What do the Galapagos Islands, Machu Picchu, the Upper Amazon, Moscow and St. Petersburg, Beijing and Shanghai, Luxor and Aswan, Bucharest and Budapest, Paris, Lyon and Nice, Cologne, Basel, and Oberammergau have in common? No, it’s not a geography question. These countries are all over the map!
All these cities, and many more, can be visited on various river cruises, either directly or as an extension before or after the cruise. River cruising is growing in popularity for many reasons. One is, obviously, the varied itineraries. Second is the smaller size; most river cruise ships in Europe carry 130, and in China up to 400 passengers. Third, is the ability to customize your river cruise with various extensions.
Shortly after we bought the travel agency, someone came in looking for a trip to the Galapagos, the Upper Amazon, and Machu Picchu. I knew how to get him to each of the destinations, and maybe two together, but not all three. Imagine my surprise when I opened the 2010 Globus River Cruise catalog and there they were. I could understand the Amazon, after all it IS a river, but Machu Picchu as an add on? And the Galapagos too? Yup, it’s all there. With air fares costing what they do, more and more travelers want to maximize their travel budget by extending their travel in a certain region. Having everything seamlessly tied together, air, sea, and hotels by one tour company is a big plus, and the best way to have a hassle free and stress free vacation. Your ship acts as your hotel, docking right in the heart of a different town every morning.
When you think of river cruises, you probably think of the Rhine or the Danube. And rightly so, since these rivers were the pioneer destinations for river cruises. Before there were roads, travel and commerce in Europe was conducted on the rivers. So it’s only natural that great cities would grow up along the river routes. Cities like Vienna, Salzburg, Cologne, Strasbourg, Basel, Antwerp, Amsterdam, and so many more are located right on the river. You step off the ship and are literally in the city center.
But China and Russia river cruises have evolved over the past years as the demand for river cruising in different locations has grown. For a Yangtze River cruise, you start in Beijing, then fly to Chongqing to start your cruise down the river to Shanghai. There’s also an optional extension to Hong Kong or Tibet! Egyptian river cruises start and end in Cairo, with flights to Aswan for a cruise to Luxor, followed by a return flight to Cairo. In Russia, Viking River Cruses offers several itineraries: from Moscow to St. Petersburg, Moscow to Volgograd (Stalingrad), or Odessa to Kiev. Basically, a river cruise can be as extensive or as compact as you want. I mentioned Oberammergau earlier, because in 2010 many river cruises are offering the once a decade Passion Play as an extension.
How does river cruising differ from mainstream ocean cruising? First is the cost. Because of the European or Asian destinations, air fare is a large chunk of your budget. The only other negative, I feel, is that river cruise ships are seldom equipped with elevators. So anyone needing a wheelchair is not a good candidate. Imagine also the quaint city centers you will visit, all with cobbled streets.
On the plus side, you experience a more intimate atmosphere on river cruises. There is one seating for dinner, and it is open seating. Some cruise lines included wine with dinner, some do not. Often you will see the ship’s chef buying local produce in the marketplace that later appears on your plate that evening in a regional specialty meal. No casinos or lavish Las Vegas style shows on the river. Here the entertainment might be a local dance troup, regional musicians, or lectures on the local customs, history, and attractions. No long lines for disembarkation, and no flooding of small towns with thousands of tourists. But alas, no doctors or sick bay on board either.
I would be remiss if I did not mention that there are river cruises in the US also. While we have seen the demise of the Mississippi barges and paddle boats, like the Delta Queen, there are still small ships that ply the Hudson River and Lake Champlain, the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River and the Erie Canal, the Cape Cod, Maine, and eastern coasts, as well as Central America from Belize City to the Honduran Islands.
Warning: be prepared for sticker shock. But when you consider that tours with knowledgeable local guides in every port are included in the price tag, it’s understandable that the prices are higher than an ocean cruise, where optional shore excursions are at an additional cost .
Friday, March 19, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
The Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest
By Carol Watts
Would you like a 7 day vacation that combines travel by rail and water, and starts with a fairly inexpensive direct air flight? If so, then you might like an escorted tour to the Pacific Northwest, specifically Seattle, Vancouver, Whistler, and Victoria.
The tour begins and ends in Seattle, so a direct flight on Southwest airlines won’t break the bank. And as yet, Southwest does not charge for checked luggage, and even provides a complimentary snack. All transfers to and from the airport are included in this tour. So you can take a late morning or early afternoon flight from Phoenix for the 3 hour trip to Seattle, arriving in time to check into your hotel, meet your tour director, and choose a place for dinner. Five breakfasts and three dinners are included in the tour, which is available June - September.
