Worth writing home about? I think so.

Scoop up Alaska Airlines’ Club 49 deal between Anchorage and Seattle for travel in June. Just $415 roundtrip. That’s a big cut from the “normal” fare of $545rt. It works in either direction. You must purchase no later than Thursday, May 17, 2012. Don’t forget to scoop up your copy of the Seattle TourSaver book before you go. Chock-full of 2-for-1 deals.

Oh–dontchya love the new paint job (above) for the Salmon-Thirty-Salmon? The first paint job was on a 737-400. But this one (version 2) is on one of Alaska’ new 737-800, with the little winglets and such. Cannot WAIT to see this baby in the air!! Promoting Wild Alaska Seafood nationwide!

Bon Voyage!

Oh, there’s news on the “inflight” front with Alaska Airlines. The carrier’s new planes are getting Boeing’s new “Sky” interiors. Click the video for the full treatment.

Do you know the value of an inch? I do–especially when I’m squeezing into a middle seat on my way north from Seattle. So I was thrilled to learn of Alaska’s new seats. They’re slimmer, which means travelers will have a little more room between rows. Also, the pouch for the inflight magazine will be moved to the back of the tray (that means more room for my knees!).

Trust me: anyone who sits in front of me gets excellent lumbar support, particularly if they want to push their seat back. So an extra inch or two makes for a nice flight.

While the new interiors and the new seating will roll out in the coming months, right now Alaska Airlines offers pretty comprehensive inflight wi-fi with GOGO. And that, to me, helps the time go by quickly at 37,000 feet.

Don’t forget to make the most of your flights on Alaska Airlines. Sign up for Club 49. Get the Alaska Airlines VISA card. Join the Board Room if you’re a frequent traveler. And we’ll see you at the airport.

You’re headed for Seward, right? Wildlife cruises, fishing, SeaLife Center…the works. Stay at the historic Van Gilder Hotel. It’s right downtown at 308 Adams St. 

The hotel, built in 1916, was designated as a registered historic landmark in 1980. You’ll still see the old brass beds and period antiques. And there’s a collection of Alaska books and photos to offer you a glimpse of days gone by.

Even though the whole hotel is an “antique”, there’s still Cable TV in the rooms and free internet.

The Van Gilder is just a couple of blocks from the Alaska SeaLife Center. It’s a longer walk back to the small boat harbor for fishing and wildlife cruises. But you can walk along the water on the paved trail. It’s beautiful!

We stay at the Van Gilder when we’re visiting and we’ve picked up a couple of tips along the way. First, get your coffee around the corner at the Sea Bean Cafe, 225 4th Ave. The coffee is great, but the FREE INTERNET? OMG–it’s blazing fast!!

Next stop: breakfast. Look no further than the Train Wreck. Oh, the proper name is “The Smoke Shack”. But everyone calls it the Train Wreck. It’s right down near the small boat harbor at 411 Port Ave.

Now you’re all set for a day of exploring around Seward. Stay at least two days at the Van Gilder. That gives you time to get to Seward in time for your wildlife cruise (on Major Marine Tours). Then, the next day, visit the Sea Life Center and take a hike up at Exit Glacier.

Make your reservations online (www.vangilderhotel.com) or call (800)478-0400.

1. Buy a ticket and fly north from Long Beach to Anchorage on jetBlue and get a FREE ticket from Long Beach to Oakland, San Francisco, Sacramento, Las Vegas, Seattle, Portland, Salt Lake City or Austin, TX! Wow! There is a $14 charge for government taxes. Here’s the link with all the rules.

2. Just $17 per day for an Avis car rental–and that includes a great hamburger from Sullivan’s Steak House! Whoa! Of course, the $17 rate during the month of May is valid for a subcompact car. Other bargain rates are available for larger cars. The only way to get this offer is to call direct at (907) 277-4567. PROMO CODE: VISIT Anchorage May Special.

Check out the website for more deals in and around Anchorage: cruises, packages, fishing trips–and more. 

Order a vacation planner online–or get one in the mail. 

