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Imagine riding a horse through snow on a warm sunny day in August. This may sound like an impossible contradiction, but I did just that on a high country pack trip with Icicle Outfitters & Guides of Washington State.
Icicle Outfitters offers everything from day rides near Leavenworth and at Lake Wenatchee State Park, to drop camps where they pack in gear for hikers or hunters, to full service pack trips. In the winter they even have sleigh rides.
My sister, niece, and I took a pack trip in the Glacier Peak Wildernessarea. This allowed us to visit an area we aren't equipped to haul our own horses to, and to take rides ours aren't conditioned for. Also to explore an area we know nothing about with a guide to keep us from getting lost. 
Pack trips sometimes involve a traveling camp where you bring the camp along and stay in a different place every night. Others pack in a base camp where they set up once and take day rides from there. You can venture farther from the starting point with the traveling camp, or have a more elaborate set-up with the base camp option. 
We selected a base camp trip. The first day we rode in with pack mules carrying our gear. The mules left after dropping off supplies. On subsequent days we rode out on different trails and saw lots of beautiful places. The last day of our trip, the mules came back to pick up our gear, although we did not ride back with them. They passed by us on the trail coming in as our group headed out. Even with our head start, the pack mules beat us to the trailhead because we stopped at a beautiful high mountain lake along the way to do some fishing. 
The Cascade Mountains have dozens of remote lakes with excellent fishing opportunities. A three or four piece rod works best because it fits in the rod case or tube which is both easily packed in on the mule, and can be tied onto the saddle for use during the trip. On some lakes, a float tube is also a great option for some off-shore fishing. Small high-mountain trout bite small lures such as power bait or flies. Anyone planning to fish needs to purchase a fishing license prior to their trip because the wilderness has no stores.
We saw up close the results of the 'Let it burn" policy for wilderness areas after riding many miles through eerily beautiful stands of burned trees. Some had peek-a-boo views of snow capped mountain peaks between them. Wildflowers and new young trees grew amidst the stands of dead trees. Strangest of all were the occasional untouched tall live trees that managed to escape harm while all those around them burned. 
One day, we rode to Entiat Glacier. Along the way we passed first through meadows full of brightly colored flowers, then later through isolated patches of slowly melting snow in unburned woods. Another day's ride included lunch near an old historic trapper's cabin and fishing in a high mountain stream. Best of all, somebody else had to saddle and unsaddle the horses. 
Camp food provided by the professional outfitter would be very hard to beat. We dined like royalty on dutch oven meals. We had dinners including salmon, pork chops, and fruit cobblers. They also cooked wonderful breakfasts with things like hot fresh cinnamon rolls or eggs and potatoes as well. Quite a switch from the usual hot dogs, burritos, and pancakes we eat when camping on our own, and someone else to wash the dishes. It's great to sit back and relax on vacation while other people do all the work.  Our guide liked dutch oven cooking so much he said he even cooked that way at home, He said using charcoal briquettes makes it an exact science, but coals from the fire mean guesswork. The amount of briquettes varies depending on the size of the pot and the material it is made out of. For a 12" cast iron dutch oven, 15 coals on top and 9 on the bottom cooks at 350 degrees. For aluminum add 4 more briquettes each to the top and bottom. On the average, for each 2 inch increase in pot size, add 2 more each to the top and bottom of the pot. For baking bread or biscuits, change the ratio to 4 briquettes on the bottom and 18 on the top for the 12" cast iron pot. To change the temperature, 2 briquettes more or less changes it up or down by 25 degrees.
After dinner, we sat around the fire toasting marshmallows for s'mores and listening to stories. Packers who spend as much time in the woods as our guide have some interesting tales to tell. He met some interesting characters over the years. One time he came along an old fashioned steamer trunk lying in the middle of the trail. He got off his horse to move it and got pelted by rocks and sticks from the owner of the trunk hiding somewhere in the trees. Further down the trail, he came across another trunk.
On his way out a week or so later, he again came across the steamer trunks. This time a couple miles farther down the trail accompanied by their owner. Quite friendly this time, displaying no sign of the earlier hostility, he claimed to be on the way to Darrington to pick berries.
