Greetings all!  Well since my attempt last week to shun the cold weather and snow by talking about Hawaii was not as effective as planned, I have decided to embrace the winter weather with a trip to Alaska this week.  Alaska is definitely near the top of my bucket list because there is no other state quite like it, especially since it is so much farther north than the other states.   

We will be starting off our adventure into Alaska by taking advantage of one of the main modes of transportation in the state: airplanes.  As a matter of fact, Alaska has more pilots and planes per capita than any other place in the United States.  Known as flightseeing, this tourist activity involves taking a plane over the tops of mountains as well as soaring over glaciers in order to see the landscape in all its glory.  Visitors may even get to see some wildlife along these flights too.  Many of the flights go out of or into the city of Anchorage and some of the summer flights even involve a lakeside landing.  Alaska is also known for being the busiest floatplane base in the world for anyone looking to add another element to their adventure.  

While discussing transportation, if planes are not for you no worries because Alaska also has arguably one of the most beautiful highways in America with the Turnagain Arm stretch of the Seward Highway.  Along this drive, tourist may have the opportunity of seeing beluga whales chasing salmon out in the water as well as great views of the Chugach mountains.  They may even witness some Dall sheep in their natural habitat along this drive.  The entire trip can range anywhere from two hours to an entire day depending on how much nature you are willing to soak in.   

Now the next feature of Alaska is truly one of the most incredibly beautiful and awe-inspiring sights in the world.  Near Anchorage visitors are able to view the shifting colors of the auroras, also known as the Northern Lights.  For a little chemistry lesson, these lights are created when the sun strikes the atoms in the atmosphere causing their electrons to become excited and move to a higher energy level.  Upon moving back to a lower energy, these electrons release a photon or light.  This causes the beautiful array of colors that are best seen at high-latitude regions such as in Alaska.   

Our final stop while visiting Alaska this week will be to take a trip on the Alyeska Tramway.  Now I know what you are thinking, what the heck is so exciting about a tramway.  Well, this tramway goes over the treetops allowing passengers to take in the spectacular view of Mount Alyeska from 2,000 feet in the air.  Visitors are also able to spot several glaciers, kettle ponds (shallow pool of water formed by a glacier), and the previously mentioned Turnagain Arm.   

In summary, Alaska is definitely a “must visit” type of state.  From the beautiful landscape to the amazing shows in the sky, this state truly has plenty to offer.  Stay tuned for next week as we travel to another amazing state!

Aloha everyone!  As you can probably tell by the greeting, this week we will be traveling to the beautiful state of Hawaii because I want to think about something other than snow since it is the middle of January in Pennsylvania.   So needless to say, we are going to trade in some snow for some sand. 

The first stop we will be making in Hawaii is to the World War 2 Valor in the Pacific National Monument.  The monument honors and memorializes the location of the Pearl Harbor attack that happened on December 7, 1941.  This attack is ultimately what brought the United States into the war for the Allied Powers.  This work of history is also home to the USS Arizona Memorial which marks the resting site for over a thousand sailors who were killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor that sunk the ship.  While visiting the monument, tourists can also hear and see many stories and memorabilia from the second World War.  I am not a history buff myself but sights such as this are truly breath-taking and allow us to learn from the past making them a “must see.” 

So of course, when talking about Hawaii I have to discuss the beach!  I, for one, am a total beach lover and Ka’anapali Beach in Maui is definitely on my bucket list.  This beach features three miles of all white sand beach with shopping and dining along it at a place known as Whalers Village.  This village has plenty of attractions ranging from small boutiques to whaling museums to hula lessons.  Ka’anapali Beach is also known for the cliff-diving ceremonies that take place daily off the northernmost cliffs.  The one spot known for these ceremonies is a place referred to as Black Rock. 

All this talk about beaches really makes me in the mood for some water sports, which brings us on over to the next stop in Hawaii known as the Royal Hawaiian Surf Academy.  This academy is one of the oldest surf schools in Maui and offers both group and private lessons.  I, personally, have the balance of a newborn giraffe so the more lessons the better and these professionals offer some of the best in the world.  In addition to surfing, visitors can also take paddle boarding lessons and for experienced surfers they even offer a Surfari which allows surfers to catch waves with the native Hawaiian instructors. 

Well for anyone who gets tired of the beach after a day or two, Hawaii also has many other great attractions to offer its visitors including the Greenwell Farms.  This coffee farm has been around since 1850 where they offer walking tours of the coffee fields.  Visitors are able to see the coffee beans growing as well as visit the processing facilities where each step in the production process can be viewed.  And of course, it is not all see and no taste; visitors are welcome to sample various types of coffee throughout the tours.

In summary, Hawaii is one of the top vacation spots in the world and rightfully so.  Visitors can do and see everything from beach activities to historic landmarks all while enjoying the warm weather.  I, for one, definitely plan on making it to this beautiful state someday and hope this post was informative for anyone who plans to do the same.  Until next week, keep calm and travel on!  (And also come back for my next post!)

Hey everyone!  It has been awhile since I have blogged and wanted to inform you all that I will be taking this blog in a slightly different direction.  Instead of posting about the states I have been to already, I will be posting about states I desire to visit and all they have to offer.  This will not only help my mother plan our future vacations but expand my knowledge of this amazing country. 

This week I will be visiting the wonderful state of California to discuss some intriguing works of nature.  Our first stop in this state will be at none other than Redwood National Park.  I have dreamt of traveling to this park for a long time and cannot wait to get there some day.  Redwood National Park has many vast woodlands, rivers, coastlines, and more that draw in tourist from all over.  The main attraction of course is the great Redwood trees that are some of the tallest trees in the world.  Many of these trees stretch up to over a staggering 300 feet in air, showing just how impressive nature can be.  The park also includes the Coastal Drive which is an 8-mile stretch of road along the coastline. 

Moving on from the mighty Redwoods, we will next wander over to Venice Beach.  Popularly used in movies as the “poster child” of the California way of life, Venice Beach is a stunning beach with plenty of great spots for cycling, rollerblading, swimming, and even just relaxing beside the water.  It is also known for a place called Muscle Beach, where bodybuilders flex and show off their muscles throughout the day.  Personally, I love the beach and believe this is probably one of the best beaches in the world with tons to do around every corner.  

Speaking of places that are hot, California not only has great beaches but also one of the hottest and driest places in North America: Death Valley.  As I am sure many of you have heard of Death Valley, it is not surprising that it reaches such high temperatures considering it is 282 feet below sea level.  A place, known as Furnace Creek, has even got up to as high as 134 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the hottest air temperature ever recorded!  Visitors are advised to visit early in the morning when the heat is less intense and for great views of the valley, to check out Dante’s View. 

All this talk about heat makes you want water, right?  Well California also has a place known as Lake Tahoe where one can get their water fix for a day.  Tourists are welcome to sail, kayak, or jet ski out on the lake, which also happens to be one of the largest lakes in the world.  The lake itself was actually created by ice around 2 million years ago and remains a popular attraction for many visiting the state.  I, for one, would absolutely love to visit Lake Tahoe since I love water sport activities and admire works of nature such as this. 

Overall, California has so much to offer that I could go on for days.  However, I will stick to just these few highlights for now.  I feel that after someday visiting California, it will definitely find a spot among my top ten favorite states and hope to adventure there soon! 

Stick around for next week as I wander over west into the state of Hawaii!