Cruise Travel Close to Home From the West Coast

Cruise travel from ports close to home is what passengers want now. In almost all of the cruise reviews, cruise travelers have expressed concern with long airline trips to distant lands. Now they want to cruise from ports that are close to home to enjoy a less stressful cruise vacation. The cruise lines have caught on to this trend and are now positioning their ships up and down the United States East and West Coasts and along the Gulf of Mexico. Let’s explore the ports of embarkation on the West Coast starting in Southern California at the port of San Diego and go northward.

If you can take the time before or after your cruise travel, spend some extra time in San Diego. The city of San Diego is blessed with year round warm weather and seventy miles of Pacific Coastline. There are many activities to enjoy while in the city. They have a first class, world famous zoo in Balboa Park. At Old Town State Historic Park learn about the History of California. Near the downtown area there are 15 excellent museums and gorgeous gardens.

A little further up north is Long Beach just 20 miles south of Los Angeles. Here is where the Queen Mary retired to in 1967 and is permanently docked serving as a Hotel. With more 12,000 sea creatures the aquarium is a delightful spot to spend a couple of hours.

If you plan to take your cruise vacation out of Los Angeles there are plenty of sights to see. A pre or post cruise package from the cruise lines will allow you to see the many cultural centers or drive by the star studded neighborhoods of Malibu, Bel Air and Hollywood. Be sure to see Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, Chinatown and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Visit funky Venice Beach and dine in the many excellent restaurants. And don’t forget to at least window shop on Rodeo Drive.

The dazzling Golden Gate Bridge will be what you sail under on you cruise vacation from San Francisco. Many cruise reviews have mentioned this city as one of the favorites from which to start a cruise. You may opt to take a side trip to the vineyards of Napa and Sonoma Valleys for a day. While in San Francisco check out Fisherman’s Wharf, or take a cable car ride through the city. In this city there are numerous excellent restaurants. There is a ferry that will take you over to Alcatraz Island for a glimpse into the life of the prisoners.

Perhaps you have chosen Seattle, Washington as your embarkation port. The lovely Puget Sound area is rich with history of the maritime industries. The Olympic Mountains will leave you feeling awed when viewed from the Space Needle that is 607 feet high. For fun don’t miss the Pike Street Market for fresh seafood and produce. There are many fleets of sport fishing boats for fishing or for whale watching.

Even further up the coast you are now in Alaskan territory. Fairbanks, which was once a booming mining town, is the entrance to Alaska’s interior. If you stay here for a day or two try a really Alaskan adventure and go dog sledding. Maybe you would like to pan for gold, another part of Alaska’s history. If you want to see the Northern Lights plan your cruise vacation for late August or early September.

Choosing a cruise vacation out of Whitter, Alaska will allow you to go whale watching, and look for sea lions and bald eagles. This is a small quaint town that really lets you feel what Alaska is all about.

You will fly into Anchorage for departure from Seward, Alaska. Try to stay a few days to explore the riches Anchorage has to offer. There is the beautiful Denali National Park, where Mt. McKinney offers spectacular scenery. In Seward you can take a cruise to the Kenai Fjords as a day trip.

Any of these cruise ports will make a great start for your cruise vacation. So when planning any cruise travel pick a port that’s close to home and leave some time for exploring the town of embarkation.

Happy Cruising

Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.

Mary Hanna has traveled the world by Air and Ship while writing eBooks, Software Reviews and Practical Articles on Internet Marketing, Cruising, Gardening and Cooking. Visit her websites at: http://www.CruiseGold.com http://www.CruiseTravelDirectory.com and http://www.CruisingTips.com

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Top Five Cheap Flight Destinations

At the moment, it’s easy to see how some people would be worried about vacation costs this year. Travel is too expensive for many people because of the economy and threats of layoffs. However, there are still cheap travel destinations if you are willing to do your homework. The bulk of your vacation cost will probably go towards your flight and your hotel stay. So, finding a cheap flight and taking advantage of other options can greatly reduce the cost of your vacation. Here are the top five cheap flight destinations that you should consider:

New York City and Other Big Cities

You can often find cheap flights to New York City and other big cities because they are home to large airports. When you fly into a large airport, you have more airline options, which can lower the price. Big cities can be a lot of fun, but are not usually high on the list for tourist destinations, since people are more likely to want to head to the beach or mountains for vacation. As an added bonus, that means that other activities in the cities are also less expensive. Most big cities even have government-sponsored museums, parks, and zoos which are free or under for admission.

Florida or Southern California

The price of your flight often depends on your point of origin. One thing that is almost always a sure bet, though, is that it will typically be cheaper to stay in the United States than to travel abroad. If you live in the eastern half of the country, Florida is a natural choice. You can find flights into Orlando and Miami for just 0 to 0 if you are leaving from a larger northern airport. In the west, southern California is a great destination for the same reason. If you live in the center of the United States, check both Florida and California prices. Also, don’t forget that visiting the gulf of Texas is also an option.

Canada

If you absolutely just want to experience a different country, Canada is a great option. Staying near the United States and not having to cross an ocean helps keep the price of the flight down as low as possible. Canada is also not a huge tourism center, so prices for flights are naturally lower than, for example, Hawaii. Keep in mind that travelling can still get pricey once you arrive at your destination with the current exchange rate, so budget accordingly. However, with the money you’ll save on a flight, it could be worth it. You won’t find warm, sunny beaches in Canada, but you will find some great wilderness resorts, and there are a number of cities that are fun to visit, such as Toronto.