After breakfast at the hotel, day two starts with a sightseeing tour of Seattle with a local guide, including Pike Place Market, the Pioneer Square-Skid Row Historic District, Chinatown and the Seattle Space Needle. Pioneer Square is where Seattle founders first settled in 1852, and later became famous for its collection of “box houses”, part theater, part brothel, part bar, and part gaming house, as well as hash or dope houses and pawn shops. Today it is considered the center of Seattle’s night life, with art galleries, cafes, sports bars, bookstores, and one part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park - the other part being in Skagway, Alaska. Pike Place Fish Market is home to the famous flying fish. Up to 3 feet long salmon are thrown by employees across the counter, much to the delight of spectators. You can also see the market’s unofficial mascot, Rachel the brass pig. She weighs 550 pounds and brings in between 6 and 9 thousand dollars in donations every year to the 100 plus year old market. Take time to enjoy street musicians, including a virtuoso spoon player, jazz, folk, blues music and comedians at the market.
Next on the itinerary is a visit to Seattle’s iconic Space Needle, which was built for the 1962 World’s Fair. At that time it was the tallest structure west of the Mississippi at 605 feet. It was built to withstand earthquakes up to 9.1 magnitude, 220 mph winds, and has 25 lightning rods. It houses a revolving restaurant and an observation deck from which you can see the Olympic and Cascade mountains, Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, and Elliott Bay. The afternoon is taken up with a 3 hour bus trip along Washington’s rugged coastline to Vancouver, British Columbia. Yes, passports are needed for this trip. Dinner is included on the first of your three nights in Vancouver. In the morning a local guide takes you through the 1,000 acres of Stanley Park, Chinatown, and the historic streets of Gastown. Stanley Park has forests of cedar, hemlock, and Sitka spruce, as well as a collection of statues, memorial plaques and totem poles. The historic Gastown now is home to fashion boutiques, coffee shops, art galleries, and native art stores. But it is most famous for it’s steam powered clock. The afternoon is free to explore Canada‘s most cosmopolitan city independently. Perhaps you would wish to take in the Capilano Suspension Bridge, Grouse Mountain, the VanDusen Botanical Garden or Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Garden.
After breakfast the next morning, board the Whistler Mountaineer for a scenic three hour train trip to Whistler, site of several 2010 Olympic Games events. Travel along Howe Sound, pass the Stawamus Chief, the second largest granite monolith in the world, then wind through canyon habitat of bald eagles, climbing 2000 feet for breathtaking 195 feet tall Brandywine Falls, Alpha Lake, and Whistler Village. Return by coach for an included dinner in Vancouver.
The next morning, you will take a ferry ride from Vancouver to Victoria, the historical capital of British Columbia. Included is a city tour of the beautiful harbor district, the incredible parliament building, and a visit to 100 year old Butchart Gardens. You will be captivated by views of its Sunken Gardens, Rose Garden, Japanese Garden, and fountains. During your free time in Victoria, stop at the Empress Hotel. You will spend the night in Victoria, and the Parliament building lit at night is a sight worth seeing.
Day six starts with a ferry trip from Victoria across the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Port Angeles, Washington. Be on the lookout for eagles, gray whales, and otters. You will drive through the glacier carved valleys and temperate rainforest of Olympic National Park before returning to Seattle for your farewell dinner. Schedule your return flight to Phoenix after noon the next day. This and many more land tours are available through Cruise Port Travel, 900 W. Driftwood Dr. Payson.
By Carol Watts
Would you like a 7 day vacation that combines travel by rail and water, and starts with a fairly inexpensive direct air flight? If so, then you might like an escorted tour to the Pacific Northwest, specifically Seattle, Vancouver, Whistler, and Victoria.
The tour begins and ends in Seattle, so a direct flight on Southwest airlines won’t break the bank. And as yet, Southwest does not charge for checked luggage, and even provides a complimentary snack. All transfers to and from the airport are included in this tour. So you can take a late morning or early afternoon flight from Phoenix for the 3 hour trip to Seattle, arriving in time to check into your hotel, meet your tour director, and choose a place for dinner. Five breakfasts and three dinners are included in the tour, which is available June - September.
