SUMMER ADVENTURE WEEK IN ALASKA

INCLUDING 4^TH OF JULY PRE TOUR HOLIDAY CELEBRATION IN SEATTLE

JULY 4-11, 2008

 

                                                                                      

            Tracy Arm Fjord and Sawyer Glacier Alaska

 

Join us for a great week of fun, exploration, incredible scenery and wildlife viewing. 

 

This Alaska tour is unlike any you have seen or may have taken in the past.  Unlike most Alaska vacations which show you Alaska on a seven night cruise, on this vacation we will take you to see the beauty of Alaska in what we believe is a more exciting way to see all the brilliance of this incredible land .

 

You will witness up close

* icebergs that are the size of cruise ships

* whales frolicking in the water

* bears fishing for salmon (and in some cases feeding on them)

* & glaciers dropping huge chunks of ice, as they crash into the sea in a mesmerizing calving process. 

 

Plus, enjoy:

 

The thrill of a zip line canopy tour

The beauty of a rainforest exploration nature walk

The pleasure of a sumptuous Alaskan Salmon Bake

A festive welcome party at Juneau’s famous Red Dog Saloon

A tram ride up Mt. Roberts and a farewell dinner party at the scenic observation deck near her peak.

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Our trip will start in Seattle, the Emerald City, where we will spend the fabulous 4^th of July.  We will enjoy one of the most beautiful fireworks displays in the USA, with 4 fireworks shows sent into the air above Seattle’s gorgeous waterfront.  We will spend one night in this fabulous city, with an opportunity to enjoy the views from the famed Space Needle and more.

Following our memorable 4^th of July in Seattle, we will enjoy an included flight nonstop from Seattle to Juneau Alaska, on Alaska Airlines.  Here we will enjoy included excursions, festive dinners, featuring local specialties like Alaskan Salmon, Alaskan King Crab and more. 

While Alaskan cruises charge some of the highest fees of any cruise destination, for sightseeing excursions, instead, on our Alaska exploration week, you will enjoy - 4 included scenic excursions, showing you all the best of Alaska, plus ample free time to see more that suits your own personal interests, all from one base, close to everything, allowing you to only unpack in Alaska once, while seeing & experiencing an Alaska vacation of a lifetime !  

 

OUR TRIP ITINERARY:

 

Friday July 4^th

Fly on your own arrangement into Seattle.  Upon arrival, transfers can be arranged for our passengers to our centrally located hotel, The Hotel Andra.  Hotel Andra is ideally located, just a short walk from the famed Pike Place Market and also walking distance from the ever popular Space needle.  Several restaurants and great nightlife are also within easy walking distance, as well as museums and other cultural attractions.

Our deluxe accommodations at the Hotel Andra are all suites, spacious 400 square feet, featuring bedding with white goose down pillows and duvets, bathrobes and Face Stockholm Bath products.

Hotel Andra was recently featured in the January 2008 issue of Travel and Leisure as one of the 500 best hotels in the World and one of the top 3 hotels in Seattle.

http://www.expedia.com/pub/agent.dll/qscr=dspv/htid=16950  

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g60878-d100565-r11187395-Hotel_Andra-Seattle_Washington.html#TOPC

 

The balance of the day is at your leisure to enjoy the sights of this incredible city. 

 

Late this afternoon, we will gather for a welcome orientation in a plush loft meeting space located above the lobby of the Hotel Andra. Couches, comfortable plush chairs and complimentary cheese and crackers will be provided for your enjoyment and a cash bar will be available for your convenience.  This is your first opportunity to meet your fellow travelers that will be sharing this wonderful tour experience with you for the week.  It will also be the first chance to meet your trip leader in person and learn more about all of the exciting activities in store for the week ahead.

The evening is at leisure to enjoy any of several great dining options within walking distance of our hotel.

You may wish to walk to the Pike Place market for views of the sun setting over Puget Sound to the west and views of beautiful Mount Ranier to the south.

