Explore the beauty of Alaska

To many travelers Alaska remains a land of mystery, and that is a shame. Sure, many parts are rugged, barely accessible and nothing seems to be near anything else. Seeing Alaska by car or train will require a significant amount of time; however, the cruise lines have an answer for you. From majestic Mt. McKinley to the jagged edge of Glacier Bay, Alaska is unlike any place else in the world. One of the best (if not the best) to explore all Alaska's offerings than with a cruise coupled with a cruise-tour.

Ketchikan is an ancient city that is both fascinating and enjoyable. Even though there are some American restaurants and stores, (and it is part of the States, of course), it is certainly not your typical American town. If Anchorage is at one end of the Alaskan spectrum, you will definitely find Ketchikan at the other end. This small city contains more totem poles than anywhere in the world, and is set at the base of Deer Mountain.
Sitka is a small yet lively town in Southeast Alaska that is full of surprises. Just when you think that you have seen all there is to see in this remote city, you stumble upon something that will instantly catch your attention. This is the case for the best restaurants and a few of the premier shopping outlets. They simply spring up out of nowhere, making for an interesting and exciting stay. There are a couple of great museums, and the scuba diving and sea kayaking in Sitka is marvelous. The calm, protected waters make these two sports very popular among both tourists and locals.

Skagway is a Southeast Alaskan paradise, full of culture and brimming with life. Parts of the city seem stuck in 1897, never progressing beyond the height of the Alaskan gold rush era. This is speaking in architectural terms though, as some of the restaurants and shopping facilities offer distinctly 21st century fare. This unique blend of old and new really enhances the atmosphere of Skagway. There is so much to see and so much fascinating history to soak up. The saloons and bars, some of which date back to 1898, are splendid, full of artifacts and local heritage.
A visit to Alaska would not be complete (at least it should not be considered complete) without a visit to witness the magnificence (probably not a better word to describe them) of a glacier. One of the best glacier viewing vantage points is College Fjord — which deserves a bit of an introduction. In the summer of 1899, railroad magnate Edward H. Harriman, president of the Union Pacific Railroad and the Washington Academy of Sciences undertook a two-month expedition, intended initially as a family vacation; but eventually wound up as a scientific research trip consisting of an illustrious group of scientists, naturalists, writers, and artists. It was the Harriman Expedition party who named College Fjord as well as the glaciers that line it. The dozen or so glaciers lining this fjord were named for the Ivy League schools that members of the party attended. On the northwest side of the fjord, the glaciers were named after the women's colleges, such as Smith, Bryn Mawr, Vassar, Wellesley, Barnard, and Holyoke. On the southeast side, the glaciers are named after men's colleges Harvard, Yale, Amherst, and Dartmouth.

While the coastal towns are spectacular, it is recommended that travelers to Alaska take some time (preferably a few days) to explore the interior of the state. From the moment you step off the Alaska Railroad at the entrance to Denali National Park and Preserve, you'll feel as if you've been transported back in time, where skyscrapers and traffic jams have been replaced by snowcapped mountain peaks and flocks of native birds. This park truly defines the Alaskan experience. Towering above it all is t Mt. McKinley, the highest point in all of North America. At 20,320 feet, its summit welcomes more than 1,000 climbers each year who brave the elements for the chance to scale its majestic face. Located 240 miles north of Anchorage, Denali encompasses 6 million acres of forests, tundra, glaciers and mountains (to put that number in perspective, think the size of Massachusetts). Yet only 90 miles of main road traverse the park, leaving the moose, caribou, sheep and bears free to roam a wide area of land untouched by man.
What are you waiting for? Contact Jadd Fong Travel at 505-999-1039 or  jaddfongtravel@comcast.net and get ready to go.

Tours of famous wine regions

A tour of any of the great wine country regions of the world is an opportunity to explore culture, history, cuisine and wine in a single trip. Without exception, the scenery is beautiful, the people passionate, and the wine — nothing short of phenomenal.

