Just purchase the book online (www.toursaver.com) for $99.95 and start making reservations. Here are some of our favorite trips. Remember–everything is 2-for-1:

a. Bear viewing in Kodiak.
b. Dinner cruise in Kodiak.
c. Valley of the 10,000 Smokes in Katmai National Park
d. Incredible 7-d/6-n wilderness adventure in Lake Clark National Park
e. Day cruise in Glacier Bay National Park.
f. Air fare between Anchorage and Fairbanks.
g. Air fare between Juneau and Glacier Bay.
h. Glacier hike in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
i. Glacier/widlife cruise in Kenai Fjords National Park
j. Rail Tour to Spencer Glacier on the Alaska Railroad
k. JEEZ. Do I have to keep on typing???? You get the picture. There are more than 130 offers in the book–and EVERYTHING is 2-for-1. Incredible.

Order yours today. And start saving!! Oh, headed to Seattle? Ask about the Seattle TourSaver. More than 100 offers!! Everything is 2-for-1!

ONE-WAY specials:
Anchorage-Kodiak $134 o/w
Anchorage-Cordova  109 o/w
Anchorage-Fairbanks  104 o/w NICE!!
Anchorage-Bethel  194 o/w
Anchorage-Barrow 179 o/w
Fairbanks-Barrow 179 o/w

Plus ROUND-TRIP specials:
Kenai $159 r/t
Homer 179 r/t
Valdez 189 r/t

Remember, travel must be completed by July 13. Call (800)866-8394 or visit the website for more details! Era Aviation now is a part of the Frontier Alaska family, including Frontier Flying Service and Hageland Aviation.

From Anchorage to Frankfurt, you cannot beat the special rates offered by Condor–as low as $780 roundtrip, all-in from Anchorage. Flights also are available once each week from Fairbanks to Frankfurt!

Here at home, ask about 25 percent discounts to Southeast Alaska (with special coupon code) on Alaska Airlines. That means you can fly ANC-JNU for less than $275rt, all-in.

Kelly Jo and the agents at USTravel keep a sharp eye out for deals around the state, around the U.S. and around the world. Remember, your travel agent can line up your hotel and your car rental in a snap!

Ask about special values on cruises and packages around Alaska. Call Kelly Jo in Anchorage at (907)561-2434 or toll-free: (800)544-2217.

On a hot day like today, it’s good to be cool. Just 54 miles from Anchorage, you can catch a cruise on the mighty m/v Ptarmigan. Cruise close to the face of Ptarmigan Portage Glacier and watch big chunks of ice fall into the lake! This is just a one-hour cruise but it’s fun for up-close views of an active glacier. And yes, it’s COOL! Click here and look for the $5 coupon!

Ride the rails to Denali this summer from Anchorage or Fairbanks. Spend two nights–that gives you time to take the LONG tour (Tundra Wildlife Tour) into the park, plus a raft trip on the Nenana River.

Gray Line of Alaska features private rail cars (the McKinley Explorer). Full-dome viewing on top, with a nice restaurant on the lower level. GREAT way to ride on the Alaska Railroad. Your accommodations are near to the park entrance and all the activities: river rafting, flightseeing, guided hikes and more.

From Fairbanks, the cost is just $299 per person for three days/two nights. From Anchorage, it’s a little longer–so the cost is $399 per person–and that includes your rail and two nights’ accommodations.

Space is limited. Call (888)452-1737 today or check online for more details.

One of my favorite destinations is Dawson City–up in the Yukon. They combine their Canada Day celebration on July 1 with an Independence Day party for the visiting Yankees (we’re everywhere, y’know!).

Other friends of mine always head back to McCarthy, in the heart of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Oh–they’re tough, too. They camp out. Here, we camped at the foot of a glacier deep in the park. FUN! Big shout-out to St. Elias Alpine Guides and to Wrangell Mountain Air.

Wherever you go–take some pictures and send me some of the best ones, along with a description of what’s going on.

My wish for July 4 travel? Heck, that’s easy. I wanted a slot to go check out the USS John C. Stennis. My friend Randy got to go spend the night on the ship–he promised to send me some snaps–I’ll post ‘em when I get ‘em.

Don’t be bashful–share some of your great travel experiences with the class. The world wants to know what a great time we’re having in Alaska! Be a real evangelist. It’s fun!!

Anchorage-Minneapolis. This is a tough market for Sun Country Airlines, who is going up against Northwest Airlines. Both carriers offer non-stop service. Because of Sun Country, the fare to the Twin Cities from Anchorage has dropped by H-A-L-F. Right now, there are fares as low as $325 roundtrip. YOU CANNOT GET THEM until September. But Sun Country has some great rates for mid-July travel as low as $434 roundtrip. Let the professionals at USTravel round up some seats for you. Call Kelly Jo on Monday: (907)561-2434. Or, toll-free (800)544-2217.

Anchorage-Denver. The big airlines have kept up the pressure on Frontier Airlines all summer. And Frontier Airlines is the reason the rates are cheap. Most of the discount seats have been sold through late July. Some cheap seats now are available–about $450 roundtrip, between Aug. 10 and Sept. 22. Availability changes all time, so call USTravel and have them check the latest availability for good prices. Remember, Kelly Jo and the other fine folks at USTravel also can make arrangements for your car, hotels and tours as well.