After breakfast at the hotel, day two starts with a sightseeing tour of Seattle with a local guide, including Pike Place Market, the Pioneer Square-Skid Row Historic District, Chinatown and the Seattle Space Needle. Pioneer Square is where Seattle founders first settled in 1852, and later became famous for its collection of “box houses”, part theater, part brothel, part bar, and part gaming house, as well as hash or dope houses and pawn shops. Today it is considered the center of Seattle’s night life, with art galleries, cafes, sports bars, bookstores, and one part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park - the other part being in Skagway, Alaska. Pike Place Fish Market is home to the famous flying fish. Up to 3 feet long salmon are thrown by employees across the counter, much to the delight of spectators. You can also see the market’s unofficial mascot, Rachel the brass pig. She weighs 550 pounds and brings in between 6 and 9 thousand dollars in donations every year to the 100 plus year old market. Take time to enjoy street musicians, including a virtuoso spoon player, jazz, folk, blues music and comedians at the market.
Next on the itinerary is a visit to Seattle’s iconic Space Needle, which was built for the 1962 World’s Fair. At that time it was the tallest structure west of the Mississippi at 605 feet. It was built to withstand earthquakes up to 9.1 magnitude, 220 mph winds, and has 25 lightning rods. It houses a revolving restaurant and an observation deck from which you can see the Olympic and Cascade mountains, Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, and Elliott Bay. The afternoon is taken up with a 3 hour bus trip along Washington’s rugged coastline to Vancouver, British Columbia. Yes, passports are needed for this trip. Dinner is included on the first of your three nights in Vancouver. In the morning a local guide takes you through the 1,000 acres of Stanley Park, Chinatown, and the historic streets of Gastown. Stanley Park has forests of cedar, hemlock, and Sitka spruce, as well as a collection of statues, memorial plaques and totem poles. The historic Gastown now is home to fashion boutiques, coffee shops, art galleries, and native art stores. But it is most famous for it’s steam powered clock. The afternoon is free to explore Canada‘s most cosmopolitan city independently. Perhaps you would wish to take in the Capilano Suspension Bridge, Grouse Mountain, the VanDusen Botanical Garden or Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Garden.
After breakfast the next morning, board the Whistler Mountaineer for a scenic three hour train trip to Whistler, site of several 2010 Olympic Games events. Travel along Howe Sound, pass the Stawamus Chief, the second largest granite monolith in the world, then wind through canyon habitat of bald eagles, climbing 2000 feet for breathtaking 195 feet tall Brandywine Falls, Alpha Lake, and Whistler Village. Return by coach for an included dinner in Vancouver.
The next morning, you will take a ferry ride from Vancouver to Victoria, the historical capital of British Columbia. Included is a city tour of the beautiful harbor district, the incredible parliament building, and a visit to 100 year old Butchart Gardens. You will be captivated by views of its Sunken Gardens, Rose Garden, Japanese Garden, and fountains. During your free time in Victoria, stop at the Empress Hotel. You will spend the night in Victoria, and the Parliament building lit at night is a sight worth seeing.
Day six starts with a ferry trip from Victoria across the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Port Angeles, Washington. Be on the lookout for eagles, gray whales, and otters. You will drive through the glacier carved valleys and temperate rainforest of Olympic National Park before returning to Seattle for your farewell dinner. Schedule your return flight to Phoenix after noon the next day. This and many more land tours are available through Cruise Port Travel, 900 W. Driftwood Dr. Payson.
All about Alaska, Part 3
All about Alaska, Part 3
By Carol Watts Alaska Specialist
Nenana Ice Classic
Last month we looked at the Iditarod Trail and some of the rather unusual activities that you can participate in when visiting Alaska, from the $25,000 Iditarod Trail Sweep tour to the Ice Road Trucker simulator.
Alaskans are very inventive about winter time activities. One unique thing to do is to wager on the exact time that the ice on the Tenana River will break up. It’s called the Nenana Ice Classic, and is run be a non-profit organization that benefits several Alaskan charities. Tickets can be purchased for $2.50 each throughout Alaska, but unfortunately can’t be mailed to the lower 48. Last year’s pay out was $283,723.00! The river “went out” on May 1st, even though the ice measured 42,7 inches thick 8 days earlier on April 23rd. A tripod is placed in the ice on the river with a line attached to a clock tower. When the tripod moves because of ice breaking up, the clock stops at the exact time, and the lucky person with the closest guess wins the jackpot. This has been going on since 1917, and was originally started by surveyors for the Alaskan Railroad. By the way, Nenana, originally an native Athabascan village, is a small town along the Tenana River between Fairbanks and Denali, mile 412 on the Alaskan Railroad, or about 300 miles north of Anchorage. Recently the 90 plus years of statistics on the ice break up have come to the notice of climatologists as one of the world’s most scientific indicators of the effects of global warming. You can see the preparation, celebration, and actual ice break up on You Tube.