What’s America’s largest national park? That’s Wrangell-St. Elias National Park–which takes up millions of acres east of Anchorage–all the way to the Canadian Border. Above, the view off the deck at Kennicott Glacier Lodge. The innkeeper, Rich Kirkwood, says it’s sunny like this EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR! No–really. HA

The good news is the park is accessible by road, although very few folks make the trip. That means there’s plenty of room and lots to do. We’re planning our trip out to Kennicott Glacier Lodge right now–deep in the heart of the park. If you’re driving all the way, it takes about eight hours from Anchorage up through Glennallen, then back down the Richardson Highway and the last 60 miles on the 35-mph-McCarthy Road. Or, just park your car at the Chitina Airport and fly with Wrangell Mountain Air back to McCarthy. It’s a great flight across glaciers, mountain passes and past the old mines that dot the hills around the ghost town of Kennicott. Right, a bird’s eye view of the park.

In addition to the three daily flights from Chitina to McCarthy, Wrangell Mountain Air offers some incredible flightseeing trips from their base at McCarthy Airport (MXY). Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is massive–and Wrangell Mountain Air, led by our friends Kelly and Natalie Bay, give you a bird’s-eye view!! Call them at (800)478-1160 or click through to learn more.

You’ll like Kennicott Glacier Lodge. From the deck you can look out over glaciers and remnants of the mining town of Kennicott. We recommend you hook up with St. Elias Alpine Guides for a tour of some of the mine’s buildings to give you an idea of the massive scope of what once was the world’s largest copper mine. The ldoge offers some great specials, including the “Backpacker’s Special” for $89 per person, per night. This includes a yummy breakfast in the main lodge. Learn more.

And although St. Elias Alpine Guides offers the walk-through tours, they are better known for their adventure trips in and around the park. Specifically, there are a couple of trips (four-day Chitina River trip and a five-day “Glacier & Tundra” backpacking trip) that feature a $50 discount if you mention “Alaska Travelgram”. Check ‘em out. Left, base camp on a wilderness fly-out with St. Elias Alpine Guides.

HINT: We’ve worked with both St. Elias Alpine Guides and Wrangell Mountain Air for back-country trips. They do a great job. Sometimes, it’s down-right POETIC, as in this video with Tim Duffy (one of our backcountry guides). WATCH. LEARN. BE AMAZED!!

So–meet us on the deck at Kennicott Glacier Lodge this summer. Call for more information: (907)258-2350.

Summer’s here. What are you waiting for? It’s time to get on board Alaska’s Marine Highway. You know–the Ferry. The Blue Canoe. Many of us here in Alaska know the ferry sails year-round in Southeast Alaska: it’s how things get done in our island communities. But our ferry system also does year-round duties in Southcentral Alaska between Kodiak, Homer, Whittier, Valdez and Cordova. Above, my friend Marion Owen snapped this photo of the Mighty m/v Tustumena sailing out of Kodiak. 

With summer’s longer days comes a beefed-up ferry schedule and some specials. Here’s what we’re watching:

a. The Aleutian Run. If you can believe it, the m/v Tustumena already has sailed out to Dutch Harbor and back to Kodiak. The next sailing is on May 15. I keep talking about this adventure, with calls in Cold Bay, Akutan, False Pass, Chignik and some other hot spots. That’s because I WANT TO SAIL THIS ROUTE! Get out to Dutch Harbor. Stay a couple of days at the Grand Aleutian Hotel (use your TourSaver book for a free night). Check out the area. Then fly back on PenAir to Anchorage.

b. Driver goes free. One of the great things about the ferry is that you can roll your car/RV on board (reservations required). When you’re booking a round trip on the ferry with your car, the driver goes free. LEARN MORE.

c. Here in Southcentral, we’re happy the Fast Ferry Chenega is back, plying the waters between Whittier, Cordova and Valdez. We’ve sailed on this fine vessel. And it’s a great way to “connect the dots” when you’re driving over to Valdez or McCarthy from Anchorage. Just sail across Prince William Sound instead of driving all the way back! Watch the video.

d. See Alaska Pass. This is a great way to save 25 percent (off passenger fares) when you’re headed to or from Prince Rupert, BC. Stop as many times as you wish along the way. LEARN MORE.

Honestly, though, any trip on the ferry is a great one. Whether it’s threading the needle through the Wrangell Narrows in Southeast Alaska, or watching whales between Homer and Kodiak, Alaska’s Marine Highway is a great way to see Alaska. And don’t be scared off if you cannot secure a cabin. Real Alaskans sleep on the solarium deck. Grab your sleeping back and throw it on one of the chaise lounges. I am not making this up. See you on board!

Check the website, or call (800)642-0066 for reservations.