After dinner, enjoy a fabulous fireworks display, easily viewable from many of the restaurants alongside Pike Place, or alongside the Space Needle.

We will witness one of the most beautiful holiday fireworks displays in the country.  Seattle sends off 4 fireworks displays over the waterfront and the images in the sky are mesmerizing.

After the show in the sky, enjoy the ambience and nightlife of this hopping and beautiful city.

 

Saturday July 5^th

We will enjoy an included late morning flight on Alaska air from Seattle, nonstop to Juneau Alaska,

Juneau will be our base for an amazing array of outdoor activities over the next 6 days, showing the incredible diversity of this amazingly scenic land.

We will depart Seattle on Alaska Air flight 165 at 11:04am arriving Juneau at 12:38 in the afternoon.  After being transferred to our hotel, we will have the balance of the afternoon at leisure.  Our Hotel, the Goldbelt hotel, is situated right on the scenic downtown waterfront, allowing us to walk easily to the popular downtown areas attractions we will be enjoying, including our whale watching excursion, our Sawyer Glacier odyssey, the Tram up to the top of Mt. Roberts and the famed Red Dog Saloon.  Many fun restaurants, shopping opportunities and more are also walking distance from our hotel.

The Goldbelt hotel, Juneau’s finest hotel, offers outstanding full-service accommodations, including complimentary airport transportation. Located facing the waterfront in downtown Juneau, the 105-room hotel is in close proximity to most major attractions. The hotel lobby features a permanent display of museum-quality traditional Alaska Native artwork.

Hotel amenities include:

• Complimentary Airport Transportation                             
• Full-Service Hotel
• Room Service
• Meeting Facilities
• Cable TV
• Free wireless access
• Coffee Makers
• Hair Dryers
• Irons/Ironing Boards
• Voice Mail/Data Ports
• Non-Smoking Rooms
• Free Parking

              

 

Our group will all be treated to rooms with scenic mountain views.  This afternoon is at leisure to stroll through Juneau, shop or just relax.

Tonight, walk to the nearby Red Dog Saloon, the most famous pub in Alaska, filled with local charm and bubbling with local entertainment that will keep you having fun as long as you wish.  We will enjoy a welcome to Alaska happy hour party complete with piano sing along with Phineas Poon, leading the lively local fun.  Later, we will enjoy a welcome dinner party in traditional local style at the Twisted Fish restaurant for an Alaskan tradition – King Crab Legs, or other great entrees.  Everything is a short walk from our hotel, so all are free to explore the local pubs at their leisure after dinner.

 

Sunday July 6^th  - This morning we will enjoy the thrills of our included whale watching tour.  We will be picked up at our hotel and transferred a short 20 minutes to Auke Bay, where we will board our awaiting Whale Watching Tour.  We will enjoy a 2 and a half hour professionally narrated tour that will take us through Auke Bay to enjoy whale watching on our comfortable 51 foot  Orca Odysea.  The Odysea is a state of the art whale watching ship, built in 2003.  It is the fastest, smoothest tour boat in the area, allowing us to venture further from Auke Bay.  This allows us opportunities to see more whales and wildlife and spend more time with the animals we encounter and leave the crowds behind.  

2 outdoor viewing decks offer ideal sightseeing.  A heated, roomy indoor cabin, with upholstered seating and large windows that open for great indoor photo opportunities are all part of the experience on the Odysea.

Captain Larry Dupler, an internationally renowned whale watching captain, accompanied by a professional tour guide/naturalist, bring years of knowledge and experience to your personalized excursion and offer narration of sights along the way.  Come with us for the whale watching and wildlife adventure of a lifetime.

Click the following link to read reviews of this whale watching tour.

www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g31020-d660845-r8184080-Orca_Enterprises-Juneau_Alaska.html

Our personalized whale watching tour style and high-speed boat allows us to stop, observe and photograph whales, orca, and other marine mammals in their natural environment, while safely and comfortably enjoying the rugged Alaskan scenery.

