Page 8 - AAA Northampton County – AAA Now! Fall 2015

TRAVEL
NORTHWARD TO WILD ALASKA
TM
TRAVEL WITH SOMEONE YOU TRUST®
By Judie Karhan
The call of the wild is never distant in Alaska, where snow-peaked mountains – blanketed by evergreen forests – provide natural habitat for bears, deer, wolves and moose, among scores of other animals.
Along the Inside Passage, a 1,000-mile stretch of waterway that hugs the rugged coastline, ship passengers marvel at glaciers calving into the deep, steel blues waters where whales, porpoises and sea otters frolic, as bald eagles soar silently overhead. With each turn of the bend, yet another incredible view of mountains, sea and sky unfolds.
The journey in The Great Land often begins with a cruise from Seattle or Vancouver, B.C. From May through September, a fleet of cruise ships and Alaska ferries traverse the sheltered waters of Southeast Alaska’s Inside Passage. The communities of Southeast Alaska dot mountainsides and natural harbors, clinging to their cultural roots deriving from three groups of Native peoples: the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian.
In Ketchikan, ancestral home of the Tongas tribe of Tlingit, travelers find the world’s largest collection of
totem poles. Museums and cultural centers provide native dancing, carving and artifact exhibits.
Skagway, which lies in the heart of Gold Rush country, displays its colorful history at the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park where wooden boardwalks and false-fronted buildings still stand. From Skagway, you can take a scenic and historic journey on the White Pass & Yukon Railroad, built in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush.
The town of Juneau is easily recognized as a product of the Gold Rush. At the Red Dog Saloon, the flooring is covered with sawdust and peanut shells. A red-vested pianist plays saloon music on a honky-tonk piano. Barmaids in period dress serve ale with Western gusto.
While Alaska’s ports of call offer plenty of recreation for ship passengers, its glaciers, which cover nearly
5 percent of the state’s total land surface, add the “wow” factor to the cruise experience. The Gulf of Alaska holds the highest concentration of glaciers in the state. In Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve you can observe whales, stellar sea lions, sea otters, porpoises and harbor seals.
Beyond Alaska’s ocean shores, there’s a wide range of exploration options. For many travelers, an excursion to Denali National Park is the natural choice to complement a cruise. The journey begins with a luxury railcar ride to the 5.7-million-acre park, home of Mt. McKinley. Denali is one of the best places on earth to view animals in their natural habitat. Adventurers are certain to catch glimpses of foraging caribou, Dall sheep, foxes, moose, wolves, brown bears, even grizzlies.
While Denali is a wilderness experience, you needn’t worry about giving up creature comforts. Lodge accommodations in the park are unobtrusive to the environment, yet sublimely luxurious.
DISCOVER ALASKA
WITH PRINCESS
Join us for an Alaska Vacation planning seminar on September 10, 2015, at 3 or 6 PM at our Hecktown Rd. office. Please RSVP to 610-258-2371 as space is limited.
AAA Exclusive Member Benefits:
• Music of Denali Dinner Theater
• Breakfast at King Salmon Restaurant
• Breakfast at Mountain View Restaurant
• Dinner at 20,320 Alaskan Grill
Call 610-258-2371, click AAA.com or visit AAA Northampton County 3914 Hecktown Road, Easton, PA 18045
Amenities are AAA Member Benefits and apply exclusively to tour 15N & 15S. ©2015 Princess Cruise Lines, Ltd. Ships of Bermudan and British registry.
Featuring
• Alaska & the Yukon Experts • Stunning film footage
• Useful planning advice
• Exclusive travel benefits
A fun, informative presentation on Alaska & the Yukon
Date: Saturday, September 26, 2015
Time: 10:00 am
Place: 3914 Hecktown Road, Easton, PA 18045 RSVP: 610-258-2371
Show offers of up to $200 per cabin shipboard credit
Space is limited! RSVP today to plan your Alaskan Adventure!
8
3914 Hecktown Rd., Easton, PA • (610) 258-2371 • www.aaanc.com
AAA NoHo.indd 1
FALL 2015
7/1/15 1:27
PM
AAA TRAVEL’S CRUISE &
Now!
Please join us for