Alaska TravelGram

Don’t miss an opportunity to get high in Talkeetna. I mean really high. Like 20,320 feet high (Hmmm…..WHAT were you thinking???). 

Of course, we’re talking about your up-close view of Mt. McKinley. In an airplane. Landing on a glacier. Getting down on your hands and knees in the snow and wondering why you’re not freezing on the glacier! Below, here’s a shot of the summit of Mt. McKinley taken from the front seat as we ascend to altitude above the Tokositna Glacier. 

This is the magic of Talkeetna Air Taxi’s flightseeing trips. We took some more pictures. Very cool… Continue Reading »

I recently wrote to Steve Jarvis, an Alaska Airlines vice president, and told him I’d give him $10 if Alaska Airlines would fly to Minneapolis. Boy, I guess I’ll have to pay up.

Beginning Oct. 26, 2008, Alaska Airlines will fly twice-daily between Seattle and Minneapolis. I think this is going to be a big hit–both for the Seattle folks and for travelers here in Alaska. Introductory fares are available between Seattle and Minneapolis for $139 each way (for travel through Feb. 12, 2009). Taxes and fees are additional. Oh, there’s a double-miles promotion, too (for travel 10/26-12/31/2008). 

There’s more, though. 

Starting Nov. 17, 2008, Alaska Airlines will fly nonstop from Seattle to Kona on Alaska’s Big Island. With this new service, Alaska Airlines will serve four major Hawaiian Islands: Hawaii, Oahu, Kauai and Maui. 

Finally, Alaska is boosting its Anchorage-Maui seasonal service from Oct. 31, 2008-Apr. 25, 2009 from twice-weekly to three-times-weekly. That’s great news!

For Alaska Airlines frequent flyers, this is hot stuff. It means your companion tickets (which you get with your Alaska Airlines Visa Card) is worth more since it works to high-dollar destinations like Minneapolis and Kona. It also means there are more competitive fares–particularly to notoriously high-fare destinations like Minneapolis. 

Great news!

Just got a nice note from Sara Juday over at Alaska Northwest Books. There are some great titles available this year, including a new edition of Bob Armstrong’s guide to birds of Alaska (very cool!). Brandon Droeger took this k-e-w-l picture of a bald eagle fishing for lunch. Visit his site to see other great images. I’ve got a few books to give away! Here’s how to win: Send me an email here: zoom@gci.net . The subject line MUST include the name of the book you’d like to win. Choose one from the list below. Continue Reading »

We just spent a little time there in Kodiak–enough to see they’re getting ready for the big “Crabfest” May 22-26. It’s the 50th annual celebration–and there are all sorts of carnivals, contests and commemorations! In fact, there’s a special website to give you the schedule of the parade, the survival suit race, the carnival–and directions to where the best crab sandwiches are! 

Plan now to make the most of your Kodiak adventure. Get Mary Stephenson on the phone here: (907)486-8766. Mary has an office right at Kodiak’s St. Paul Harbor–and she’ll make arrangements for your fishing charter, flightseeing tour, bear viewing, dinner cruises….and more. 

Ask Mary about her special “Signature” package which includes a one-hour scenic flightseeing trip to Afognak Island. Watch for bears. Also included is a four-hour Kodiak Island City Tour. There’s also a three-hour harbor cruise, so you can get a view of Kodiak from the sea! Don’t miss the great museums in town, including the Alutiiq Museum, the Baranov House and the Kodiak Military History Museum. A pass to each museum is included in the “Signature” package. So–air, land and sea in one day. Wow! Call Mary now: (907) 486-8766.

Afterwards, you’ll need a beer. You can walk from Mary’s booth over to Ben Millstein’s Kodiak Island Brewery. You can taste all the beers he’s got on tap, including an IPA, a Porter, a bitter–he typically has seven or eight different varieties. You can purchase a pint right there, or grab a growler to go.

Be sure and get Mary to book you a fishing charter, too. You just cannot miss that Kodiak is a fishing community. So make plans to harvest some salmon and halibut.  But no trip to Kodiak is complete without sailing with Marty and Marion Owen on their dinner cruise aboard the Sea Breeze. We love “Galley Gourmet”. Check the website and learn about the gourmet meal you’ll enjoy while watching for whales, sea lions, puffins, porpoise, sea otters–all those critters. 

Marion sent over some great photos of Kodiak. Check ‘em out.

Above: Fin whale, up close.

Above: Otters having a jolly good time in Kodiak!

Above: Watching the sea aboard the Sea Breeze.

Above: Checking out the town from above.

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.