The Alaska Railroad
While we can not distribute tickets for the Nenana Ice Classic, we can provide tickets for the Alaska Railroad and any of its 12, 10, 7, 6, or 5 day adventure packages or day tours. If you want to see Alaska independently, or at a more leisurely pace than the 4 day cruise tour add-on, come see us about the Alaska Railroad. Customized packages for pre- or post- cruise land tours can be based from Seward, Whittier, or Anchorage, and include glacier and wildlife viewing cruises and overnight Denali tours including hotel and rail service from Anchorage or Fairbanks. Tours are available for wheelchair travelers or passengers with limited mobility.
The Alaska Railroad is one of America’s last flagstop trains. The route from Talkeetna along the Susitna River and through the Indian River Canyon winds through a 55 mile stretch of wilderness that can only be reached by train. The Hurricane Turn runs Thursday through Sunday round trip from Talkeetna to Hurricane Gulch. You can get off the Hurricane Turn train anywhere along the way and stop the return train with a wave of a flag. Locals have been riding the train to reach their remote cabins or favorite fishing spots this way since 1923. There are three main summer routes: The Denali Star between Fairbanks and Anchorage with stops at Denali and Talkeetna, the Glacier Discovery leaves Anchorage for Whittier, but does not return to Anchorage, and the Coastal Classic which departs Anchorage early am for Seward and returns to Anchorage late evening that same day. By far this is the most scenic route, and the train of most interest for cruise passengers who would rather experience the slightly over 4 hour train ride than a 3 hour bus transfer. Trains run daily in summer (mid-May to mid-September). In the winter, the Aurora Train runs only on weekends between Anchorage and Fairbanks.
Additionally, a roundtrip flight from Fairbanks can be arranged through the Alaska Railroad that will take you above the Arctic Circle for views of the Brooks Range, Gates of the Arctic National Park, and a wilderness outpost landing. Or you can take a one-day guided tour on the rugged Dalton Highway above the Arctic Circle to a trading post across the Yukon River. For this trip you receive an official “Arctic Circle Adventure Certificate.”
The 40 Below Club
Alaskans jokingly say that they have four seasons: June, July, August, and winter. Last year when we did a Princess cruise tour, we became official members of the “40 Below Club.” This attraction, found both in Fairbanks and at the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge, allows you to experience the extreme cold of the Far North. There are exhibits of how animals adapt, and how to winterize homes and vehicles to function above the Arctic Circle. You can see what happens to soap bubbles in this severe cold. 40 degrees below is the same temperature on the Fahrenheit and Celsius scale. Our official certificate attests that we have “survived life-threatening temperatures of 40 degrees below zero in Alaska and are entitled to full bragging rights as a Real Alaskan.” Needless to say, we didn’t stay too long in the “cold room”.
By Carol Watts Alaska Specialist
Nenana Ice Classic
Last month we looked at the Iditarod Trail and some of the rather unusual activities that you can participate in when visiting Alaska, from the $25,000 Iditarod Trail Sweep tour to the Ice Road Trucker simulator.
Alaskans are very inventive about winter time activities. One unique thing to do is to wager on the exact time that the ice on the Tenana River will break up. It’s called the Nenana Ice Classic, and is run be a non-profit organization that benefits several Alaskan charities. Tickets can be purchased for $2.50 each throughout Alaska, but unfortunately can’t be mailed to the lower 48. Last year’s pay out was $283,723.00! The river “went out” on May 1st, even though the ice measured 42,7 inches thick 8 days earlier on April 23rd. A tripod is placed in the ice on the river with a line attached to a clock tower. When the tripod moves because of ice breaking up, the clock stops at the exact time, and the lucky person with the closest guess wins the jackpot. This has been going on since 1917, and was originally started by surveyors for the Alaskan Railroad. By the way, Nenana, originally an native Athabascan village, is a small town along the Tenana River between Fairbanks and Denali, mile 412 on the Alaskan Railroad, or about 300 miles north of Anchorage. Recently the 90 plus years of statistics on the ice break up have come to the notice of climatologists as one of the world’s most scientific indicators of the effects of global warming. You can see the preparation, celebration, and actual ice break up on You Tube.
The Alaska Railroad
While we can not distribute tickets for the Nenana Ice Classic, we can provide tickets for the Alaska Railroad and any of its 12, 10, 7, 6, or 5 day adventure packages or day tours. If you want to see Alaska independently, or at a more leisurely pace than the 4 day cruise tour add-on, come see us about the Alaska Railroad. Customized packages for pre- or post- cruise land tours can be based from Seward, Whittier, or Anchorage, and include glacier and wildlife viewing cruises and overnight Denali tours including hotel and rail service from Anchorage or Fairbanks. Tours are available for wheelchair travelers or passengers with limited mobility.
