Jun 13th, 2013 at 2:00PM: Stephen Greenwood, AOL
Back home safe and sound in New York, where the sun rises and sets at "normal" times!
On my last night in Alaska, someone asked me what my favorite part of the trip had been. I thought hard ... and couldn't point out one day or thing above the rest. Robert had the same reaction. The whole trip was a blast – one of our best road trips ever.
Perhaps what we liked ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
alaska posts
Four Down Two Across: Coming Home From Alaska
Jun 13th, 2013 at 2:00PM: Stephen Greenwood, AOL
Back home safe and sound in New York, where the sun rises and sets at "normal" times!
On my last night in Alaska, someone asked me what my favorite part of the trip had been. I thought hard ... and couldn't point out one day or thing above the rest. Robert had the same reaction. The whole trip was a blast – one of our best road trips ever.
Perhaps what we liked ...Video: 100 Years Of Climbing Mt. McKinley
Jun 12th, 2013 at 8:00AM: Project Gutenberg
Standing 20,320 feet in height, Mt. McKinley is the tallest mountain in North America and one of the most challenging climbs in the entire world. While it doesn't rival the big Himalayan peaks in terms of altitude, it more than makes up for it with a number of technical climbing challenges and notoriously fickle weather that can even be bad during the peak climbing season of May ...Four Down Two Across: Fairbanks And Ping-Pong Shenanigans
Jun 11th, 2013 at 4:00PM: The thing about Fairbanks at this time of year is that the sun sets for only a couple hours a day. Even after setting, the sun is just below the horizon, so it's not really dark out. I feel like I have jet lag, even though I'm completely adjusted to Alaska time and am sleeping fine. Robert and I started the day at the Mr. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge at the edge of Denali National Park. ...
Four Down Two Across: Eagle River, Wasilla And Mt. McKinley
Jun 10th, 2013 at 3:00PM:
Sunday is the 160th day of the year, and my 160th consecutive day playing table tennis -- on my quest to play table tennis every day in 2013.
As I mentioned yesterday, Robert and I stayed overnight in Eagle River, at the home of Boyd and Shirley Bennett, who could not have been more hospitable hosts. Also, they happen to have a professional-quality table tennis facility above their garage. ...
Four Down Two Across: Homer, Alaska
Jun 9th, 2013 at 3:00PM:
Saturday morning, at the Ocean Shores motel in Homer, I was sitting at the desk peering out the big window at the water. I saw splashing in the distance. I asked Robert, "Is that a whale?"
Indeed it was. In fact, it was one of four whales, swimming up the sound, their backs visible in the water. Over the next hour or so we saw probably 20 whales altogether. A beautiful start for the day.
...
Four Down Two Across: The Sterling Highway Out Of Anchorage
Jun 8th, 2013 at 3:00PM:
The weather here in Alaska has been gorgeous -- sunny and warm. Friday's high was around 70. Robert and I were told this isn't normal, especially the clear skies.
We started the morning in Anchorage, where I taped my weekly NPR puzzle at KSKA, for airing nationally on Sunday. It involved a game of Categories based on the name HOMER, the town where we were headed. The player did pretty well, ...
Four Down Two Across: The Alaska Table Tennis Club And Mendenhall Glacier
Jun 7th, 2013 at 2:00PM:
It's almost midnight in Anchorage as I write this, and the sun is just setting. Dawn is only a few hours away. The sheer length of a June day here takes some getting used to.
Robert and I started the day with a 9 a.m. meet-and-greet at KTOO, the public radio station in Juneau. About 60-70 listeners showed up. The station manager interviewed me on a small stage, and I ended by presenting ...
Tourist Killed In Flightseeing Accident In Alaska
Jun 6th, 2013 at 3:00PM: CambridgeBayWeather, Wikimedia Commons
One tourist is dead and two others seriously injured after a plane operated by flightseeing company Pacific Wings crashed into a mountain lake in southeast Alaska on Tuesday, USA Today reports.
According to the news outlet, six cruisers visiting Alaska on Lindblad Expeditions' National Geographic Sea Bird were off on a shore excursion when the tiny, ...Video Of The Day: Modern Day 'The Motorcycle Diaries'
May 13th, 2013 at 6:00PM:
Before beginning his doctorate in biomedical sciences, "Alex the Adventure Biker" took a break to realize his lifelong dream: to ride a motorcycle through the Americas. Over the course of nearly a year and a half, he rode his bike through 22 countries as he made his way from El Paso, Texas, to Argentina and then back up through Brazil and all the way to Alaska - a journey of more than 82,000 ...
