Posts Tagged ‘seattle’

Trip Report: Live from Butler County, Alabama

9th March
2010
written by scott
We’re trying out some of Alaska Airlines‘ new service: Seattle-Atlanta.
It’s been 20 years since I’ve flown through Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. And Atlanta’s airport has grown since then. Alaska’s once-daily afternoon service compliments Delta’s own service. In fact, the Alaska flight comes into a Delta gate. The two airlines cooperate on code-share agreements, so this comes as no surprise.
Both flights (ANC-SEA and SEA-ATL) were completely full. As expected the red-eye crowd for our outbound flight was pretty subdued. Security was a breeze, even when traveling with the whole family and a couple of rifles.
In Seattle, we wandered around the shops (pictured below: “Fireworks”) in the Pacific Marketplace food court, before ducking into Alaska’s Board Room for some delicious espresso.  I brought the family in on my Board Room membership. If you travel quite a bit, I think it’s worth the extra money to belong. I’ll be interested to see which airport club we can use in Atlanta prior to our return flight. If Alaska does not have its own club, they make arrangements with another airline to use their club.
Everything worked like clockwork on arrival in Atlanta. We made our way through the tunnel on the train to baggage claim. Then, we took the train over to the car rental center where we picked up our Hertz car. I’d pre-purchased the rental on Priceline. The week-long rental for a full-size car was $227, including all taxes, fees and Priceline’s extra profit. Still, it’s less than Hertz’s retail rate of $450 for the same car.
As it turned out, the brand-new, snappy Madza SUV (CX-9, I think) had several electrical problems. I ended up exchanging the car in Montgomery, Alabama. The Hertz people could not have been nicer. Now, I’m driving a big, dumb Grand Marquis with lots of trunk space. Perfect. HA!
Unlike Anchorage, rural Alabama does not have very good internet coverage. My in-laws’ Hughes.net satellite service is dreadful. It’s up, it’s down, it’s slow and unpredictable. A pox on them.  To come up to periscope depth for cell phone and internet service, I made the 20-mile drive to the county seat in Greenville, Alabama. I saw five deer and one possum on the way in.  Sweet Home Alabama. But the food is delicious! And YES, I ate my collards. And my butter beans. Roast beef, gravy, biscuits and mashed potatoes. YUM!
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Adventure

VIDEO: Seattle Travelgram

20th January
2010
written by scott

Taking a stroll through the Four Seasons Seattle, visiting with Seattle Maven and checking out the Olympic Sculpture Park.

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Adventure, Lodging, Videos

Seattle trip report

17th January
2010
written by scott

http://www.jasonHooverPhotography.com

Whether it’s to see some friends, take in a ball game, do some shopping or eat at some great restaurants, a trip south to Seattle is an integral part of every Alaskan’s travel itinerary. I love this photo by Jason Hoover (above). The place is so big–too big to ignore. I always have fun. You can, too. Here’s how: (more…)

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Adventure

Together, we’re building a school in Cambodia

3rd December
2009
written by scott

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Passports with Purpose 2009: Our travel-blogger friends in Seattle are at it again. This Christmas, we’re doing a fundraising drive for American Assistance for Cambodia (AAfC). The goal is to raise $13,000 for a school in rural Cambodia. This is a matching donation–AAfC has a donor who will provide the other $13,000 necessary.

Here is a first-hand report from Nicholas Kristof, who has visited Cambodia several times.

Just like last year, Passports with Purpose features an entire list of travel-related prizes you can sign up for. Here’s a link to all the prizes.

We’re donating a copy of this year’s Great Alaskan TourSaver. You get to pick which prize you’d like to sign up for. Every $10 donation gets you a chance to win–enter as many times as you wish (DUNH!!).

While the goal is $13,000, Beth (Wanderlust and Lipstick) , Debbie (Delicious Baby), Pam (Nerd’s Eye View) and their group have raised almost $11,000 in the first few days. So–we’re optimistic that we’ll surpass the goal–with your help.

AAfC has helped in the construction of more than 400 primary and lower secondary schools in rural Cambodia–in addition to many other contributions. These people are making things happen–and you can help by donating to the cause here.

Together, we’re building a school in Cambodia!

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Consumer

Seattle Hotel Sale: 30 percent off

21st October
2009
written by scott

We’ve been digging around for Seattle deals and BEHOLD: our friends at Kimpton Hotels offer Alaska residents 30 percent off their best rates between now and January, 2010. That includes the the Hotel Vintage Park, the Hotel Monaco and the Alexis Hotel. Click here for the Alaska Dispatch article I did on this special. Check the video!

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Lodging
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