Today Norm Goldman, Editor of www.Sketchandtravel.com and www.Bookpleasures.com is pleased to have asguest, writer and travel book author, Nancy Thalia Reynolds.

Nancy’s principal area of expertise is Alaska, British Colombia, andYukon Territory. Nancy is co-author of Going Places Family Getaways In The Pacific Northwest.

Good Day Nancy and thank you for accepting our invitation to be interviewed.

Norm:

Please tell our readers something about yourself, your educational background, andbooks you have written and are now inprocess of writing.

Nancy:

I’mfiveth generation Pacific Northwesterner. My father hadprofound wanderlust andenthusiasm for discovering new people and places that rubbed off on me. A university professor, he held jobs aroundU.S. and Brazil. I lived in California, Brazil, Washington and Oregon before moving to New York at age oneseven to attend Sarah Lawrence College. My upbringing allowed me to feel at home in widely different milieus and engendered deep curiosity about other lands, and I’ve hadpassion for travel since childhood. Although I did cherish dreams of writinggreat novel askid,passion for travel writing came later.

After college, I moved to Canada and workedfew years before attending York University Law School. On graduating, I worked at public interest law firms first in Toronto, then Vancouver where I wrote and edited legal self-help materials before moving toUS to marry. At that time I madestrategic decision to abandon law and becomefull-time writer.

My first venture into authoringbook was when I wrote Adopting Your Child was published in onenineninethree.
This openeddoors for me.
I contributedBritish Columbia section tofourth edition of Going Places: Family Getaways inPacific Northwest, published in twozerozerozero, and went on to write Going Places: Alaska andYukon for Families, which comes out in April twozerozerofive. Both titles are available from Sasquatch Books.

I just completednew Alaska travel book, Activity Guide toInside Passage: Whether You Have Four Hours or Four Days. Sasquatch will publish it in January twozerozerosix.




Norm:

Where isYukon Territory and Alaska, and how easy is it to travel fromUnited States, Canada or Europe to these areas?

Nancy:

Yukon Territory is bordered tosouth by British Columbia, toeast byNorthwest Territories, tonorth byBeaufort Sea inArctic and towest bystate of Alaska. Most of Alaska sits toleft of Canada, butgorgeous Alaska panhandle,narrow coastal strip with widely separated communities, many on islands, runs several hundred miles south, bordered toeast by BC. Attop ofpanhandle,towns of Skagway and Haines offer road access torest of Alaska,US and Canada.

The easiest way to get here is by air. International air carriers serve Vancouver and Anchorage. National carriers serve these destinations and Whitehorse (the Yukon capital). Alaska Airlines serves major Alaska cities and many smaller communities. Air Canada and its partners serve BC andYukon. Throughoutregion, huge distances make plane travel essential. Smaller airline, charter and air taxi service is widely available acrossnorth. From Seattle,non-stop flight to Anchorage takes three.twofive hours. From Vancouver,non-stop flight to Whitehorse takes two.five hours.

Highways run north through BC and Alberta, connecting toAlaska Highway, which starts officially at Dawson Creek, BC, and runs throughYukon into central Alaska. It is eightoneseven miles from Seattle to mile zero ofAlaska Highway; and fivefoureight miles from Calgary.

The Alaska Highway itself is one,threeninezero miles long, ending at Delta Junction, Alaska. Another nineeight miles brings you to Fairbanks. The road is paved allway, and services are rarely more than onezerozero miles apart--usually closer.

Once inYukon, motorists can drive to Dawson City, ground zero ofKlondike Gold Rush, and overTop ofWorld highway to Alaska. The Dempster Highway leads north from Dawson to Inuvik, throughNorthwest Territories. It’s not paved but in good summer weather can be driven comfortably.

In Alaska one can drive from Anchorage to Denali National Park, home ofcontinent’s highest mountain, spectacular Mount McKinley, in eight hours on good paved highway. Four more hours brings you to Fairbanks, with road access toYukon and points north. Many northern highways offer good driving conditions, breathtaking mountain and ocean views, and very little traffic apart fromoccasional moose or bear ambling acrossroadway.

