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Abandoned family hit with huge fine by cruise line

<p>A family of nine has been charged a whopping $13,000 for failing to return to their cruise ship after an excursion in Alaska, leaving them stranded by Norwegian Cruise Lines to find their own way home. </p> <p>The Gault family, from Tulsa in Oklahoma, were travelling with six young kids and a 78-year-old grandmother when they disembarked from the Norwegian Encore in Katchikan, a small town in a string of south Alaskan islands, so they could watch a lumberjack show together.</p> <p>All was going well until they went to board a bus back to the ship, when the local tour operator transporting passengers to and from the vessel miscounted and told the family there was no room and that they had to wait for the next bus. </p> <p>“We see the chaos getting onto the buses. We go to get on the bus and one of the attendees is like, ‘The bus is full, and you know you got to wait for the next bus,’” Joshua Gault told <em>2 News</em>.</p> <p>However, the next bus never came, and as the family found other means to rush back to the port, they arrived to see the ship sailing away with all their belongings, including passports and medications, onboard.</p> <p>“Six kids on board, minor children, and a 78-year-old mother-in-law, all on medication. We all had to quit cold turkey medication these last few days because it was all on the cruise ship,” Mr Gault said.</p> <p>From there, things only got worse for the Gault family, who had already spent about $44,500 on the trip, as they were immediately hit an almost $13,000 charge from the cruise line — $1,400 per passenger — for missing the boat.</p> <p>That fee stemmed from the US Customs and Border Protection’s Passenger Vessel Services Act, which they violated by not visiting a foreign port before they returned to the US, as their itinerary planned.</p> <p>Unable to rejoin the ship in Canada, the family decided to cut their losses and head home, arranging new accommodation and flights, making their costs continue to pile up. </p> <p>After days of travel - which included stops in numerous cities, cancelled flights, and more than one overnight airport stay — the family finally arrived home, feeling strung out, tired, and having picked up Covid along the way.</p> <p>“So yeah, we’re beat down right now. We’re unhealthy and beaten down,” Mr Gault said.</p> <p>The family is still working with the cruise line to rectify the situation, as Cailyn Gault said Norwegian Cruises keeps telling them, "We’re still looking into it, we haven’t forgotten about you."</p> <p>“And I was like, ‘No, we feel like you pretty much forgot about us when you left us in port and told us to go figure it out,’” Ms Gault added.</p> <p>Norwegian Cruise Lines told The Post it has begun the process of refunding the Gaults the nearly $13,000 in fees they were charged, and will reimburse them for all their travel expenses once receipts have been received.</p> <p>The cruise line also said it tried to contact the Gaults after they missed their bus due to “a misstep by a local tour operator,” and when they were unable to reach them, worked with the local port authority to help the family arrange lodging for the night before they were able to make a flight to Seattle the next day.</p> <p>“In addition, these guests will be receiving a pro-rated refund for the two cruise days they missed,” a Norwegian Cruise Line representative said.</p> <p>“As a gesture of goodwill, the company will also be providing each of the nine guests with a Future Cruise Credit in the form of a 20 per cent discount of their cruise fare that can be used towards their next voyage,” Norwegian added.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Tangy apricot Bavarian whip, fried rice medley and bombe Alaska: what Australia’s first food influencer had us cooking

