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U.S. travelers will need to present a REAL ID-compliant license/ID or another acceptable form of identification to board commercial flights in or out of the country beginning May 7. Travelers who fail to produce a REAL ID or an accepted alternative may not be allowed through Transportation Security Administration security checkpoints. Children under 18 are not required to provide identification when traveling within the United States. REAL ID-compliant cards have a star marking on the upper top...
The nonprofit Road Scholar celebrates 50 years with new tours, as well as free armchair travel. Offering a wide selection of destinations for avid travelers, it also keeps in mind those who can no longer travel or cannot afford to. "For 50 years, Road Scholar has empowered older adults to explore, learn and connect with the world around them," said James Moses, CEO of Road Scholar. "Beginning with our first program at the University of New Hampshire in 1975, we have partnered with thousands of...
Fairbanks has a lot to offer the visitor. In March, brave the town's arctic weather to view the Ice Art Championship and its entries of intricately carved, sometimes gravity-defying wonders. An ice challenge The World Ice Art Championships are held from mid-February to March 1. Divisions include the Multi Block Classic is six days of four artists using nine blocks to create a massive piece. The Double Block Classic lasts three days and two carvers use but two blocks for their creation. And, for...
In a winter surprise, Juneau was chosen by two travel outlets to be included in their list of best places to visit. Travel Lemming, a U.S.-based online travel publication with more than 10 million yearly readers, announced in December its list of the 50 best destinations in the world for 2025. Juneau was named the No. 18 best place to travel globally. Yes, that's "globally"! The article calls Juneau "a must-see if an Alaskan adventure is on your horizon." It invites travelers to take a glacier...
I once heard a man of Irish descent exclaim after his visit to Ireland, "The beer was warm!" To travel and expect everywhere else to be like America makes no sense. Why not stay home? And for those working in the tourism industry all over the world, the masses of the traveling public have become a nightmare. 'Please stay home' Last year, Santorini, Greece, became the most over-touristed destination in Europe with 3.5 million visitors jammed into an island of 15,500. Venice, Italy, instituted a 5...
Imagine breakup and the feeling you usually have about escaping it to somewhere the sun shines and its warmth actually touches your body. Consider a trip to Sata Fe, New Mexico with Road Scholar. The best part of Road Scholar aside from its all-inclusive scheduling with meals and accommodations, is the price - seven days for $2,749. Flights are not included. The seven day, six-night trip includes 13 meals, six expert-led lectures plus a group leader, 11 expert-led field trips, six nights of...
Sweepstakes to paradise Win a four-day, three-night luxury all-inclusive vacation at the Sandals resort of your choice. Airfare is not included. Sandals operates resorts in the Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Curacao, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent. Go to https://www.sandals.com/sweepstakes/ to enter. Alaska-Hawaiian airlines merger goes through There are so many questions about how this merger will affect the Alaskan traveler and their Alaska Airlines benefits. The good news is...
Road Scholar, the senior travel organization that takes you on all-included trips worldwide and in the U.S., is offering solo women travelers' trips in 2025. And, because the 2025 Monarch butterfly tours to Mexico have sold out, another is planned for 2026. But for both, you'll have to be alert as to when they open up and be skippy in signing up. If you're a woman traveling alone and are tired of couples who do not interact with you, clutching each other as if you will ruin their marriage, Road...
Thinking about a trip this fall or planning a spring vacation? Here are a few tips to help you save money while traveling. - The most obvious way to save is to use your airline miles and companion coupons. To maximize the use of your airline miles, aim to book your travel about a year ahead, since airlines often have a limited number of mileage tickets for each flight. Additionally, flying on Tuesday or Wednesday can be cheaper, as tickets are often less expensive on these days. - Pack light...
So, you're walking down the aisle again or for the first time and wondering how to pull it off simply in a simply beautiful setting. Myself, I chose a civil ceremony in a judge's chamber with close family. It was certainly cheap, but it did lack that Disney Happy Ever After touch. But rejoice Alaskan lovers, a wedding in paradise is just a flight away. Hawaii, just because Like kissing cousins on the map, Hawaii is the right fit for 49ers. There's nothing so refreshing in winter as a week in...
Part four in a four-part series. After exploring Peru and Quito to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary, my husband and I flew to Coca. Known as the gateway to Ecuador's Amazon rainforest, the town sits at the confluence of the Napo and Coca rivers. That's where we climbed into a motorized canoe and spent two hours speeding down the Napo to our ship, Anaconda. From the moment we stepped aboard the 148-foot, 20-cabin ship, we were excited to see what Smithsonian Journeys and Audley Travel had...
Part three in a four-part series. After enjoying the first leg of our 50th wedding anniversary trip in Peru, my husband and I moved on to Quito, which marked the beginning of an adventure that immersed us in the rich history and vibrant culture of Ecuador. We were met by an English-speaking driver and guide, which Smithsonian Journeys and Audley Travel had arranged. They whisked us away to La Casona De La Ronda, a charming boutique hotel housed within a Spanish colonial mansion dating back to 17...
Part two in a four-part series. As senior citizens, we initially worried our dream trip to Peru and Machu Picchu might be too demanding. Don, 80, and I, 72, weren't couch potatoes, but we weren't marathon runners, either. We had never used Smithsonian Journeys and Audley Travel before, and although the itinerary promised we would be met by a private driver and English-speaking guide at every stop, we couldn't help but wonder "what if...." After our plane landed in Lima on December 20, our...