The Alaska Railroad is one of America’s last flagstop trains. The route from Talkeetna along the Susitna River and through the Indian River Canyon winds through a 55 mile stretch of wilderness that can only be reached by train. The Hurricane Turn runs Thursday through Sunday round trip from Talkeetna to Hurricane Gulch. You can get off the Hurricane Turn train anywhere along the way and stop the return train with a wave of a flag. Locals have been riding the train to reach their remote cabins or favorite fishing spots this way since 1923. There are three main summer routes: The Denali Star between Fairbanks and Anchorage with stops at Denali and Talkeetna, the Glacier Discovery leaves Anchorage for Whittier, but does not return to Anchorage, and the Coastal Classic which departs Anchorage early am for Seward and returns to Anchorage late evening that same day. By far this is the most scenic route, and the train of most interest for cruise passengers who would rather experience the slightly over 4 hour train ride than a 3 hour bus transfer. Trains run daily in summer (mid-May to mid-September). In the winter, the Aurora Train runs only on weekends between Anchorage and Fairbanks.
Additionally, a roundtrip flight from Fairbanks can be arranged through the Alaska Railroad that will take you above the Arctic Circle for views of the Brooks Range, Gates of the Arctic National Park, and a wilderness outpost landing. Or you can take a one-day guided tour on the rugged Dalton Highway above the Arctic Circle to a trading post across the Yukon River. For this trip you receive an official “Arctic Circle Adventure Certificate.”
The 40 Below Club
Alaskans jokingly say that they have four seasons: June, July, August, and winter. Last year when we did a Princess cruise tour, we became official members of the “40 Below Club.” This attraction, found both in Fairbanks and at the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge, allows you to experience the extreme cold of the Far North. There are exhibits of how animals adapt, and how to winterize homes and vehicles to function above the Arctic Circle. You can see what happens to soap bubbles in this severe cold. 40 degrees below is the same temperature on the Fahrenheit and Celsius scale. Our official certificate attests that we have “survived life-threatening temperatures of 40 degrees below zero in Alaska and are entitled to full bragging rights as a Real Alaskan.” Needless to say, we didn’t stay too long in the “cold room”.
All About Alaska, Part 2
All About Alaska, Part 2
By Carol Watts Alaska Specialist
Most cruises sail between either Seattle or Vancouver to Seward or Whittier on a north or south bound journey. And while a cruise is the least expensive way to see most ports in Southeast Alaska, and the only way to experience Glacier Bay National Park and Hubbard Glacier, this is just a small park of a large and fascinating state. (Skagway is the only port in Southeast Alaska that can be reached by road. All other ports, Juneau, Ketchika, and Sitka can only be reached by ship or airplane.) My next trip to Alaska will be a 7 or 10 day land tour. Of course I could plan a completely independent trip with a rental car or RV, but a tour allows me to enjoy group price breaks on hotels and excursions, a knowledgeable tour guide, driver, and baggage handling. If you have only seen Alaska from a cruise ship, you might want to consider a longer land tour, as opposed to a 4-5 day cruisetour.
You arrive in Anchorage and transfer to your hotel after 6 plus hours of actual flight time, not counting lay over time in Seattle. The first day aboard an air conditioned luxury motor coach takes you through Palmer and the Mat-Su Valley, known for huge vegetables grown in the nearly 24 hours of summer daylight. From the Tahneta Pass you have wonderful views of Matanuska and Worthington Glacier. You have a photo stop at Bridal Veil Falls before a two night stay in Valdez, a commercial and sport fishing town called the “Switzerland of Alaska.”
The next morning you will cruise on Prince William Sound for an up-close look at the 3 mile long face of the Columbia Glacier. View marine wildlife like seals, sea otters, and whales from your excursion ship and see the southern terminus of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline where crude oil from Prudhoe Bay is loaded on supertankers. The following morning you will journey to Delta Junction, the northern terminus of the ALCAN Highway, built during World War II as a supply road for the interior Alaska military and airfields. You will see a historical homestead, museum, and original roadhouse before heading west on the Alaska Highway to Fairbanks.
You will spend two nights in Fairbanks, Alaska’s second largest city after Anchorage. You will visit the El Dorado Gold Mine and head down the mines permafrost tunnel via the narrow gauge railroad. You can try your luck panning for gold before boarding the sternwheeler Discovery for a trip on the Chena and Tanana Rivers. Stop at Chena Indian Village and learn about the native Athabascan culture. The day ends with a visit to an Iditarod sled dog camp to meet the mushers and their dogs, and learn about breeding and training for the race.