<p>Our food choices are being influenced every day. On social media platforms such as YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, food and eating consistently appear on lists of trending topics. </p> <p>Food has eye-catching appeal and is a universal experience. Everyone has to eat. In recent years, viral recipes like <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2021/02/11/baked-feta-pasta-recipe-tiktok/">feta pasta</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-dalgona-coffee-the-whipped-coffee-trend-taking-over-the-internet-during-coronavirus-isolation-137068">dalgona coffee</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/are-butter-boards-bad-for-you-an-expert-view-on-the-latest-food-trend-192260">butter boards</a> have taken the world by storm. </p> <p>Yet food influencing is not a new trend. </p> <p>Australia’s first food influencer appeared in the pages of Australia’s most popular women’s magazine nearly 70 years ago. Just like today’s creators on Instagram and TikTok, this teenage cook advised her audience what was good to eat and how to make it.</p> <h2>Meet Debbie, our teenage chef</h2> <p>Debbie commenced her decade-long tenure at the Australian Women’s Weekly in <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page4814245">July 1954</a>. We don’t know exactly who played the role of Debbie, which was a pseudonym. Readers were never shown her full face or body – just a set of disembodied hands making various recipes and, eventually, a cartoon portrait.</p> <p>Like many food influencers today, Debbie was not an “expert” – she was a teenager herself. She taught teenage girls simple yet fashionable recipes they could cook to impress their family and friends, especially boys. </p> <p>She shared recipes for <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page4925379">tangy apricot Bavarian whip</a>, <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page4819441">fried rice medley</a> and <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page4807813">bombe Alaska</a>. Debbie also often taught her readers the basics, like <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52249448">how to boil an egg</a>.</p> <p>Just like today, many of her recipes showed the readers step-by-step instructions through images.</p> <h2>Teaching girls to cook (and be ‘good’ women)</h2> <p>Debbie’s recipes first appeared in the For Teenagers section, which would go on to become the Teenagers Weekly lift-out in 1959. </p> <p>These lift-outs reflected a major change taking place in wider society: the idea of “teenagers” being their own group with specific interests and behaviours had entered the popular imagination.</p> <p>Debbie was speaking directly to teenage girls. Adolescents are still forming both their culinary and cultural tastes. They are forming their identities.</p> <p>For the Women’s Weekly, and for Debbie, cooking was deemed an essential attribute for women. Girls were seen to be “<a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page4818166">failures</a>” if they couldn’t at least “cook a baked dinner”, “make real coffee”, “grill a steak to perfection”, “scramble and fry eggs” and “make a salad (with dressing)”. </p> <p>In addition to teaching girls how to cook, Debbie also taught girls how to catch a husband and become a good wife, a reflection of cultural expectations for women at the time. </p> <p>Her <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page4920059">macaroon trifle</a>, the Women’s Weekly said, was sure to place girls at the top of their male friends’ “matrimony prospect” list!</p> <h2>Food fads and fashions</h2> <p>Food fads usually reflect something important about the world around us. During global COVID lockdowns, we saw a rise in <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-historical-roots-of-your-lockdown-sourdough-obsession-137528">sourdough bread-making</a> as people embraced carbohydrate-driven nostalgia in the face of anxiety.</p> <p>A peek at Debbie’s culinary repertoire can reveal some of the cultural phenomena that impacted Australian teenagers in the 1950s and ‘60s. </p> <p>Debbie embraced teenage interest in rock'n'roll culture from the early 1960s, the pinnacle of which came at the height of Beatlemania. </p> <p>The Beatles toured Australia in June 1964. To help her teenage readers celebrate their visit, Debbie wrote an editorial on how to host a <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48077701">Beatles party</a>. </p> <p>She suggested the party host impress their friends by making “Beatle lollipops”, “Ringo Starrs” (decorated biscuits) and terrifying-looking “Beatle mop-heads” (cakes with chocolate hair).</p> <p><a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article55185376">A few months later</a>, she also shared recipes for “jam butties” (or sandwiches, apparently a “<a href="https://slate.com/culture/2013/03/the-beatles-and-the-mersey-beat-in-the-latest-blogging-the-beatles-how-the-beatles-popularized-the-sound-of-liverpool.html">Mersey</a> food with a Mersey name”) and a “Beatle burger”. </p> <p>We can also see the introduction of one of <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/language/italian/en/article/spag-bol-how-australians-adopted-a-classic-italian-recipe-and-made-it-their-own/9ogvr96ea">Australia’s most beloved dishes</a> in Debbie’s recipes. </p> <p>In 1957, she showed her teen readers how to make a new dish – <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48076527">spaghetti bolognaise</a> – which had first appeared in the magazine <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article46465023">five years prior</a>. </p> <p>Debbie was influencing the youth of Australia to enthusiastically adopt (and adapt) Italian-style cuisine. It stuck. While the recipe may have evolved, in 2012, Meat and Livestock Australia <a href="https://www.mla.com.au/globalassets/mla-corporate/marketing-beef-and-lamb/last-nights-dinner.pdf">reported</a> that 38% of Australian homes ate “spag bol” at least once a week.</p> <p>Our food influences today may come from social media, but we shouldn’t forget the impact early influencers such as Debbie had on young people in the past.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared in <a href="https://theconversation.com/tangy-apricot-bavarian-whip-fried-rice-medley-and-bombe-alaska-what-australias-first-food-influencer-had-us-cooking-199987" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.</em></p>