The Caribbean

Believe it or not, the prices for plane tickets to the Caribbean are actually fairly affordable. Although this is a tourist hotspot, the sheer number of flights going into and out of these airports drives the price down. When you work with your travel agent, you can also often get a lower price because they get discounts for selling a certain number of flights on one airline – and flights are easy to book to the Caribbean. There aren’t as many tourists flying to, for example, Italy on the other hand, so they aren’t likely to get a discount on that airline. You can save even more money in general by choosing to fly to Puerto Rico, since it is still a territory of the United States.

Mexico

Some vacationers have been shying away from Mexico recently. However, if you stick to tourist hot spots and use a little discretion, you can be very safe in this country. Flights into Mexico are inexpensive for the same reasons that flights into Canada are inexpensive, you are staying near the United States and you don’t have to cross an ocean. You’ll still pay more for a flight to Mexico than most domestic flights, but if you shop around for good deals, you should be able to travel fairly inexpensively.

Flying will always be expensive, no matter how much price comparison you do to different destinations. There are a few things you can do to keep the price as low as possible, wherever your destination may be. First, be flexible with your dates. Flights are usually more expensive on weekend and near holidays. You can also add more layovers to your flight or take nighttime flights to save money. Finally, when you book your flight, try not to plan activities that you have to rush to as soon as you land. That way, if there is an overbooking problem, you can volunteer to take a later flight. If you do that, most airlines will refund your ticket and give you an additional free flight to use in the future.

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Adventure Tours Throughout the United States and Canada

Some vacations just do not cut it with a certain type of traveler; they seek more from their vacation plans. They want to be able to live on the edge, seeing the sights while breaking away from the same types of vacation tours that everyone else is taking. It is for people such as these that adventure tours were created. They combine the tour packages of the past with the thrill-seeking mentality of the modern generation. There are a number of adventure tour destinations available in North America and they are currently rising in popularity. If you think you may be interested in taking one of these tours, then here are some of the most popular options available.

One destination that has always been popular is the Grand Canyon. Unlike the tours that provide you with a view of the beauty and majesty of the canyon from above, however, an adventure tour of the Grand Canyon takes you through the rapids of the Colorado River along the entire length of the canyon. Though the lengths of these tours may vary, a rafting tour of the entire canyon is generally an 8 to 10 day excursion.

Another popular adventure tour destination is Alaska. From ice fishing in northern Alaska to sea kayaking along the coast, there are a number of different adventure options available. Visitors on an adventure tour can view wild bears, take hikes through the Alaskan wilderness, raft a variety of rivers, and camp in some of the most rugged wilderness locations in North America. The length of Alaskan adventure tours can vary greatly depending on the activities involved, with some tours lasting for as few as 3 days to as many as 12.

Given the adventurous history of the American west, it should come as no surprise that there are a number of western-themed adventure tours to choose. Some of these involve visiting a number of historical Wild West locations while others focus on the western deserts and hiking through some of the amazing national parks in Arizona and Nevada. Other western tours actually manage to incorporate adventure locations in several states, letting you visit some of the most majestic locations in the west to see their beauty firsthand. The length of the western adventure tours depend largely on the area that they cover, with some lasting only 2 or 3 days while others can last for 1 to 2 weeks.

For those who are seeking a more modern adventure, there are adventure tours which can allow you to explore cities Las Vegas, Reno, and other similar hotspots. The focus of these adventure tours is not only on the sights and sounds of the main cities themselves, but also on the history and majesty of the surrounding land. Most adventure tours to Las Vegas and Reno last from 3 to 7 days and generally include trips to the most popular casinos and shows in addition to hiking in the surrounding desert. This allows one to gain a better appreciation for the cities, which appear as jewels upon the desert.

A number of different California adventures are available as well, helping visitors to see exactly how diverse the state really is. Adventures in the major cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco allow the opportunity to explore the forests and vineyards in the northern portion of the state. Most visitors are amazed at exactly what California has to offer in the way of adventure opportunities. A number of hiking tours can be found that allow you to visit some of the most majestic California locations on foot, letting you camp under the open sky while on your way to your final destination. California adventure tours can last for as few as 3 days to as many as 14 depending on the area being covered by the tour.

Of course, not all adventure tours involve hiking, rafting, or spending time traversing the natural lands of North America; a number of adventure tour companies also offer RV rental so that you can take a driving tour of some of the classic roadways in America and Canada. This allows you to travel in comfort while taking in some amazing sights and visiting places that you otherwise may not have known existed. RV adventure tours generally last for as long as you want to rent the RV. The average length of an RV tour is typically between 5 to 14 days.

There are many benefits to planning an adventure vacation. If you enjoy the thrill of adventure, this vacation may be right for you. Available activities range from hiking and kayaking to exploring cities such as Las Vegas and California, but this type of trip may require renting an RV. If you are interested in extreme sports, you may enjoy a vacation, which consists of hiking and kayaking. Those adventures provide the opportunity to experience a once in a lifetime moment, that can be remembered for many years.