Nat Geo Television Stars Offer Alaska Travel Tips
May 12th, 2013 at 8:00AM: There is no question that Alaska is one of the top adventure travel destinations in North America, if not the entire world. The brief Alaskan summer brings incredible opportunities for climbing, backpacking, camping and fishing, giving visitors a chance to explore everything the state has to offer in relatively warm conditions. During the winter, Alaska becomes the ultimate outdoor playground for ...Alaska Volcano Erupts, Air Travel Disruption Possible
May 6th, 2013 at 4:00PM: It's been nearly two years since scientists at the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) warned that Alaska's Cleveland volcano could erupt at any time, issuing a code yellow eruption advisory. Saturday, those scientists were proven more than right.
"We haven't seen a phase like this where we've had multiple explosions," Rick Wessels, a geophysicist at the US Geological Survey's Alaska Volcano ...Northern Lights Best Viewed At Sea, On A Yacht, French Style
May 4th, 2013 at 4:00PM: Considering a trip to see the Northern Lights? This year may very well be the best time to go. 2013 is the height of the 11-year solar cycle. September and October offer peak activity. They can be seen in Alaska, Norway, Finland and Canada on a clear night. Better yet, try viewing on a ship at sea.
Common tips for viewing the Northern Lights say to go North, inside the Arctic circle, bring ...Budget Travel Strategy: Smart Travel Uses For Your Tax Refund
Mar 25th, 2013 at 5:00PM:
If a tax refund is headed your way, common recommendations include paying off debt; making a major purchase and paying cash, rather than putting it on a credit card and other assorted common sense moves. Travelers can benefit too by using some of the same thinking about what we spend on airline tickets, cruise fare, gear and more.
"Set aside some money for vacation rather than using your ...2013 Iditarod Winner Is Oldest Ever
Mar 15th, 2013 at 8:00AM: By claiming victory in the 2013 Iditarod earlier this week, 53-year-old musher Mitch Seavey managed to cement his place in the annals of Alaskan lore. Not only did he secure the second Iditarod win of his 20-year career, he also became the oldest person to win the event in its 41-year history. This is in sharp contrast to last year's race in which Mitch's son Dallas became the youngest Iditarod ...New Aviation Technology Brings Safer Travel Today, Looks To Future
Mar 13th, 2013 at 2:00PM:
Commercial aviation technology has come a long way since its first flight in 1914, a 23-minute flight between St. Petersburg and Tampa, Florida. Along the way, a great amount of the technology in today's aircraft, enabling travelers to fly around the world, was developed right here in the United States. That tradition continues with some recent advances, in use right now or on their way, that ...The 2013 Iditarod Sled Dog Race Gets Underway Today!
Mar 2nd, 2013 at 8:00AM: The 2013 Iditarod sled dog race gets underway today in Anchorage, Alaska, where some of the best mushers in the world have gathered to take part in the 1000-mile journey that culminates in Nome. This morning, 66 mushers will set out from the starting line in front of a throng of cheering fans as part of the ceremonial start. The race will officially get underway tomorrow when the teams will ...Abandoned Igloo Hotel Goes Up For Sale
Feb 19th, 2013 at 5:00PM:
It's not a real estate listing you see everyday: a half-finished igloo in the Alaskan wilderness is on the market.
The four-story, dome-shaped structure was originally envisaged as a hotel, but it has sat half-finished and abandoned (save for the odd vandal) for nearly 40 years.
Dubbed "Igloo City" by locals, the building has fascinated passersby, but was never completed because of ...Skiing Through Alaska's Abandoned Buckner Building (VIDEO)
Feb 12th, 2013 at 12:00PM:
Here at Gadling, our inboxes are full of pitches on the fabulous skiing conditions in Colorado and Utah, but news about the latest lifts and bases rarely sparks our interest. You know what does? Setting up an obstacle course in an abandoned building. That does.
To create the video above, Logan Imlach and Matt Wild spent six days constructing and skiing a line through the infamous Buckner ...
Cruise Line Takes Sustainability From Sea To Shore, Wins Award
Feb 9th, 2013 at 2:00PM: Sustainable Travel International (STI) is a global non-profit charged to help destinations, businesses and travelers protect the environment, adapt to climate change, preserve cultural heritage and more. This week, STI awarded their first-ever, Gold-Level Eco-Certification to a cruise line, honoring Royal Caribbean International for attractions and tour operations at their island in the Bahamas, ...Dancing With The Stars Comes To Sea
Jan 27th, 2013 at 2:00PM: "Dancing with the Stars" is one of the most popular television shows on the air right now, teaming celebrity and pro dancers to compete for the coveted mirror ball trophy. Week after week, viewers watch competitions in Tango, Quickstep, Paso Doble and more from the comfort of their own living rooms. Now, Holland America Line is bringing "Dancing with the Stars" to sea on board six theme cruises in ...