Food & Wine

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Fat Bear Week is here and it’s full of chunky Ursidae

<div class="copy"> <p>On the northern Alaskan Peninsula, thousands of brown bears have busily spent the last few weeks gorging themselves on salmon to fatten up and survive the winter. Unbeknown to them, the entire world is watching with a burning question – who will be crowned the Fat Bear Week Champion 2021?</p> <p>Over the next seven days, the chubbiest bears in Katmai National Park and Preserve will be pitted against each other in a series of knockout rounds. The public can <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://explore.org/fat-bear-week" target="_blank">vote online</a>, using any criteria they see fit – such as weight, age, cuteness, or other circumstances – and then next week, a single bear will remain standing.</p> <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <div class="entry-content-asset"> <div class="embed-wrapper"> <div class="inner"><iframe title="Fat Bear Week Contenders 2021" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u_kBdhuCVIE?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1&amp;origin=https://cosmosmagazine.com" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div> </div> </div> </div> <p>“From its humble beginnings of Fat Bear Tuesday in 2014 to over 640,000 votes cast last year in 2020, celebrating fat bears and Katmai’s healthy ecosystem has since become a tradition,” the US National Parks Service (NPS) <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.nps.gov/katm/learn/fat-bear-week.htm" target="_blank">wrote</a> on its website.</p> <p>The bears are all winners because a fat bear is a healthy bear – fat equals survival.</p> <h2>The annual Fat Bear Week competition</h2> <p>Each year, bears enter a winter den where they remain for the entirety of the long, cold months, unable to eat or drink until they emerge in spring. Over this time, they burn up to a third of their body weight as they draw on their fat reserves just to survive.</p> <p>This makes the six months they spend out in the world crucial – they need to find and eat a year’s worth of food.</p> <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <div class="entry-content-asset"> <div class="embed-wrapper"> <div class="inner"> <div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 500px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" class="" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 500px; height: 734px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="Twitter Tweet" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=eyJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2hvcml6b25fdHdlZXRfZW1iZWRfOTU1NSI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJodGUiLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3NwYWNlX2NhcmQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib2ZmIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH19&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1441568250127470592&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fcosmosmagazine.com%2Fnature%2Ffat-bear-week-is-here-and-its-full-of-chunky-ursidae%2F&amp;sessionId=1bd0186a6f7f9719aa8434fd2276c9725d98d3a3&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=fcb1942%3A1632982954711&amp;width=500px" data-tweet-id="1441568250127470592"></iframe></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h2>Tasty Salmon</h2> <p>Cue the salmon. These fish are one of the most important components of the Pacific ecosystem. After years at sea, they return to their home rivers in autumn months to spawn. It is an epic journey – and the final leg of their lives. From the moment they hit freshwater, their bodies begin to change and decay, but thousands still struggle upstream to the place they were born, in an attempt to reproduce.</p> <p>Bears flock to these rivers to gorge themselves on the protein-rich salmon. In times of plenty, bears will strip away the most nutritious parts of the body, such as the brain, skin and eggs, and cast the rest aside for scavengers.</p> <p>The salmon also end up fertilising the temperate rainforest adjacent to rivers and streams, with benefits for plants, fungi, algae and insects – so to appreciate the gloriously chunky bears is to also have an appreciation of the greater ecosystem.