Check out this cool video by Alaska HDTV. Scott and Kevin sailed with Renown Tours out of Seward on a beautiful day. Renown Tours offers a special package that includes the wildlife cruise, admission to the Alaska Sealife Center and overnight accommodations at Holiday Inn Express right at the harbor in Seward. It’s just $99 per person (great deal). Learn more online: Renown Tours.
Just got back from a fact-finding mission at an Alaska wilderness lodge with a twist: you can drive to this one.
The Knik River Lodge is just an hour’s drive from Anchorage, near the base of Knik Glacier. Peter Schadee and his wife Evelyne run the lodge with a distinctive European flair. They’re both from Holland, so it only makes sense.
“You should come next week when we have the flowers up,” said Evelyne. Even so, the lodge, with its 15 private cabins, offers a striking setting at the top of the Knik River Valley. It sits up high enough on the bluff to see across the river and to the mountains on the other side. Here’s a picture:
“You can’t see the glacier from here, but we offer trips up to the base in our four-wheel van,” she said–pointing to a heavy-duty rig parked in the front yard. With oversized tires and extra clearance, it’s obvious this van can go anywhere it wants to go along the ever-changing riverbed.
There are several trails in the area, both down to the river and up to the tops of the peak just outside the back yard.
Many guests take a trip with Tom Faussett, who runs an airboat up to the face of the glacier. He also will offer jetboat tours (a little quieter!!) as well as kayak trips. The four hour “Knik Glacier Tour” offers an up-close look at the glacier–allowing for some time to hike around and enjoy a snack. Remember to bring your hat and gloves! That glacier is COLD!
Although each individual cabin at Knik River Lodge includes a ful kitchen, you can opt to take your meals at the open-air restaurant. See below. Note Evelyne and dog “Sam”. A fine dog!
Breakfast is included–lunch and dinner are “a la carte”.
Oh, don’t worry about staying in touch. Even though you’re far away from everyone at the end of a dirt road in the wilderness, there’s Free Wi-Fi internet access. And your cell phones will work, too. Amazing.
Knik River Lodge is an Alaskan wilderness lodge you can drive to!
Call: (907)745-5002.
Just a couple more days to save on Alaska Airlines air tickets for travel through June 25. Must purchase by May 8 (Thursday). Here are some of my favorites:
Anchorage-L.A.: $350 $455 rt ai (all-in, including taxes and fees) NON-STOP (fare went up)
Anchorage-Portland: $498 rt ai NON-STOP (usually much more!!)
Fairbanks-Sacramento: $679 rt ai
Fairbanks-San Diego: $679 rt ai
Juneau-Seattle: $437 rt ai
Juneau-Boise: $517 rt ai
The best rates for this sale are for destinations between Alaska and Washington/ California/Oregon/ Idaho.
Alaska’s Popular “Kids Fly Free” package now is available all summer long, through Sept. 30! This is an e-x-c-e-p-t-i-o-n-a-l deal, particularly with the bargain air fare rates now available between now and June 25. Of course, it’s not just “fly free”. If the kids stay in the same room, they stay free. And, depending on when you travel and where you stay, they could eat free at the hotel, too. Then there are special “park hopper” passes where you can get a couple of free days. It’s worth checking out! Go to Alaska’s website–you’lll see the special listed on the right-hand side underneath the picture. Click on it and check it out for Disney Fun!!
Finally: NEW SERVICE to Flagstaff, Arizona from LAX! This is great news for travelers who want to jump-start their holiday to the Grand Canyon. The twice-daily service from LAX starts on Mon., June 23. Intro fares from L.A. are available for as little as $198 rt ai.
Below: Another lovely day at Sea-Tac International Airport. I snapped this shot from the Board Room near D-1.
I love Kodiak. You will, too. Whether you’re an avid angler (think salmon and halibut), a naturalist (whale watching, bear watching, photography), hiker or kayaker–make a beeline for Alaska’s Emerald Isle. Below, here I am looking over the ship channel on the deck at the Cliff House B-n-B.
I took Era’s 10:45am flight yesterday, arriving in time for lunch over at Mill Bay Coffee Company. Continue Reading »
It was 10 years ago when the Alaska SeaLife Center opened its doors to much fanfare.
My wife and I were there with our two kids–and we bought one of Barbara Lavallee’s prints “Windows to the Sea”. It’s still hanging on the wall in our home–and I still love going to the SeaLife Center when I visit Seward.
In fact, it’s at the top of the list for places to go when our relatives come to visit early next month. That, along with a cruise on Renown Tours to see Kenai Fjords National Park.
Grown-ups love the SeaLife Center, but it’s the kids that really are amazed. They get to watch the seals and sea lions swim around in the big tanks. Then, they can go up to the aviary and watch the puffins, murres and all the other birds flying around.
“This is as close as most people will ever get to a puffin,” said Seward resident and SeaLife board member Tom Tougas.
Prowl around the top floor of the center and there’s a hands-on tank with naturalists, where kids can touch sea cucumbers, anemones and other critters that live in the tidal zone. It’s always a big hit.
Depending on the time of year, there may be salmon swimming through the tanks, since the SeaLife Center has its own salmon run!
Down below, you’ll see king crabs, halibut and other creatures of the deep that are swimming around in Resurrection Bay.
Of course, watching critters in the aquarium is just a small part of the mission of the Alaska SeaLife Center. The staff also does research and rehabilitation. From above, you can look down on the outside tanks, where researchers are working with the animals. Again, kids are very curious about this process–and they can learn a bunch just by asking questions of the naturalists.
Join the staff and the community of Seward for the 10th anniversary on Sat., May 3 (this Saturday!!). There’s free admission from 3:00-8:00pm. There are plenty of kids’ activities, snacks and a behind-the-scenes open house.
Don’t miss it!
Our friends at Alaska HDTV went out to play in our late-April snow. Wow!