“That's over 50 miles away, on the other side of the mountain,” the guide informed him.
The man had no grasp on reality thinking he would make it over a mountain before it snowed dragging first one trunk then doubling back for the other. The forest service crew had to go in and pack him out.
Deer liked our camp almost as much as we did. A doe with two fauns and a spike buck who was most likely her yearling son hung around most of the time. At night more deer snuck in to the area where some of the horses stayed tied to a highline, while others roamed free grazing on meadow grass.
The deer wanted to eat the ties off the saddles to get the salt where they rub against a sweaty horse. All the saddles had to be bundled up in the canvas used on the mule packs to keep the deer out. The mule pack canvas also made great (if a bit smelly) blankets over the sleeping bags, keeping us warm in our tent on the cold mountain nights.
Brightly colored birds called evening grosbeaks enjoyed eating ash from the firepit. One especially brave bird flew down to munch on cooler ash near the edge of the pit while we all sat around the fire having breakfast. His shyer companions flitted around nearby trees waiting for us to put out the fire and leave before they took their turns. 
I recommend that anyone who is not accustomed to horseback riding try a day trail ride at a horse rental stable before booking a pack trip. If you enjoy the day trip enough that you feel like you want to ride more when it ends, then a pack trip might be for you, but if you want off the horse an hour into the ride, it would not be a good idea.
Most seasoned trail riders would enjoy a pack trip. People with only arena riding experience might also want to try the day ride on a trail first. Some arena riders feel insecure when suddenly faced with the lack of walls around them.
We planned our pack trip with Icicle Outfitters as a once in a lifetime experience, but enjoyed it so much we can't wait to go again.
Tags: Cascade Mountains Horse Camping Dutch Oven Cooking Fishing Horse Pack T
One small ship cruise line goes under. Most people would have seen their ships as fodder for the scrap yard. Dan Blanchard of American Safari Cruises saw them as the means to start a new company. With the complete overhaul of two ships formerly of Glacier Bay, InnerSea Discoverieswas born, a small-ship cruise line with a taste for adventure and exploration of wild places. 
The first time I saw the Wilderness Discoverer she sat high and dry in a shipyard in Seattle. Pointing to the bulbous protrusion on the underside of the bow hanging over our heads, Dan Blanchard enthusiastically explained how an underwater camera soon to be mounted there would give future guests a view of what swims beneath the ship from the flat-screen TV's not yet added to the passenger cabins. He added that the bulbous bow, as it is actually called, reduces drag and thus decreases fuel consumption. Outside the boat did not look like much. Most of the paint had been removed and the hull was in various stages of repair. Ships come into drydock periodically for maintenance and repairs. This one would stay longer than most for intensive overhaul. Dan mentioned that he intended to fix potential future problems in addition to current ones while the ship had her makeover. After climbing a tall set of construction style temporary stairs, we reached the back deck and climbed aboard. We proceeded for a tour of the mostly still intact inside of the ship. At that time it appeared much as it had in its past life with barely a glimpse of the destiny of what it would become. Looking into sparse cabins with beds resembling camp cots, it took a lot of imagination to picture comfortable guest rooms. Stepping cautiously over various tools and bits of construction debris, and careful not to touch any wet paint, we followed Dan as he happily pointed out the changes he planned to make. “I'd like to decorate it in early Forest Service Lodge décor,” he said at one point, mentioning that he would be happy to accept donations of items anyone in our group of writers and travel agents might have for that purpose. No doubt he expected things like fishing poles or kitschy cups. Perhaps someone might have an old fishing lure or some antlers. Things to give the ship an old fashioned outdoorsy look reminiscent of a remote lodge built in the first half of the last century. My thoughts drifted to the hay loft of my barn. There sat an old western saddle, gathering dust and cobwebs. It spent many years in that hay loft after a horse's extreme bucking fit broke the saddle tree.  At some point in the tour I found the chance to ask if he might like the saddle. He said he could find a use for it, perhaps as a lamp. I next saw the Wilderness Discoverer several months later when I stopped by Dan's office to deliver the saddle. Dan said he had decided it would make a good bar stool. (I had wondered how the lamp idea would work.) He pointed out the way to the dock at Seattle's Fishermen's Terminal where the boat now resided in water.  The outside looked far better this time, the inside far worse. The newly painted green hull symbolizes a green company as well as honoring the Forest Service boats of Alaska. In southeast Alaska, the Forest Service built and maintains a series of boardwalk trails in the wilderness, which InnerSea Discoveries makes use of on their cruise itineraries. InnerSea Discoveries passengers don't just see glaciers, they hike on one. Instead of watching ice bergs float by, they get up close enough to touch, and even taste them. 