Our tour includes complimentary snacks, featuring smoked salmon, cheese, crackers, juices, coffee and water.

Click the link below to view photos taken on from the Odysea during its Whale watching tours.

http://www.crittershots.com

 

 

 

 

 

After our tour returns to Auke Bay at mid day, we will be transferred back to our hotel.  Enroute, we will stop at the Mendenhall Glacier.  Here we will have the chance to take a leisurely 15 minute walk to the observation deck to view the famous Glacier and a scenic waterfall.  If you wish, you may check out the exhibits at the visitor’s center.  We will have approx. 45 mins to 1 hour to explore at our own pace before being taken back to our hotel.

Those interested in hiking, can also learn about many hiking trails that start at the visitor’s center which can be enjoyed at your own leisure this afternoon, or on either of our free days later in the week. Passengers wishing to hike this afternoon, can enjoy an afternoon at leisure for scenic hiking around Mendenhall Glacier and its surrounding scenic forest areas, all on well maintained, well marked forest service trails, with trail maps available at the visitor’s center, or you may take a ranger guided hike of the area and then when you are finished hiking, take any of the regularly running city shuttles departing every 30 minutes from the visitor’s center back to downtown Juneau, which drop off just across from our hotel. (shuttle transportation back to town is included for our passengers wishing to hike this afternoon)

The balance of the afternoon and evening is at leisure for all.

 

                                                                               

                                                                                         Scenes of Mendenhall Glacier

                                           

          

 

                                                                                                                                                                     

Monday July 7^th – Today is a full free day to enjoy any of a number of optional activities.  You may wish to take the short ride on the city shuttle back to the  Mendenhall Glacier.  The shuttle pick up is across from our hotel and the ride is  only 20 minutes with shuttles departing every half hour at a cost of only $6.   Often, visitors here can see bears fishing for salmon in the stream from the tourist observation bridge at the Mendenhall, or you may wish to take a tour to Admiralty island where the largest concentration of brown bears in the world lives

 

Those interested in flight seeing may choose to book a helicopter or flight seeing tour taking you for a bird’s eye view of many glaciers, or for a walk or trek on the glaciers.  You also may wish to take a flight seeing tour to the scenic Taku nature lodge.

 

Rafting and kayaking are other popular pastimes in the area and afford scenic views of glaciers as well.

 

If you enjoy fishing, we recommend Toni at Hi Time Charters.  Toni has been conducting sport fishing trips for quite a few years and she books up fast.    Visit www.hitime.com for contact info.

 

Other popular tours include:

HATCHERY VIP TOUR Located just 2.5 miles from downtown, the Macaulay Salmon Hatchery is truly a sight to be seen by all Juneau's visitors and locals alike. Designed with the visitor in mind, the Macaulay Salmon Hatchery provides amazing views of spectacular salmon sights and allows visitors to the facility to learn first-hand about Alaska's wild salmon. From the elevated entrance, visitors get a birds-eye view of outside operations as they listen to a 5 to 10 minute informative commentary. A knowledgeable tour guide explains the fascinating life of the Pacific salmon and the workings of the hatchery. Inside the facility visitors will find museum-like interpretive displays, beautiful saltwater aquariums, and a mini-market place featuring local salmon products and novelties.

ALASKAN BREWING COMPANY Soon after gold was discovered in 1881, breweries in the new town of Juneau began quenching the thirst of hardy Alaskan miners. By 1903 at least four breweries had begun operation in the twin cities of Juneau and Douglas. Between 1899 and 1907, local residents enjoyed a particularly fine brew created by the Douglas City Brewing Company. Almost 100 years later, Alaskan Amber Beer, based on that same historic recipe, has started a small gold rush of its own. The breweries products have brought home more than 25 major medals and awards, including "Best Beer in the Nation" in the 1988 Great American Beer Festival Consumer Preference Poll. Come visit this outstanding facility and learn about their manufacturing process and sample a beer from the bar as you talk with a local about what it means to be.  Its located less than 15 minutes outside of Juneau. 

