Vacation Planning

Several restaurants in Alaska deserve mention, but I’ll just list a few - with links - here. Note: Salmon and/or Halibut are on almost every menu in some form or fashion!

Double Musky, in Girdwood, south of Anchorage in the Southcentral region. Alaskan seafood done New Orleans Cajun-style. Notice the portion sizes of plates from other patrons - if you don’t have a big appetite, you may want to share.

Mile High Pizza in Talkeetna, in the Mat-Su Valley of the Southcentral region. Build your own pizza and sample some Alaskan-brewed beer.

Zach’s Restaurant in Fairbanks, in the Interior region.

Moose’s Tooth Pub and Pizza in Anchorage.

Harley’s Diner at the North Pole - well, between Fairbanks and the North Pole on Hurst Road. Just remember, this is a diner, not fine dining, and enjoy the experience.

I know this doesn’t even begin to share all the dining experiences in this great state. Check with the local Chambers of Commerce or city governments for dining options in each town you’ll visit. Then do some research online to see photos, read reviews, or just get the flavor of a place. Be adventurous - the state calls for it!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Inside Passage region of Alaska features four main areas, and I’ll touch on all of those today, mostly providing you links to find more information yourself. This area of the state, more than any other, tends to touristy, so keep that in mind as you make your travel plans.

Ketchikan is located at the southern tip of the region. Many cruise ships bring passengers to this city as one of their ports, so the tourism ebbs and swells throughout the day. Outside of Ketchikan, you’ll find the wildlife and more primitive side like the rest of the state, so you may want to explore Prince of Wales Island, Petersburg, and Wrangell on your visit here.

Sitka is a coastal town, bordering the Pacific Ocean. The ferry stops here, so you may want to make your visit part of a ferry tour.  The area is rich in history, Indian culture, and wildlife, so you’ll want to spend a little time there. Just take note - the city is accessible only by air or sea.

Skagway is at the northern tip of the region. You’ll want to take a train ride when you’re here - it’s considered one of the most scenic routes in the world.

We’ll end our Alaskan tour with the state capital of Juneau. The city provides a comprehensive travel planning guide so I won’t repeat the information here. On their site, you’ll find everything you need to plan your next vacation.

I don’t know about you, but after all the places we’ve explored this week, I’m ready to head north! (My hubby will take my temperature with that comment!)

What about you? Are you planning a vacation any time soon? Tell us about it!

Share your Alaska experiences with us!

Today, we’ll look at the Southwest and Far North Regions of Alaska.

Southwest:

Kodiak Island is a must for this region. You won’t run out of things to do, but this isn’t one of the big touristy areas either, so in my book, that’s a plus. Expect to see plenty of wildlife and keep your camera handy. You could see bears, fox, weasels, deer, otter, moose, sheep, and more! The city also has great list of events, festivals, fairs and more, so check the Community Calendar to see what’s happening during your visit.

If you seek fishing opportunities, head to Bristol Bay. Many rivers flow into the Bay, and the city is home to the world’s largest sockeye salmon fishery. Since fishing is one of the primary industries of the area, you’ll definitely want to check it out.

Far North:

The Far North region of Alaska is accessible by jet or small aircraft.

Barrow is the northernmost city of Alaska and borders the Artic Ocean. Each spring, they hold a bowhead whale hunt and festival - several varieties of whales migrate to the area every summer. Inupiat Eskimos make up the majority of the population.

Gold mining and oil are the major industries of Nome, where over 20,000 visitors flock each summer. The city’s Web site provides a great list of activities, and you’ll note that they are divided by summer, winter, or year-round events. Be sure to check out the list of events and activities to help plan your visit.

Alaska is much too big to tackle all at once, or even in a week’s time.

The state divides itself into several geographic regions. I’ll explore two of those today, two tomorrow, and one on Thanksgiving Day, then give you some great options on Foodie Friday. By no stretch of the imagination can this blog cover everything, so take the info I provide, and the links I hope to give, and start exploring for yourself. Then come back and share your journeys with us!

Southcentral:

One of the favorite destinations of this region is the Kenai Peninsula with the towns of Homer, Seward, Seldovia, and Seldotna. The ferry is a great way to see this region - the entire trip takes about a week.