The next morning you board the Alaska Railroad for a scenic ride through the wilderness to Denali National Park. The afternoon is free to explore the park’s visitors center with its diorama and award winning natural history film. You can visit the snack bar and book store, or catch a free shuttle to see the park’s sled dogs, still used by rangers to patrol the park during the winter. That evening you will enjoy food, song, and dance at the Denali Dinner Theater. The following morning is free for an optional excursion, perhaps river rafting on the Nenana or flight seeing to Mt. McKinley. That afternoon you will enjoy a Natural History Tour into Denali National Park, keeping an eye out for moose, caribou, brown bears, ptarmigan, and Dall sheep. Fall comes early to Denali, and if your trip is scheduled for mid to late August, you will see the taiga and tundra landscape dressed in beautiful golds, reds, and greens.
The following morning you ride along the park and stop at the Iditarod Headquarters, home of the famous sled dog race. You arrive in Anchorage in time for a city sightseeing tour before your hosted dinner. A full day tomorrow features a beautiful drive along Turnagain Arm to Seward, and a cruise in Kenai Fjords National Park to view more wildlife and calving glaciers. You travel back to Anchorage for a second night stay before flying home .
This is a leisurely paced tour with four 2 night hotel stays in Valdez, Fairbanks, Denali, and Anchorage. Daily breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 4 dinners are included in the tour. If you haven’t already cruised to Southeast Alaska and the Inside Passage, a 7 day cruise can be added. This land tour starts at $2519 per person, with the optional 7 day cruise from $560 per person. Airfare is additional.
The shorter and less expensive (starting at $1389 per person) 7 day tour substitutes a cruise to Portage Glacier for Kenai Fjords, and skips Valdez, the gold mine in Fairbanks and the dinner theater in Denali, but still includes an Alaska Railroad trip from Fairbanks to Denali. You have three 2 night stays in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Denali, and the option of adding a 7 day cruise at the end. Seven daily breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 7 dinners are included. Airfare is additional. If these tours are too long for your taste, shorter tours through our many independent suppliers can be arranged alone or in addition to a cruise.
By Carol Watts Alaska Specialist
Most cruises sail between either Seattle or Vancouver to Seward or Whittier on a north or south bound journey. And while a cruise is the least expensive way to see most ports in Southeast Alaska, and the only way to experience Glacier Bay National Park and Hubbard Glacier, this is just a small park of a large and fascinating state. (Skagway is the only port in Southeast Alaska that can be reached by road. All other ports, Juneau, Ketchika, and Sitka can only be reached by ship or airplane.) My next trip to Alaska will be a 7 or 10 day land tour. Of course I could plan a completely independent trip with a rental car or RV, but a tour allows me to enjoy group price breaks on hotels and excursions, a knowledgeable tour guide, driver, and baggage handling. If you have only seen Alaska from a cruise ship, you might want to consider a longer land tour, as opposed to a 4-5 day cruisetour.
You arrive in Anchorage and transfer to your hotel after 6 plus hours of actual flight time, not counting lay over time in Seattle. The first day aboard an air conditioned luxury motor coach takes you through Palmer and the Mat-Su Valley, known for huge vegetables grown in the nearly 24 hours of summer daylight. From the Tahneta Pass you have wonderful views of Matanuska and Worthington Glacier. You have a photo stop at Bridal Veil Falls before a two night stay in Valdez, a commercial and sport fishing town called the “Switzerland of Alaska.”
The next morning you will cruise on Prince William Sound for an up-close look at the 3 mile long face of the Columbia Glacier. View marine wildlife like seals, sea otters, and whales from your excursion ship and see the southern terminus of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline where crude oil from Prudhoe Bay is loaded on supertankers. The following morning you will journey to Delta Junction, the northern terminus of the ALCAN Highway, built during World War II as a supply road for the interior Alaska military and airfields. You will see a historical homestead, museum, and original roadhouse before heading west on the Alaska Highway to Fairbanks.
You will spend two nights in Fairbanks, Alaska’s second largest city after Anchorage. You will visit the El Dorado Gold Mine and head down the mines permafrost tunnel via the narrow gauge railroad. You can try your luck panning for gold before boarding the sternwheeler Discovery for a trip on the Chena and Tanana Rivers. Stop at Chena Indian Village and learn about the native Athabascan culture. The day ends with a visit to an Iditarod sled dog camp to meet the mushers and their dogs, and learn about breeding and training for the race.
