Alaska is NOT just for retirees!

One of our most memorable vacations was a multi-generational cruise that we did with our sons, my parents, and my brother and sister-in-law. When my parents suggested Alaska as a destination I must admit I was skeptical...after all, wasn't Alaska just for retired people? 

Well it turns out I was very WRONG! We all ended up having a blast - and there was certainly something to do for every age group. One of the things that worked so well with a cruise was that we could all "do our own thing", and then meet up for dinner each night to discuss all that we had seen and done that day.

There are of course plenty of cruise options, but on our particular cruise we departed from beautiful Vancouver, Canada....and cruised the inland passage for 7 nights. We visited Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, Juneau, and the spectacular Hubbard Glacier.

The scenery was spectacular, and there were plenty of opportunities to view wildlife, explore the historic towns, and take part in a variety of excursions. My brother and sister-in-law had an amazing time kayaking, and our eldest son decided that he would take a helicopter ride where he got to not only view incredible scenery, but he actually got to walk out on the glacier!

 
My parents enjoyed time on board the ship just relaxing and taking part in many of the activities that were available. 
Of course we all enjoyed the food - who wouldn't?

So would we go again? ABSOLUTELY - and next time I would like to do a cruise AND land tour as there is so much to see & do in beautiful Alaska. If you would like to know more about this amazing place, please CONTACT US for more information.

Jazz, Blues, and Rock 'N Roll - train travel comeback!

Not everyone is into flying...especially these days with flight delays & increased security...and a relaxing alternative is to travel by rail. Travelers like the comfortable seating with plenty of leg room - and the ability to move around the train - while enjoying the beautiful scenery.

We work with Amtrak Vacations who offer a bucket list experience with over 300 itineraries and 40 destinations throughout the US and Canada - which include city to city services and National Park tours (with a train you can travel right into the National Parks!). Their number one tour is Glacier National Park which is a seasonal destination that is perfect for families of all ages.Another popular family experience is the Grand Canyon.

There are of course independent rail journeys, as well as escorted rail journeys, and rail getaways. They have even partnered with cruise lines such as Celebrity and Norwegian for pre and post cruise packages called "Rail and Sail"!

City getaways are very popular and can be customized to combine a package inclusive of hotels, sightseeing, and entertainment.

There are city getaways to major cities such as NYC, Washington, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, & New Orleans.  



If you would like to learn more about Amtrak Vacations, please contact us

GETAWAY VACATION RENTALS...JUST A SHORT DRIVE AWAY!

Looking for a Vacation rental close to home?

I met a lady when we were out for dinner recently, who in conversation mentioned that they own four vacation rental homes in North Carolina. I was curious to learn more, and asked her to email me some details, as not everyone has the time or the inclination to travel far from home when they just want to get away for a few days to relax.  She kindly sent me the links to view their properties, and I was so impressed I just had to share!

She wrote “All are in NC, two in the Banner Elk/Valle Crucis area and two on Oak Island.  We love the business and feel like we offer a few extra ‘touches of home’ that some rentals don’t.   We are budget friendly and pet friendly.   The Island Hideaway is the one that we are just getting started so we don’t have any comments yet.  We have been very fortunate with great reviews, comments, and lots of returning guests at the others.  The reviews and comments are on the web pages.”

The Banner Elk/Valle Crucis area, for those not familiar with it, is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Western North Carolina – just a couple of hours drive from both Greensboro and Charlotte. Boone and Blowing Rock are neighboring towns from here. You will find plenty to do in this beautiful scenic area – from hiking, bike riding, river rafting and rock climbing – to bird watching, or shopping in the quaint historic towns and visiting the galleries which feature local artists. Click on the links to view their gorgeous vacation properties Hilltop Hideaway which is perfect for family reunions as it sleeps 14, and High Country Fever Cabin which sleeps 6.

Now who doesn't love to go to the beach?  Oak Island offers beautiful sandy beaches with a small town, family-friendly environment. Of course you can enjoy walks on the beach, boating, fishing, kayaking, etc. – but there are also some good golf courses in this area. 

Check out their wonderful beach cottage properties…they look incredibly relaxing don’t they? Island Love Shack sleeps 4, and Island Hideaway sleeps 6.

All of these properties look cosy and comfortable - and most importantly they are affordable. If you have questions you can email the owner directly through the vacation rental links.