Norm:

Would you consider Alaska andYukon Territorygood choice forromantic getaway or wedding and honeymoon destination? Why?

Nancy:

The answer isresounding yes--forright couple. This region containsworld’s largest protected wilderness, spanning Alaska, British Columbia, and Yukon Territory and designatedUN World Heritage site.

The scenery is magnificent, access to wildlife unequalled, and despite its ever-increasing popularity astourist destination, has many all-but-undiscovered destinations to explore. Native cultures, largely eclipsed down south, are major players innorth, and are glad to share their world with visitors. However, if your idea ofholiday or honeymoon is lying ontropical beach, you’ll want to look elsewhere.

Let’s look at weddings first.

Getting your wedding party up north can bechallenge, although it could also bemagnificent experience. Alaska has several five-star hotels inAnchorage area; otherwise most choices can be characterized as comfortable but rustic. A large wedding party and guests--more than onezerozero people--could be accommodated in Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks or Whitehorse. The Captain Cook, in Anchorage, ornearby Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, would be top choices. Smaller wedding parties can be comfortably accommodated in many places.

For honeymoons and romantic getaways, options are endless. Cities offerusual urban amenities; but to experienceunique attractions of Alaska andYukon, try:

· An out-of-the-way spot likeBoardwalk Lodge on Prince of Wales Island,great choice for fishing enthusiasts. In recent years, visitors have clamoured forlook atworld’s largest brown bears (AKA grizzlies).

· An August trip to Katmai National Park & Preserve, withstay atBrooks Lodge,short walk from brown bears fishing for salmon, is unforgettable.

· The lovely Windsong Lodge near Seward onKenai Peninsula makesgreat home base from which to explore Kenai Fjords National Park where you can get up close to beautiful Exit Glacier, hike some of Alaska’s loveliest trails, and kayak among glacier-carved fjords.

· The Yukon, especially Dawson City and Whitehorse, come to life in summer. A trip atstart or end ofseason is recommended. Even in August, fall colours are rampant and yet temperatures can rise above twofiveC/sevensevenF. Takeday trip upYukon River to Eagle, Alaska.

Norm:

You mentioned to me that you have traveled tonorth by just about every means available: plane, cruise ship, sailboat, motoring. Which one did you prefer and why?

Nancy:

I enjoyed all of them. Driving is great because it allowsmost access toregion. If you haveluxury of time,options are infinite! For visiting southeast Alaska, travel by water is my top choice. The variety of options grows every year. Athigh end are small luxury cruise lines, or you can booksailboat, complete with captain and crew, for your party and go exploring. For most visitors, especially those unfamiliar withregion, large cruise-ship travel is oftenmost comfortable choice. To experience Alaska as Alaskans do, I suggest takingAlaska ferry upInside Passage; it combinesmost access atleast cost in time and money. And to simply get north fast and start exploring, nothing beats flying.

Norm:

When isbest time to visit Alaska andYukon Territory frompoint of view of weather, costs, crowds, andavailability of flights fromUSA, Canada and Europe?

Nancy:

The most affordable time to visit isso-called “shoulder season.” Up north, that’s May and September. Attractions are open and flights are available, but crowds are thinner. Mosquitoes, which can betrial throughoutnorth, are scarce in those months, yet days are still long. Thrifty-minded visitors can find cheaper flights and often bargain for lower hotel rates at this time. Cruise fares tend to be lower as well. Forwinter trip, avoid Christmas holidays and school midwinter breaks to obtainbest rates.

Norm:

How safe is it to travel to Alaska andYukon Territory?

Nancy:

Quite safe. The crime rate is low and human-generated risks are few. However, if you plan to get intowilderness, you’ll need to be prepared, inform yourself and take sensible precautions. Read up onterrain andwildlife. Learn how to handle bear and moose encounters. If you’re visiting in January, you’ll need cold-weather clothing suitable for average low temperatures of -twotwoC/-nineF. It’s not unheard of for temperatures to reach -fourzeroC/-fourzeroF. Onother hand, it comes asnice surprise to many summer visitors toAlaska and Yukon interior that summer temperatures can soar to twosevenC/eightoneF or even higher.