When you get Kelly Jo on the line, ask her about her “Christmas Markets Tour”, departing Anchorage on Dec. 5. Shop the handmade crafts and hearty treats at the lively Christmas Markets of Austria, Germany and Switzerland. Stops include Zurich, Lucerne, Innsbruck and Salzburg. Call on Monday: (907) 561-2434 or toll-free (800)544-2217.

Plus, Gray Line of Alaska is offering travelers a $500 discount on tours six days or longer. This includes self-drive tours to Valdez or Homer, rail tours, escorted tours and more! Call Gray Line at (800)544-2206 for more details on this special program.

Choose from several rail/accommodations specials, too. I like the three-day/two-night option to Denali from either Fairbanks or Anchorage. From Anchorage, the package includes two nights at Denali Park, plus roundtrip train transportation. The cost is $399 per person, double. From Fairbanks, the cost is just $299 per person. Other options are available, including a one-way package and one-night packages, too.

You really cannot overstate how much fun you will have on the train! Gray Line travelers enjoy the full-dome treatment with McKinley Explorer train cars. Call now or visit online for more details.

Heaven knows there are a gob of Texans in Alaska–and many of the folks in the Lone Star State are ready to head north to cool off. Alaska’s Austin and Houston flights will mean the carrier serves three airport in the state, including Dallas/Ft. Worth.

Oh, don’t forget about Alaska’s offer of double QUALIFYING miles through June 30. I managed to sneak in a trip to Chicago and I got a BUNDLE of bonus qualifying miles. You have just a few more days to make it happen!

Win some prizes on Alaska’s “North of Expected” game. Heck. I signed up. I played. I fumbled. Maybe you can win where I lost. Heck–you cannot win if you don’t enter. Learn more on the special website!

Call me crazy–but I enjoy seeing the flying suckers dazed and confused when they run into the “Buhach Cloud”. I guess it’s like a nuclear winter for bugs.

In the garage, we generate a bunch of heat–working on stuff, sharpening hooks and blades, moving cars around and such. So mosquitos naturally swarm there. There was a time that I just took the WD-40 and sprayed it in th eair. It stuck to a bunch of bugs–but did not intimidate the others.

I’ve gotten somewhat smarter over the years. Now, I take a pie plate, pour some Buhach on there and light it. It seems to do the trick. Whether you’re in camp, on the river or just fiddling in the garage, Buhach will keep the bugs away.

Buhach got its first big break when people discovered it in 198 during th ebig Klondike Gold Rush. More than 100 years later–we’re still using it to keep the bugs away!

Would you like a free can of Buhach? Heck–I have a couple of cans on my desk. Send me a note–tell me why you need it. From the folks who send me a note, I’ll pick some random winners. NOTE: Your subject line MUST say “Buhach: Mosquitos Fear it.” I know–crazy, eh?HA!  My email is: zoom@gci.net . Learn more about Buhach online.

He’s a Sea Otter that was found in Homer, Alaska.  Here’s his story: “The Alaska SeaLife Center Rescue and Rehabilitation team saved me when I washed up on shore.  I am so lucky the Alaska SeaLife center Rehabilitation and Rescue team took me under their wing and provided me with a second chance at life!”

Learn more about the Alaska SeaLife Center’s Rescue and Rehabilitation Team on the page. Better yet, take a trip to Seward and visit the Alaska SeaLife Center this week! In addition to Rocky, check out Skittle–he’s another Sea Otter in the rehabilitation program.

Learn more about the eco-systems in Kenai Fjords National Park and Resurrection Bay. Learn about salmon, seals, sea lions, halibut, king crab–and all the seabirds in the area, including puffins and eagles.

Once you’re visited the Alaska SeaLife Center, you’ll want to cruise out and get a closer look at Kenai Fjords National Park.

Choose Renown Tours and their six-hour National Park Cruise. Check it out online and save 20 percent.

Your cruise takes you past big ice, right up next to wildlife and all along the dramatic coastline of Kenai Fjords National Park! Don’t miss it. Lunch is included–and you’ll sail aboard a steady sea-going catamaran, the Glacier Express!  See you in Seward!

Spend the night at the impressive Alyeska Resort! Here are some cool packages for the summer:
a. Lunch On the Mountain. Just $129 per person (double)! Includes deluxe overnight accommodations for two, plus a pair of Tram-and-Lunch combo tickets for Glacier Express.
b. Summer Stress Relief. This includes overnight accommodations for two, breakfast for two and $100 in spa credit! From $159 per person, double.
c. Alaskan Summer Family. Includes overnight accommodations, in-room movie, four all-day bike rentals or sightseeing tram rides, a 17-inch pizza, breakfast for two adults and free breakfast for up to three kids. The cost is $398 per night. Splurge for an additional room for $150!

Make plans this month to dine at Seven Glaciers. Ride the tram to the top of the mountain–dinner is served starting at 5:00 p.m. Seven Glaciers is Girdwood’s very own AAA Four-Diamond award-winning restaurant. Alaskan seafood, grilled meats, specialty game–take your pick. You won’t be disappointed. Call for reservations: (907) 754-2237 or make them online:

Advance reservations required! Call (907)754-2111 or toll-free (800)880-3880.