We had a whale of a good time on the Podcast the other day. Co-host Erin Kirkland brought a friend: Dee Buchanon from CIRI Alaska Tourism. They’re the folks who run Kenai Fjords Tours(that’s the Aialik Voyager, above, in front of Aialik Glacier). Erin and Dee went on a cruise in Seward–and brought back all sorts of stories!

There were lots of whales, goats, eagles, Dalls’ porpoise and stuff!

We also touched on some competitive notes on the air fare front. LISTEN UP for family travel tips in advance of Mothers Day, air fares we’re happy about and some “on location” interviews in Resurrection Bay (HINT: Erin gets to try out her new microphone!!).

As always, audio engineer Kirby Kauffman included some great music to share with the class, courtesy of MEVIO.com. At right, Erin and Dee cue up for the podcast!

Intro Music: Smooth Sailing by Mark Heimonen

First Break: The Underwater Dance by Voodoo Band

Second Break: Brightness Reef by All India Radio

Third Break: Ocean is Near by Martin Herzberg

Outro Music: Smooth Sailing by Mark Heimonen

We love Anchorage. You will too, if you’re visiting our neighborhood this year. Check out the photo, above, by my friend Clark James Mishler. The two young ladies are standing on Flat Top Mountain–home of the “Million Dollar View” of Anchorage. No kidding!

Whether you’re flying in or live right around the corner, there are some great resources at Visit Anchorage, including the “deals” section and event listings. We found some info we wanted to share with the class:

THE DEALS:

a. M/V Good Times. The ulitmate Alaska Family Adventure is on sale! Exclusive Visit Anchorage discount available June 10-July 6 only. Book an exclusive 5 day live aboard fishing, sightseeing or combination fish/sightsee adventure on our 50′ yacht Good Times and receive a $400 pp discount for parties of 6, a $300 per person discount for partiesof 5 or a $200 per person discount for parties of 4.

b. Save 50% off the Alaska Wildlife and Turnagain Arm Tour. Board your shuttle from Anchorage for the guided drive along spectacular Turnagain Arm. From beginning to end there are dramatic views of mountain scenery and the inlet. There’s a good chance of viewing Dahl sheep, as well as some chance of seeing some of Cook Inlet’s 350 beluga whales and an eagle or two.

BIG EVENT:

First Friday:  It happens every month–and Fri., May 4 will be festive indeed. In downtown Anchorage, many galleries host receptions and feature local artists, including:
Aurora Fine Art: Karen Olanna wood block prints from Nome, AK
Sevigny Studios: featuring Cindy Shake!
G St. Fox: Oil Painter Gail McDowell
Snow City Cafe: Infused glass works from Patrice Higgins.
Octopus Ink Gallery: silver and glass jewelry by Catherine Stewart.

Note: if it seems a little crowded on the art walk, it’s because they’re sharing space with the annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk! 

Events: Railroad Days at the Depot on Sat., May 5. Free train rides, along with static displays of railroad locomotives, railcars and other equipment that afford an up-close, hands-on experience. Hip and talented military bands will add to the festive atmosphere, playing popular and upbeat music.  The railroad’s depot gift shops and rail ticket counters will also be open, and the Alaska Railroad will be offering Open House Specials featuring amazing deals on summer rail travel.

Order your Anchorage travel guide today! Get a free guide on who’s who and what’s what in Alaska’s largest city. It’s a perfect companion for planning your visit!

Our friends at Explore Tours spend their days designing itineraries for Alaska travelers. Some are customized–designed just for a group or a family. But many travelers take advantage of the special packages that the “Alaska experts” have constructed from scratch.

Remember, they live here in Alaska. So they really “know the territory”. From Ketchikan to Kodiak to Kaktovik–the experts at Explore Tours can help you see the best of Alaska. Check out these deals:

1. Grand Journey. This nine-day itinerary includes overnight excursions into Kenai Fjords National Park and remote lodge stays (above, the Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge from the air)! Then, travelers can check out Denali National Park from several angles: from the south at Talkeetna or from the north at Kantishna. We recommend the optional flightseeing tours for great photos!! To get to Kantishna, you ride the entire length of the park road–a great wildlife-viewing opportunity. You’ll love the Kantishna area…literally at the base of Mt. McKinley. SAVE $200 off select dates (June 8 and Aug. 31 departures). LEARN MORE. 