The Mat-Su Valley is another great destination in this region. Wasilla is the home of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Racing Headquarters. A hundred miles north of Anchorage is Denali State Park, home of Mt. McKinley.

Interior:

The Denali State Park and Mt. McKinley border the norther edge of the Southcentral Region and the southern edge of the Interior region.

To the east, you’ll find the community of Tok, located on the only year-round highway into Alaska. (That’s a declaration most of us probably take for granted in our own towns, no?)

Gold mining, grizzly bears, and miles of trails will cart you to another world. Just don’t forget the camera!

Fairbanks is located in the interior region, too. You may want to use Fairbanks as your base to explore the numerous tiny villages all around the city. Be sure to check out their Web site for some money-saving tips on your trip. (They even provide a list of inexpensive or free attractions on the “On a Shoestring” page!)

Have you visited, or do you live in, one of these regions? Share some of your favorites with us in the comments! We’d love to hear from you!

Tomorrow, I’ll tackle two more regions.

I discovered a really great resource in my Alaskan research, and before you make one plan for a visit, you should explore the Alaska Toursaver. This travel coupon book offers hundreds of “2-for1″ savings on everything: tours, accomodations, dining, attractions, shopping, and more! It seems a bit pricey at $99.95, BUT, even if you use only one or two coupons, you’ll get your money’s worth.

Some examples:

Purchase at least a 6-day RV rental from ABC Motorhomes, and get three of those days free! There aren’t even any blackout periods. RVs are great ways to explore the country.

Purchase a 1/2-day Salmon Fishing trip from Alaska Trophy Fishing, get the 2nd person’s trip free. You’ll save over $200 on this coupon!

Purchase a 3 day/2 night Fishing Adventure from Alaska Big Five Fishing Lodges, and receive an accompanying trip for free. That alone saves $2475!!

The list goes on, so be sure to check it out if you’re planning a visit to our 49th state. The coupons include boat tours, museum fees, lodge stays, dining, helicoptor tours, and much more.

Anchorage offers a list of special travel deals, so you’ll want to check out their Web site if you’ll be traveling in that area. 

Most of the major cities offer visitors guides and some even offer coupon books, so check the local chamber where you plan to visit for other money-saving deals.

Dining options in Montgomery vary greatly - as does the quality and the price. I’ll list a few of our favorites here, and if anyone else has favorites, please share them in the comments.

As mentioned in Monday’s post - Chris’s Hot Dogs. This diner on Dexter Avenue downtown is a landmark, and has been in operation for over 90 years. It’s a MUST on a Montgomery visit.

Another long-standing restaurant is Peking Palace on 2380 E. South Boulevard (that’s the loop that runs around the town, and at various places has different names, but is just referred to locally as “the Boulevard.”) The staff has been around almost as long as the business and they treat regulars like family. The food is fresh, flavors perfection. Prices are very reasonable too, with many lunches under $5, and dinners under $10.

The favorite seafood place in town is Jubilee Seafood on Woodley Road. A must on the menu - sauteed crab claws. Their regular menu varies to provide the freshest selections possible, so inquire about the specials on your visit.

Three locations for BBQ - all are franchises, but have good food. Country’s, Jim & Nick’s, and Dreamland (of the famous Tuscaloosa franchise.)

The east side of town has flourished in the last couple of years, and restaurants are popping up all over. From fine dining to comfy and casual, you’ll find almost any kind of food you crave. The Montgomery Convention and Visitor Bureau provides a lengthy list of options, and as mentioned in Monday’s post, you can pick up a map that highlights numerous restaurants at the Visitor’s Center at Union Station.

We’ve only touched on Montgomery this week - I’ll share more about Alabama in later posts.

I’m interrupting our weekly focus on Alabama because I just got this press release and thought some of you might be interested. It looks like so much fun!

Around-the-World Travel Adventure Competition Looking To Crown The World’s Greatest Travelers

SANTA MONICA, CA - 19 November 2008 - Ever sit on the couch watching The Amazing Race, and say: “I could do that!” Well, now you can participate in what Outside magazine calls, “… one of the most amazing trips in the world!” But could you win the real life around the world travel adventure competition?

