The Southeast Alaska village of Hoonah is only 35 miles from capital city, Juneau, but it might as well be 350. Located on Chichagof Island among dense stands of Sitka spruce and thick patches of blueberries, Hoonah is home to about 700 people, most claiming Tlingit Native heritage. Tlingit people named Hoonah after the phrase […]
Signs of spring are busting out across Alaska. From slushy streets to the return of wild birds from points south, Alaskans know the season called “Breakup” has indeed arrived. Kids dance in the mud puddles, and parents survey damage done to a winter’s worth of snow pants and mittens, smiling all the way. How else […]
This is a BIG announcement. I mean, really, really big. Un-Cruise Adventures (formerly Inner Sea Discoveries) has invited ME to serve as on-board Guest Host of their Discoverer’s Glacier Country cruise June 16-21, 2013! Moi! I’m excited about this for a number of reasons. 1. It means Un-Cruise Adventures gets this whole family-adventure-travel thing, knowing […]
One of the most exciting moments of any maritime adventure comes when the gangplank is lowered and a shout for “All ashore that’s going ashore!” filters through the staterooms. Perhaps that’s why a floating tour of southeast Alaska is so rewarding for families. The idea that kids go to sleep in one place and wake […]
In 2012, the world watched a terrible scenario unfold with the grounding of the Costa Concordia in Italy, and my attention turned toward safety of such luxury cruises in Alaska. The cruising industry must have been clenching its teeth in potential panic, real or perceived, among both the media and would-be passengers who witnessed the […]
Last July, while lounging in the sun near the cruise ship launch dock in Sitka, I overheard two friends talking about their fortunate score of splendid weather during their cruise to Alaska. “I can’t believe it,” First Guy said. “Somebody told me it rains every day in Alaska, so I brought all my best gear, […]