Archive for August, 2009

The Black Bear Inn is rated #1 for inns in Ketchikan by the readers of Tripadvisor.com .I went for a little tour with the hostess, Nicole Church. Check out the video:

Good prices for travel this fall/winter now available on Alaska Airlines.

I’m buying a couple of these tickets for October travel to/from Southern California. To cities like Santa Barbara, the fare is several hundred dollars less!

Hey–I flew back from Ketchikan on Saturday on Alaska flight #65. It’s the second time I’ve flown on this flight in as many weeks. Check out this slideshow I did:

Note: I didn’t list all of the cities on sale–I’ll leave it to you to scrape the Alaska Airlines’ website for your specific destination. I put the rates I thought were pretty good.

Visit the website for complete details. Remember, you must purchase no later than Sept. 10.

Anchorage-Fairbanks $79

Anchorage-Kodiak $109

Anchorage-Juneau $128

Anchorage-Bethel $149

Anchorage-Ketchikan $170 (I paid $462rt last week!)

Anchorage-Honolulu $199

Anchorage-Maui $199

Anchorage-Portland $209

Anchorage-Seattle $209

Anchorage-Chicago (nonstop) $229

Anchorage-Eugene $239 (and other cities in OR/WA/ID)

Anchorage-Houston, TX $239

Anchorage-Billings $269 (and other cities in MT)

ANC-NoCal: $269 (San Francisco and surrounding airports)

ANC-SoCal: $289 (L.A. Basin)

——

Juneau-Sitka $79

Juneau-Ketchikan $109

Juneau-Seattle $189

Juneau-Bellingham $199

Juneau-Houston, TX $219

Juneau-Portland $219

Juneau-San Diego $219

Juneau-Orlando $239

Juneau-Chicago $249

Juneau-Washington, DC $259

—–

Fairbanks-Juneau $159

Fairbanks-Barrow $189

Fairbanks-Honolulu/Maui $219

Fairbanks-Seattle $269

Fairbanks-Houston $299

Fairbanks-Portland $299

Fairbanks-San Diego $319

You must purchase your tickets no later than Sept. 10, 2009. Travel to/from the Lower 48 through Feb. 10, 2010. Travel to/from Hawaii/Mexico through Dec. 16, 2009.

BLACKOUT DATES (to/fr Lower 48): Nov. 20-21, 25, 28-30. Dec. 18-21, 23, 26-28. Jan. 2-4.

BLACKOUT DATES to/fr Hawaii or Mexico: Nov. 20-22, Dec. 16.

Wow. Great trip to the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary–where we snuck up on a  few bears gorging themselves on salmon. Then, zip-zip-zip we went on the Alaska Canopy Tour through the rainforest. Great stuff in Herring Cove, just outside of Ketchikan. Check it out:

Time to get on board the Alaska Railroad and ride to Denali this summer from Anchorage or Fairbanks. Spend two nights--that gives you time to take the LONG tour (Tundra Wildlife Tour) into the park, plus a raft trip on the Nenana River.

Gray Line of Alaska features private rail cars (the McKinley Explorer). Full-dome viewing on top, with a nice restaurant on the lower level. GREAT way to ride on the Alaska Railroad. Your accommodations are near to the park entrance and all the activities: river rafting, flightseeing, guided hikes and more.

From Fairbanks, the cost is just $299 per person for three days/two nights. From Anchorage, it’s a little longer–so the cost is $399 per person–and that includes your rail and two nights’ accommodations.

Space is limited. Call (888)452-1737 today or check online for more details.

Our friends at Denali Park Resorts have a great deal. It’s called “The Colors of Denali”.

Don’t fool yourself: fall is here already. The leaves are changing. The colors are fabulous inside Denali National Park.

Your $219 package includes two nights’ accommodations, a $50 gift card for tours and/or meals at the resort and 500 Alaska Airlines miles.

Optional activities include the MUST-DO ride into the park. I recommend the long ride into the park. It’s an 8-hour ride, but s-o-o-o worth it. This is your chance to see wildlife and scenery on the 85-mile road from the entrance back to Wonder Lake.

Or, choose a thrilling raft trip on the Nenana River. You can choose a “mild” ride or a “wild” ride.

Afterwards, save room for the “Alaska Cabin Nite” dinner theater!

Don’t miss out on this seasons’ best deal for Denali vacations. Take advantage of “The Colors of Denali” today.