10 Day Itinerary – Lewiston, Idaho to Astoria, Oregon
October 16-25, 2009

Here are a few of the many exciting adventures that await you on this exciting cruise:

• Hells Canyon by Jet Boat. After breakfast this morning we’ll transfer to a jet boat for an invigorating ride into Hells Canyon. Vertical cliffs carved by the river now hem in the rushing waters that we travel upon, and we’ll watch some of the most dramatic scenery unfold as we jet upriver. We’ll watch for big horn sheep and hawks throughout the day. After our excursion we’ll cruise the Snake River, passing through our first lock and dam called Lower Granite. After dinner our Expedition Leader will provide a brief orientation to the journey.
• The Washington Wine Country. Travel by executive coach to Walla Walla. Tour an unusual winery located in an historic 1915 Frenchtown schoolhouse. Join your wine “scholar” on a private tour and tasting of prized reserve wines such as an Estate Syrah. A short distance away is another unique destination winery known for their ultra-premium Merlot wines. Upon returning to the yacht, relax on deck as we cruise along the rolling Columbia River. Enjoy the hot tub, read a book, or join the Captain on the bridge to watch the sunset as we cruise into the Snake River portion of our adventure.
• Exploring the Maryhill Museum and Maryhill Winery. Relax and enjoy a stretch of wilderness along the river which is home to northern harriers, cliff swallows, osprey, mule deer and coyotes. After transiting The Dalles Lock and Dam, we’ll anchor and visit Maryhill Museum followed by a visit to the Maryhill Winery. The museum’s collections are housed in a castle-like chateau situated on a bluff overlooking the Columbia River Gorge. The museum offers an eclectic collection of Native arts, European paintings and the Queen of Romania’s personal effects. Our winery visit will include a tasting from a special tasting list. Back onboard, we’ll make our way through the John Day Lock and Dam. (more…)

Nestled into the rolling hills of agricultural northern Idaho is a Bed and Breakfast so unique, you’ll think you’ve slipped back into another era. Step back into rural America without phones or electricity—just the simple peace of the surrounding hills and the clean smell of fresh produce still on the vine. Mary Jane’s Farm offers wall-tents enclosing a full size bed covered with soft quilts, a woodstove, lanterns for light, each with its own farm style décor and of course, a full farm-fresh breakfast each morning. Each tent has its own outdoor kitchen providing a hot plate, campfire pit, and kitchen sink for cooking your own lunches and dinner. You may bring food with you, or pick fresh from the organic gardens all around you as well as purchase any of the organic meals offered on the farm.

During the day, learn about organic farming, pick fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs or gather farm-fresh eggs. Lend a hand with the many changing activities of the farm or just relax in a hammock, enjoying the cool, fresh gardens. Be sure to visit the historic flour mill where wheat is still ground to flour the old fashioned way. If you like to explore–hike, walk, or bike the miles of back roads and trails surrounding the farm or take a short drive into town to visit the quaint shops. Learn more about this unique and relaxing experience by contacting Linda Bruno or Rhonda Sand via email at info@tmitours.com or telephone at 1-800-975-7775.