Lodging

9th March
2010
written by scott
Kelly Jo at USTravel has been busy digging up some springtime bargains. First on deck, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, is a pub tour of Ireland. Oh, in case there’s any question: Kelly Jo’s last name is McGee. Mine is McMurren. Since I’m Scots-Irish, I’m conflicted (love to drink but hate to pay for it). HA! Check out this eight-night pub tour from Dublin:
-Start your tour at the Guinness Storehouse and learn about the world-famous brew. Then, taste it for your self at the Storehouse’s Gravity Bar.
-Visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral in the heart of Dublin. Your local Irish guide will teach you about the Book of Kells, which you will see at Trinity College. Then, enjoy a Pub Crawl in Dublin.
-Visit Locke’s Irish Whiskey distillery in Kilbeggan (est. 1757). Then taste the goods!
-See Galway Cathedral, the Cliffs of Moher and Killarney.
-Travel the Ring of Kerry.
-Don’t miss the Blarney Stone and Kilkenny. Enjoy visits to local pubs and other attractions!
This eight-day pub tour gives you a great overview of the Emerald Isle, in addition to tasting some great beer! Call Kelly Jo for more details: (907)561-2434.
Choose to cruise with some great bargains!
7-night Mexican Riviera from $549
7-night Caribbean from $599
10-night Mediterranean from $899
10-night Panama Canal from $1,099
12-night South America  from $1,199
Enjoy USTravel’s exclusive shipboard credit (up to $150 per couple), a 50 percent reduced deposit and an Onboard Savings Book valued at $354! Call now: (907)561-2434 in Anchorage. Or, toll-free: (800)544-2217.
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • LinkedIn
  • MySpace
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Twitter
1st March
2010
written by scott
Gray Line of Alaska is offering $500 off per couple on this 11-day tour through Alaska and Canada’s Yukon,beginning in Anchorage. Your adventure starts in Anchorage with two nights’ hotel, plus an excursion to Portage Glacier aboard the m/v Ptarmigan–to within 300 years of the glacier!
Next, it’s off to Denali National Park on the full-dome McKinley Explorer private rail cars. Your tour includes the famous “Tundra Wilderness Tour” that goes deep in the park for your best wildlife viewing! Two nights’ accommodations at Denali Park is included.
Ride the rails north to Fairbanks and experience gold fever! Check out two separate gold mines: The El Dorado Gold Mine and the Historic Gold Dredge #8, where you’ll enjoy a  miner’s lunch. Next–head off to Tok for the night, then up the Top of the World Highway to Eagle for a cruise on the Yukon River! You’ll sail on the mighty “Yukon Queen II” fast catamaran to Dawson City. This is an incredible stretch of the Yukon River. High cliffs drop right down to the water. Watch for wildlife on the shore–I’ve seen moose and bear swim the river in front of the boat!!
In Dawson, take advantage of many optional tours, including a visit to Diamond Tooth Gertie’s Casino, or to one of several museums in Dawson documenting the Klondike Gold Rush.
Continue along the Klondike Highway to Whitehorse, the capital of the Yukon Territory. Enjoy the “Frantic Follies Revue”!
The next day, travel over the famed White Pass on your way to Skagway, Alaska. You’ll lose a lot of elevation as you drop down to Sea Level–and you’ll appreciate the rough lot of the Klondike “Stampeders” as they made their way up the rugged mountains in their quest for gold.
The next day, fly down Lynn Canal to Juneau, where you’re

free to enjoy Alaska’s capital city. Optional tours include the Mt. Roberts Tram, helicopter flightseeing up to the Mendenhall Glacier or whalewatching. The following day, we’ll take you to the airport!
Remember: Book by March 31, 2010, and mention PROMOOJGL to save $500 per couple!
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • LinkedIn
  • MySpace
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Twitter
1st March
2010
written by scott

Nobody can dismiss the Rondy frivolity of the Running of the Reindeer here in Anchorage. But up north in Fairbanks, ice carvers from around the world are chipping away at the famous “Black Diamond” ice. It’s renowned for its clarity–and the finished products are a wonder to behold. It’s a Fairbanks tradition at the Ice Alaska park each March. Make plans to attend.

Stay at the Princess Lodge on the banks of the now-frozen Chena River, just about a mile from the airport. They’ve got a free shuttle to the hotel, but you may want to rent a car to cruise around town.