Norm:

Could you give our readersidea ofcosts involved if travel originates fromUSA or Canada?

Nancy:

· Givenwide variety of travel options, it’s hard to be precise. If you can be flexible, you can often findreturn flight from Seattle to Anchorage for around $twofivezero. Although it’s closer, flying to Juneau will cost more, from $fivezero-onezerozero usually--US dollars of course. From Vancouver to Whitehorse, return; expect to pay at least $twozerozero, Canadian.

· Drivers will find gasoline prices moderate in Canada and low to moderate in Alaska, thanks tooil pipeline.

· Restaurant prices run higher everywhere; budget about twozero% more than you’d need in urban Canada orU.S. Motel and hotel costs are similar to those down south; don’t be afraid to bargain duringoff or shoulder season.

· Cruise fares are complex and bewildering, but if you’re prepared to dohomework and cost comparison required, you can obtain remarkable deals. It’s possible to snaginside stateroom forseven-day cruise between Vancouver and Seward, Alaska, for under $sevenzerozero per person. This includes stateroom and meals, but no alcohol or shore excursions. Still, it’sdeal that’s hard to beat. Forromantic getaway, consider traveling inearly shoulder season and applysavings to upgrading tooutside stateroom withveranda.

Norm:

If you had to choose six unequalled venues in Alaska andYukon Territory forromantic getaway, honeymoon or wedding destination, which would you choose and why?

I noticed that you had mentioned to me there is some great hot springs just south ofYukon border onAlaska Highway and in central Alaska. Perhaps, you would like to elaborate as how this venue qualifies asunique romantic destination?

Nancy:

Only six? That’s not easy; I’ll have to commune with my inner travel agent! OK, here goes.

For more information, my book Going Places: Alaska andYukon for Families explores each of these destinations in greater detail. Government Web sites are another good resource.

· Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, Alaska

It’s accessible (Alaska Airlines offers service to Gustavus, just outsidepark) and offerstaste of just about everythingnorth has to offer. Although Gustavus has excellent B&Bs, for honeymooners I recommend staying at Glacier Bay Lodge,only accommodation insidepark, which offers rustic comfort (getroom withview of Bartlett Cove), fine dining, and activities like kayaking, fishing, biking, guided boat tours of Glacier Bay, and free guided hikes with park rangers. Go flightseeing high abovebay to getlook atenormous icefields that generateglaciers. If time allows, extend your trip to Juneau (a gorgeous, three-hour ferry trip south) to visit Mendenhall Glacier, tour superb museums, shop for Tlingit art and takeboat tour to Tracy Arm-Ford’s Terror Wilderness. The lodge is open and tours are offered between late May and early September.

· Haines Junction, YT

Come again? You may never have heard of it, but this tiny town perched atedge of Canada’s spectacular Kluane National Park haslot to offer--location, location, location, as they say in real estate. It’s highway-accessible from Skagway (four.five hours), Haines (three hours) and Whitehorse (one.five hours). The national park’s main visitor centre is in town along withsuperb small European-style inn--the Raven--with onetwo spacious rooms and one of Canada’s top restaurants. Also in town are several decent motels andexcellent bakery and cafe. From here, you can access excellent hiking trails for all levels of fitness, and explorelargest protected wilderness inworld. You will needvehicle. If you don’t have one with you, rentals are available in Haines, Skagway and Whitehorse. Or bookstay with one ofarea’s full-service resorts and let them take you exploring. NOTE TO CANADIANS: For reasons no one seems able to explain, Canadians are not permitted to bringvehicle into Canada, which they have rented inUS. Luckily, Whitehorse has many rental outlets.

· Homer, Alaska

Onsouthwest ofKenai Peninsula, Homer isbetter part ofday’s drive from Anchorage. It’s tiny (about four,zerozerozero residents) but with city-sized amenities--such as one of Alaska’s best bookstores,first-rate museum, and exceptional arts and crafts galleries. Homer Spit, which extends four.four miles into scenic Kachemak Bay, is studded with cafes and shops. Atfar end, with Homer’s best view, is Land’s End Resort,great destination for honeymooners. Booksuite or rentluxurious condo. The restaurant is first rate. Soak inhot tub atwater’s edge and watchsea otters float by.

