Archive for the 'Alaska' Category
Chug along on the Alaska Railroad beer tour
September 13, 2009 10:31am
The Alaska Railroad will offer the “Great Alaska Beer Train” on Oct. 3, a refreshing ride along Alaska’s scenic Turnagain Arm. The 4 1/2-hour round-trip journey between Anchorage and Portage includes six half-pints of microbrew beer and appetizers by Anchorage’s Glacier BrewHouse.
BrewHouse beer menu standards include Brewhouse Blonde and Oatmeal Stout. Also on the railroad’s horizon is the Blues Train, Sept. 26 and 27, which will travel round trip from Anchorage to Seward and include lunch, appetizers, barbecue dinner, two drink tickets and one night’s hotel stay, as well as blues entertainment, of course.
The Great Alaska Beer Train costs $149 per person; Blues Train costs $249 per person based on double occupancy (for hotel). Passengers must be 21 or older for both. Info: (800) 321-6518, www.alaskarailroad.com.
— Leslie Anne Wiggins, Los Angeles Times staff writer
[Photo: The scenic Alaska Railroad will offer beer and blues tours. Credit: Alaska Railroad Corp.]
Disney Cruise Line ship headed for L.A. and Alaska in 2011
September 11, 2009 9:32am
Disney Cruise Line’s on-again, off-again romance with the West Coast is back on for 2011, when the Disney Wonder will split its time between Mexico cruises out of Los Angeles and Alaska cruises out of Canada, the company announced today, Sept. 11.
Best known for its Caribbean itineraries out of Florida, Disney Cruise Line had summer flings with Southern California in 2005 and 2008, when the Wonder’s sister ship, Disney Magic, sailed to Mexico from Los Angeles. But Alaska will be a first for the family-friendly ships.
In 2011, the Disney Wonder will do seven-night, round-trip Alaska itineraries out of Vancouver from May 3 to Sept. 6, with stops at Tracy Arm, Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan. Fares will start at $939 per person, double occupancy.
Alaska Air fall sale lists cheap flights to Mexico, Alaska, Montana, Oregon and Washington
September 1, 2009 8:02am
It might make for a tough decision: Head up to the Pacific Northwest before it gets too wet, or take advantage of cheap flights to Mexico. But wait — if you’ve always wanted to see Alaska in the winter, or visit friends in Montana, this could be a good time too. Alaska Air has a sale on right now with flights to Bend, Ore.; Flagstaff, Ariz.; Seattle and Santa Rosa, Calif. out of Los Angeles (LAX) starting at $69 one-way, pre-tax. If you feel like skipping the drive, Mammoth Lakes is also on that list. (Remember, service to Mammoth Lakes begins Dec. 17).
Several cities in Mexico are included in the Fall Sale. Flights from Los Angeles to Mexico start at $75 for Los Cabos and cap off at $139 each way for Manzanillo. But flights to popular south of the border cities such as Puerto Vallarta start at $109 and Cancun, Mazatlan and Mexico City all start at $119 each way. Note: The low-fare calendar wasn’t working for Cancun, La Paz, Puerto Vallarta, and it made it hard to search for the cheapest fares. You might want to call if you have a tough time finding sale prices online.
September marks the shoulder season for Alaska. If you have questions about when to go to Alaska, Frommers breaks down what you can expect weather wise by seasons and months. December through March sounds like a lovely time to visit Alaska if you want to see the Aurora Borealis or try some winter outdoor activities like skiing, snowmobiling or dog sledding. But note that the Alaska Air Fall sale is only good for flights through Feb. 10.
Discovery Channel offers adventure trips inspired by shows
August 19, 2009 10:55am
If you’re hooked on the Discovery Channel, you might enjoy the network’s new venture into reality travel for viewers: Discovery Adventures.
The travel site offers soft-adventure-style trips to 18 domestic and international destinations that will “immerse viewers in the diversity of cultures as seen every day on Discovery Channel,” said Elizabeth Bakacs, a spokesman at Discovery Channel. Travelers will be able to explore regions featured on programs such as “Man vs. Wild” (Costa Rica, Mexico, Alaska), “Out of Egypt” and “Discovery Atlas” (China).
“Each tour is developed to include off-the-beaten-path experiences and deeper exploration into the history and traditions of each destination, delivering a non-traditional tourist vacation,” said Bakacs.
Trip lengths are from three to 24 days, with prices starting at $499 per person, excluding airfare.
— Rosemary McClure, Special to the Los Angeles Times
Photo: The ancient Inca ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru are featured on some of the new Discovery Adventure trips. Credit: Courtesy of Discovery Adventures
St. Regis hotel opens in Mexico City
August 18, 2009 2:54pm
Mexico City has a new addition to its skyline, with the opening this month of the St. Regis Mexico City, a striking high-rise on Paseo de la Reforma that offers sweeping city views from floor-to-ceiling windows.