</p> <p>Katmai is home to one of the largest and healthiest runs of sockeye salmon in the world, with the fish pouring up the rivers from late June to September. The bears rely on the annual return of these fish from their ocean migration. They can chow down dozens of salmons and tens of thousands of calories per day, ready to get them through the lean winter.</p> <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <div class="entry-content-asset"> <div class="embed-wrapper"> <div class="inner"> <div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 500px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" class="" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 500px; height: 727px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="Twitter Tweet" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-1&amp;features=eyJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2hvcml6b25fdHdlZXRfZW1iZWRfOTU1NSI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJodGUiLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3NwYWNlX2NhcmQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib2ZmIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH19&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1178765565273559041&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fcosmosmagazine.com%2Fnature%2Ffat-bear-week-is-here-and-its-full-of-chunky-ursidae%2F&amp;sessionId=1bd0186a6f7f9719aa8434fd2276c9725d98d3a3&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=fcb1942%3A1632982954711&amp;width=500px" data-tweet-id="1178765565273559041"></iframe></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p>This year, 12 finalists have been selected out of the thousands of bears that call the park home.</p> <p>You can check out <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.nps.gov/katm/learn/fat-bear-week-2021.htm" target="_blank">photos of the finalists</a> on the NPS website. Find more info about how and when to vote <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://explore.org/fat-bear-week" target="_blank">here</a>.</p> <h2>Fat Bear Junior</h2> <p>This year, NPS also announced a new segment of the competition: Fat Bear Junior. It’s even more adorable than it sounds. Pictures of the tubby cubbies can be found <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.nps.gov/katm/learn/fat-bear-junior-2021.htm" target="_blank">here</a>.</p> <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <div class="entry-content-asset"> <div class="embed-wrapper"> <div class="inner"><iframe title="Fat Bear Jr! Everything You Need To Know About These Chubby Cubbies!" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A9JPoz_jesM?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1&amp;origin=https://cosmosmagazine.com" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div> </div> </div> </div> <p>You can also keep up with the week’s action on Katmai’s <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.nps.gov/katm/learn/fat-bear-week.htm" target="_blank">website</a>, as well as its <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://twitter.com/KatmaiNPS" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.facebook.com/KatmaiNPP/?ref=page_internal" target="_blank">Facebook</a> pages. You can also livestream the bears into your own home through the park’s <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://explore.org/livecams/brown-bears/brown-bear-salmon-cam-brooks-falls" target="_blank">bear cams</a>.</p> <p>All of this is leading up to the fateful day, Tuesday 5 October, when one bear will reign supreme.</p> <p>As NPS writes: “All bears are winners but only one true champion will emerge.”</p> <!-- Start of tracking content syndication. Please do not remove this section as it allows us to keep track of republished articles --> <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=167300&amp;title=Fat+Bear+Week+is+here+and+it%26%238217%3Bs+full+of+chunky+Ursidae" alt="" width="1" height="1" /> <!-- End of tracking content syndication --></div> <div id="contributors"> <p><a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/nature/animals/fat-bear-week-is-here-and-its-full-of-chunky-ursidae/">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/lauren-fuge">Lauren Fuge</a>. Lauren Fuge is a science journalist at Cosmos. She holds a BSc in physics from the University of Adelaide and a BA in English and creative writing from Flinders University.</p> <p><em>Image: 747 NPS Photo/N. Boak</em></p> </div>

Family & Pets

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The best places in the world to cruise

