Juneau, the state capital of Alaska, is a gorgeous destination in its own right, but its principal attraction is its position as a gateway to some of the most breathtaking natural landscapes in the world. The city itself offers a wealth of attractions - you could spend days exploring the cafes and restaurants, kayaking in the Gastineau Channel, or hiking in the hills that surround it - but venturing out of the city on day trips opens up some of … [Read more...]
Cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage with Holland America: Helicopter Ride + Dog Mushing on Norris Glacier, Juneau
Arguably this experience is one of the most memorable on shore excursions offered by Holland America on a visit to Alaska's Inside Passage. I always gravitate towards unique experiences and this one is truly special, featuring stunning visuals of the mountainous interior from a helicopter including the Juneau Icefield, a landing directly on a glacier and dog mushing, all in the same afternoon. Northstar Helicopters (founded 1998) is located … [Read more...]
The Ultimate Guide to Camping Essentials: 10 Must-Have Items
Camping is one of the most luxurious ways to enjoy nature. It's also one of the most challenging, as you have to take care of yourself and your family while away from home. Camping requires a lot of preparation and planning, but once that's done, it's all about having fun! So whether you're planning on heading out for a weekend trip or an extended stay at a cottage by the lake (or both), here are my top ten essentials for camping: Camping … [Read more...]
Wine, Dine and Unwind this February During Walla Walla Restaurant Month
(WALLA WALLA, Wash.) — A visit to Walla Walla is a great idea in any month, but February holds a special place as the valley's agricultural prowess and acclaimed culinary scene take center stage during the 12th Annual Walla Walla Restaurant Month. The month-long celebration of food — and, of course, wine — will bring chef-curated prix fixe menu offerings, wine and wine tasting specials, attractive lodging packages, and much more to the unofficial … [Read more...]
Karl Bushby, Adventurer and Author
Karl Bushby is a British ex-paratrooper, walking adventurer and author. Since 1998, he has embarked on his Goliath Expedition - a round-the-world circumnavigation solely on foot. His journey has covered 43,493km so far. Giant Steps: The Remarkable Story of the Goliath Expedition From Punta Arenas to Russia is his book journaling his extraordinary journey. Karl was kind enough to let me interview him recently. Q1. One of the common … [Read more...]
Journey Through Fire and Ice, Shattered Dreams about the Arctic Circle by by Deanne Burch
This real-life gripping narrative takes place at age 23, when newly wed, and author of this book, Deanne Burch accompanies her husband Ernest "Tiger" Burch to the tiny Inuit village of Kivalina, in a very remote part of Alaska. It was his idea to move here to conduct a study of the lifestyles of those who lived in this part of Alaska. This was in 1964 and the village had no plumbing, running water or electricity. The difficulties of being … [Read more...]
A Visit to Hump Island Oyster Company: a Shore Excursion with Holland America, Ketchikan Alaska
Hump Island Oyster Company is located about a 30 minute drive from Ketchikan. This visit and on-shore experience was arranged through a Holland America Inside Passage cruise. This business was founded in 2010 by civil engineer Trevor Sande whose family has lived in Alaska since the early 1920s. He located an ideal place along Clover Passage on the shores of Hump Island, only a few miles from his family home - an area that takes full advantage of … [Read more...]
Irish and New in Vancouver
What it’s really like to live in Beautiful British Columbia’s biggest city. Anyone who knows me will know that I spent over two years in Canada on an IEC Working Holiday visa – mainly because I don’t shut up about my time here. And although I moved around, overall, I spent just under a year in Vancouver so I feel qualified to write about it. Here’s a summary of my experience: Getting There Okay, so let’s take it back to 2019: Pre pandemic. … [Read more...]
Cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage with Holland America
One of the great things about cruising is leaving the logistics to others. Certain destinations are ideally suited to cruises including Alaska, due to its vast geographical distances, remote landscapes and rugged coastal beauty. Our Alaskan Inside Passage cruise was on the Holland America Eurodam, a ship whose inaugural sail was in 2008. We first cruised on this particular ship in 2015 in the Caribbean. One certainly becomes spoiled, merely … [Read more...]
Discovering a new way to cruise with UnCruise Adventures
Tired of the massive cruise ships packed to the brim with thousands of tourists? Not interested in that kind of generic, high-density vacation but still want the unparalleled sightseeing and relaxation of a scenic cruise? Then maybe an Uncruise is the right cruise for you. UnCruise Adventures is unlike any cruise I’ve done in the past. And I quickly found myself warming up to the concept. After spending a day on a special “behind the scenes” … [Read more...]
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