What is a wine tour? It's a tour through a region that has developed a substantial vineyard and winery presence. Usually, a wine tour consists of visiting the wineries and tasting rooms to sample their current wines, often paired with food. Sometimes, a tour of the winery itself is included, and visitors can see where the wine is grown, processed, barreled, aged and eventually bottled.
Most people would first think of areas like the Napa Valley region of California or the Burgundy region of France as ideal locations for wine tours, and that's with good reason, as those are outstanding locations. However, there are vineyards the world-over. For the majority of United States travelers, wine regions are within a few hours driving distance of their homes or an easy weekend fly-drive retreat, provding plenty of options. If you are looking for a truly great epicurean vacation, you'll pleasantly discover that the experience ends up being about much more than the wine.
A number of tour operators specialize in regional wine country tours. Your travel consultant JADD Fong Travel has access to excellently priced tours of wine regions throughout the world, offering a variety of accommodations from luxurious villas to budget hotels. In many wine regions, wineries have formed "wine trails" to make it easy for visitors to find the participating wineries and to sample the wines. Often, tour operators can provide discounted passes to each of the tasting rooms at the different wineries. Along with a good travel consultant, you are sure to create experiences that would be hard to find on your own. On the best tours, you'll discover small, unknown producers, meet top winemakers and in some cases, even receive an invitation into a home of a vigneron. Top tour operators can give you the opportunity to enjoy meals and tastings as guests of the estates - just one example of the kind of event often not available if you travel on your own, even if you visit the same cellars. However, many tour operators can even arrange independent, self-drive opportunities with the same privileges as their group tours.

Top Regions to Tour

If you want to tour some of the finest wineries and taste some of the world's finest wines, certain regions are considered the regions to tour. They consistently produce excellent wines year after year, and some have been doing so for literally thousands of years.

Tuscan, Italy - Italy's most famous wine region has over 157,000 acres of vineyards throughout its picturesque countryside. The Italians have been making wine for thousands of years, and Italy boasts the largest output of wine in the world. Its climate and soil are ideal for growing grapes, and nowhere is the setting more ideal than Tuscany. The region is most famous for producing Chianti, a wine that pairs naturally with most Italian foods.
Bordeaux, Burgundy and Rhone, France - France has many wine growing regions, and each is worth a visit. The Burgundy region is especially popular because it is legendary for producing both excellent red and white wines. The rich history of wine making dates back to when the Romans first invaded the area. Visitors can tour old and new wineries that produce several well-known wines like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Beaujolais.

Australia - In the past few decades, Australia has emerged as one of the fastest growing wine regions in the world. Although many wineries have been around for over a hundred years, the public has only recently taken a serious interest in this region. More than 70 wineries in the New South Wales region are located just a few hours drive from Sydney. Wineries here are best known for producing excellent Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc.
USA - In the United States, the most popular region is certainly California's Napa Valley, which is also one of the world's newer wine regions. Its wine making history dates back less than 200 years, but those years have seen the birth of more than 260 wineries famous for producing Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc. Not to be outdone, however, Oregon, Washington State and New York all boast thriving wine industries and vineyards. Smaller regions include the Texas Hill Country, as well as areas in Connecticut, Michigan and Pennsylvania.
Germany - German wines have historically been mostly white, made from Riesling grapes more suited to the northern climate. German wines are produced around the Rhine and its tributaries, and the vineyards are sheltered by mountains so steep that while they catch the most sunlight, they are difficult to harvest mechanically. Germany's 13 regions include Ahr, Baden, Franken, Hessische Bergstrasse, Mittelrhein, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Nahe, Pfalz, Rheingau, Rheinhessen, Saale-Unstrut, Sächsische Weinstrasse and Württemberg.
South Africa - Cape Town is the trailhead of the South African vineyards. The local wine industry has become a global force, producing approximately 3% of the world's wine production, ranking as 9th largest producer in the world. New wineries are opening at a fast clip. Pinot Noir and Reisling varietals are predominant.
But this list is far from comprehensive. Chile, Spain, Portugal and dozens of other countries have robust wine economies where local vineyards have adapted varietals to changing climates and soil conditions.