<p>Alaska’s Glacier Bay has been named the number one cruise destination in the world by Cruise Critic.</p> <p>The cruise reviews website analysed the results of all the reviews for 2018 for their third annual Cruisers’ Choice Destination awards.</p> <p>Sydney was named the top port in Australia and New Zealand. The top port in the South Pacific was Mystery Island.</p> <p>“Our data regularly shows that whether you’re a first-time cruiser or you’ve sailed dozens of times, destination is a top consideration when shopping for a cruise,” Cruise Critic senior executive editor Colleen McDaniel says.</p> <p>“While tropical destinations will always be popular among cruisers, what’s really exciting to see is the rise in esteem of destinations more known for their immersive and experiential offerings – places like Havana, Edinburgh and Arles.</p> <p>“By awarding top destinations and now the best lines that visit them, we’re even better able to connect travelers with standout experiences available in the incredible places they’re looking to explore.”</p> <p>The full list of Cruise Critic first-place winners includes:</p> <p><strong>Australia and New Zealand:</strong></p> <p>Top port: Sydney</p> <p>Best Large Ship Line: Celebrity Cruises</p> <p>Best Small Ship Line: Coral Expeditions</p> <p><strong>South Pacific:</strong></p> <p>Top port: Mystery Island</p> <p>Best Large Ship Line: Carnival Cruise Line</p> <p>Best Small Ship Line: Ponant</p> <p><strong>Asia:</strong></p> <p>Top port: Singapore</p> <p>Best Large Ship Line: Celebrity Cruises</p> <p>Best Small Ship Line: Azamara Club Cruises</p> <p><strong>Alaska:</strong></p> <p>Top port: Glacier Bay</p> <p>Best Large Ship Line: Celebrity Cruises</p> <p>Best Small Ship Line: UnCruise Adventures</p> <p>Top Cruise line with a private island:</p> <p>Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Cay</p> <p><strong>Hawaii:</strong></p> <p>Top port: Kauai</p> <p>Best Large Ship Line: Carnival Cruise Line</p> <p><strong>Eastern Mediterranean:</strong></p> <p>Top port: Dubrovnik</p> <p>Best Large Ship Line: Celebrity Cruises</p> <p>Best Small Ship Line: Variety Cruises</p> <p><strong>Western Mediterranean:</strong></p> <p>Top port: Villefranche</p> <p>Best Large Ship Line: Marella Cruises (formerly Thomson Cruises)</p> <p>Best Small Ship Line: Viking Ocean Cruises</p> <p><strong>British Isles and Western Europe:</strong></p> <p>Top port: Edinburgh</p> <p>Best Large Ship Line: Royal Caribbean International</p> <p>Best Small Ship Line: Viking Ocean Cruises</p> <p><strong>The US and Canada:</strong></p> <p>Top port: Quebec City</p> <p>Best Large Ship Line: Celebrity Cruises</p> <p>Best Small Ship Line: Pearl Seas Cruises</p> <p><strong>Carribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda:</strong></p> <p>Top port: King’s Wharf</p> <p>Best Large Ship Line: Celebrity Cruises</p> <p>Best Small Ship Line: Island Windjammers</p> <p><strong>Western Caribbean and Riveriera Maya:</strong></p> <p>Top port: Havana</p> <p>Best Large Ship Line: Celebrity Cruises</p> <p>Best Small Ship Line: Viking Ocean Cruises</p> <p><strong>Southern Caribbean:</strong></p> <p>Top port: Curacao</p> <p>Best Large Ship Line: Celebrity Cruises</p> <p>Best Small Ship Line: Island Windjammers</p> <p><strong>Mexico:</strong></p> <p>Top port: Huatulco</p> <p>Best Large Ship Line: Princess Cruises</p> <p><strong>Baltics and Scandinavia:</strong></p> <p>Top port: St. Petersburg</p> <p>Best Large Ship Line: Celebrity Cruises</p> <p>Best Small Ship Line: Viking Ocean Cruises</p> <p><strong>Panama Canal and Central America:</strong></p> <p>Top port: Puerto Quetzal</p> <p>Best Large Ship Line:Norwegian Cruise Line</p> <p>Best Small Ship Line: Windstar Cruises</p> <p><strong>South America and Antartica:</strong></p> <p>Top port: Buenos Aires</p> <p>Best Large Ship Line: Norwegian Cruise Line</p> <p>Best Small Ship Line: Australis</p> <p>Feel like you need to go on a cruise now? We do too.</p> <p><em>Written by Alison Godfrey. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.mydiscoveries.com.au/stories/the-world-s-top-cruise-destinations/">MyDiscoveries.</a> </em></p>