Having patched, repaired, and painted the outside, work had began in earnest on the inside. Piles of old fixtures and furnishings cluttered much of the space. Little of the interior remained intact. Most of what did would not stay for long. Some of the vessel's future crew took time out of their day's remodeling and clean-up work to show off their new toy, the kayak launcher.  The kayak launcher enables people to get in and out of the kayak without getting off the boat. The kayak sits on rollers in between a set of handrail-like bars. Once in the kayak, it slides into the water on the rollers as the passengers use the handrails to push themselves toward the water. Testing it out with the bow of another boat just a few feet away proved a bit of a challenge, but it worked wonderfully and once in operation cruise ship guests will not have that obstacle to face.  The third time I saw the Wilderness Discoverer she sat tied to a pier not far from her former berth. This time she had her sister ship the Wilderness Adventurer tied to her side as they awaited their double christening ceremony. The newly refurbished inside now matched the recently renovated outside. While still small, the staterooms now sported real beds and of course, the flat screen TV's. All new furnishings graced the dining room and bar. A trip down a flight of stairs led to a small massage room. Up on deck a fleet of Necky kayaks awaited action and hot tubs nestled under their covers. Even exercise equipment found a place on deck, though how much use it will get in days filled with hiking and kayaking remains a mystery. The ship looked great. It only lacked one thing. They had not yet mastered the secret of how to mount the saddle onto a bar stool. So while the ship found new life, the old saddle still waited. It did not have to wait long though. It missed the christening, but made it on the ship securely mounted to a bar stool before the ship set sail for the summer cruising season.   Time came for the christening. Champagne bottles broke simultaneously on both ships, followed by loud blasts of their horns joined by the horns of other ships in the fleet and cheers of the crowd and crews. Two ships once destined for the scrap yard rescued and rebirthed to a new life as adventure vessels bound for Alaska with InnerSea Discoveries. Instead of cruising from port to busy port as the large ships do, they cruise cove to scenic cove, experiencing the wonders of nature in the wilds of southeast Alaska.
Interested in this cruise? Book early for next year at InnerSea Discoveries. This year already sold out. Or try American Safari Cruises luxury yachts to Alaska in the summer or their wintertime warm destinations in Hawaii or the Sea of Cortez.
Tags: Cruise Travel Adventure Alaska InnerSea Discoveries Nature Vacation
Before heading across the ocean for a vacation to Australia, many questions need answers. Start with the flight. What matters most, price, length of the journey, or stops along the way? Research flights to find the one best suited. If price matters most, the cheapest flights often stop several times and take well over 20 hours from start to finish. The most direct flights may take as little as 14 – 16 hours, but could cost quite a lot.
 When plans include stopping somewhere along the way, the flight must include the preferred place whether that means Fiji, Hawaii, Japan, or somewhere else flights to Australia tend to stop.
Some airlines also offer flights far more frequently than others, which makes a difference to travelers with tight schedules. Research online or visit a travel agent to find what works best for any individual situation. Australia has more to offer than anyone without unlimited travel time and budget could possibly see in one trip. Sydney has a lot of history since that is where the first English settlers and convicts landed. Just about everyone associates Australia with kangaroos, the outback, or the Great Barrier Reef. International flights land at the major airports. Other means of travel take visitors everywhere else. Research online or through a travel agent to find the best transportation for your needs. Australia has an excellent train system, which even has a stop at the Sydney airport. They also have busses, taxis, rental cars, domestic airlines or boats to take travelers to places where international flights may not land. History buffs touring Sydney most likely will want to visit the area known as The Rocks, which lies between Circular Quay and the road to the Sydney Harbour  Bridge. The first settlers landed there in 1778. The area still has many historical buildings. Once run-down and rat-infested, recent renovations have remodeled the area into a tourist attraction while preserving its old world charm.
