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Submitted by Olympia Harbor Days

Olympia Harbor Days Tugboat Races and Festival and the historic steam ship Virginia V, have teamed up once again to offer a unique Labor Day weekend adventure to Washington’s State Capital City.  This three-day, two-night cruise adventure includes round trip transportation from Tacoma’s Foss Waterway Seaport dock to the historic port of Olympia, including overnight accommodations in a local downtown hotel.  The 125 passenger ship will call in Tacoma to make way to Olympia for the four-hour trip to participate in Olympia Harbor Days, a three-day maritime festival, the largest of its kind in the south sound.   The itinerary includes a tour of the Foss Waterway Seaport Maritime Museum in Tacoma before heading south.  Les Eldridge, a local maritime novelist and author (Maritime Olympia), is expected to join the cruise.  Eldridge stated:  “The South Puget Sound shorelines are filled with the sites of memorable maritime moments, from Captain George Vancouver and Rear Admiral Sir Peter Puget, through the brigade of scientist-adventurers, through the Wilkes Expedition leaving its American stamp on the region, to the wild and woolly captains of the Mosquito Fleet.”

Upon arrival in Olympia, Virginia V will join tall ships Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain at the Port of Olympia’s Port Plaza docks for the opening ceremonies of the award winning Olympia Harbor Days, host to the World’s Largest Vintage Tugboat Races and the Squaxin Island Tribe’s Salish Seaport, including cultural activities, demonstrations, a traditional salmon bake and a beer garden as part of the festival offerings.  The Port Plaza (the north edge of the festival) offers an easy stroll south on the docks to Percival Landing where a fleet of Vintage Tugboats will be available for touring on Saturday as they ready for the annual Sunday races.  Festival highlights also include a Mini-Tug Tug o’ War, live bands on two stages including America’s First Corps Jazz Combo, over 200 arts, crafts, commercial and food booths, sand sculpting events, children’s activities including a legos building station, marine and maritime science and art activities, and a floating World War II Museum aboard retired Coast Guard Cutter Tug Comanche, and more.  Festival opens Friday, September 31 and ends Sunday, August 2, 2018.

Cruising guests will stay at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, where staff will be on hand to transfer traveler’s luggage to the nearby hotel. The WA State Capitol is within walking distance and travelers will have plenty of time to experience Olympia where visitors always enjoy the variety of unique shops, coffee tastings, and microbrews this fun and artsy town has to offer.  Travelers will receive a Visitors Guide courtesy of Experience Olympia and Beyond.

On Sunday afternoon, after the famous Vintage Tugboat Races, travelers will return to Tacoma on a sunset cruise again aboard the Virginia V.

Cruise departs Tacoma August 31 at 1:00 p.m. and returns September 2, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.  Cost for the excursion, including museum entry, ship passage, 2 hotel nights, is $399.00 per person or $499.00 per couple. Tax included.

This weekend getaway was first offered in 2017 and is being offered again by popular demand.  It is the only of its kind in the South Puget Sound and is expected to be offered again in coming years.  For more information about the cruise and festival please visit www.HarborDays.com.  To reserve your weekend getaway, please call the DoubleTree at 360-570-0555 x0 asking for “Cruise Reservations”.   The cruise was made possible by a Lodging Tax Grant from the City of Olympia.   Olympia Harbor Days is an Olympia Kiwanis event with net proceeds benefiting children and families in the area.

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