The buzz in London last week at the annual World Travel Market’s get together among global travel professionals was: Who are The World’s Greatest Travelers? Travel writers, tour guides, travel agents, former reality TV contestants? None of the above–at least not yet!

Many of those travel pros and regular Indiana Jones-types have participated in the international challenge known as The Global Scavenger Hunt, but so far, the winners of the annual around the world travel adventure competition have just been wonderfully resourceful and instinctive travelers, not travel professionals.

The 5th annual three-week international travel adventure competition that will visit at least 10 nations on 4 continents begins again next April 19th, 2009, and the field of 25 two-person teams is filling up fast.

“We had some good chuckles in London,” says Event Director William D. Chalmers, “The challenge has been made that’s for sure. Travel agents always claim they are the best travelers, but someone in London said many were more a kin to high school guidance counsellors–they tell you where to go but have never personally been there themselves. We’ve had travel writers compete previously thinking they were the greatest travelers–but this is no fam trip, no press junket–it is a serious competition and they seem to wilt under the marathon-like pressure of actually having to do scavenges themselves. And then there are the professional tour operators who think they are the best travelers because of their ‘niche experience’. Well, their narrow experience doesn’t seem to prepare them for this worldwide event,” laughs, Chalmers a previous winner of an around the world race and travel book author.

And so, The Global Scavenger Hunt is now looking to fill the final few open slots with highly-motivated globetrotting adventurers who think they have what it takes to go on A Blind Date With The WorldT, compete against other travel savvy competitors trying to overcome the event’s numerous challenges and win the title of The World’s Greatest TravelersT. Travelers will race from Los Angeles to New York-the really long way!

One former participant said the travel competition was, “…like Survivor, The Amazing Race and the Eco-Challenge all rolled into one except with MUCH more cultural interaction!”

“The Global Scavenger Hunt is all about allowing real travelers to compete in a real travel adventure competition, for all the right reasons–the love of travel, trusting strangers in strange lands and giving something back to the planet,” continues the Event’s Director, “Some have called our annual event the ‘Olympics of Travel’, some refer to it as A Blind Date with the World because our travelers won’t have any foreknowledge as to what countries they’re going to until they’re onboard a 747 bound for parts unknown, and some have even called it a ‘Magical Mystery Tour’. I like that one!”

A cultural immersion at its best, the travel competition event is designed to be a rally rather than a flat out race. The object is to test each Team’s ability to combat not only the inevitable jetlag, but language difficulties, cultural differences, their appetite for strange foods, logistical snafus, and Team dynamics in the atmosphere of a well organized competition. Truly the ‘Olympics of Travel,’ couch potatoes and armchair travelers need not apply. This real world travel adventure competition is only for the hardiest and most curious travel savvy Type-A globetrotters. GreatEscape2009 is for those who crave authentic adventure, genuine exotic travel, real competition and world-class fun while being a roaming travel ambassador.

But there is much more to this event than riding elephants, swimming with sharks, visiting the great ancient bazaars of the world and witnessing Sahara sunrises and Himalayan sunsets–there are lives to change! The event is a global travel-a-thon that has participants traveling a million kilometers for the $1 million goal to raise money for life-changing organizations. Last year’s event helped scores of families with micro-loans and helped construct and fund three elementary schools in Niger, Sri Lanka and Sierra Leone in conjunction with organizations like Kiva, The Nomad Foundation and Free the Children. Funds raised also support Doctors without Borders, Partners in Health and CARE, among others.

The Global Scavenger HuntT is limited to 25 two-person Teams (singles may apply). The entry fee of $9,900 per person covers all international airfare, 23-nights in First Class hotels and about 40% of meals. Teams are interviewed for suitability. Visit and apply online or call 310.281.7809.

A fun and educational stop in Montgomery, Alabama is Old Alabama Town.

In the heart of the city, there are six blocks of 50 historic buildings, designated as Old Alabama Town. Visitors purchase tickets at the Welcome Center, pick up a map, and then walk through time as they  move from house to house.