Those not satisfied with walking, biking, driving, or riding the train across the bridge may want to try the bridge climb tour. The bridge also provides great views of the famous Sydney Opera House. Sydney has many other things to see including the historic Queen Victoria Building, Centrepoint Tower, an aquarium and a zoo. In addition to public travel on the train or bus, Sydney has other more interesting ways for tourists to get  around. Take a Harbour Cruise for a guided tour of interesting places and things seen from the water. Or try the double decker hop-on, hop-off bus for either a city tour or a trip to Bondi Beach. The big red kangaroos of the outback can only be found in zoos in the Sydney area, but gray kangaroos live in the wild just a short distance away in the Blue Mountains. Blue Mountains National Park offers day trips or camping with wild gray kangaroos at Euroka clearing near the town of Glenbrook. The train stops at Glenbrook, but unless a long walk to the park sounds appealing, a car rental is a better option.
Other interesting things in the Blue Mountains include rock formations known as the three sisters, and the world's steepest scenic railway and two scenic skyrides at Katoomba. Take the train one way and the sceniscender, or aerial cable car the other. At the bottom walk the boardwalk trail through an ancient forest of fernlike trees and view remnants of an old coal mine. Or try the 800 stairs at Echo Point near the visitor's center. From Sydney, catch a domestic flight to Cairns for access to the Great Barrier  Reef. Cairns has a variety of options for day or overnight trips out to the reef for snorkeling, diving, or glass bottom boat tours.
A whole different world of beauty lurks just under the surface at the reef. Brightly colored fish of all shapes and sizes swim through coral just as bright and varied as the fish. Giant clams lurk between coral patches. Eels cautiously poke their heads out of their underwater caves. Turtles sometimes put in an appearance. Watch out for jellyfish and sharks though.
Cairns also offers access to a variety of rainforest tours where lucky visitors may catch a glimpse of the elusive cassowary.  Perhaps a visit to the dry deserts of the outback beckons. Ayers Rock, locally known by its aboriginal name of Uluru, is the most famous natural landmark in Australia, and one of the world's oldest rocks. Alice Springs, near to Ayers Rock, is the best-known outback town and offers a variety of tourist options. Red kangaroos live all throughout the outback.
Other options in Australia include the places like the underground opal-mining town of Coober Pedy, the dry-river boat race at Alice Springs (once cancelled because it rained and the river had water in it) or a visit to Australia Zoo in Queensland.
Australia also has more than its share of deadly creatures, best seen only in zoos. Besides sharks and quite a variety of poisonous jellyfish, they have both the world's most venomous snake (inland taipan) and spider (Sydney funnel web.)
Tags: Travel Australia Vacation Sydney
 Castillo San Felipe del Morro Approaching old San Juan by sea, time regresses about 500 years. Weather worn towers (garitas) top the seemingly endless brownish walls dominating the horizon. Looming over the city, the ancient battlements stand guard. The somewhat crumbly appearance deceives the eye, as they seem in fact quite solid.
Garita on Castillo San Cristobal, San Juan Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico is the first of many old fort cities that once dotted the Caribbean protecting residents from pirates and invading armies. Standing on the bow of the Holland America Westerdam as our ship entered the harbor, no cannons fired. Only a multitude of cameras shot the historic fort.