· Denali National Park & Preserve, Alaska

Firstbad news: Unless you are lucky enough to winroad lottery that allows you to drive deep intopark in mid September, you will have plenty of crowds to contend with. The good news is that it’s worth it. Not only is this closest you can easily get to Mount McKinley, wildlife viewing and spectacular scenery are amongbest in Alaska, and accommodation choices are superb and varied. Atpark entrance you can find many choices at all price ranges, some with views to die for. To get away fromcrowds and closer tonatural world of Denali, considerstay deep insidepark atbeautiful, rustic Kantishna Roadhouse or Denali Backcountry Lodge.

· Alyeska Resort, Girdwood, Alaska

This Japanese-owned hotel offers sheer, unabashed luxury. Plus it’s fourzero miles from Anchorage andday trip from Portage Glacier andKenai Peninsula. In winter come for skiing, tubing and snowboarding; in summer, for golf, hiking and wildlife. Any time of year, enjoyfirst-class amenities that includesuperb health club and pool andtram up tomountaintop restaurant This ispopular spot for weddings, well equipped to handle even lavish affairs. The high season here is winter; summer stays can be quite moderately priced. Forcheaper romantic getaway,

· Muncho Lake, BC

OK, it’s not inYukon, but so close! This gorgeous turquoise lake lies innorthern Rocky Mountains--a little-known but enchanted region where caribou and stone sheep wanderhighways, fishing is excellent, and crowds are nonexistent. The Northern Rockies Lodge offers fine accommodation and European dining and arrange fishing and other excursions. Hiking and fishing are great here, butnumber-one romantic attraction is nearby Liard Hot Springs Provincial Park, threefour miles upAlaska Highway. A boardwalk trail leads frompark’s parking lot to two large hot springs pools. TIP: A short walk fromfirst, most popular pool issecond hotter and deeper pool that’s more secluded and less visited,great destination ondrizzly day. Stopping atsprings istradition for just about everyone who drivesAlaska Highway. If you don’t want to bother withvehicle,lodge (it’s owned by bush pilots) will fly you here fromUS or Canada.

Norm:

You have also mentioned to me that Asian tourists in recent years have been flocking north in winter on aurora-viewing packages. Could you elaborate as to what these entail and what can someone expect to see?

Nancy:

These are great fun and growing in popularity every year. For some years, Chena Hot Springs Resort,rustic but delightful spotfew hours drive from Fairbanks, Alaska, has been offering such packages.

The resort has always beenfavorite getaway for Alaskans for winter sports like cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. The resort has several indoor hot pools, butfavourite is its hot-springs lake outdoors. Bask inwarm waters, surrounded by snow and subzero temperatures, while you gaze up ataurora overhead.

Winter packages include rides on“snow catch” to viewaurora. The “aurorarium,” nicely heated, offerscomfortable vantage point to watchlight show. Yukon and Alaska tour companies now offer aurora-viewing tour packages, usually three or four nights.

Norm:

In recent years cruises to Alaska have become very popular. Could you tell our readers why and do you have any preferences as to which cruise to take?

Nancy:

· The answer is simple. Some of Alaska’s most spectacular attractions are to be found alongInside Passage. Yet, because they are separated by water and most are inaccessible by road,only way to reach them is by plane or boat.

· Another reason: cruise travel isremarkably flexible way to planvacation. No matter your age or fitness level--honeymoon couples, large wedding or family-reunion parties, toddlers, college students, and retirees--anyone can enjoycruise. There is onboard entertainment (usually casino gambling, art auctions, Vegas-style shows, and gala dining), programs for kids, shore excursions to sampleprincipal attractions of major ports of call and whales, bald eagles and other wildlife to view, all fromcomfort ofship.

· Cruises permit access tobeautiful but remote and rugged part ofworld in sheer luxury. Visiting Alaska, I often encounter visitors who are making their third or fourth trip, but whose first was by cruise ship. Consideringbargains available, it’s also one ofmost cost-effective ways to visitnorth.

