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Trek Denali with Talkeetna Air Taxi and more
February 2, 2010
Welcome to the Alaska Travel Industry Association (AlaskaTIA) Travel News
Bulletin. AlaskaTIA sends this out periodically to keep media up-to-date on
Alaska tourism and travel news. Media are invited to call (800) 327-9372 or
visit www.TravelAlaska.com/media for more information.
Want even more Alaska travel news, deals and tips?
Follow Alaska Travel News on Twitter @alaskatravlnews and on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alaska-Travel-News/125748894656?ref=nf).
In this February Travel News Bulletin you will find:
1. Trek Denali with Talkeetna Air Taxi
2. Alaskan family keeps it real at Rainy Pass Lodge
3. New bald-eagle-viewing facilities open in Haines
4. Pearson’s Pond Luxury Inn and Adventure Spa earns AAA award
5. Follow #Alaska on Twitter
1. Trek Denali with Talkeetna Air Taxi
Climbing Mount McKinley, North America’s tallest mountain at 20,320 feet, is
an Alaska adventure for serious mountaineers only. However, this summer,
working in partnership with the Alaska Mountaineering School, Talkeetna Air
Taxi will offer a guided Ruth Glacier trek on the slopes of the mountain at
5,500 feet. Meant for adventurous travelers at any ability level, the
adventure includes a scenic Mount McKinley glacier flight, guiding and
instruction, meals, insulation layers, climbing equipment, snow shoes,
camping gear and safety equipment. The trek’s intensity is dependent on the
group; children can go sledding or more ambitious hikers can ascend the peak
of Mount Mischio instead. The full-day adventure costs $1,100 per person and
is available from May 1 through Sept. 15. Overnights are possible for an
additional fee. For more information, visit Talkeetna Air Taxi at
www.talkeetnaair.com or call 907-733-2218. Or contact Alaska
Mountaineering School via www.climbalaska.org or 907-733-1016.
_Media information_
Contact: Sandra Loomis, Talkeetna Air Taxi
Phone: (907) 733-2218 or (800) 533-2219
Twitter: @talkeetnaair
E-mail: info@talkeetnaair.com
URL: www.talkeetnaair.com
2. Alaskan family keeps it real at Rainy Pass Lodge
The Perrins — Steve Sr. and Denise, and their five sons, Steve II, Shane,
Clay, Chase and Colton — aren’t quite the typical Alaska family anymore.
They’re reality TV stars. The second season of “R5Sons Alaska” premiered on
Jan. 10 on RFD-TV featuring the family as they deal with the daily
challenges of running Rainy Pass Lodge. RFD-TV is carried on Comcast, Time
Warner, Verizon, Cox, and DirectTV, among others, and its programming
focuses on life in rural America. Rainy Pass Lodge is certainly rural – the
remote guest lodge, 125 miles northwest of Anchorage, is accessible only by
plane — and the Iditarod Trail. Winter guests can stay at the lodge to watch
Iditarod mushers pass through the checkpoint in early March, while taking
advantage of the lodge’s other recreational options like cross-country
skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, ice fishing, northern lights viewing and
more. Summer adventures at the lodge include horseback riding, fishing, bear
viewing, canoeing and hiking. To plan a stay with the family at Rainy Pass
Lodge, go to www.theperrinsrainypasslodge.com.
_Media information_
Contact: Steve Perrins, Rainy Pass Lodge
Phone: (907) 248-7599
Twitter: @R5Sons
E-mail: theperrins@rainypasslodge.net
URL: www.theperrinsrainypasslodge.com
3. New bald-eagle-viewing facilities open in Haines
The bald eagle is sacred but not rare in Alaska. Most travelers will spot
dozens of them during a trip if they’re looking, but those who want the
opportunity to get up close to the raptors will want to stop at the Alaska
Bald Eagle Foundation’s new Mew building, opening May 15. The enclosed
aviary will house three rehabilitated bald eagles. Guests can view the birds
through large windows and attend daily live presentations given by staff
handlers. Located in downtown Haines, the foundation’s facilities are a
must-see for travelers headed out to the nearby Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve.
The preserve is known for hosting the largest concentration of bald eagles
in the world when they converge in November for a late run of salmon in the
Chilkat River. For more information, visit www.baldeagles.org. To plan a
trip to Haines, go to www.haines.ak.us.
_Media information_
Contact: Cheryl McRoberts, Alaska Bald Eagle Foundation
Phone: (907) 766-3094
E-mail: info@baldeagles.org
URL: www.baldeagles.org
4. Pearson’s Pond Luxury Inn and Adventure Spa earns AAA award
Pearson’s Pond Luxury Inn and Adventure Spa earned its fourth consecutive
AAA Four Diamond Award in 2010, under the new ownership of Maryann Ray. The
Juneau property is Alaska’s highest rated lodging and will open for the
season this May after renovations including a new outdoor sauna and expanded
spa services. The full-service inn, surrounded by an acre of rainforest
gardens, a small lake and spectacular mountain and glacier views, is famous
for its restful and romantic setting, destination weddings on nearby
glaciers and its adventure honeymoon packages. Guests can spend their days
kayaking or paddle boating the protected waters, mountain biking, hiking or
relaxing at the spa. For more information on packages, go to
www.pearsonspond.com.
_Media information_
Contact: Maryann Ray, Pearson’s Pond
Phone: (907) 789-3772
E-mail: maryann@pearsonspond.com
URL: www.pearsonspond.com
5. Follow #Alaska on Twitter
Travel media are encouraged to follow the Alaska Travel Industry Association
at @AlaskaTravlNews and look for #AKTravlDeal for Alaska's hottest
travel deals. Please also look for several local convention and visitor’s
bureaus on Twitter: @BigWildLife (Anchorage), @InsideAlaska
(Fairbanks), @VisitJuneau, @Skagway_Alaska, @VisitMatSu,
@TravelKetchikan and @KodiakAlaska. Check back next month for more
important Alaska travel tweeps.
Alaska Travel Industry Association
2600 Cordova Street, Suite 201
Anchorage, Alaska 99503
(800) 327-9372- Voice
(907) 563-3223 - Fax
ATIAMedia@thompsonpr.com
www.travelalaska.com/media
Alaska Travel
Industry Association
2600 Cordova St. Ste. 201
Anchorage, AK 99503-2745
P. (800) 327-9372
F. (800) 276-1042
E. atiamedia@thompsonpr.com »