Fire and Ice
How do you choose between the warmth of Hawaii and the cool of Alaska? Fortunately, both destinations are more affordable than ever. I suggest Hawaii to warm you up in the winter and Alaska to cool you down in the summer. Alaska cruises start at $549pp for early May and late September itineraries. It's not too late to catch a bargain.
When you are ready there are several things to consider when choosing your cruise:
Glacier Bay Cathedral
Northbound cruises begin in San Francisco, Seattle or Vancouver, British Columbia, travel through the inside passage, into the Gulf Of Alaska and will end in Whittier or Seward, Alaska. From there you are taken by bus or rail to Anchorage for your return flight. If you choose this route you should seriously consider the cruisetour packages offered by the cruise line. All the details are taken care of for you. No need to worry about you and your luggage getting to the bus/train and then to the hotel. Sightseeing is included along with free time to explore on your own. Mt McKinley is a must see for Alaska visitors. Princess Lodges in
Kenai, Copper River, Denali, Mt McKinley and Fairbanks were specifically designed for the Princess Cruisetours. They can be booked separately if you would rather rent a car and go at your own pace. If you are not interested in cruising, Alaska is an easy destination to visit by car or on a Alaska Rail package. One piece of advice if you rent a car, keep your gas tank full. Some of the towns are hundreds of miles apart, you don’t want to be stranded in the wilderness because you ran out of gas.
Mendenhall Glacier from the Visitor Center Viewing Platform (Juneau)
Inside Passage cruises have several things to consider also. There are round trips from Seattle.Cruises that depart from Seattle and return to Vancouver or depart from Vancouver and return to Seattle. Passports are required if flying into or out of Canada. The itineraries will include a day of cruising through one of the glacier carved fjords, Tracy Arm, Misty Fjords National Monument, Icy Strait, Hubbard Glacier or Glacier Bay. Each of these sights has it’s own claim to fame. Whichever you choose, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.
Glacier Bay National Park includes 16 tidewater glaciers:12 actively calve icebergs into the bay. The thundering sound and resulting splash can be spectacular. As you enter Glacier Bay in Southeast Alaska you will cruise into a bay that was completely covered by ice just 200 years ago. In 1794 Explorer Captain George Vancouver found Icy Strait packed with ice. and Glacier Bay was 4000 ft. thick, up to 20 miles or more wide, and extended more than 100 miles to the St. Elias Range of mountains. By 1879 John Muir found that the ice had retreated 48 miles up the bay. Somebody please tell Al Gore to do some more research.
Hubbard Glacier is a tidewater glacier on the borders of Alaska and the Yukon Territory of Canada. Before it reaches the sea it is joined by Valerie Glacier. The glacier routinely calves off icebergs the size of a ten-story building. Most of the ice is below the water line, and icebergs can shoot up quite unexpectedly and dramatically, so that ships must keep their distance.
Tracy Arm and Endicott Arm. Both fjords are over 30 miles long and one-fifth of their area is covered in ice. You may see chunks of ice in all sizes from baseballs to 3 stories tall. The twin Sawyer Glaciers, North Sawyer and South Sawyer, are located at the end of Tracy Arm. Waterfalls and wildlife in the area includes bears, deer, wolves, harbor seals and eagles.
Each of these itineraries has it’s own claim to fame. Whichever you choose, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.
Categories: Adventures In Travel
Tags: glacier bay Alaska cruises princess lodges alaska railway denali
I have visited both Alaska and Hawaii and have found both to be absolutely beautiful. Although many of the states in the “Lower 48” have their own beautiful landscapes, the most basic aspect of what makes visiting Alaska and Hawaii great is that you remain in the United States. This is not meant to be a “knock” against travel to foreign countries as I love international travel and have traveled throughout France, England, Spain, and Italy and have many more countries I hope to one day visit. Rather, my point is, I have had the occasion to use my health insurance several times during my travels and have found that, while Alaska and Hawaii truly offer a person the opportunity to enjoy experiences that rival those of international travel, utilizing one’s health insurance in these two states is sometimes much “simpler” than when one is required to utilize their health insurance while traveling in a foreign country.
Reply to this
What I want to know is why I should care? I mean, not to say that what youve got to say isnt important, but I mean, its so generic. Everyones talking about this man. Give us something more, something that we can get behind so we can feel as passionately about it as you do.
Reply to this
Once you go-you will know! I've been to places that I don't have any desire to go back to. Not so for Alaska and Hawaii.
Reply to this
I am hoping to get to Hawaii soon, but Alaska was first on my travel plans! I have a trip planned for this summer, so it will be at least a little warmer than any other time of the year! We're taking a cruise, with time that will be allowed to explore the beautiful Alaska wilderness and scenery as well! I just purchased our travel insurance just in case anything comes up between now and the time we are supposed to visit Alaska!
Reply to this
I have always wanted to visit Alaska! My uncle has cancer and has also always wanted to go, so we decided to make a family reunion of it this summer! Thankfully he's agreed to taking out travel insurance in case something happens while we're gone. I'm just hoping that we can enjoy our time there and have a time that we'll never forget!
Reply to this