The Best Alaska Cruise Excursions in 2023 (One in Each Port!)
Going on an Alaska cruise – a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see one of the world's beautiful natural destinations. It's an unforgettable experience, and even tops my Alaska bucket list! Trust me that I know how popular Alaska cruising is – I get questions about it all the time! That's why I started working on a series of posts about the best Alaska cruise excursions in each port...
13 Hot Springs in Arizona Where You Can Soak It All In
The desert air is cool as the sun goes down, and the mist rises above the hot water and wafts through the cacti. It might sound odd, but hot springs in the desert can be a great way to relax after a day of adventure. And Arizona is full of hot springs, thanks to ancient volcanic activities during an earlier chapter of the earth's geologic history...
How to Spend 12 Days in Alaska:
A Jam-Packed, Unforgettable Itinerary12 days is a long time. In America, most workers receive just two weeks – 10 business days – of paid vacation each year. Adding in weekends and one holiday, the longest single trip you could take in any given year is just 17 days long. If you choose to spend 12 of those precious vacation days in Alaska, you’re committing a big part of your vacation budget for the year to explore this bucket list destination. But don’t worry – it’s absolutely worth it...
Where to Stay in Talkeetna: 5 Charming Hotels for ‘Northern Exposure’
Alaska is full of small communities with lots of character, but there's none quite like Talkeetna. In fact, Talkeetna is so distinctly Alaskan that it has long been rumored as the inspiration for the small town of Cicely, AK which was the setting for Northern Exposure – a show my mom loved watching while I was growing up in Alaska, because it captures that quirky sense of living off the map in Alaska...
How to Make the Most of One Day in Canyonlands National Park
One of the most important human emotions is wonder. You can find it through incredible meals, jaw-dropping art, or admiring epic views. No matter the means, wondrous experiences create an indelible mark in your memory. I had one such experience in Canyonlands National Park, where my breath was taken away by the stunning natural beauty that southwest Utah is so well known for...
What to Do in Seattle Before Your Cruise (or After It!) in 2023
When it comes to Alaska cruises, you have two southern ports to start or end your adventure: Seattle, Washington, and Vancouver, British Columbia. While I like Vancouver well enough – and sailed north out of that port on my Windstar cruise in June 2022 – Seattle will always hold a special place in my heart, and it's the port I recommend sailing in/out of since I know the city and love helping people spend time there...
The 13 Best Things to Do in Baker: Gateway to Great Basin
There's something special about those towns that find themselves in the shadow of a national park. Think of Bar Harbor in Maine – Gateway to Acadia – or Seward in Alaska – Gateway to Kenai Fjords. To be a small town with a big attraction is tough; it's easy to transform into a place that loses the character that made it special in the first place. Baker, Nevada, is one of those places too; it's both the "Gateway to Great Basin National Park" while trying to stick to its Silver State heritage as a rural community in Nevada...
11 Great Things to Do on San Juan Island, Washington
If you spend much time in the Pacific Northwest – and especially in the Seattle/Puget Sound area –, there's one destination that is universally beloved: the San Juan Islands. Located just a dozen or so miles off the mainland and just 90 miles north of Seattle, the San Juan Islands are a perfect weekend getaway from Seattle or add-on to your PNW itinerary. Most people spend the majority of their time on San Juan Island, the largest of the four main islands connected to the Washington State Ferry system...
The 10 Best Skagway Shore Excursions for Your Alaska Cruise in 2023
It's hard to choose, but among Alaska cruise ports, Skagway is probably my favorite. Skagway is a weird, wild, wonderful destination: it has been home to a confluence of history, culture, and outdoor adventure that dates back to the late 19th century. The best Skagway shore excursions reflect that, too...