Castillo San Cristobal Christopher Columbus discovered Puerto Rico in 1493, but never returned. His lieutenant, Ponce de Leon, returned in 1508 to claim the island and by 1521 began building forts and walls. Construction of Castillo San Felipe del Morro began in 1539 by the Spaniards to protect their treasure ships. El Morro served to guard the entrance to the bay. Residents added new structures for the next 400 years. The original lighthouse was added on top the castle in 1843. The US military built the current one in 1908. After a city sacking and burning attack from the land side by the Dutch in 1625, the Spaniards surrounded the city with massive walls about 18 feet thick. It took 48 years to wall the city in, with construction starting in 1634.  iguana lawn mower After the attack on the land side of the city, The Spaniards started building a small fort on Cristobal hill in 1634. Major construction over the next 150 years resulted in the monstrous Castillo San Cristobal, once far larger than it is today. In 1897 much of the wall and about a third of the castle was dynamited to allow the city to grow. Remnants of the formidable wall that once surrounded the city remain visible in much of old San Juan. Heading up the hill from the cruise ship dock, the vivid blue, orange, yellow and other colors of the buildings and bright blue roads create a sharp contrast to the drab weatherbeaten stone walls of the fort.  Old San Juan, Puerto Rico A short scenic walk from the cruise ship dock brings guests to San Cristobal. Iguanas dot the grass, placidly posing for pictures. Not native to the area, the park department allows them to stay for the free lawn mowing service they provide. Travel through a tunnel and find many great views and a giant stack of cannonballs on an upper level. A refreshing sea breeze through the garita feels like nature's air conditioning. From San Cristobal tourists could walk to El Morro in about half an hour. On a hot muggy day the free trolley or the hop on hop off tour bus makes the trip far easier. Bike rentals are also an option for getting around town. Horse and buggy rides are available too. See both forts for one price, or just one for a little bit less.  Blue Brick Road Walking up the long approach to El Morro, the notable absence of iguanas leaves much longer grass. Once inside pass through a long hall of many doorways, painted yellow and white. Head down a narrow stairway alongside a long steep ramp to a pavilion by the sea. Check out the ancient cannon, or peek over the walls or through the garita (sentry box) to the wild surf crashing on the rocks below. Both forts served the United States through World Wars 1 and 2, with bunkers and artillery added during World War 2. Now both castles invite tourists to defend the city with dollars to help keep the economy viable rather than soldiers with weapons repelling the many enemies who threatened the city throughout the centuries. Retired from active use in 1961, the castles fell under the protection of the National Park Service, and became World Heritage Sites in 1983. El Morro has a cathedral and an old cemetery with the remains of Ponce de Leon.  Cat in the Doorway It's a pretty easy walk through town back down the hill toward the cruise ship docks. A stroll through the blue brick streets of town reveals colonial architecture, brightly colored buildings, and cats sleeping in fanciful doorways. The blue cobblestones, called adoquin, are a remnant of Spain of the 1800's. Cast from furnace slag brought over from Spain as ship's ballast, they make for unique and beautiful streets. Shades of blue vary from periwinkle to indigo. Modern cars have some difficulty maneuvering on streets intended for horse and buggy use. They often ride over the curb while turning corners.
Pigeons on the Wall Everywhere you look you'll find something new to see. Ornate railings and statues decorate overhanging balconies. Potted plants high on verandas and low in window boxes or on the street add color and life. Quaint shops in colorful buildings offer a variety of things for sale. The unique blue brick roads themselves are a sight to see. Turn a corner and find ruins of the old wall or castles. We found one bit covered in pigeons, next to a park full of birds. We strolled through a section of town where many buildings had doors of iron bars. The cats passed through at will, unlike the ones sleeping in front of solid doors. One group of people walked by, herding a rather large black cat that must have strayed too far from home. San Juan is a major port for cruise ships. Some stop by and others start or end their journey there. Either way it makes a great opportunity to see the town. For those wishing a longer stay, several airlines fly into San Juan. Hotels are available in both the old and new sections of the city. by Lois Beath http://mycruisestories.wordpress.com
Tags: Old San Juan Puerto Rico Castles Old Forts Iguana Cruise Caribbean
Sint Maarten/Saint Martin, two names for one rather small island. This now peaceful Caribbean island has a long and bloody history. Violence began long before the day Columbus first sighted the island in 1493 on November 11, the holy day of Saint Martin of Tours. He claimed the island for Spain, naming it Isla de San Martin. Throughout history, the island changed hands many times between Spain, France, Holland, Britain and Denmark. Before the Europeans came, fierce Caribs conquered peaceful Arawak natives on Saint Martin and all around the Caribbean. They disposed of the men by having them for dinner. With the men out of the way, they took the women (who probably had no choice in the matter) as wives. The word cannibal comes from the Spanish pronunciation of the Arawak word for Carib.