The next morning you board the Alaska Railroad for a scenic ride through the wilderness to Denali National Park. The afternoon is free to explore the park’s visitors center with its diorama and award winning natural history film. You can visit the snack bar and book store, or catch a free shuttle to see the park’s sled dogs, still used by rangers to patrol the park during the winter. That evening you will enjoy food, song, and dance at the Denali Dinner Theater. The following morning is free for an optional excursion, perhaps river rafting on the Nenana or flight seeing to Mt. McKinley. That afternoon you will enjoy a Natural History Tour into Denali National Park, keeping an eye out for moose, caribou, brown bears, ptarmigan, and Dall sheep. Fall comes early to Denali, and if your trip is scheduled for mid to late August, you will see the taiga and tundra landscape dressed in beautiful golds, reds, and greens.
The following morning you ride along the park and stop at the Iditarod Headquarters, home of the famous sled dog race. You arrive in Anchorage in time for a city sightseeing tour before your hosted dinner. A full day tomorrow features a beautiful drive along Turnagain Arm to Seward, and a cruise in Kenai Fjords National Park to view more wildlife and calving glaciers. You travel back to Anchorage for a second night stay before flying home .
This is a leisurely paced tour with four 2 night hotel stays in Valdez, Fairbanks, Denali, and Anchorage. Daily breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 4 dinners are included in the tour. If you haven’t already cruised to Southeast Alaska and the Inside Passage, a 7 day cruise can be added. This land tour starts at $2519 per person, with the optional 7 day cruise from $560 per person. Airfare is additional.
The shorter and less expensive (starting at $1389 per person) 7 day tour substitutes a cruise to Portage Glacier for Kenai Fjords, and skips Valdez, the gold mine in Fairbanks and the dinner theater in Denali, but still includes an Alaska Railroad trip from Fairbanks to Denali. You have three 2 night stays in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Denali, and the option of adding a 7 day cruise at the end. Seven daily breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 7 dinners are included. Airfare is additional. If these tours are too long for your taste, shorter tours through our many independent suppliers can be arranged alone or in addition to a cruise.
All About Alaska part 1
The Iditarod, Iditarod Sweep Tour, and ice Road Trucker Tour
By Carol Watts Alaska Specialist
The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race started with a dream by Joe Redington Sr., known as the Father of the Iditarod, to commemorate the role played by sled dogs in Alaska’s history and culture. For over six thousand years, sled dogs served the native people of Alaska as the only viable means of transporta-tion in a frozen wilderness. As the gold rush brought more people to the interior of Alaska, dog sleds were used to deliver mail, food, and gold to and from the mining towns. Dog sled teams and their mushers have become a symbol of the pioneering spirit in Alaska. But as roads, railways, planes and most of all snowmobiles became common in Alaska, the noble sled dog and the part they played in the history and culture of Alaska started to fade.
Most everyone knows of the famous Serum Run of 1925, when dog sled teams were called on to deliver diphtheria serum to the population of Nome. Planes were unable to fly in the stormy weather, and the Bering Sea was choked with ice. No roads or railroads came anywhere close to Nome, and still don’t to this day. Teams of sled dogs delivered the life saving serum over 674 miles from Menana near Anchorage to Nome in 5 and ｽ days.
The first Iditarod Race was run in 1973, on the 100th anniversary of the United States’of the Alaskan Territory from Russia. This year’s Iditarod XXXVIII will have its ceremonial start on the first Saturday in March, 3/6/10 in Anchorage. The official restart of the race will be in Willow.
It will take the contestants from 9 - 15 days average to cover the more than 1,100 miles to Nome. You can see a historical documentary video on the official web site, www.iditarod.com. Known as The Last Great Race on Earth TM, the Iditarod has helped to make dog mushing the state sport.
Idita-riders
You too can be a part of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race for just a little cash. Every year people bid up to be an Idita-rider on the 11 mile trip from Fourth Ave. in Anchorage to the Campbell Airstrip in Bicentennial Park. Last year 8 sleds received top bids of $7,500 each.
The Iditarod Trail Sweep Tour
For a mere $25,000 you can be one of 3 participants to follow the teams on snowmobiles along the trail, spending 15 nights at checkpoints in shelter cabins, and tents.
The Ice Road Trucker Tour
Exclusively with Salmon Berry Tours, this is your opportunity to have a fully guided tour of the Carlile Transportation yard at the Port of Anchorage, tour a state of the art sleeper truck, followed by a 10 minute adventure in the Ice Road Simulator. A bargain at $99, you can experience what it’s like to be an ice road trucker on the Dalton Highway.
