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Love Lessons Learned on an Alaskan Vacation

I started this year with a goal: looking for examples of what makes love work. I keep finding them. Sometimes in unexpected places. Like on our Alaskan vacation. Who knew love lessons would abound there? “That’s what marriage is…” Comedian Merl Hobbs entertained the ship the first night. A lot of his jokes were marriage centered. One of his tag lines (that he eventually incorporated into more than a few punch lines) was: “That’s what marriage is: doing stuff you don’t want to do.” As comics often do, through humor he highlighted trials of marriage most of us know, mostly … Continue reading →

Latin America vs. Europe Dispute Resolved

A few months back I’d written about a the Latin America vs. Europe dispute Wayne and I’d been having. To reiterate: we’ve both been wanting to go on vacation out of the States, but we haven’t been able to agree on where. He wants to see Latin America; I want to see Europe. We finally found a way to settle it once and for all. The Contest Because of the current economic situation, it’s not the best time to head to Europe. I know that. And Wayne really knows that. (The accountant in him was raising objections left and right.) … Continue reading →

Alaska By Sea

Touring the 49th State by land is incredible in and of itself, but if you want access to sights that will absolutely take your breath away you should seriously consider taking an Alaskan cruise. If you are working on a travel budget now is the time to book your high seas adventure. Several major cruise lines are currently offering amazing deals for fall departures. The catch: you only have until the end of the month to lock in the price. Take a look: Coral Princess CruisesOnly is offering a weeklong journey to the Gulf of Alaska for just $634. The … Continue reading →

Cruise into Spring—-ALASKA

Can you think of a better way to ditch the winter blues than taking a spring cruise aboard a luxury ocean liner? A tropical cruise to sunny locales such as Hawaii and the Caribbean might be at the top of your list, but if you are looking to save money and still take part in a relaxing ride on the high seas you might consider heading to Alaska. Alaska’s cruise season doesn’t officially kick off until late April but budget conscious travelers know this is the perfect time to book a cheap cabin on a spring cruise to the 49th … Continue reading →

The Alaska-Hawaii Vacation Swap

As I prepare for my family’s annual trip to Hawaii I can’t help but think of the thousands of Alaska residents who are doing the same right about now. Each year around this time the annual winter exodus from the 49th state to the 50th state occurs and the land of Aloha gets a boost from its northern neighbors. Growing up in Hawaii it seemed a way of life that during the winter Alaska residents invaded the state and in the summer thousands of island locals headed north on fishing expeditions and to whale watch. The winter exodus from Alaska … Continue reading →

Your Chance to Run, Run with Rudolph

Here’s a trip my daughter would love to sign up for… thankfully she is only 3 years old and can’t read this blog. However, if you are as intrigued with reindeer as she is (her stuffed Rudolph–complete with battery powered red nose–from Build-A-Bear Workshop is practically Velcroed to her) you might consider booking a flight to Anchorage, Alaska. The northern city is hosting a reindeer adventure that is akin to the running of the bulls in Spain. The big event dubbed the “Running of the Reindeer” makes its inaugural debut next month. The opportunity to run shoulder-to-shoulder with a herd … Continue reading →

Whale Watching in California

Who says you have to travel to Hawaii to take in the breathtaking images of whales making their annual trek across the Pacific? From mid-December through mid-March the massive mammals pass the California coast giving visitors and residents there a chance to watch the majestic animals performing their trademark moves. Puffs of wet air rise dozens of feet in the air from the behemoths’ blowholes. That move is usually followed by breaching—-basically when a whale launches its body out of the water and returns to the sea with a dramatic bellyflop. You might also see “fluking,” when the whale’s tail … Continue reading →

Say “Aloha” To Whales in Hawaii this Winter

Many travelers head to Hawaii during the winter months to escape the subzero wind chills and snowy sidewalks. Others visit the “Aloha State” when the mercury plummets because they know that’s when some of the world’s largest tourists migrate to the waters off the Hawaiian Islands. Winter is peak season for whale watching. Each year, Humpback whales swim more than 3,500 miles from the North Pacific to Hawaii to breed, calve and nurse their young. Just in time for whale watching season Outrigger Hotels is offering guests a front-row seat to take in all the action. From December through March … Continue reading →

Hot Deals In A Cool Spot

In a previous blog I wrote about the rising fees at U.S. national parks—not such good news. However, this blog provides much better news—in the form of two-for-one deals and other discounts being offered at one of Alaska’s most popular national parks. Spring is a slow time in the land of the midnight sun and the Alaska Office of Tourism Development is hoping that the following deals will help sway some travelers their way this May. I know what you are thinking: Who wants to visit Alaska in May? It’s true; the average daily temperature from May 1 to June … Continue reading →

East Coast Whale Watching Adventures

It’s no secret; whale watching tours abound in places such as Hawaii and Alaska, but watching a humpback whale breach from the murky depths of the Atlantic Ocean is not something travelers get to see everyday. Just ask vacationers who visit the waters off of Virginia Beach. The whale-watching season wraps up along the East Coast at the end of the month. Which means you still have a few weeks to gather the family and sign up for a tour. The Rudee Flipper, which departs from the Virginia Fishing Center at Rudee Inlet on the south end of Virginia Beach … Continue reading →