On Saturdays, there are jam sessions on the front porch of one of the buildings. Stand around and listen to the tunes of days gone by. Then view various demonstrations of weaving, blacksmithing, horseshoeing, basket weaving, and even a quilting bee. The demonstration days vary, and depend on school groups visiting, or other scheduled tours. But individuals are welcome to watch and participate with the groups, so it’s a great experience.

Volunteers serve as guides to walk you through some of the houses, sharing stories of life “back when.” Also in the “Working Block” you’ll discover a Cotton Gin, Print Shop, and Drug Store.

Down the street, explore the “Living Block.” Lucas Tavern will be your first stop, because it serves as the gateway to the rest of the block. Another volunteer greets you, and leads you through the house, pointing out the rope beds, and the menu in the dining hall, where a full menu of chicken pie or ham, vegetables, dried fruit pie, pudding, strawberry preserves, plums, wine, brandy costs only “3/4 of a dollar.” Boy, don’t we wish for those kinds of prices these days!

After you leave the Tavern, stop by the Carriage House, Doctor’s Office (be sure to check out all the instruments - pretty scary!), and the Corner Grocery. Your children will enjoy stops at the School House and the Church too.

One of the favorites on the tour is the Log Cabin, with two large porches - front and back.

The whole tour reminds you of simpler times, and it takes a while to zoom back to the present once you leave.

I’m still researching Alaska, so we’ll focus on Alabama this week.

My husband and I recently played tourists in Alabama’s state capital. The city is undergoing some major transformations and left us with a very positive impression of the future.

The very first thing you should do upon arrival is head to the Visitor’s Information Center at Union Station at the intersection of Commerce and Water Streets. If you arrive on weekends or holidays, you can park along Commerce Street and not worry about feeding the parking meter. Any other time, check under the cover parking between the Wachovia bank building and Union Station to see if parking is available - it usually is. Just look for the Visitor spots.

Then, after you explore the Visitor Center, purchase all-day passes on the Trolley. There are two routes, but the same trolleys run both routes, so it doesn’t really matter which one you get on - you’ll eventually do the whole thing. Be sure to request the free maps of the whole city, the trolley route, and the dining guide. The passes are a bargain - only $1 for each person, and with the all-day pass, you can get on and off all over town whenever you like.

The Trolley makes stops all along the route, so you can visit several museums and memorials: Rosa Parks, Hank Williams, Alabama Cattlemen’s Mooseum, Civil Rights Memorial Center, Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, Alabama State Capitol, and more. The green route takes you through Old Alabama Town, and I’ll discuss that destination in an article later this week.

There are several restaurants along the route too - our favorite is a city landmark - Chris’s Hot Dogs. The almost 100-year-old diner is an experience all its own.

I’ll share more about Montgomery in my next post, and more about Alabama later this week.

Although this first place is closed for the winter, it gets my top listing because of the experience you get when dining there.

The Cave Man BBQ & Steakhouse, located in Richland, Missouri, is closed from November to March, but the rest of the year will give you something to talk about forever. The restaurant is built into three levels of a cave, and in the 1920s, served as a speakeasy. Reviews for the place vary GREATLY, but the latest reviews are more positive than negative, so they have made some changes. If you’re an adventurer, you’ll probably love the place; if you’re expecting a refined dining experience, you should probably look elsewhere.

Two restaurants where you’ll enjoy good home-cooking near Stover, Missouri are:

Charley’s Store, on Highway B in Lincoln - just have a big appetite when you go.

Touch of Dutch Country Store - similar to Charley’s, but on a smaller scale, and located in Stover.

Arrowrock Village provides an assortment of dining and drinking experiences - all right on Main Street. For sit-down dining in an old railroad hotel, you’ll want to visit the Iron Horse Hotel and Restaurant; enjoy an after-theatre nightcap in the gardens of The Vine Wine Bar & Garden.

The Historic Arrowrock Tavern is the oldest restaurant in operation west of the Mississippi, so be sure to check them out, too.

Friday’s Tip: Be sure to check out the state’s tourism Web site for money-saving coupons to many destinations throughout the state. Coupons are available for hotels, dining, shopping, golf, and more - and many are great savings, so it’s definitely worth exploring.

I’m about ready for a vacation - what about you?