http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from North America , United States , Alaska en-us Mon, 09 Nov 09 22:12:11 +0000 Mon, 09 Nov 09 22:12:11 +0000 Need to save money on traveling and you just discovered how expensive it is for lodging in AlaskaThink outside the box. Need 2 or 3 motel rooms for family or a group Consider a cabin bed breakfast inn temporarily rent an apartment or a house instead. Other options include camping if you drive to Alaska. But with current airline policies on luggage it probably doesn't make sense to take y http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Seward/blog-451481.html Lodging in Alaska is very expensive and that's why you need to be creative to save money.Think outside the box. Need 2 or 3 motel rooms for family or a group Consider a cabin bed breakfast inn or temporarily rent an apartment or a house instead. Many property owners in Alaska rent out their lodgings to tourists for as short as a couple days at a time. They often provide more luxury for less t http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Seward/blog-450964.html 34He says Lituya Bay is full of ice and we won39t be able to land.34 I sat in the copilot39s seat in shock. The float plane was over Lake Crillon and we would reach Lituya Bay in minutes expecting to land and begin a week of wilderness adventure. Seems the adventure was already in full swing. 34I39m on the radio with another pilot and he says it was clear yesterday but today it http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Glacier-Bay/blog-445853.html Folks ask me all the time When is the best month to go to Alaska...Wild flowers start to bloom in late April and never stop until the snow flies. There is not a best month for the flowers. Each of the summer months adds something different to the mix and I would hate to try to say which is the best.We have resident whales in Alaska. The migratory whales start arriving in April and don leave http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/blog-445556.html Itrsquos another early morning start today when Mariner goes exploring in Hubbard Glacier. Although Alan arrives in the Observation Lounge before 7 a.m. the prime window seats have already been saved with passengersrsquo cameras and coats.When I join Alan Mariner is just entering Disenchantment Bay. On a clear autumn day the Elias and Fairweather Mountain Ranges poke their glistening white http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Hubbard-Glacier/blog-445414.html HiThis is the first of my blogs on travel to Alaska and I thought I'd start out by explaining why I have chosen to do this.In talking with friends all over the Lower 48 I have been amazed that people who have gone to Alaska once or maybe twice consider themselves experts on Alaska. They'll tell you what the weather is going to be like in June and that the bugs are bad at such and such a time.T http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/blog-444964.html The Monday football game will end a week of hype and speculation. As a result this draws unusual interest to the contest by patrons gambling at online casinos.It was the Brett Favrersquos first game against the Green bay Packers. This makes this betting proposition that much more compelling than the average division rivalry showdown.Some online casinos offer now the chance to try to play free s http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/blog-443468.html Hey peeps hope everyone is doing well. Just some updates in the life of Fergus. So I joined the Island Princess about a months and a half ago and things having been going pretty good. I'm doing seven day cruising out of Alaska right now. What does that mean. It means a lot of work for me. We do stop in some beautiful places though. Alaska is really amazing once you get past all of the shitt http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Whittier/blog-441774.html Mariner passes by small heavily forested islands as we approach through Sitka Sound this morning. Our destination An Alaskan town where Russian influences mix with the Tlingit Indian culture in a scenic setting.While many passengers have chosen water or land adventures Alan and I are taking a break from sponsored excursions. Sitka is just the place for a long walk on a beautiful sunny day.Afte http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Sitka/blog-441418.html Many people have strong beliefs in the symbolism of numbers. For instance there were a record number of marriages in Las Vegas on 090909. Since we are already married we opted to begin a cruise on that auspicious day. We hope it bodes well for a great 102 day journey.After a fine summer of being with family and friends we decided what better way to continue meeting up with the rest of my sib http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Inside-Passage/blog-440965.html Excursion Ridge it looks so close. On a clear day you can see individual trees quite well from Gustavus. ldquoLet's go there How hard could it berdquo Turns out it can be quite hard. Getting to the top of Excursion has a local history of colorful tales of slow uphill struggle and overnight bivouacs on steep wet slopes. There's no trail but there's nothing technical. It is more like bushw http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Glacier-Bay/blog-439816.html This is the beginning of a 5 month trip from Anchorage Alaska to Ushuaia in Argentina. Picked the trusted Beemer up from the Motorcycle shop in Anchorage. Thanx Keith. Our generous hosts Larry and Allan at Wildflower Inn in Anchorage have been fantastic Definitely recommended for bikers and anyone who likes a homely stay.We took our new toy for a trial run to Seward. Magic snow capped mountain v http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/blog-439807.html At the start of the StewartCassier Highway there is a sign that says 'south to Alaska'. This just seems wrong you don't go south to Alaska Alaska is north. However its true there is a part of Alaska inaccessible by road that runs down the west coast of Canada. So here we are hopping between Stewart in Canada and Hyder in Alaska. We are staying in Stewart a two horse town with lots of h http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Hyder/blog-439727.html When Mariner docks in Skagway on a foggy morning Alan and I wonder if wersquoll be experiencing a repeat of our Juneau experience. But the ticket says our Speedcat to Glacier Point excursion happens rain or shine. So off we go to paddle a canoe to the face of Davidson Glacier.As soon as we board the highspeed catamaran for the 1hour ride to Glacier Point itrsquos obvious that wersquove http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Skagway/blog-439357.html Alan headed to the Observation Lounge at 7 this morning to make sure that we had ringside seats for Mariner's cruise up Tracy Arm one of Alaskarsquos scenic fjords. I met him about thirty minutes later for our coffee with a view.As the ship sailed beside the sheer granite cliffs of the narrow fjord lecturer Terry Breen provided the commentary. But environmental regulations applying to Trac http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Juneau/blog-438051.html Deadhorse is basically a giant oil terminal. Lots of portacabin buildings a range of enormous trucks diggers etc pipelines everywhere and men in rigger boots and hard hats. As Edwin said it was just like being back at Port Clarence. However being as far north as you can get by road this was the true starting point of the journey from here its 20000 miles south. To celebrate the start of http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Tok/blog-437768.html I like statistics so let's start with these Number of days traveling 28 Number of days that I had the top down on the Miata 28 even the three mostlyrainy days on my trip had periods when I was able to put the top down Miles driven 6260 10075 kilometers Total trip miles including ferry travel 6740 10847 kilometers Total hours driving about 145 based on average speed of 45 MPH Amou http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/blog-437757.html Remember when we visited New Zealand and Alan wanted a jet boat Now hersquos added a seaplane to the list.It all started when we docked in Ketchikan on a misty gray day. Holland Americarsquos Westerdam ship passed by our balcony and passed by our balcony then passed by our balcony some more. What a huge ship. I peaked over the railing to see that our ship Mariner was wedged between the W http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Ketchikan/blog-437487.html My Alaska countdown officially ended at 530 am. I started my trip by leaving the Baton Rouge airport flying to Houston then on to Seattle. Both of my flights were uneventful except for one little thing. When I book a flight and check in to a flight I always check my seat assignment and try to claim a window seat. I had done that for both flights but for some reason people think an assign http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/blog-437208.html Mud and plenty of it. It is not so easy getting to the Brady Glacier... The Taylor Bay intertidal is a place to tread lightly very lightly. Craig and I learned this a couple years ago when we tried to paddle up the eastern tributary at low tide. Quicksand more accurately 'quickmud' is alive and waiting for you in the low intertidal. When our kayak 'grounded' out we tested the bottom by pro http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Glacier-Bay/blog-436976.html