 

Tonight, we will enjoy an included dinner party at the  Gold Creek Alaskan Salmon bake .  This festive evening is set on a beautiful creek in the forest with scenic waterfalls . Enjoy an all inclusive dinner featuring fresh Alaskan Salmon, BBQ chicken and ribs, with all the side trimmings to make your dinner a feast.    Local Alaskan live entertainment is provided along with our festive dinner and following dinner, enjoy a old fashioned campfire and marshmallow roast.  Our evening will begin with a pickup at our hotel at 6:30pm for the short 10 minute transfer to the site of the Salmon Bake and we will be back to our hotel at 8:30pm.

 

Tuesday July 8^th – Today, we will enjoy a Full day included tour of Tracy Arm Fjord and Sawyer Glacier 

Glaciers from the mountains to the sea. Alaska's largest icebergs. Waterfalls that drop thousands of feet. Incredible mountains and emerald green water. Watch for whales, bears, eagles and mountain goats and see hundreds of seals.

 Board the 65 foot Captain Cook for an unforgettable glacier cruise to the best of Alaska. Tracy Arm, a classic fjord, has it all - snow capped peaks, shear rock palisades, waterfalls, rainbows and tidewater glaciers. Drift among the icebergs for the most close-up view of Sawyer Glacier.

 The Captain Cook has a stable, smooth riding, ocean going hull for the best cruise to Tracy Arm and Sawyer Glacier.  A full walk-around deck and large cabin windows assure unobstructed views and great photo opportunities. She is part of the Adventure Bound fleet of Glacial exploration ships.  Personal attention is unsurpassed on the Adventure Bound glacial exploration ships, providing an incomparable Alaska sightseeing experience.

 

Visit www.adventureboundalaska.com   for more info and photos of their glacial exploration cruises

 

This tour is truly a highlight of any visit to Alaska.  The Sawyer Glacier offers more incredible calving activity than famed Glacier Bay, the site most cruise ships visit to witness calving action. 

With just a short walk from our hotel, we will sail at 9am aboard the Captain Cook, a vessel that is limited to just 48 persons, meaning that we will get the best opportunity to see the amazing glacial calving activity up close.  Our vessel’s size means we will get into places where the cruise ships could never dare attempt and thus, you will see glacial calving activity up closer than any cruise ship passenger. 

 

Our boat has all indoor seating with large windows for optimal viewing.  A wraparound outdoor deck is also available for those wishing to get outside for even greater photo opportunities.  Restroom facilities are also available inside the vessel.

On our 3 hour sailing to the Sawyer Glacier, we will witness many phenomenons of nature, including witnessing huge icebergs , often as big as houses, or even as big as the cruise ships themselves.  These icebergs float past us as we cruise along, with expert naturalist commentary. 

We also may witness Black Bears on the water’s edges, as they spawn for salmon.  

Majestic waterfalls and more are all part of the spectacular scenery that will unfold in front of us as we journey to Sawyer Glacier.

Just before our arrival at the glacier, we will enjoy an included lunch onboard.

Upon arrival, we will witness the natural power of glacial calving activity better than anywhere else.  The size of our vessel enables us to get closer than any cruise ship and thus to witness the sheer and awesome sight and sound of huge chunks of glacial ice, breaking off of Sawyer Glacier and crashing into the water.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Calving action at South Sawyer Glacier.                                                       
 Alaska's largest icebergs are found in Tracy Arm & at Sawyer Glacier.  Calving activity is frequent at Sawyer Glacier

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

    Thi

 This waterfall tumbles from 2000 feet to the fjord's surface.

Tstt Waterfall tumbles 2000

 

                                                                                                                                                                        Ice walls at Sawyer Glacier

 

We will spend approx. one hour each at the North and South Sawyer Glacier ice fields. 