First in a four-part series. Ever since Don and I said "we do" in Fairbanks in November 1973, my sweetie and I have been talking about taking a trip to South America to see Machu Picchu, the Galapagos Islands, and the Amazon rainforest. When we saw an ad for a highly discounted Princess cruise from Los Angeles to Santiago, Chile, we decided to "Just Do It" for our 50th wedding anniversary. We then Googled how to get from Chile to our three goals and stumbled across Smithsonian Journeys. The...
When Road Scholar put out its recent call for retired teachers and their guests to take a tour of the Italian Riviera or Nova Scotia, the response lagged and both tours were thrown open to everyone. Road Scholar estimates that more than a quarter of its participants are retired educators, which is more than any other career represented. This is likely because of Road Scholar's educational mission and focus on learning through its travel programs. For teachers who sign onto the tours, Road...
Whew! That was a close one—for now. Alaska Airlines’ new program, “Alaska Access,” will not replace Alaskans’ cherished Club 49 Alaskans-only free program for now. Club 49 includes two free checked bags, as well as for anyone else on the same ticket when traveling to and from Alaska; Travel Now 30 percent travel discount; and “Freight for Less” discounted cargo shipping within the state. Alaska Access is touted to offer the benefit of less time finding member-only fares, early access to sales and a monthly Wi-Fi voucher to stay connected whe...
Our eyes turn to the skies in early spring with the return of the birds that signal warm weather and another generation of their species. In Utqiagvik, it's the welcome sight of the snowbird and, in Fairbanks, the sandhill cranes, with their cries that penetrate and bring us outside to wonder at them. And with the birds, there are the annual festivals, with opportunities to celebrate and learn. Here's a preview. Ketchikan Hummingbird Festival, April, dates to be announced. Celebrate the return...
Hawaii is the perfect place to go in February- only six hours out of Anchorage, to a nearby time zone just one hour behind, where you land with nary a hint of jet lag and ready to again experience the warmth of the sun. Islands with distinctive differences While Mokoka'i is quiet and not very touristy, Kaua'i bustles with tourist shops and excursions, O'ahu is home to the state's capital Honolulu with its royal palace and of course the famous Diamond Head commanding the harbor, Lāna'i has a...
After some time off, solar maximum has returned to the skies. It's a regular period of greatest solar activity during the sun's 11-year solar cycle. On Dec. 15, www.spaceweather.com reported Sunspot 3514 flared with a strong M7-class event following close on the heels of Dec. 14th's X2.8-class boomer. The X-flare on Dec. 14 was the strongest flare so far of Solar Cycle 25 and the most powerful eruption the sun has produced since the great storms of September 2017. The smallest flares are...
Travel agents are coming back Many of you in your senior years still avoid the use of computers. This is both good and bad. Good because it makes you comfortable not having to wrestle with the never-ending new applications and websites, but bad because you could shop for vacation bargains online. Travel disruptions in recent years due to the pandemic, lack of trained pilots and extreme weather, look to be a permanent consideration in your vacation plans. That's where travel agents come in and...
John McCool just returned home to Anchorage from an 11-day whirlwind trip with Road Scholar. He believes he's done over 40 with them, and says travel is made easy because the itinerary is so well planned. "You can't beat the prices, and it saves lots of time," McCool said. "No way could I have planned that-hotels, river trips, transportation." Road Scholar, the name a play on the Rhodes Scholarship for college students from around the world to study at Oxford University in England, offers...
The tourists have departed and the land is changing colors, and it's the time when Alaskans can see the state unhindered by tour buses and being asked pesky questions like, "when do the Northern Lights come out?" Best of all, the fish are running and the crowds are gone. Hook a fish Best Fishing Specials Of 2023 on The Kenai River: • Drifters Lodge,18404 Sterling Hwy., Cooper Landing, AK 99572 20 percent to 30 percent off guided fishing and rafting trips on the Kenai River. Call and book at 9...
Why do I write so many columns about trains? Because I'm old, you're old and we can't walk that far anymore. Taking a train means you see more of a country and its cities, towns and villages, and in style and comfort. Comfort means a lot at our age. Czech railway company RegioJet picks up speed If you're traveling by train between major cities in the Czech Republic or Vienna, Regiojet offers economy class, first class, business class, and four-bed cabins, which are like bunk beds and perfect if...
It didn't take long for new Alaska Marine Highway Director Craig Torga to make waves. Since his appointment in March this year, he's been busy turning the ferry service around. The winter schedule is now out and he's heeded the concerns of remote ports. For example, Kake, Angoon and Tenakee Springs will have two stops a week Wednesday and Saturday, every month this winter - a far cry from last year's dead zone in January and February. And Gustavus will also get two visits a week. Unfortunately,...
By DIMITRA LAVRAKAS Senior Voice Travel Correspondent "That the Alaska Railroad was ever built is astonishing," writes Alaskan author Steven Levi in his rollicking history of the Alaska Railroad in "A Rat's Nest of Rails: Tundra, Ice, Mosquitoes and Permafrost Saga of the Alaska Railroad" (signed copies available at https://authormasterminds.com/steve-levi). It was a feat of engineering and pluck, resulting in 100 years of carrying freight and tourists, much to the benefit of Alaska. "It was...
