Alaska TravelGram

What’s on in Anchorage? Mayor’s Marathon is on!!

Scott McMurren — Wed, 15 May 2013 02:36:01 +0000

What’s on in Anchorage? Good Heavens–how do we narrow it down? Spring has sprung, however haltingly. Admit it, though: the days are longer!! HAHA. Everyone in Anchorage is a travel expert–and they will guide you to the Log Cabin downtown at 4th Ave. and F St. to give you a good selection of what to do [...]

Mystical Mediterranean, from USTravel

Scott McMurren — Wed, 15 May 2013 02:04:19 +0000

Did I mention I’m stuck on all-things-Italy? It’s a weakness. Given time, you, too, will succumb. Here are some special deals from USTravel to get you in the mood! Tuscany & Umbria Biking: Undiscovered Umbria to Cortona, Land of the Tuscan Sun Welcome to Umbria and Tuscany! There are silvery olive groves and endless acres [...]

KOAN Podcast: Keep Calm and Dream of Italy!

Scott McMurren — Wed, 15 May 2013 01:05:44 +0000

OK OK. There is an ulterior motive for our broadcast today. Mm-hmm. As we speak (e-speak?), we’re headed over the pole on Condor German Airlines to Frankfurt — then on to Florence, Italy (above). So–who do I quiz for the inside scoop? That would be Kathy McCabe, publisher of the award-winning newsletter, Dream of Italy. [...]

KOAN Podcast: Julie Saupe from Visit Anchorage!

Scott McMurren — Thu, 09 May 2013 00:25:43 +0000

We hosted Julie Saupe and James Minton from Visit Anchorage in the studio. In addition to discussing all the cool air fare deals (Seattle, L.A., Frankfurt, Iceland and MORE! ), we waxed poetic about the giant love-fest between the city of Anchorage and the USS Anchorage crew in port last week. Sure, it was snowing. [...]

KOAN Podcast: All Homer, all the time!

Scott McMurren — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 03:00:44 +0000

We hosted Jon Faulkner from Land’s End Resort on the radio show (above the view from room 227!). Listen up for the details on the GLORIOUS “Uncorked” Food & Wine event on May 3. Plus Jon has some keen insight on what’s happening this summer: trips across the bay, Shorebird Festival, ferry to Seldovia, dinner [...]

Condor: Luvin’ me sum Big Twins (aka B767)

Scott McMurren — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 02:15:18 +0000

Condor’s nonstop flights to Frankfurt, Germany run all summer, through Oct. 1. Like last year, Condor is flying the twin-aisle 767-300. I snapped this photo (above). Later in the month, on May 25, they move to two flights per week. Then, in July, Condor starts its nonstop Fairbanks-Frankfurt flights–and adds a third weekly flight nonstop [...]

Ice is nice in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park!

Scott McMurren — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 01:44:57 +0000

Plan your trip to McCarthy/Kennicott in the heart of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, America’s largest park! Choose from great deals and new activities this year, including a ZIP LINE from Alaska Boreal Canopy Adventures! Your zipline adventure begins on the Nizina Road to the Canopy Welcome Center. This road was a pioneer route blazed in the [...]

KOAN Podcast: Eye on Alaska

Scott McMurren — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 23:26:41 +0000

We had a great time on the radio going over all the deals available this week between Alaska and the rest of the world. That includes super deals to L.A. on Alaska Airlines and JetBlue, plus over-the-top deals to Europe on Icelandair and Condor! Remember, tune in each week here in Anchorage on KOAN, 95.5FM, [...]

Aviation safety: everybody’s business

Scott McMurren — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 20:49:00 +0000

Spoiler alert: The saying on the t-shirt makes great fashion (perhaps), but bad flight safety management. Just sayin’. Last week, I had a meeting with members of the FAA’s Circle of Safety team. This included Mike Yorke, Danny Billman and Ernie Barrnett. All three are pilots who have committed themselves to maintaining and improving aviation [...]

KOAN PODCAST: G-r-e-a-t fares, fun contests + Wish Week 2013!

Scott McMurren — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 23:58:05 +0000

Listen up! It’s a thrill-a-minute on the Alaska Travelgram radio show! First, we’re STUCK on the great air fares now available on JetBlue, Alaska Airlines, Icelandair and other carriers flying to/from Alaska this summer. There’s still time to win a TRIP FOR FOUR on JetBlue, with Erin’s “Many Happy Returns” Sweepstakes. All the official rules [...]

Alaska Air: Travel Tuesday Hawtness!

Scott McMurren — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 22:31:45 +0000

Check out Travel Tuesday deals from Alaska Air. Above–I’m not that excited about the cheese tray. Actually, that’s what I order from Alaska Air when I’m on board. Rather, I’m happy to see POWER OUTLETS at the seats. The seating upgrade is a work in progress….and it starts this fall, along with the new, skinnier seats. In [...]

HEALTHY TRAVELER: Free Health Fair=Alaska Regional Hospital

Scott McMurren — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 21:25:03 +0000

We want you to be a healthy traveler. That means more than vaccinations and exercise! It means regular screening for high blood pressure, heart disease and other ailments. Mark your calendar for this Saturday, April 20 here in Anchorage. Alaska Regional Hospital is hosting a FREE health fair, from 8 a.m. to 12 Noon. I’m [...]

KOAN PODCAST: Great deals, great contests, fun interview with Dee Buchanon!

Scott McMurren — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 04:13:22 +0000

Having fun on the radio (PODCAST H-E-R-E)–every Saturday between 11a and 12n on KOAN radio in Anchorage: 95.5FM, 1020AM. Joining me in the studio: Erin Kirkland (above), your Alaska family travel expert. Check out her website for tips, tricks and FREE TRIPS! Yup, Erin is giving away some tickets on JetBlue. This is not a [...]

Whales-n-Tails special now available!

Scott McMurren — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 21:03:51 +0000

The whales they are a-breachin’, folks. That’s what they do in Seward. But there’s so much more! The “Whales and Tails Special” includes a Resurrection Bay Tour, an all-you-can-eat lunch at Fox Island and an in-depth look at dog mushing from Iditarod Champion Mitch Seavey! Spend time with the dogs and puppies of the the [...]

USTravel: New Euro-deals for Spring, Summer!

Scott McMurren — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 20:34:30 +0000

Our friends at USTravel and Explore Tours have some g-r-e-a-t deals to jump-start your vacation planning for spring and summer. First, Explore Tours is offering DEALS to Iceland, featuring Icelandair’s new non-stop service from Anchorage to Reykjavik starting May 16, 2013. CLICK HERE for the entire list. Here are just a few Iceland packages we’ve [...]