The hotel, which overlooks the iconic Plaza of Diana, is the second St. Regis to open in Mexico in the past year. It is part of a Latin American expansion plan that includes hotels in Buenos Aires and the Riviera Maya in Yucatan, both of which are expected to open within two years.
Last fall, St. Regis Punta Mita Resort opened north of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, featuring tile-roofed Mexican-style casitas along the Pacific Coast. Both new St. Regis hotels have opening specials.
In Mexico City, a weekend rate of $235 per night is available; during the week, rates start at $399 per night, including breakfast. St. Regis Punta Mita offers a Taste of Luxury package, with rates starting at $499 per night and a fourth night free. (Rates do not include taxes and fees.) Info: (800) 598-1863.
— Rosemary McClure, Special to the Los Angeles Times
Photo: Exterior of St. Regis Hotel in Mexico City. Credit: Courtesy of St. Regis
Alaska: $199 Denali Park end-of-summer package
August 4, 2009 8:29am
Here’s something even Sarah Palin and Joe Biden could agree on: Getting a room near Alaska’s Denali National Park and Preserve, a $50 gift card and 500 Alaska Airlines frequent-flier miles, all for $199 plus tax, is a pretty good deal.
That’s the starting rate for the end-of-summer “Colors of Denali” package from Denali Park Resorts, which runs four hotels just outside the spectacular wilderness park, home to beasts such as grizzly bears, caribou, wolves and (hold your fire, Sarah) moose. The jewel, of course, is 20,320-foot Mt. McKinley, highest peak in North America.
Details: Package rates, good for standard rooms only, start at $199 per night, double occupancy, plus tax, at McKinley Village Lodge (pictured) and Denali Bluffs Hotel, and $219 per night at McKinley Chalet Resort and Grande Denali Lodge. (The hotels normally charge $256 to $299 per night, depending on the hotel, a spokeswoman said.) You must stay at least two nights.
$8.14 million Declaration of Independence copy finds its way to Princess Cruises
June 21, 2009 7:58am
It’ll soon be a particularly historic time to cruise into Juneau: For the week of July 4th, Princess Cruises will be offering passengers of its Alaska-based ships a glimpse of America’s founding document.
A rare, original copy of the Declaration of Independence will be exhibited July 1-8 for about two hours each on various ships, while the vessels are docked in Juneau.
The item on tour belongs to the nonprofit campaign Declare Yourself, founded by Norman Lear, and is one of an estimated 200 broadside copies of the document, according to a Princess Cruises press release. The copies, printed by John Dunlap, were produced for distribution to colonies and to King George of England.
Now how it found its way to Juneau in more recent times is fascinating: Read the rest of this entry »
Submit idea for a chance to join an Alaskan eco-adventure
June 19, 2009 9:02am
Got a thirst for adventure and motivation to help the ocean environment? Coastal CODE (Clean Oceans Depend on Everyone), a nonprofit founded by Alaskan Brewing Co., is soliciting applications for a short gig that could get you exploring the Alaskan outdoors this fall.
To be considered, you must wow the organizers with your answer to this question: “What is your dream project to maintain a healthier coastline?” Your succinct response — limited to 140 characters — can be entered on the organization’s website, on its Facebook page or via Twitter.
Among finalists asked to submit an application, four people will be picked to join the weeklong Alaskan adventure, departing Sept. 14, 2009, and hosted by Alaskan Brewing Co., Alaska Airlines and Wend magazine. During the trip, participants will learn all about the negative impacts of marine debris on the ocean environment. In addition to leading a beach clean-up in Alaska during the trip, winners will gain knowledge that will help them enact change along their local coasts. Read the rest of this entry »
Twilight fans cruise draws ‘overwhelming’ response from mortals far and wide
June 7, 2009 11:22am
Linda Wolf seems to know what draws people to the high seas. Her cruise-only travel agency, Cruises Cruises Cruises, has organized voyages for Trekkies, clowns and Beatles fans. But it’s a seven-night Alaska cruise now on sale — though it won’t sail til Aug. 8, 2010 — that may end up breaking a record.
“In the 20 years I’ve been in the business, I’ve never seen anything like this,” said the self-professed Twilight fan of the buzz generated by her Twilight Fans Cruise. Scheduled to arrive and depart from Seattle, the cruise will offer a costume ball, a Q&A session with “Twilight” actors, movie viewings and more. Film stars Kellan Lutz and Ashley Greene are slated to be aboard, and, according to the Twilight Fans Cruise MySpace page, other special guests may also be invited.
The response from the Twi-kind? Read the rest of this entry »
Free entry to national parks on three weekends
June 2, 2009 2:29pm
You’ll get free entry to Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and 144 other national parks on three weekends this summer: June 20-21, July 18-19 and Aug. 15-16. At Yosemite, for instance, that can save you $20 per car, or $10 per person if you arrive by foot, bicycle or motorcycle.
The offer was announced today by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, who cited “these tough economic times.”
Besides free entry, some concessionaires will give away $5 vouchers and free tours, boat rides, shopping bags and other extras. But don’t expect to camp for free; the regular fees apply there.
