The fragile, moon-like landscape of the Galápagos Islands lures more than 100,000 visitors each year despite the archipelago’s remote location 600 miles off the west coast of mainland Ecuador. Ever since Darwin‘s famed visit aboard the HMS Beagle in 1835, travelers have been enchanted by its history, exotic vegetation and wildlife. In order to protect […]
small-ship cruises
Alaska’s Tenakee Springs
The Island Spirit For cruise travelers looking for waterways off the beaten path, it’s hard to beat Alaska’s Inside Passage. Bays, coves and inlets draw small ships to their shores where time is measured by incoming tides and seasonal shifts. Among the small, remote communities found here, Tenakee Springs stands out. Within this peaceful enclave, […]
Scenic Sitka
I was nursing a beer at Victoria’s Pour House in downtown Sitka. Behind me loomed a large sign, gong attached, inscribed with these words: “If you touch it, and it makes a sound, Be prepared to buy a round.” Pub visitors beware: patrons of the establishment take this warning seriously. No tom foolery here. If […]