2. Alaska Wildland Collection. This eight-day adventure offers travelers the best of Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, including visits to three beautiful, remote lodges: Kenai Riverside Lodge right on the Kenai River, Kenai Backcountry Lodge on Skilak Lake (pictured, right) and Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge, deep in Kenai Fjords National Park. Hiking, paddling, rafting, fishing…followed by gourmet meals and comfy beds! Nice! SAVE up to $500 off per person (June 2 departure). LEARN MORE!

Check the website for more details on these and other tours around the state. Call (866) 833-3498 for more information. Let the professionals at Explore Tours help you design the perfect Alaska vacation.

Here’s a comprehensive wrap-up of the special deals around Alaska from our friends at Gray Line of Alaska, Princess Lodges, Princess Rail Tours and Westmark Hotels.

We’ve highlighted a few in each category, but CLICK THROUGH HERE, HERE, HERE or HERE for the full list of deals on trains, hotels and tours!

Princess Rail Tours – Save up to 50 percent!
Travel to Denali National Park via our private, glass-domed rail cars either from Anchorage or Fairbanks.  Enjoy stunning scenery around every corner, narration by onboard rail guides and delicious cuisine.

Your package includes rail transportation, accommodations and transfers. Don’t miss out on optional flightseeing, river rafting, bus tours into the park and MORE!
D2D 3 Days / 2 Nights Fairbanks-Denali-Fairbanks $225*
D2E 3 Days / 2 Nights Anchorage-McKinley-Anchorage $259*
D2H 3 Days / 2 Nights Anchorage-Denali-McKinley-Anchorage $349*

Click here for details and more deals! Or call (800) 426-0500
*Rates reflect the savings and are per person, based on standard room, double occupancy. Package includes roundtrip transportation between Anchorage or Fairbanks and Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge and/or Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge, transfers between the depot and lodge and baggage handling. Single, triple and quad rates are available upon request. Taxes and fees additional. Based on availability, subject to restrictions. Offer cannot be combined with any other discounts or promotions. Promotion is valid through September 21, 2012

Princess Lodges: May and June Special – Rates from $79*
Princess Alaska Lodges are unique in the industry for their riverside and wilderness settings! I’ve stayed at all of them–they’re great! 

Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge – Rates from $79*
Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge – Rates from $99*
Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge – Rates from $99*
Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge – Rates from $99*

Click here for details or (800) 426-0500
*Rates are valid on select dates through June 30, 2012. Dates are subject to change, based on availability and are not valid with any other promotion or discount. Rates are based on single or double occupancy; triples and quads available at an additional cost. Hotel taxes are additional.

Gray Line of Alaska: Save $300 per couple on Alaska Vacations!
Book a Gray Line of Alaska tour of 6 days or longer and save $300 per couple ($150 per person) now through September 30, 2012.

Choose from Gray Line of Alaska’s extensive selection of tour packages including rail trips focusing on Denali National Park, unique adventures to the Yukon and fully escorted packages throughout Alaska.
Click here for the complete list of Gray Line deals or call our Alaska travel experts at (800) 544-2206

**All tour rates reflect $150 savings, US dollars, value season. May and September departures are considered value season. Peak season rates (June–August) may be higher. $300 savings based on $150 per person, double occupancy (single occupancy saving is $150 per person). Home city air not included. Not applicable with any other promotion or discount or group bookings, and applies to new 2012 bookings only, that are 6 days in length or longer. Airfare, taxes and meal plans are not valid for savings. Please use promotional code YW3 when making your booking. Valid for North America bookings only. Must be booked minimum 5 days prior to travel. Offer expires September 30, 2012.

Westmark Hotels: Summer Rates from $99*

Westmark offers an assortment of full service hotels in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Sitka, Skagway, Whitehorse, Dawson, Tok, Beaver Creek–all the hot spots! CLICK THROUGH for the whole list of special offers.

Westmark Fairbanks Hotel (pictured, left. Fear not–the snow will melt before you arrive! HA!) – Rates from $99*
Westmark Klondike Inn (Whitehorse) – Rates from $99*
Westmark Inn Skagway – Rates from $119*

Click here for the full list and more details. or call us at (800) 544-0970
*Rates valid on select dates May 16 – September 15, 2012. Dates are subject to change, based on availability and are not valid with any other promotion or discount. Rates are based on single or double occupancy; triples and quads available at an additional cost. Hotel taxes are additional.