The surrounding Mountains are 7,000 feet in this area. The sides of Tracy Arm rise steeply with many waterfalls visible along the route. The water is glacial blue due to the microscopic sediment or glacial flour it contains. Sea lions, eagles terns, kittiwakes, mew gulls and mergansers are often spotted.

 

Our return sailing will again take us past areas where bears are frequently sighted , as well as territory where whales, orcas and seals are often sighted.

We will return to Juneau harbor at 6:30pm and after the short walk to our hotel, across from the harbor, we will have the evening at leisure.

 

 

Wed. July 9^th   This morning, we will enjoy another unique included tour.   The Alaska  ZIPLINE TOUR

Imagine yourself suspended above the ground, gliding from one uniquely themed platform to the next on a series of ziplines through the Alaskan rainforest.  This once-in-a-lifetime adventure includes an ascending drive through the scenic Tongass National Forest.  Once you are on the tour, you will be able to see the alpine forest and unique flora and fauna from an aerial perspective.  You can also enjoy the views from an aerial suspension bridge, along the tour route!

 

 

 

 The tour is a thrilling, yet always safe, professionally guided adventure and a great opportunity to experience the natural beauty of Alaska from an amazing perspective. 

Visit www.alaskazip.com   for more info and photos of this tour.

 

After returning to our hotel, we will be free to relax and enjoy lunch at our leisure at one of the many quaint restaurants within walking distance of our hotel.

 

Later this afternoon, we will be picked up and taken for a leisurely stroll through the rainforest on our Rainforest and sea coast nature walk

Step into the stillness of the Alaska Rainforest. Stroll beneath towering hemlock and spruce on this world-class interpretive walk. An expert naturalist will share the hidden stories of the plants, animals, and people that call this place home.

A short bus ride with pickup at our hotel takes us away from the bustle of downtown Juneau to tranquil forested Douglas Island, where some of Alaska's most interesting animal species live. As you walk the trail, your naturalist will help you search for signs and watch for wildlife. Birders may delight at seeing a bald eagle nest or one of Alaska's songbirds.

As you explore the forest path you will also see a bounty of both intriguing and beautiful plants. Do you know that nearly every plant in coastal Alaska can be used as food or medicine? In ancient times the land was pantry as well as medicine chest and with the increasing interest in natural medicines and healthy living it is becoming so again. Your guide will share lore from local Tlingit Indian practices as well as plant uses from other traditions. Experience the place, learn its wisdom, and hear about what it means to the people of this coastal region.

The Rainforest Trail is a gentle loop that meanders through forest, wetland, and meadow, then out to a pristine inviting beach. There will be many stops along the way for interpretation and excellent opportunities for photography. Participants on this walk of discovery will have a great outdoor experience and bring home knowledge that lasts a lifetime

 

After returning to our hotel, this evening is free to relax and enjoy at leisure.

 

Thursday July 10^th   This morning is free to relax.    This afternoon, walk to the nearby tram for the ascension of Mt. Roberts.  The views as the tram climbs are beautiful and the views from the observation deck at the top of the tram are astounding.  At the top are a restaurant, gift shop, observation deck and hiking trails.  Those wishing to explore may take an easy and very scenic nature walk just ½ a mile to the statue of Father Brown’s cross or, for those interested in a more strenuous hike, continue a further 2 miles to the summit of Mt. Roberts. (1400 foot elevation gain but worth every ounce of sweat, with views of Gastineau Channel, Douglas island and the surrounding mountains. ).  The views along the route and the views from the summit are well worth the work to get there.

Today’s unforgettable adventure begins at the dock in downtown Juneau where you board a tramcar adorned in colorful Tlingit artwork that provides an exhilarating ride above the Southeast Alaska rainforest to the 1800 foot level of Mount Roberts. Experience one of the most expansive and beautiful views offered in all Alaska, from the Chilkat Mountains to the north, down the Gastineau Channel to the lands and waterways of the south, west to Douglas Island, and east into Silver Bow Basin where gold was discovered near the head of Gold Creek in 1880.

