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If you enjoy the outdoors in the Northwest a trip to a Alaska is a must, because Alaska defines outdoors. From the rugged mountains that remain snow capped year round to cities that are only reachable by air and sea...it doesn't get much more remote than Alaska in the U.S.
To celebrate my wife's parent's 50th anniversary (congratulations Neal and Joanne!) our family took a cruise to Alaska on the Westerdam, one of the ships of the Holland America Line. It had 11 decks, was built in 2004, and was capable of carrying 1,848 passengers. With that many people on board, it amazing that there were no lines and no waiting. The ship was amazingly clean and the crew was extraordinarily pleasant and ready to help.
We left from Seattle and after a day of cruising at sea we arrived in Glacier Bay where we stood in awe looking at the ice blue glaciers where they meet the sea. The water was so cold and filled with ice that it looked more like slush than sea water. And then with loud crack and huge piece of ice would break off from the glacier and crash into the ocean.
After a night of travel, we arrived in Juneau, Alaska. The ship docked within walking distance of downtown and the main tourist area is easily walkable during the time allowed on shore. There is a tram near the docks that takes you to the top of Mount Roberts. For $25, it's worth the price. There's an excellent walking trail at the summit along with a beautiful view of Juneau.
Travelling through the afternoon and overnight, we arrived in Sitka, Alaska. A town much smaller than Juneau and again very walkable to see everything downtown. Don't miss a visit to St. Michael's Cathedral. Sitka was the seaside capitol of Russian America and this church contains Russian Orthodox relics that are amazing to see.
Our next stop was Ketchikan, Alaska. Many of the towns in Alaska are only accessible by air and sea and there wasn't 15 minutes that would go by where a DeHavilland seaplane wasn't landing or taking off. Ketchikan is a larger town and a tour bus is recommended to see Totem Bight State Park with 15 totem poles and a clanhouse. It's an easy hike through the park. And if you're looking for the best seafood anywhere, a stop at "Steamers at the Dock" is a must.
Another day and night of travel brought us to Victoria, British Columbia. We had about five hours in town and a walk, especially at night, is beautiful with the Empress Hotel and the lights of the Parliament Building. If you cruise there, here's a travel tip...when the ship docks, take a cab and not the tour bus to get into town. The tour bus costs $6 per person and the cab $8.50 for up to four people, and the cab gets you there faster and without the wait.
It was Alaska weather, which was much like Oregon weather in the Spring...cloudy and 55 to 60 degrees, but we're Oregonians and don't melt in the rain, so it didn't matter.
It's one of those vacations we'll never forget!
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Our annual vacation at Shasta Lake had a different flavor this year, or better said, a different smell. On the Friday before we arrived, a lightning storm hit Northern California with more than 6,000 strikes. More than 45 fires were spotted the next day, including one near the Shasta Dam. Redding got the worst of the smoke, because there were three other nearby fires, but each afternoon the winds shifted and smoke became so thick at Lake Shasta that you could barely see the other side of the lake. Most mornings, the wind had shifted again and the smoke was gone.
A highlight of the trip was a hike through Shasta Caverns. You take a short boat trip across the lake and a bus trip on a narrow winding road that at one point allows you to look straight down a 300 foot landslide. A tour guide escorts you through the three main rooms where you see the limestone formations inside. The caverns are about 800 feet above the lake. The trip is highly recommended, but be prepared to climb hundreds of stairs. It's worth it.
Lake Shasta was also about 60 feet lower than normal. Shasta is California's largest reservoir with 365 miles of shoreline, so a drop of 60 feet still leaves plenty of lake to enjoy. You just have to walk farther to get to your boat. We don't rent a house boat, we stay at Sugarloaf Cottages, a great resort with a welcoming family that operates it, Harold and Arlene Jones. The cabins are in great shape, there's a pool, play area for the kids and volleyball court. If you're looking for a relaxing vacation, this is the place!
Now, that's a frightening headline. But, if you're a fan of old TV shows, new TV shows or movies, there's a new website where you can watch them, legally. It's called
HULU.COM and is one of the first to reach a deal with the syndicators to offer their shows. There are commercials inserted, but at this point there's only one per break, so they go by quickly. The video and sound quality is good. It's better than Amazon's Unbox service which seems to have a difficult time in low light scenes.
On Hulu, you'll find new TV shows such as House, Prison Break and Monk. You'll find old shows including the Partridge Family, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Flipper and McHale's Navy (just picking them off the list). And you'll even find movies new and old.
If you don't find it comfortable watching movies from your laptop or your desk PC, set up your computer to connect to your TV. There are cards available that allow your computer to send a signal to your TV and they're easy to set up or you favorite computer shop can install it for you.
You do need a high speed INTERNET connection to watch shows on Hulu.
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