If you are following this blog, you already know that we recently took a cruise to Alaska on Holland America’s Oosterdam with my daughter Jennifer Colucci, her husband Steve, and grandchildren Vivian, Dominic and Cynthia. I have asked them to write what they liked about the trip and the twins were the first to respond. Here is Dominic’s vivid report. I have maintained the spelling and punctuation for authenticity: Dear Nona and Grandpa Chet, I had a …
KETCHIKAN, Alaska – The three Alaska towns that we have visited on this cruise have very distinct personalities. Juneau, the state capital, is more of a business center and once you get away from the tourist shops at the cruise pier you are in a rather ordinary town – although the Red Dog Saloon remains a perennial visitor favorite. There is more to do out of town than in town. Sitka has an entirely different personality. It …
SITKA, Alaska – When Bruce Conine tells you about his home town, he brings it to life with stories of digging for clams and crabs on the local beaches when he was a boy. But these are not just any beaches, these are the beaches of Sitka, Alaska and they do not look like what we are accustomed to. Rather than powdery sand, these beaches consist of grit, shells and rocks. Rather than being covered with lovely …
JUNEAU, Alaska – After two days at sea – including the scenic cruise into Tracy Arm – everyone was ready to get off the ship and have an Alaskan adventure. Because we were focusing on bringing Alaska to our three grandchildren, we chose the Sled Dog Discovery and Musher’s Camp tour, booked through the ship. We were picked up by van promptly at 9:30 a.m. and traveled over the bridge to Douglas Island and through the woods …
INSIDE PASSAGE TO ALASKA – We departed Seattle for this seven-day cruise to Alaska on Sunday. The weather was actually pretty, sunny and clear. Today is Tuesday and the weather totally different. Rainy and foggy. I fear this will be typical of the rest of our time here. This afternoon we are going to have our first real sightseeing. In about an hour we will be entering Tracy Arm and will get an up-close look at the …
SEATTLE, Wash. – I now know something I did not know before. Seattle – at least the downtown – is built on a steep hill. Why is this important? Well, just walk up that hill once or twice and you will know. Our hotel, the Renaissance, is located at Fifth Avenue and Madison, six long blocks uphill from the waterfront. When we arrived yesterday we decided to do the obvious – have lunch in a seafood restaurant. …
Right now my husband Chet and I are in a Hampton Inn in Traverse City, Michigan. We are flying to Seattle at 5:45 a.m. tomorrow and we live an hour-and-a-half from here. Thus, the overnight here in TC. We are going to Seattle to spend a few days before boarding a Holland America cruise on the ms Oosterdam to Alaska. We will be meeting up with my daughter Jennifer, her husband Steve, and their three children: Vivian, …
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