Once at the top, enjoy the amenities of our multi-million dollar mountain complex. The Mountain House (Shaa Hit) is nestled among towering Sitka Spruce trees on the edge of the grasses and wildflowers of the sub-alpine. The complex houses the Chilkat Theater, Raven Eagle Gifts, the Timberline Bar & Grill (with optional outside dining) and offers access to The Nature Center, an eagle exhibit and the extensive Mount Roberts improved trail system. Visitors are introduced to the Tlingit culture through the award winning film Seeing Daylight, shown every half hour in the Chilkat Theater. There are also frequent theater performances by a local Tlingit actor sharing the story of his clan's origin. Native artists are often featured in the complex working on wood, fossilized ivory or silver carvings, making dolls, sewing garments, beading or creating large totem poles out of cedar logs.

 

Tonight, we will enjoy an included farewell dinner at the restaurant atop Mount Roberts, with panoramic views, then enjoy the tram down the mountain for the short walk back to our hotel.  The tram ride up and back down are also included in our tour package.

Visit   www.mountrobertstramway.com for more info and details.

 

Friday July 11^th   - This morning we will return to the airport for our nonstop Alaska Airlines flight back to Seattle, departing Seattle on 2 flights at 6am and 7:20am, arriving Seattle at 9:30 and 10:30am, allowing passengers convenient flexibility to make their own connecting flight arrangements to their home cities. (passengers with a preference on their return flight from Juneau to Seattle may indicate this when making their trip deposit and will be assigned to their return flight of choice on a 1^st to deposit basis.) 

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OUR ALASKA ADVENTURE WEEK

AND SEATTLE 4^TH OF JULY HOLIDAY CELEBRATION

 INCLUDES:

·         ROUND TRIP AIR ON ALASKA AIRLINES BETWEEN SEATTLE AND JUNEAU ALASKA JULY 5TH - JULY 11th

·         1 NIGHT HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS AT THE HOTEL ANDRA IN SEATTLE ON JULY 4^TH

-         All passengers are provided with accommodations in large 400 square foot Andra Suites.

·         6 NIGHTS HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS IN JUNEAU ALASKA at the Goldbelt Hotel JULY 5TH - 10^TH

-         Transfers from the airport to hotel and from hotel to airport are provided by the Goldbelt

·         3 DINNERS AND 1 LUNCH IN JUNEAU INCLUDING WELCOME TO ALASKA DINNER, FAREWELL DINNER AND ALASKAN SALMON BAKE

·         ALASKA WHALE WATCHING EXCURSION WITH VISIT TO MENDENHALL GLACIER

·         TRACY ARM FJORD AND SAWYER GLACIER CRUISE EXCURSION

·         ZIP LINE CANOPY TOUR EXCURSION

·         RAINFOREST EXPLORATION AND SEA COAST NATURE WALK

·         MOUNT ROBERTS TRAM RIDE

·         ALLSINGLESTRAVEL.COM TRIP ESCORT

·         FREE ROOMMATE MATCHING

 

TRIP PRICING: $1899 PER PERSON + TAXES OF $129 PER PERSON

     OPTIONAL SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $689

 

REDUCTION FOR PASSENGERS WISHING TO PROVIDE THEIR OWN AIR ALL THE WAY TO JUNEAU AND BACK: $439

 

A $200 DEPOSIT IS REQUIRED WITHIN 7 DAYS OF MAKING YOUR RESERVATION.  DEPOSITS ARE REFUNDABLE IF CANCELLED BY MARCH 31^ST AND ARE NON REFUNDABLE THEREAFTER.  BALANCE PAYMENTS DUE APRIL 10^TH.  This trip is limited to 25 passengers taking our included air from Seattle plus a maximum of 5 passengers providing their own air all the way to/from Juneau.