Dutch settlers came for the island's abundant salt, used as a food preservative in colonial times. Spaniards conquered the Dutch, evicting them from the island and enlarging a fort the Dutch built for their own use. Meanwhile French farmers came to the island to grow tobacco. The Dutch returned and eventually the Spanish left. In 1648 the French and Dutch squared off, each with a man starting from the same point and walking opposite directions around the outer edge of the island. The dividing line drawn from the place they started to the place they met gave France the larger share of the island per a treaty signed at the top of Mt. Concordia. All these years later, we can only speculate why the French ended up with the lion's share. Did the French man cheat and run? Did the Dutch man fall asleep on the job? Was the terrain that much harder to cross on the south side of the island? Or did walking the coastline of some large bays on the south end take more time than the slightly straighter northern coastline? Perhaps the French fleet of warships just off the coast influenced the final outcome. Whatever the reason, the treaty did not end the squabbles among nations at that time. Several countries claimed it for their own as it changed hands 16 times among the French, Dutch and English until 1816 when peace finally came with the restoration of the French and Dutch zones. The Concordia agreement, still in effect to this day, is now the world's oldest still-active undisputed treaty.
Other nations weren't the only thing islanders had to worry about. Pirates of the Caribbean brings thoughts to our minds of movies and Disney rides. We may smile at those words, but a couple centuries ago they brought fear and terror from the threat of attacks far greater than those of the current pirates near Somalia. Pirates ran rampant throughout the Caribbean, attracted by the growing number of merchant ships, especially those carrying silver from Mexico or Peru. The Caribbean covered too broad an area for even the many Spanish forts scattered throughout the region to keep pirates under control. Warring nations encouraged more activity from pirates and smugglers, often pleased when pirates attacked their foes. With no organized opposition, pirates found safe haven on Saint Martin. Rumors of buried treasure still float around the island, but whether there is any truth to those rumors nobody knows. I wonder if it is a coincidence finding the word rat in the middle of pirate.
Present day islanders no longer have to worry about attacks from pirates or warring nations. Nature on the other hand knows no boundaries. The more people build the more she has to destroy, and occasionally Saint Martin falls in the path of a hurricane. The official languages of the island are Dutch and English on Sint Maarten and French on Saint Martin, but most people on either side of the island speak English. With an area of only 37 square miles, this is the smallest island in the world currently claimed by more than one nation.
The temperature remains about 80-82 degrees year round. People pass freely from one side of the island to the other. The border between the French and Dutch sides is marked only by monuments and signs. No customs delay travel, though traffic jams might.
Beaches on Saint Martin provide more than the usual beach-going entertainment. Maho Beach on the Dutch side lies just across the street from Princess Juliana International Airport. Airplane fanatics flock to Maho Beach for exciting photos and videos of close-ups of the underside of 747's. On the French side, nude beaches attract a different sort of attention. With white sand and warm blue water under the clear blue sky, there's a beach somewhere on the island to satisfy everyone.
Saint Martin has activities of all kinds from zip line adventures to snorkeling and diving, horseback riding, hiking, biking and water sports of all kinds. We visited Sint Maarten on a Holland America cruise and took a snorkel trip on a sailboat to the nearby island of Tintamarre. Along the way, the boat crew pointed out many vacation homes belonging to famous people. The boat anchored between a beautiful white sand beach and a rocky point. A small coral reef near the point revealed a multitude of brightly colored fish and some spiny black sea urchins. I had a chance to test my underwater camera, though fish are not the most cooperative of photo subjects.
