Valerie & Valise
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  • About
    • The Values Behind V&V
    • Contact
    • Press & Writing
    • Work with Us
    • For Bloggers
  • Alaska
    • Glossary
  • Other West-inations
    • Baja California
    • California
    • Great Basin
    • Hawaii
    • Mountain West
    • National Parks
    • Pacific Northwest
    • Southwest
    • Escaping Cleveland
  • The V&V Shop
    • Cart
  • 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..."

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  • 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...

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  • 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 Alaska Hero
    Reviews,  Cruise Tips,  Destination Guides

    UnCruise Alaska Review: The Ultimate Way to Cruise in Alaska

    March 10, 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 2017. 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...

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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...

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  • Destination Guides,  Reviews

    The 10 Most Popular Hotels in Alaska for 2023

    January 3, 2023 / No Comments

    When it comes to planning an Alaska trip, it's a fair understatement to say there's a lot to consider. From choosing when to visit and how much you can afford to spend to working out the finer details of different towns you want to visit and stringing together an Alaska itinerary... I feel a bit overwhelmed just typing that all out...

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  • Tieks Review Hero
    Packing Lists for Travel,  Reviews

    Tieks Review 2022: Are Tieks Worth the Cost?

    November 22, 2022 / 154 Comments

    The number one barrier to buying a pair of Tieks ballet flats is the price. Trust me, I get it. If you're reading this post or any other Tieks review, you're probably curious if a simple ballet flat can really be worth all the hype – and the price. Tieks cost $185+ per pair, after all! This isn't pocket change for most of us and is a bit scary when it's time to hit the 'Checkout' button...

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  • Unbound Merino Hero
    Packing Lists for Travel,  Reviews

    Unbound Merino Review: Your New Essential Travel Layers

    November 10, 2022 / 6 Comments

    Over the years, I've gotten worse at packing. When I first started this site, the whole premise was packing light and using a valise (a weekend bag) to explore the world – hence the name of "Valerie & Valise." I was young (and dumb), with a strong back and loads of energy; now I'm a bit more mature, with back pain and a rolling carry-on, like so many others...

    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! ✌🏻
 
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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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