Face it: Breaking up is hard to do. So, real Alaskans do what must be done–head to Hawaii. That’s easy with today’s Club 49 deal from Alaska Airlines. NOTE: THIS IS THE LAST DAY TO BUY THE DEAL for travel between May 6 and July 4, 2012. Here are the deals. Remember: TODAY (Thu., May 3, 2012) ONLY!!

Anchorage-Honolulu $435rt
Juneau-Honolulu $557rt
Nome-Honolulu $580rt
Kodiak-Honolulu $580rt

Honestly, folks, these are great rates to Hawaii. Scoop ‘em up.

Remember, travelers do not live by Club 49 deals alone. Here are a few other GREAT Alaska Airlines deals:

Anchorage-Phoenix: $466rt all summer long.
Anchorage-LAX (nonstop): as low as $295rt, although the cheapest I can find TODAY is $306rt. Still–AWESOME!
Anchorage-Denver: as low as $421rt for travel in June.

Do you want to save even more? Use your $99 companion fare that you get with your Alaska Airlines Visa card. Depending on your destination, the final tab may be as high as $141 for the companion fare (with taxes and immigration fees, for example). You get one companion fare each year when you carry the Alaska Airlines Visa card. Oh–you also get 25,000 Mileage Plan bonus miles on approval. Learn more.  I know….PLUG PLUG PLUG…but I carry two of the cards, primarily for the companion fare deals!

Wow! We had a great podcast session at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. Listen to the whole show, featuring co-host Erin Kirkland (left, above) and Melissa Saunders (center) , the center’s marketing director. Oh. And me. Right. HA

At the beginning, you’ll hear Mattox Metcalf playing the skin drum. Great stuff! Watch the video here. Throughout the show we paint a picture of why the center is a “must-see” attraction, whether you’re entertaining visitors from Outside or you want to learn more about Alaska’s native people. Awesome stuff!! Check out the dancers (right). A great photo by Michael Dinneen! 

We also go over a host of air fare deals, including the special Club 49 fares from Alaska Airlines (they expire Thursday night for travel May 6-July 8 between Anchorage and Honolulu!!).

Our very own Sound Engineer, Kirby Kauffman, pulled some great music from MEVIO.com including:

“Hard to Believe”, an instrumental piece by Bjork Ostrom

-and-

“Pipes Canyon Sunset” by Michael Mucklow

Special thanks to Melissa Stanley, Mattox Metcalf and the crew at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. We hope you enjoy the Podcast! Listen up….or SUBSCRIBE on iTunes!

Yep. It’s the first “true” podcast from the Alaska Travelgram radio show! Erin Kirkland and I hooked up with sound engineer Kirby Kauffman to produce our first show. We feature some great news you can use, including:

a. Major Marine Tours Resurrection Bay Cruise in Seward!
b. Seattle Food Tours–a little “research” on Capitol Hill!
c. Great Alaskan TourSaver–the ultimate Alaska 2-for-1 coupon book.

Listen up–tell us what you think!

I love Portland. In fact, I grew up there. That’s me (photo below), standing on the Portland waterfront in front of  the Steel Bridge. It spans the Willamette River. It’s always fun to visit–especially when there’s a great deal from Alaska Airlines.

Cash in on the Club 49 specials this week. But remember: you have to purchase by this evening (Thu., Apr. 26, 2012). I KNOW…it’s LAST MINUTE.  But my bet is you’re ALREADY on the email list that alerts you to the deals on Tuesday. So this is a last-minute shout-out! Travel between May 15 and June 2 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

I know this will come as a surprise: it’s SPRINGTIME in Portland. Amazing. Check out the deals:

Anchorage-Portland $217 ONE-WAY
Fairbanks-Portland $288 ONE-WAY
Juneau-Portland $278 ONE-WAY
Kodiak-Portland $300 ONE-WAY

Let me make a pitch to the folks at the Alaska Airlines Board Room. I’m a member–and it’s a great way to relax before your flight. Plus, the Board Rooms in Anchorage, Seattle and Portland have new free wireless setups. The speeds, while not super-fast, are more consistent than before. And the espresso is just as good as ever. The kids like the snacks–I like the view out to the tarmac. Check ‘em out. You can get a day pass. It’s expensive, but you’ll get the idea–it’s a great way to do a test-drive. Tell ‘em I sent you.