Alaska TravelGram

Dennis and Nola Palmer took me on a boat ride on Lake Union in Seattle the other day. We motored through the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks between Lake Union and Puget Sound. Check it out!

Wow. The ferries in Washington are completely different than our big ocean-going rigs.  These double-ender short-haul ships schlepp cars and commuters across Puget Sound at several choke points. Bainbridge-Seattle. Clinton-Mukilteo. We took a great day-trip up to Port Townsend, calling at Bainbridge, the floating bridge over Hood Canal, Pt. Townsend, Whidbey Island, etc. FUN. Watch [...]

I spent a week in the Emerald City. And it’s true: you don’t have to shovel rain! HA! My home-away-from-home was the Homewood Suites in downtown Seattle on Pike Street, just upstream from the Washington State Convention Center. It’s a quick walk to the Paramount Theater, Nordstrom‘s and Pike Place Market. Plus, if you have [...]

Here are some great packages now available at USTravel: a. Here Today, Gone to Maui. Kick back in luxury at the Wailea Marriott. Here’s a four-night package that includes daily breakfast for two right on the ocean in Wailea. Children 17 and under stay free. Extras include fresh-baked banana bread and assorted juices on arrival. [...]

I finally figured out my cell phone plan with GCI. Here’s how it works best for us: I sign up for theunlimited/unlimited plan. It costs about $100 per month. Right now when you sign a two-year agreement, you get your choice of several Blackberry phones–free! Here’s the good part, though: I signed up the wife [...]

Is it too late to save the world? No–seriously. I finally put down an advance copy of Charles Wohlforth’s new book, “The Fate of Nature“. It’s due in bookstores June 8. I first met Charles when we both wrote for the Anchorage Daily News. He was one of the lead reporters for the News that [...]

Gray Line of Alaska has a host of new web specials for the summer season. Here are a few of myfavorites: a. 3 day/2 night rail/lodging package from Anchorage. Stay one night in Denali and one night in Talkeetna. Ride the rails on the McKinley Explorer private rail cars. Take a tour into Denali National [...]

Let’s dig deep and get the best bargains at Princess this Spring. Pictured here: The Kenai River Princess Wilderness Lodge. a. Mt. McKinley Princess Lodge. As low as $69 per night in May (May 19-31), you simply can’t beat the great setting and comfy surroundings of the Mt. McKinley Princess. On the banks of the Chulitna [...]

Honestly, we love these guys at Kenmore Air. They take off right from downtown Seattle at Lake Union. Fly to Friday Harbor, Victoria, BC or dozens of other destinations around the San Juan Islands and British Columbia. Now, you can earn Alaska Airlines miles when you fly with Kenmore Air. Under the new agreement, you [...]