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CHARMING CHITINA

By Greer Wylder

October 11, 2010

by Joanne Tucker Why consider an adventure vacation in a classic Alaska frontier town? The stunning Alaska wilderness, its wildlife and diversions are at your doorstep. Plus, Alaska’s small towns are renowed for their warm hospitality and historic charm as well as near luxury accommodations, rustic seasonal cuisine and virtually endless outdoor activities. One such small town getaways is Chitina, Alaska. Located about 265 miles east of Anchorage and 300 miles south of Fairbanks, Chitina lies in a colorful wilderness valley between the Chugach and Wrangell Mountains. What makes Chitina so special is that this town of around only 100…

RUSTIC ROADHOUSE LUXURY

By Greer Wylder

October 05, 2010

By Joanne Tucker Alaska’s roadhouses were gathering places for travelers since the early 1900s when these warm and homey havens sprang up along the old Valdez-Fairbanks Trail, now known as the Richardson Highway. Trappers, prospectors, homesteaders and local natives traveled by wagon or dog sled on the old trail and stopped at a roadhouse for a hot meal, a clean bed, an outdoor privy and some good company. Today, only a few original roadhouses remain, but the spirit of Alaska adventure and hospitality lives on. And it’s all just a plane ride away. After a flight from John Wayne Airport…

Head to Healdsburg!

By Greer Wylder

October 01, 2010

By Greer Wylder Making plans for a Sonoma wine country visit? There’s a new hip kid on the block in Healdsburg should be your next go-to destination in Sonoma: h2hotel. It’s a sustainable-style, boutique hotel with just 36 rooms and a youthful vibe that’s easy on the pocketbook, and literally just minutes away from the Charles M. Schulz/Sonoma County Airport (in other words you could be there this afternoon). Is it eco-friendly? Check. It’s built to LEED Gold green building certification, with aesthetic touches like a living roof planted reclaimed wood and concrete, solar heated pool and hot water in…

DISCOVERING DENALI

By Greer Wylder

September 24, 2010

By Joanne Tucker Words like magnificent, stunning, and awesome fall short when describing Denali National Park. Except to say―a visit to nature’s masterpiece, sculpted by wind, water and glaciers offers an exciting remote wilderness experience, where bears, moose, caribou and Dall sheep make their home. There’s no other way to say this: Alaska is huge! With few major highways or roads, you may ask: How do I get to Denali National Park from Anchorage or Fairbanks? With a wide variety of ways to reach Denali, we began our Alaska adventure on Alaska Airlines, which we boarded at OC’s John Wayne…

FAIRBANKS & BEYOND

By Greer Wylder

September 15, 2010

By Joanne Tucker Fairbanks is the gateway to a vast untamed wilderness. Yes, Fairbanks is Alaska’s super central locale where visitors can easily access Gates of the Arctic National Park, Denali National Park and Wrangell-St Elias National Park and Preserve by car, air, train and even guided ecotours. After a flight on Alaska Airlines from OC’s John Wayne Airport to Seattle and then straight into Fairbanks, we made this fair city our base camp for exploring the enchanting land of the midnight sun during our exciting trek through our country’s 49th state. Shaped by its early 1900s pioneer spirit and…