Considerations

Tell your travel consultant if you would prefer to travel independently or with a fully-guided tour group. In an independent setting, your agent will create an itinerary of wineries to tour, as well as any special events to attend, transportation, and lodging. You will then be on your own to follow the itinerary, which offers a great deal of flexibility.
A fully-guided tour provides you and other travelers with a knowledge-packed tour of the wine region. You will not have to worry about transportation, and the itinerary will include fixed times to visit wineries and other attractions as well as some free time to enjoy the wineries on your own. A fully-guided tour is an excellent choice for those who are going to regions so large that the options can be overwhelming, or for those who would rather leave transportation and other logistics to someone else. In addition, most tour companies provide a multilingual tour guide able to speak both English and the language of the region.
Remember, too, that you can travel a little more creatively. Hike or bike your way through wine country, and have an experience you could never get from a car or bus!
Prepare for your journey by reading about the region and its wines. Your travel consultant will obtain any materials from your tour operator to assist your studies, including maps, itineraries or brochures. If you're going to a region where you don't speak the language, learn a few choice phrases in the language before you go as a courtesy to your hosts.
If you are planning to purchase a lot of wine while you are on your trip and want to ship it back home, research your home's laws concerning importing alcohol from outside the country. Your wine could sit in customs for days or weeks before delivery, and in the heat of summer, wines could go bad while they are waiting to be delivered.
Many of the great wine regions offer seasonal festivals when it is time to bring out the new wines. Bigger wineries will hold their own festivals, while smaller wineries will often team with others in the region and have a festival where guests can taste the new offerings from all of the wineries in the same location. Travelers who time their wine tours right have a chance to experience a true cultural celebration. Many wine regions also offer activities such as spas, cooking classes, museums, arts and crafts festivals, music festivals and other events - just ask your agent what's available.
Most wine regions also offer restaurants that showcase both local cuisine and wineries. Also note the growing trend for restaurants that allow you to bring a bottle of your own - visit wineries during the day and choose a favorite bottle or two to enjoy with your meal in the evening.
It's impossible to come away from a wine tour without also getting a lesson in local culture. Most winery owners are not only passionate about their wine; they are also passionate about the land and region that supports their lifestyle. It is not unusual to hear about an immigrant family that bought a piece of property years ago and was told by their neighbors that they could never operate a successful winery on the land - and who eventually proved them wrong.
Those who choose a wine tour come away with much more than just a few new bottles of wine. They leave having experienced a deeper cultural appreciation of wine and those who make it.
What are you waiting for? Contact Jadd Fong Travel at 505-999-1039 or email jaddfongtravel@comcast.net and get started on your wine tour.

Beauty and sand of St. Marteen

The story is that a gin-drinking Dutchman and a wine-guzzling Frenchman competed in a rather laid back manner by walking about the island to claim territory for their respective nations. The Frenchman walked faster and farther, but the Dutchman was more discriminating and claimed the more valuable real estate. St. Maarten/St. Martin is quite small — 37 sq. miles but enjoys a reputation for excellent hotels and nightlife.

The divided island holds the record as the smallest territory in the world shared by two nations. A sign reading Bienvenue Partie Française is the only way you will know you have crossed an international border. I was aware that I was crossing a border because of a very informative tour guide. Our tour began on the French side and I was amazed how two sovereign nations could share such a small island without disputing over territory. It appeared that there is a very good understanding between the nations as development is very apparent in touring the island.



The French side of the island is quieter and more sedate than its Dutch counterpart. The hotels are more secluded and you won't be overtaken with the cruise-ship crowds. The towns bear names like Colombier and Orléans, the streets are not streets but rues, and the flag of France flies in Marigot.

 Marigot is the capital city of the French side of St. Marteen and was originally a fishing village. The fort on a hill near Marigot Bay is still one of the big attractions in the town. Another big attraction is the Marigot open market where a colorful array of home grown produce can be purchased. The architectural heritage of Marigot is a mix of French and Caribbean influences. The two-storied buildings of Marigot are largely built of wood and stone and painted in vibrant colors, with their characteristic sheet-metal roofs. Fabulousdoors, window moldings and verandas accent the flavor of the island's buildings.

Grand Case is another small Creole village outside of Margot at the northern tip of St Martin. Lined with boutiques and restaurants. The storybook village is full of small wooden gingerbread houses painted in pastel colors.

