Affordable Alaska Thanks To Sourdough Bread

We really do appreciate the ubiquitous travel deals, but the constant reminder of the economic situation sort of ruins our travel buzz. Sometimes we just want to escape from it all, and luckily, big ol’ Alaska has served as an escape for many years. As recently as the 1890s people searching for a better way of life fled to Alaska in search of a new life, open spaces, and gold. At this point, we’re thinking that all the good gold is picked over, but the state still has a lot of beauty to share.
In honor of Alaska’s frontier heritage, there are several vacation packages that can get you out to Denali National Park to experience all the wonder for only a few nuggets.

Denali Park Resorts are offering a sourdough special, in honor of all those escapees that survived on sourdough bread as they moseyed out west—they carried the bread starter around their necks—delicious. Apparently, to this today, old time Alaskans are still known as “sourdoughs.” Thanks to the special lodging deal, staying in the middle of the action won’t cost you too much bread (ha). Rates start as low as $128 a night during the summer season.

Spring break: Have it your way

With its 18-year-old drinking age, yard-long margaritas and buckets of beer, Mexico's hedonistic side trumps the country's scenic, cultural and historical virtues for spring break appeal, but an alternative spring break movement has also taken hold in recent years. Here's a look at options for students who want to party 'til they drop, mix revelry with digestible doses of history and culture, or try to make a difference.

Note: Rosarito Beach, traditionally popular for its lively clubs and proximity to California, is currently off our list because of northern Baja's escalating drug battles. Similarly, we skipped up-and-coming Puerto Peñasco, a.k.a. Rocky Point, both because this congenial town on Mexico's northern Pacific coast is essentially a driving destination and because we recommend staying away from border areas at this time.

Find more California information at http://www.thecaliforniazone.com

Wary of Summer Indicators, Alaska Rolls Out Incredible Travel Deals

The Alaska Travel Industry Association is launching an emergency campaign to market Alaska travel values heavily this winter and spring in hopes of bolstering what is shaping up to be one of the state's slowest travel seasons on record. The association predicts visitation will be off anywhere from 10 to 30 percent during the state's high season -- May to September of 2009.
The worldwide economic crisis is at the heart of the expected decline in visitation to Alaska, and is affecting the travel industry nationwide. With more and more people choosing "staycations," the state's travel industry is working hard to demonstrate to consumers that an Alaska trip is a better deal this year than ever.

"The reports we're hearing from our members are alarming," said Ron Peck, president and COO of ATIA. "Bookings are coming in very slowly right now. We're hoping this campaign will change some minds and convince people that a vacation to Alaska is really more affordable and accessible than they may think."

Alaska Airlines adds Maui flight

Alaska Airlines will start thrice-weekly service between Portland and Maui on Aug. 7, the airline announced Tuesday. The flight will depart Portland at 9:50 a.m. Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and arrive at Kahului Airport at 12:45 p.m. Hawaii time. The return flight will depart Maui at 1:45 p.m. Hawaii time the same days and arrive in Portland at 10:15 p.m.

The airline is offering an introductory one-way fare of $169 for tickets purchased by Feb. 12, 2009. Travel must occur between Aug. 7 and Dec. 13 on select days of the week.
The airline is also offering a vacation special for $723 per person which includes round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations for three nights.