Special rates now are available for as little as $69 per night. Or, spend $89 per night and get up to two $15 breakfast vouchers per day at “Trackers”, in the lobby. That’s a great deal. There’s free high-speed internet, a great restaurant in the lobby–and a big fireplace, too!  Stay at least two nights and you’ll get DOUBLE Alaska Airlines miles. Use this special discount code when you’re booking online: AKADMF.

More info: CLICK HERE.

Look, I would be remiss if I did not recommend a couple of other KILLER attractions in Fairbanks–open year-round. First, the antique car museum at Wedgewood Resort. The “Fountainhead Antique Car Museum” is the brainchild of Tim Cerny. And it’s fantastic. Go see it.

The second is the Museum of the North on the campus of the University of Alaska. It’s got a fantastic permanent collection of Alaskan artifacts and art. But the rotating exhibits are incredible, including lots of modern art from around the state. Don’t miss “The Place Where You Go To Listen.” Think “Multimedia”. It can be overwhelming. Calming. Dreamlike. GO!

After the jump–summer specials. (more…)

  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • LinkedIn
  • MySpace
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Twitter
17th February
2010
written by scott
I love the little play on words from our friends at Land’s End Resort in Homer, Alaska. Here’s a shot looking out onto Kachemak Bay from Land’s End Lodges.
Hale=Van Hale, co-owner of the famous Marx Bros. Cafe in Anchorage. Caesar=his famous tableside presentation of the classic dinner salad. Van has offered classes for years on how to make and present these delicious salads. Pictured at right, Van (left) with restaurant partner Jack Amon (right). Meet in Homer on Fri., Mar. 12.
You’ll hear phrases like “It’s all about the bowl”. But take a look at the itinerary. I think it’s all about the wine! HA! This special class at Land’s End Resort includes a Welcome Social on Friday night (with wine), a class on Saturday where you’ll enjoy four different Caesar salads (with paired wines), a Saturday night dinner (with wine) and Sunday brunch!
Enjoy the company, the food, the wine, the views–everything. Sounds like a blast!
The cost? $149 per person. Special packages start at $372 for two people (not including tax or gratuity). Call (800)478-0400.
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • LinkedIn
  • MySpace
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Twitter
6th February
2010
written by scott

It’s the great Alaskan pastime: whether you’re fishing deep for halibut, trolling for salmon or working the river system for the big lunkers, FISHING=ALASKA. Pictured here, young Drew McMurren with a fat Kenai River king salmon (we ate it THAT DAY!).

The fishing is oh-so-much sweeter when it’s TWO-FOR-ONE with the Great Alaskan TourSaver. Check out these deals:

a. Homer halibut fishing. Cruise with Ninilchik Charters and get a FREE full-day halibut charter with purchase of an accompanying charter with TourSaver coupon. Plus, there’s a coupon for 2-for-1 accommodations at the Driftwood Inn in Homer (second night free).

b. Seward halibut fishing. Ninilchik Charters also offers a 2-for-1 full-day halibut charter out of Seward! There’s lots going on in Seward. With your TourSaver book, you can get 2-for-1 accommodations at the Van Gilder Hotel and 2-for-1 admission to the Alaska SeaLife Center, in addition to a 2-for-1 Kenai Fjords cruise!!

c. Seward salmon fishing. Our friends at Miller’s Landing offer a 2-for-1 coupon for saltwater salmon fishing. They also offer 2-for-1 kayak tours!

d. Upper Kenai River. The Drifters’ Lodge in Cooper Landing offers a 2-for-1 trout fishing coupon on the Upper Kenai River. Just around the corner, the Sunrise Inn offers 2-for-1 accommodations.

e. Lower Kenai River. Fish with RW. 2-for-1! He has the boats and the expertise to land the big King Salmon or Silver Salmon on the mighty Kenai River. Plus, you can trim 50 percent off your accommodations at his lodge.

f. Lower Kenai River. Larry and Mary Mills offer 2-for-1 salmon fishing and 2-for-1 accommodations at their hand-crafted log cabins right along the Kenai River!

Don’t miss out on fishing Alaska this summer–especially when it’s 2-for-1 with the Great Alaskan TourSaver. Go to the website today and order your TourSaver book. It costs $99.95 and has $26,000+ in travel savings.

  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • LinkedIn
  • MySpace
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Twitter
Previous