Cruising

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5 reasons to love Alaska

<p>Alaska is the largest, most sparsely populated and coldest state in the United States of America.</p> <p><strong>1. The Northern Lights</strong></p> <p>Alaska is one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis dancing in the sky. The Aurora occurs when solar particles collide with the earth’s atmosphere resulting in stunning streams of green, blue and even red light swirling through the sky.</p> <p>The best time to see the Aurora is in winter, from late August through to April. It’s not as cold as you think. Average temperatures hover around -7 to -1 °C and you can expect up to six hours of sunlight per day in the southern part of the state. As long as you dress for the weather, you will be fine.</p> <p><strong>2. Wildlife</strong></p> <p>Bring your binoculars. Alaska’s large swathes of wilderness are home to some of the most incredible animals on the planet. You can watch a brown bear scoop salmon from a flowing icy river, catch a glimpse of a shy wolf or lynx and watch in awe as an American Bald Eagle soars above your head.</p> <p>Alaska has so many brown bears, you would be unlucky not to see one. Polar Bears are a different story. You will need to take an expedition to find them.</p> <p>For the best chance of seeing a polar bear head to Alaska in the Spring or Autumn. Polar Bears don’t go into hibernation like Brown Bears do, but they are scarcely seen during winter. You will find them on the coastlines toward the southern edge of the ice pack in the Far North and Western Arctic areas. As climate change alters the bear’s habitats, they have increasingly been found on land near towns like Barrow and Kotzebue. Remember polar bears are dangerous animals, that have been known to stalk humans. They should only be viewed with an experienced guide.</p> <p><strong>3. National Parks</strong></p> <p>If you love wilderness and rugged beauty, you will love Alaska. The northernmost state is also home to home to America’s highest peak, Denali with a summit elevation 6,190 m above sea level. Denali National Park is six million acres of wild land, packed with wildlife and bisected by one ribbon of road. Try hiking, fishing, canoeing or dog sledging or simply spend the day looking for wildlife.</p> <p>Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in Alaska’s inside passage is home to humpback whales and puffins. One of the largest internationally protected Biosphere Reserves in the world, Glacier Bay collects glaciers slowly drifting down from the jagged mountains above. Most visitors arrive on cruise ships as few overland roads to the region exist. The region has three spectacular hiking trails and you can stay at Glacier Bay Lodge.</p> <p>Vast, beautiful and remote, The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge sprawls over 19.6 million acres in Alaska’s northern corner. Here you will find tundra plains, treeless coastlines, rugged mountain peaks and glaciers. Snow usually blankets the ground from September through to May. Once spring comes, the region is flush with life. More than 160 migratory and resident bird species come to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to breed, rest or feed from April to July. The refuge holds many polar bear dens and it’s a critical calving area for the Porcupine caribou herd.</p> <p><strong>4. Culture</strong></p> <p>Totem pole carving is often found in cultures that have a close tie with nature, and Alaska is no different. The poles use material from the land the images usually represent animals, spirits or places. Totem poles in front of houses identify the clan’s history. They are also carved to depict stories, to commemorate an event or to honour a deceased loved one or chief.</p> <p>The Northwest Coast Alaska Natives are known for a special weaving technique that creates perfect circles. The small, finely woven baskets of the Unangax̂, Alutiiq, and Yup’ik peoples are highly prized by collectors.</p> <p>If you love beadwork, make sure you look for Athabascan craft. The women from this tribe have created beautiful beaded clothing, blankets, tools and jewellery for centuries. Traditionally, they used seeds, carved wooden beads, shells, and quills. Glass beads were introduced after European contact.</p> <p><strong>5. Microbreweries</strong></p> <p>Midnight Sun, Broken Tooth, Silver Gulch, 49th State – these are just a few of the Alaskan microbreweries gaining a large reputation outside of the state.</p> <p>What’s their secret?</p> <p>Untouched glacial water.</p> <p>Water is the most important ingredient in beer and Alaska has the purest water of any American state.</p> <p>It’s not just beer either. In the last few years, Alaska has seen an abundance of gin and vodka distilleries pop up across the state. It’s no wonder – juniper berries, cranberries, spruce tips and raspberries used to produce and infuse each sprit can be plucked from roadside bushes during morning hikes.</p> <p><em>Written by Alison Godfrey. Republished with permission of </em><a href="https://www.mydiscoveries.com.au/stories/5-reasons-to-love-alaska/"><em>MyDiscoveries</em></a><em>.</em></p>

