shopping

This just in: Snap up a copy of the new 2009 Seattle TourSaver for $20 off. You have to purchase before Dec. 30, 2008 to get the deal. Usually the book costs $80–this month it’s $60. Everything is 2-for-1. There are more than 100 offers, with more than $6,000 in travel deals.

The Great Alaskan TourSaver is a great stand-alone deal. Usually, the book sells for $99.95 and includes more than $25,000 in travel deals from around the state. Here’s the kicker: everything is 2-for-1. Everything. Cruises. Flightseeing. Lodges. Wilderness Adventures. Fishing. The works.

Well, we’ve teamed up with some other travel bloggers for a Christmastime fundraiser. Go to this page for a list of prizes (including the Great Alaskan TourSaver). Pick the prizes you want to win. Then go to the First Giving page and make a donation. For every $10 you give, you get a chance to win one of the prizes (add a note when you’re giving the money re: WHICH prize you’d like to win.) Heifer International gets the money. I wrote earlier about my story with Heifer and our family. It’s a cool organization with a great mission.

So–here’s a partial list of 2-for-1 deals in the book. Remember–there are 135 deals all around the state, including:

a. Fishing in Juneau, Kodiak, Seward, along the Kenai River and near the Susitna River.(2-for-1)

b. Flightseeing in Denali, with glacier landing. (2-for-1)

c. 7-day/6-night wilderness adventure in Lake Clark National Park (2-for-1)

d. Wilderness fishing lodges throughout southcentral Alaska. (2-for-1)

e. Glacier/wilderness cruises in Kenai Fjords National Park. (2-for-1)

f. Rail Tours on the famous Alaska Railroad! (2-for-1)

g. Accommodations in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Seward, Denali National Park, Glacier Bay National Park, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Kenai, Juneau, Wrangell, Skagway, Valdez and more.(2-for-1)

h. Air fare on Era Aviation between Anchorage and Fairbanks. (2-for-1)

i. Admission to the Anchorage Museum, the Alaska Native Heritage Center, the Alaska SeaLife Center, the Alaska Aviation Heritage Center–and more.

j. RV rentals! (2-for-1)

As part of this special Heifer International fundraiser, we’re including a free copy of the Seattle TourSaver with the prize. There are about 100 2-for-1 offers worth more than $5,000. Check it out.

Now–go buy your raffle tickets. You get one for every $10 you donate. Thanks for playing, good luck–and Merry Christmas.

DId I mention how much I love my new wireless card from GCI? How portable it is? How fast it is? How doggone affordable blah blah blah?

Not kidding, folks. I wandered down to the GCI store at C St. and Benson here in Anchorage to sign up for their “Xtreme Mobility” package. Since we have GCI cable at home, we qualify for the $20/month plan. As you can see from this photo, the wireless unit itself is small–about the size of a USB thumb-drive. It slips right into your USB port on your laptop:

It’s a great way to break free from the tyranny of variable-quality/nonexistent wi-fi hotspots. Or, worse, the dreaded “pay to surf” plans at evil hotspots like Starbucks. Yecch.

GCI’s fastest footprint for this CDMA wireless service is the greater Anchorage area, Fairbanks, Soldotna, Seward and Palmer-Wasilla. I’ve used it in Anchorage and Soldotna–and I’m headed to Fairbanks next week to check it out. Stop by a GCI store in Alaska today, or surf to the site for more details. Full report to follow. In the meantime, Happy Surfing.

From the mountains to the sea, the Great Alaskan TourSaver, with more than 135 2-for-1 offers, lets you see the best of Alaska for less.

Think about it: you get your Honey to buy the book for $99.95 (He loves you, right??). Then, he pays for his cruise, his flightseeing trip, his hotel, his train ride and his admission to the cool attractions all around the state. Here’s a shot of the 2-for-1 train ride up to Denali Park from Anchorage:

Here comes the great part: you go for free, when you have the Great Alaskan TourSaver. 

Love it? We do. We thought you would, too. Here are some of the top picks on the 2-for-1 list around Alaska:

Let’s be clear: EVERY one of these offers is TWO-FOR-ONE!

a. Flightseeing to Denali, with Glacier Landing from Talkeetna Air Taxi! Check it out:

b. Whale-watching in Juneau!

c. A cruise on “Deadliest Catch’s” Aleutian Ballad in Ketchikan!

d. An expedition to an adventure lodge at Ailik Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park from Alaska Wildland Adventures.

e. A week-long wilderness adventure into Lake Clark National Park. Folks–this is an INCREDIBLE trip from Alaska Alpine Adventures. Check the site: www.alaskaalpineadventures.com

f. Helicopter flightseeing in Denali National Park from Era Helicopters.

g. Bear viewing/flightseeing in Kodiak with Island Air. Here’s a preview:

h. Glacier cruise from Renown Tours in Seward into Kenai Fjords National Park. Check it out:

i. Fishing in Juneau, Kodiak and along the Kenai River.

j. Sail on the Riverboat Discovery in Fairbanks.

k. Hike on a glacier with St. Elias Guides in Wrangell National Park.

l. Accommodations near Denali, in Kennicott, in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Valdez, Juneau, Kenai, Seward, or on the Kenai River.

m. See the Valley of the 10,000 Smokes in Katmai National Park!

n. Stay and sail to see the glaciers in Glacier Bay National Park! Oh–air fare from Juneau is 2-for-1 as well!

o. 2-for-1 air fare between Anchorage and Fairbanks on Era Aviation! Here’s a shot of one of their Dash-8s:

Don’t miss out on Alaska’s best travel deal. Order between now and Nov. 15 for FREE shipping to U.S. Addresses. Just $99.95 for more than $20,000 in 2-for-1 travel deals.

Am I excited about the new edition of the Great Alaskan TourSaver? OMG! Truly, Madly, Deeply! HAHA!

Order now: www.toursaver.com

Are you ready for cross-country skiing here in Alaska? If not, drop what you’re doing and head over to Alaska Mountaineering and Hiking. After all, skiing is a great way to travel, especially in Alaska!

Paul and the staff at AMH can outfit you with the right skis. Then, you need to get all waxed up–and they have the perfect supplies to keep you kicking and gliding all winter long. 

While you’re visiting AMH over on Spenard Rd. (near Chilkoot Charlie’s), buy your trails pin to help the grooming crew from the Anchorage Nordic Skiing Association. 

We’ll see you on the trails! Learn more online.