Cordova Alaska

4 August 2012

Dear Travelers,

Only reachable only by sea or by air, tiny Cordova is still a working port where nearly half the households have at least one member employed in the fishing industry. Self proclaimed as "Alaska's Hidden Treasure," Cordova is a gateway to one of the largest wetlands in the Western Hemisphere it is also famous for Childs Glacier, it's frequent "calving" during the height of summer. Vacationers are drawn by an abundance of outdoor activities, from hiking and kayaking to wildlife viewing in Prince William Sound and fishing in the famed Copper River Delta.

See you there...

Rinell :-)

Haines Alaska USA

31 July - 1 August 2012

Dear Travelers,

Charming yet somewhat eccentric Haines can be a bit of a surprise to most visitors. Although citied for having the best small library in America in 2005 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Library Journal, Haines is perhaps better known for its large assemblage of Bald Eagles.

The town is centered around Fort Steward, a collection of handsome white buildings surrounding a large parade ground (a Tlingit clan house) at its centre. Stop by the Tsirku Canning Co., a museum dedicated to preserving (pun intended) an industry that once had over 150 such operations along the coast. The tiny Hammer Museum boasts a collection of 1800 such tools, including an 800-year-old Tlingit mallet discovered while digging the foundation for the museum.

Visit the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve (20 miles outside town) or drop into the unusual American Bald Eagle Foundation Natural History Museum, essentially a large diorama of over 180 species of Alaskan wildlife.

See you there...

Rinell :-)

Wrangell Alaska USA

27-28 July 2012

Dear Travelers,

Step back in time to the 1950's, before every town had a Mc Donalds and a Starbucks, when no one locked their doors at night and nobody remained a stranger for long. Thanks in part to a fire that destroyed much of downtown in 1952, Wrangell is such a place. One of the oldest non-native settlements in Alaska, Wrangell was originally home to a village of Tlingit natives. The area attracted Russian fur traders in the early 1800's, followed by the British-owned Hudson Bay Company in 1840. Ultimately, the town flew the American flag following the purchase of Alaska by the U.S. in 1867.

Once almost exclusively reliant upon the lumber and fishing industries, Wrangell is slowly reinventing itself as an eco-tourism destination. The town's history and culture are especially valued, as witnessed by the Nolan Center Museum, Petroglyph Beach State-Historic Park, as well as the Tlingit clan house and totem collection on Chief Shakes Island.

See you there...

Rinell :-)

Ketchikan Alaska

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24-26 July 2012

Dear Travelers,

Nestled on the hilly shoreline of the Tongass Narrows, colorful Ketchikan bills itself as “Alaska’s First City” and the “Salmon Capital of the World.” The cool, often damp weather (rain is by far the most frequent weather forecast) doesn’t seem to concern the residents, most of whom either fish or participate in the lively tourist trade for a living.

Venture beyond the T-shirt and jewelry shops to Saxman Native Village, where the Camp Fox Dancers perform in full regalia. Check out the exceptional totem pole collection, as well as the carving shed where new totems are skillfully shaped by hand. A stroll down the boardwalk of Creek Street brings you past a series of old houses perched on stilts-once the town’s red light district-things are a bit tamer nowadays.

See you there...

Rinell :-)

Vancouver Canada

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19-22 July 2012

Dear Travelers,

Deemed one of the top ten places to live or visit by a host of publications (including Forbes and Conde Nast Traveler), Vancouver is a lively, contemporary metropolis set amid stunning natural beauty. Check out the panoramic city views from atop Harbor Center Tower or ride the gondola up Grouse Mountain for a different perspective. Walk or bike around Stanley Park, a 400-hectare (1000-acre) urban rainforest at the edge of the Pacific; although heavily damaged by a widstorm in the winter of 2006, the park is open to visitors once again.

The old Gastown neighborhood and Chinatown are each worth a visit for their colorful buildings and shops. Grab a water taxi or ferry to nearby Granville Island and peruse its multifaceted Public Market, one of the best in North America.

See you there...