· For those unfamiliar with Alaska, I recommend takingone-way cruise from Vancouver, BC, that includesvisit to lovely Sitka (round trip cruises rarely stop at Sitka). Finishing at Skagway, Whittier, or Seward, visitors can make their way to Anchorage forcouple of days and even tack onshort two-three day train trip to Denali before flying out of Anchorage back to Vancouver orpoint of origin. TIP: check out one-way airfares offered bycruise lines. They are often cheaper than anything you can arrange on your own.

· Amenities amongbiggest cruise lines tend to be similar. Forromantic getaway onmajor line, I like Royal Caribbean, Radisson or Silver Sea. If you can do withoutpool and gambling, try one ofsmaller lines like Cruise West or, Lindblad (if your wallet can handlestrain).

NORM:

How far in advance shouldcouple prepare themselves for their honeymoon, romantic getaway or wedding in Alaska andYukon Territory?

Nancy:

· We’re trending out of my area of expertise here, but let’s takewedding first. If you need lodging for twozero or threezero people, you’ll findwide range of options, many of which can be booked with no more than six month toyear’s notice--the amount of advance planning most weddings require. If, however, your guest list includes eightzero or more, you’ll find fewer suitable destinations and those you do find will need to be booked as soon as possible. A popular choice for weddings, such asAlyeska Resort, can be booked far in advance.

· Forhoneymoon, if you wanttop suite atCaptain Cook in Anchorage,remote but popular resort such asKantishna Roadhouse in Denali orfirst-class suite onpopular cruise ship,sooner you bookbetter. Otherwise, six months should be adequate.

· And forromantic getaway, surprisingly you can often make spur ofmoment plans--especially if you’re willing to travel in May or September--and find topnotch options. TIP: if you’re looking forgreat place to roost duringsummer high season, try towns alongInside Passage. Because most tourists visit via cruise ship or ferry and don’t spendnight, you can often find excellent accommodation in Ketchikan (tryWestCoast Cape Fox Lodge withspectacular view of Tongass Narrows), lovely Sitka (the Westmark Sitka isgood bet) or Haines (the historic Hotel Halsingland has several antique-studded suites). But in Juneau,state capital, iflegislature runssummer sessiontop hotels--the Goldbelt andBaranof--are likely to be booked solid.

NORM:

What resources are available onInternet pertaining to weddings and honeymoon vacations in?

Nancy:

Again, this is not my area of expertise. The ALYESKARESORT.COM haswedding and reception planning page on its website. Anchorage has several wedding planners, but I’m not aware of any in Whitehorse. However,nice thing aboutnorth isinformality and ease of booking and planningtrip. And maybe it’slong cold winters, but even tiny communities inYukon and Alaska usually have up-to-date web sites and are more than happy to help you find what you’re looking for.

NORM:

Is there anything else you would want our readers to know about Alaska andYukon Territory?

Nancy:

Just one more tip--for adventurous-minded couples with more taste (and wanderlust) than money, consider touringInside Passage viaAlaska ferry.

Ferries run north year round from Bellingham, in Washington State, twozero miles south ofCanadian border, and from Prince Rupert, BC, up to Skagway, stopping at Ketchikan (Bellingham-originating runs only), Sitka, Juneau and Haines. Their website (www.dot.state.ak.us) is handy for trip planning.

Amenities are admittedly Spartan--but private--staterooms for two or four passengers, with bath. Bring your vehicle and pet with you. Food is good and free naturalist programs are offered in summer. It’s easy to craftitinerary allowing you to get off and staynight or two in each destination before continuing on. If you wantstateroom and/or you’re bringingvehicle, you’ll need to book six months in advance. Or you could do as Alaskans (even some honeymooners) do--pitchtent on deck and enjoywild beauty of Alaska atremarkably low cost.

Thanks Nancy

AboutAuthor: Norm Goldman is editor ofbook reviewing site, www.bookpleasures.com andtravel site, www.sketchandtravel.com. Bookpleasures.com comprises over twofive international book reviewers and author interviewers who come from all walks of life. Sketchandtravel.com istravel site wherein Norm's words are melded with his wife's art work focusing on romantic and wedding destinations.