Salmon Berry Tours offers many more winter fun excursions, including the Iditarod Starting Line Event in Willow. Check out the “chute” where dogs and mushers ready for a start every 2 minutes for $125including transportation.
The Northern Lights Late Night Special includes transportation from Anchorage to the Talkeetna Roadhouse for a home style meal. A local expert on the skies will explain what’s going on in the Alaska Night Sky, including the Northern Lights, constellations, and why the sky looks different here. A trip to the river to see the Northern Lights and transportation back to Anchorage end this $299 adventure.
Finally there is the Ultimate Iditarod Package, 9 days from March 1 - 9, exploring Anchorage, Turnigan Arm, Girdwood, Talkeetna, and 2 major checkpoints on the Iditarod Trail: Willow and Rainy Pass. Also included is a snow mobile tour to a glacier and an opportunity to see the Northern Lights. Transportation and accommodations for $3,025.
Winter is a great time to visit Alaska. Many local festivals are held in the winter, including the Fairbanks Ice Festival. How better to experience the winter wonderland that is such a defining part of the Great Land?
By Carol Watts Alaska Specialist
The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race started with a dream by Joe Redington Sr., known as the Father of the Iditarod, to commemorate the role played by sled dogs in Alaska’s history and culture. For over six thousand years, sled dogs served the native people of Alaska as the only viable means of transporta-tion in a frozen wilderness. As the gold rush brought more people to the interior of Alaska, dog sleds were used to deliver mail, food, and gold to and from the mining towns. Dog sled teams and their mushers have become a symbol of the pioneering spirit in Alaska. But as roads, railways, planes and most of all snowmobiles became common in Alaska, the noble sled dog and the part they played in the history and culture of Alaska started to fade.
Most everyone knows of the famous Serum Run of 1925, when dog sled teams were called on to deliver diphtheria serum to the population of Nome. Planes were unable to fly in the stormy weather, and the Bering Sea was choked with ice. No roads or railroads came anywhere close to Nome, and still don’t to this day. Teams of sled dogs delivered the life saving serum over 674 miles from Menana near Anchorage to Nome in 5 and ｽ days.
The first Iditarod Race was run in 1973, on the 100th anniversary of the United States’of the Alaskan Territory from Russia. This year’s Iditarod XXXVIII will have its ceremonial start on the first Saturday in March, 3/6/10 in Anchorage. The official restart of the race will be in Willow.
It will take the contestants from 9 - 15 days average to cover the more than 1,100 miles to Nome. You can see a historical documentary video on the official web site, www.iditarod.com. Known as The Last Great Race on Earth TM, the Iditarod has helped to make dog mushing the state sport.
Idita-riders
You too can be a part of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race for just a little cash. Every year people bid up to be an Idita-rider on the 11 mile trip from Fourth Ave. in Anchorage to the Campbell Airstrip in Bicentennial Park. Last year 8 sleds received top bids of $7,500 each.
The Iditarod Trail Sweep Tour
For a mere $25,000 you can be one of 3 participants to follow the teams on snowmobiles along the trail, spending 15 nights at checkpoints in shelter cabins, and tents.
The Ice Road Trucker Tour
Exclusively with Salmon Berry Tours, this is your opportunity to have a fully guided tour of the Carlile Transportation yard at the Port of Anchorage, tour a state of the art sleeper truck, followed by a 10 minute adventure in the Ice Road Simulator. A bargain at $99, you can experience what it’s like to be an ice road trucker on the Dalton Highway.
Salmon Berry Tours offers many more winter fun excursions, including the Iditarod Starting Line Event in Willow. Check out the “chute” where dogs and mushers ready for a start every 2 minutes for $125including transportation.
The Northern Lights Late Night Special includes transportation from Anchorage to the Talkeetna Roadhouse for a home style meal. A local expert on the skies will explain what’s going on in the Alaska Night Sky, including the Northern Lights, constellations, and why the sky looks different here. A trip to the river to see the Northern Lights and transportation back to Anchorage end this $299 adventure.
Finally there is the Ultimate Iditarod Package, 9 days from March 1 - 9, exploring Anchorage, Turnigan Arm, Girdwood, Talkeetna, and 2 major checkpoints on the Iditarod Trail: Willow and Rainy Pass. Also included is a snow mobile tour to a glacier and an opportunity to see the Northern Lights. Transportation and accommodations for $3,025.
Winter is a great time to visit Alaska. Many local festivals are held in the winter, including the Fairbanks Ice Festival. How better to experience the winter wonderland that is such a defining part of the Great Land?
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