Phillipsburg is the capital city of the Dutch portion of St. Marteem and has the larger population than the French side. The Dutch portion is a member of the Netherlands Antilles.  Philipsburg combines its historical legacy with 20th century excitement. Its waterfront has become a popular stop for cruise ships as tourism is an integral part of its economy. The town has many restaurants, cafes and night clubs and offer entertainment well into the night. The town offers accommodations to suit every need, from modern resorts to intimate guest houses.

Music is everywhere in St Martin. On every street corner, in the taverns and bars, you will hear a variety of musical forms and sounds that again mixes the traditional Caribbean with the modern. St Martin also has some of the best dining opportunities in the Caribbean, with many good bistros and restaurants

35 beaches encircle the island, each different in its own way. Activities for travelers include scuba diving, wake-boarding, windsurfing, sunbathing, and, of course, relaxing.

Ready to explore St. Marteen? Contact Jadd Fong Travel at 505-999-1039 or email jaddfongtravel@comcast.net

Palm Springs California

  

The main drag through Palm Springs is North Palm Canyon Drive. Shopping the antique and specialty shops along this route is a popular pastime. Every Thursday the road is closed to vehicles, and local merchants fill the streets with goods and fresh produce, such as the plump dates that grow especially well in the valley. Sunbathing on one of the 355 days of annual sunshine is another popular pastime, and at night, the streets come to life with dance clubs, stage shows, and concerts. Palm Springs is located in south central California along I-10, about two hours from Los Angeles or San Diego.

Six must-do tasks for any visitor to Palm Springs.

• Take the Tram. A "must see" while visiting Palm Springs, you'll be taken on a genuine Swiss tram car to the top of Mount San Jacinto - 8,516 feet above the valley. There you are transported to the threshold of the 13,000 acre Mt. San Jacinto Wilderness State Park, with 54 miles of biking trails, cross country skiing, and magnificent views of Coachella Valley below.
• Visit Villagefest. Every Thursday evening from 6-10 PM glamorous downtown Palm Springs is transformed into a vibrant old fashion street fair, complete with musicians, local arts and crafts, food, and a farmer's market. Villagefest is located between Baristo and Amado Roads on Palm Canyon Drive.
• See The City. Learn of the rich history of the area, view the city's distinctive architecture and see how the rich and famous live, including 30-40 homes of famous Hollywood stars. Palm Springs also has miles of well marked and maintained biking trails. For the more adventurous there is also horseback riding and ballooning, a spectacular way to see the valley.

                                            

• See The Natural Splendor. Some of Southern California's most breathtaking scenery can be found in the Palm Springs area. Joshua Tree National Park offers 870 square miles of splendid wonder, including hiking, rock climbing, picnicking and more. The Indian Canyons are 3 magnificent canyons 5 miles south of the town center on South Palm Canyon Road with amazing plant life and lush vegetation among rock formations and waterfalls. The Living Desert is an incredible 1,200 acre reserve combining the delights of a zoo, botanical garden, and scenic wilderness in one facility. And the Moorten Botanical Gardens feature over 3000 varieties of cacti and desert plants from all over the world.
• See The Arts. Palm Springs has always been associated with the arts. Here are a few of the area's top venues. The world famous Palm Springs Desert Museum offers an excellent permanent collection of Western and Native American art, as well as fine traveling collections. The McCallum Theater features top rated entertainment in all areas of the performing arts. The Annenberg Theater is a wonderfully intimate theater presenting top rated theater, dance, and musical entertainment. And among the top art galleries in the area are: B. Lewin Galleries, Coda Galleries, Heusso Gallery, and The Art Place.
• Enjoy World Class Golf And Tennis. Whether you golf for fun or serious sport, Palm Springs has a course for you. The area boasts over 90 different golf courses, many designed by international legends such as Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. Some of the best courses open to the public include: Mesquite Country Club, Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort, Westin Mission Hills, Palm Desert Country Club, and The Woodhaven Country Club. Excellent tennis is also available at many of the golf and tennis resorts located throughout the valley, and free court time can be found at Demuth Park, Palm Springs High School and Ruth Hardy Park in Palm Springs.

Contact Jadd Fong Travel and experience Palm Springs for yourself.