The French and Dutch sides of the island use different currencies, but either side accepts American dollars. Both sides have abundant duty-free shops. People visit Phillipsburg, on the Dutch side for its nightlife, casinos, and jewelry shops. Cruise ships dock in the busy terminal there, unleashing a multitude of passengers to give the island's economy a boost. A ship from Celebrity Cruises docked across from the Holland America Westerdam we arrived on. After our wonderful snorkel adventure we hopped on a water taxi for a quick trip to the heart of Phillipsburg to take a peek at the beach and shops before our ship left port. We didn't have much time, but got a quick look around town for some photos and a peek in a few jewelry shops.
French Marigot has restaurants that rival anything New York or Paris have to offer and the latest French designer fashions. The French side also has an airport where smaller planes take tourists island-hopping to places where large jets can't go. Bus tours bring cruise ship passengers to the French side of the island. Simpson Bay Lagoon, the largest lagoon in the Caribbean, has just two narrow channels with drawbridges that connect it to the sea. Sailboats, yachts, mega yachts and luxury marinas call the lagoon home. Condos, hotels and time-shares line its shores. This vacation paradise attracts many people, some who return year after year. After our short visit as a cruise ship stop, we also would like to return and see more of what this beautiful island has to offer. by Lois Beath http://mycruisestories
Tags: Pirates Cannibals Tropic Island Vacation Travel Shopping Dining Cruis
Tongass National Forest covers the majority of southeast Alaska. It is the largest unit in the US Forest Service, as well as the largest coastal temperate rain forest. Almost 17 million acres to explore amidst an abundance of wildlife and natural beauty, with miles of pristine wilderness few people ever see. Many opportunities abound for catching a glimpse of the wonders of wild Alaska.
 The forest service has a series of boardwalk trails scattered throughout the rainforest. Some are near rustic forest service cabins, available for $25 to $50 per night, transportation for people and supplies not included. These isolated cabins offer a chance to bask in the solitude of nature, enjoying the wild beauty few tourists to Alaska ever see. Many campgrounds and wilderness lodges welcome visitors to their own little slice of heaven.
For those who would prefer to see more than one place, small ship cruises offer a wonderful option. Unpack once and see lots of places in comfort and style. Best of all, you have all the fun while somebody else does all the work.
American Safari Cruises, offers luxury yachts with visits to places where the larger ships can't go. Or for those who prefer less luxury and more adventure, InnerSea Discoveries Cruises debuts in 2011 with an agenda that includes a variety of wild Alaskan experiences.
 Kayaking opportunities on InnerSea Discoveries cruises include long guided ventures to paddling around deserted coves on your own. Some stops also provide good areas to fish from the kayak. Wildlife often spotted includes whales, eagles, bear, moose, seals, and sea lions along with ducks, seagulls and other more commonly seen fauna.
Take long or short hikes on the forest service boardwalk trails through rain forest and muskeg peat bogs. Catch stunning vistas of untamed waterfalls and sparkling tree lined lakes. Take a boat ride through a fjord teeming with towering icebergs. You might even get close enough to touch one, maybe even taste it. Walk on a glacier. While most stops are in isolated wilderness coves, a couple include other options like flight seeing over the Misty Fjords National Monument, jet boat rides, or fishing charters.
 When traveling to southeast Alaska, plan to bring boots and rain gear as it is a rain forest. The cruise lines mentioned have rain gear on board, but bringing your own insures a proper fit. What else to bring depends on where you plan to stay. If camping or staying in the forest service cabins, you need to bring everything you will use, or buy it when you arrive in Alaska. With a lodge or cruise ship you normally need only bring your own clothes and personal items and they provide the rest.
by Lois Beath mycruisestories.wordpress.com
Tags: Alaska CruiseTongass National Forest Kayak Hike Boardwalk Trails
Luxury Vacations on a Tight Budget By John & Lois Beath Budget conscious vacationers should investigate cruise ship options this year to save money. Cruise ships offer clean, comfortable accommodations, unlimited amounts of great food, exotic destinations and first class service – at prices below the per day cost of a quality city hotel. Cruise ships offer vacationers the opportunity to visit multiple destinations without the hassle of packing and repacking between destinations. The cruise ship takes you and your room to each port destination hassle free. At each port cruisers disembark and spend their time exploring the port city or enjoying one of dozens of available shore excursions. 
