Valerie & Valise
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  • About
    • The Values Behind V&V
    • Contact
    • Press & Writing
    • Work with Us
    • For Bloggers
  • Alaska
    • Recent Trip Reports
      • August 2021
      • June 2022
      • July/Aug 2022
      • August 2023
    • Glossary
  • Other West-inations
    • Baja California
    • California
    • Great Basin
    • Hawaii
    • Mountain West
    • National Parks
    • Pacific Northwest
    • Southwest
    • Escaping Cleveland
  • The V&V Shop
    • Cart
  • Alaskan Dream Cruises Review Hero
    Destination Guides,  Reviews

    Alaskan Dream Cruises Review:
    Sailing Through Culture & Wilderness

    November 3, 2023 / 12 Comments

    Curious what it's like to do a small ship cruise in Alaskan? Learn more by reading my Alaskan Dream Cruises Review covering all aspects of the experience.

    Read More
  • Travel Gifts from Travel Experts Hero
    Reviews

    The 9 Best Travel Gifts by Travel Experts (2023 Edition)

    November 2, 2023 /

    Almost four years after the pandemic began, people are certainly traveling again – but those of us who create content to help you do so have still been on a rollercoaster of traffic and income (I covered some of this in my 10-year blogiversary, if you're curious to learn why and more!). This might not seem relevant to you as the traveler, but it's important to remember that we creators are business owners; it's hard out there for a player – I mean blogger – when you can't predict what your business might do next month...

    Read More
  • UnCruise Alaska Hero
    Reviews,  Cruise Tips,  Destination Guides

    UnCruise Alaska Review (2024): The Ultimate Alaska Cruise

    November 1, 2023 / 32 Comments

    My coffee is steaming, as is my breath as I exhale in the cold morning air. I'm in Alaska. My home state. I'm back, for the first time in three years, and it's May; there's still a bite of winter in the air. I'm standing aboard the bow of the Safari Endeavour, a ship operated by Seattle-based UnCruise Adventures...

    Read More
  • Rocky Mountaineer Review Hero
    Train Travel Tips,  Reviews

    Rocky Mountaineer Review (2024): A Must-Ride Luxury Train Trip

    October 30, 2023 / 25 Comments

    "I wish we had driven instead of taking the train. I feel like you could go so much faster if you took the highway." I stood in shock – and a little bit of disgust – as I overhead the older man, a fellow passenger on the Rocky Mountaineer, say this while gazing out across one of British Columbia's many stunning landscapes...

    Read More
  • Momentum Alaska Review Hero
    Reviews

    Momentum Expeditions Alaska Review:
    An Incredible Wilderness Adventure

    June 4, 2023 / No Comments

    There are a lot of incredible places in Alaska. (Understatement!) I've been fortunate to visit many of the more easily accessible ones, and to share my stories and resources about them to help other people visit them too. And while I certainly travel a lot and specialize in Alaska travel, I don't really consider myself an "adventure traveler;" I jokingly say my style of adventure is more like "Diet Adventure" or "adventure light..."

    Read More
  • Flytographer Review Hero
    Reviews,  Travel Tips

    Flytographer Review (2023): The Perfect Travel Souvenir

    April 19, 2023 / No Comments

    I knew from the first time I saw it: I needed photos for this blog with that "Greetings from Alaska" mural that had started popping up on Instagram. The only question was: how? Mr. V and I are pretty creative when it comes to getting photos of ourselves while traveling... but this is a big space to shoot and using a remote always feels awkward...

    Read More
  • Cruise Tips,  Reviews

    Phillips 26 Glacier Cruise Review: The Best Way to See Glaciers in Alaska

    April 7, 2023 / 2 Comments

    Want to see glaciers in Alaska? You're not alone in trying to figure out how. Read my Phillips' 26 Glacier Cruise review to decide if this is right for your Alaska trip.

    Read More
  • UnCruise Hawaii Review Hero
    Cruise Tips,  Reviews

    UnCruise Hawaii Review: How to Spend a Week in Paradise

    April 2, 2023 / 4 Comments

    When most people go to Hawaii, they pick an island, choose a beachfront hotel, and call it done. But you're not most people, are you? If you're considering UnCruise in Hawaii, you already know you want more from your Hawaiian vacation than a tan and a Mai Tai hangover – though you can certainly have both during your Hawaii UnCruise experience...

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  • Uncruise Baja Review Hero
    Cruise Tips,  Destination Guides,  Reviews

    UnCruise Baja Review: A Week on the Gulf of California

    February 17, 2023 / No Comments

    The taste of lime and salt mix on my tongue as the van hurdles back down the highway toward the marina of Puerto Escondido in Baja California Sur. Like so many memories of my UnCruise in Baja, it was unplanned but entirely entrancing. See, for most people, a van breaking down on vacation is a good way to ruin the day – with UnCruise, it's just another adventure, another chance to dive deep into the place you're visiting...

    Read More
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Hi! I’m Valerie! 👋🏻


 
I travel with my trusty valise and my husband, Mr. V.

I started this site to share my travel stories and inspiration to help you complete bucket list trips. I’m also a not-so-secret space nerd and speak fluent emoji! ✌🏻
 
Want to know more?
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Acknowledgement of Land

Through my site I promote travel to lands, including Alaska, Canada, and the Western U.S., which are the traditional lands of Indigenous and First Nations peoples.

With respect, I make a formal land acknowledgement, extending my appreciation and respect to the past and present people of these lands.

To learn more about the peoples who call these lands home, I invite you to explore Native Land.

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