Rinell :-)

Nanaimo Vancouver Island

17-19 July 2012

Dear Travelers,

Nanaimo, just across the Strait of Georgia from Vancouver, is British Columbia's third-oldest settlement. While the larger city of Victoria, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, may be more familiar, Nanaimo has a charm all its own. Designated the Cultural Capital of Canada for 2008 by the government, Nanaimo boasts a vibrant art and music scene. As is the case with most of B.C., there is no shortage of activities centered on the outdoors-golfing, fishing, hiking, biking, scuba diving-even bungee jumping and an exhilarating zip-line ride are among the options.

See you there...

Rinell :-)

Salt Spring Canada

14-16 July 2012

Dear Travelers,

Largest of British Columbia's Gulf Islands, bucolic Salt Spring Island is known equally for its range of outdoor activities and its dynamic artists colony. Island life centers on the three exotically named communities of Ganges, Fulford and Vesuvius. Do some kayaking around the gulf or tranquil Cusheon Lake, try your luck at fishing or perhaps cycle off around the island.

See you there...

Rinell :-)

Victoria British Colombia Canada

Victoria BC Canada Part 1 Episode (Muntik ng maabot ang langit)



13-14 July 2012

Dear Travelers,

Just across the Strait of Georgia from modern, lively Vancouver, charming,  quaint Victoria is the capital of British Columbia. Unlike its much larger sister city on the mainland, Victoria has preserved nearly all of its historic architecture. The landmark Parliament Buildings near the harbor are even more striking at night, outlined with twinkling lights. The venerable Empress Hotel has been serving afternoon tea in its elegant lobby for nearly a century; drop by its equally esteemed Bengal Lounge for a refreshing Pimm's Cup or curry lunch.

It would be difficult to overlook the bounty of blooms found in Victoria-baskets overflowing with brilliant flora hang from Victorian lamp posts, English gardens flourish at every turn, roses scent the air as you walk the quiet side streets.... But nowhere are the blooms more magnificent than those found at famed Butchart Gradens. Once the site of depleted limestone quarry owned by the Butchart family, the grounds were landscaped by matriarch Jenny Butchart and opened to the public in 1904. During the summer, the gardens are illuminated in the evening, the perfect venue for a relaxing concert.

See you there...

Rinell :-)

Friday Harbor Washington USA

11 July 2012

Dear Travelers,

The only real town of any size in the San Juan Islands, Friday Harbor was named for a native Hawaiian farmer employed by the Hudson Bay Company in the mid-1800's. A harbor, once filled with steamships and schooners used to transport supplies north to Alaska, is now packed with fishing boats, private yachts and tour boats. Searching for pods of orcas is easily the most popular activity in the summer months, with sightings practically guaranteed.

Ashore, visit the Whale Museum, explore the shops or venture out to some of the island's small wineries. Remnants of the little-known "Pig War" (a thirteen-year standoff between the British Navy and the U.S. Army) include the sites of both camps. Other attractions include the fragrant fields found at Pelindaba Lavender Farms and the fuzzy, sweet-faced creatures of Krystal Acres Alpaca Farm.

See you there...

Rinell :-)

Seattle Washington USA

7-10 July 2012

Dear Travelers,

Seattle, the Emerald City, offers a pleasing diversity of attractions-from the iconic Space Needle and Pike Place Market to the Olympic Sculpture Park and the avant-garde interactive rock and roll museum known as EMP. Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy hiking, biking, boating, skiing, golf and tennis. Oenophiles have 35 wineries within easy reach and beer and ale lovers will certainly enjoy sampling the suds from the area's roughly 40 breweries and brewpubs. If java is more to your liking, Starbuck's, Tully's and Seattle's Best vie for your attention at every turn.

Surrounded by water on three sides with the Olympic Mountains looming in the distance, Seattle is spread over six hills in a seires of appealing neighborhoods, each with its own charms. Belltown is a hotspot for dining and imbibing; Wueen Anne Hill offers sweeping views and carefully preserved architecture; historic Ballard proudly reflects its Scandinavian roots; the artsy, Bohemian Fremont district bills itself as the "center of the universe," the Waterfront and Pike Place Market provide hours of entertaining exploration.

See you there...

Rinell :-)