Cruise ships in the United States offer departures from several cities in several states. The most affordable and by far most cruise options originate from Florida port cities including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and Port Canaveral. These cruises visit Eastern, Western or Southern Caribbean ports. Other great cruise options include Alaska, New England and the Mexican Rivera from California. 
Typical cruise lengths range from three to 10 days. If you want a longer cruise you can easily find a plethora of cruises ranging from 10 to 30 days that include destinations to multiple countries. The most popular and most affordable cruise length is the week long cruise. Seven day cruises provide a perfect balance of value combined with relaxation, adventure and food. All meals are included in the price of a cruise and simply can't be beat for quality and quantity. Room service is included too, an option most likely used during breakfast hours. Cruise ships offer fine dining in their full service great dining room or more casual meals on the lido deck with numerous choices at several themed meal stations.
 During a seven day cruise the ship will stop at four or five ports and include two sea days to enjoy the ship's attractions and activities. Cruise ships offer full service spas, fully equipped gyms, a movie theater, workshops, comedy and variety shows, casinos, shopping, a night club, pools, sport court and several bars. During my last cruise aboardHolland America's Westerdam, they offered culinary seminars in their fully equipped kitchen stage. They also offered daily digital workshops covering photo manipulation and Windows 7 operating system. You won't find a shortage of ship activities during your cruise. If you must stay in contact with home or business visit the ship's Internet café to check your e-mail.
Cost of a 7-day Cruise Eight major cruise brands operating in the United States offer week long cruises ranging in price from $350 per person for an inside cabin to $1,500 for a suite. These prices do not include port taxes or tips. All of the cruise ships charge guests an automatic per day tip charge just prior to boarding the ship. The typical tip charge is $11 per person per day. Multiple websites offer special pricing on cruises and some sites, like Skyauction.com hold auctions with a specified price for unsold cabins. Last year my wife and I bid on a week long Caribbean cruise aboard the Westerdam. After filling out the information on the site our trip was confirmed the next day. We paid $249 per person for an inside cabin plus $242 port taxes per person and $77 tip charge per person for a total of $568 per person. We flew from Seattle to Miami for $284 per person bringing our total per person cost to $852 or $121 per person per day, per person, meals and onboard entertainment included. We know we found a great price with just three months notice, but the deals don't have to be “last minute” to get great cruise deals. Cruise vacation shoppers should always check the cruise ship company's website for specials and “regular” pricing too. As an example, Holland America lists their 7-day Caribbean cruise at $699 for an inside cabin. If you book directly through some cruise ship companies they offer a price guarantee. If the price of your cabin class decreases they will honor the price, but only if you watch the prices and notify them of the change. You should also watch for “upgrade” deals that upgrade you if you book well in advance.  Cruise Ship Vacations for Families
Cruise ships no longer cater mainly to geriatric travelers; in fact, they realize families enjoy cruises as much as the older crowd. Many of the ships in the fleet have rock climbing walls, water slides, and numerous activities focused around families and a more active younger traveler. Some of the cruises also offer a family option where kids go free or at extremely reduced price excluding port taxes and tips. For the cost, which includes all meals, lodging and lots of free entertainment, a cruise ship vacation offers the very best travel value for couples and families on a tight travel budget. Cruise Ship Shore Excursions 
Each port offers a wide variety of shore excursions ranging from bus tours to adventure-based activities. These excursions will cost an addition fee ranging from affordable to expensive. When booked aboard the ship these shore excursions cost more than if you go ashore and book a tour on your own. Booking through the ship is safer with reputable companies that work with the cruise ship company. Cruise Ship Links CruiseNewsSite.com Holland America Carnival Cruises Norwegian Cruise Line Princess Cruises Celebrity Cruises Disney Cruises MSC Cruises Royal Caribbean Cruise Stories & Photos My Cruise Stories My Travel Tastes | |
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