Travel Tips

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My first time cruising on an Alaskan adventure boat

<p>"Good morning Safari Endeavour. There are some humpback whales on the port side of the boat."</p> <p>Normally if someone woke me on the first day of my holiday at 7am, they would be on my list. However, the voice speaking to me over an Alaskan cruise ship intercom had quite a different effect. Rather than rolling over grumpily and covering my head, I was on my feet and out the cabin door in seconds.</p> <p>The excitement was just the start of a week-long cruise that would give me a close-up look at some of the most inaccessible parts of Alaska.</p> <p>As the snow and icebergs started to melt in mid-July, I - and 33 other passengers - set off from Juneau for a round-trip adventure cruise. Unlike many other cruises in the area, American Safari Cruises' ship Safari Endeavour does not make the usual stops at Alaskan towns. The cruise is for people looking to experience the Alaskan outdoors and scenery, and not for those wanting to shop.</p> <p>With extremely limited mobile and internet reception, passengers need to prepare to step away from work and fully embrace holiday mode. From day one, the captain and crew emphasised that flexibility was the key to the trip; destinations would be dependent on the weather, and where animals were spotted.</p> <p>They didn't know where we were going, but they knew it would be good, they said. And they were right.</p> <p>From the moment we left port, the trip was chock full of wildlife. Along with many more whales we came across bears, moose, seals, sea lions, eagles, puffins, sea otters, mountain goats, and deer.</p> <p>Glacier Bay, Alaska's National Park, was our first stop and an amazing introduction to the area. Park rules limit the number of boats, so the wilderness atmosphere is maintained.</p> <p>The land seems untouched, and the crispness of the air was unlike anything I'd experienced.</p> <p>Adventure arrived in the form of hiking and kayaking each day. I also tried paddle-boarding, though I wasn't as daring as a fellow passenger who used the opportunity to have a dip in the icy waters. The swim was probably not by choice. I have visited beautiful lakes and rivers before, but kayaking among icebergs and glaciers was unique.</p> <p>For many passengers, Alaska was a bucket list item. When they disembarked many said the cruise went far beyond their expectations. Can you put the same thing on your bucket list twice?</p> <p>Each day ends with an Alaskan sunset (at midnight) and begins with snow-capped mountains. There were times when I could just stand alone on deck watching the empty landscape, and an hour would pass without my noticing. The state is frequented by huge numbers of cruise ships, some hosting thousands of passengers, however, Safari Endeavour sleeps, at most, 86 and the chances are your fellow passengers will be like-minded.</p> <p><img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/28939/image__498x245.jpg" alt="alaska cruise" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>As well as the viewing decks, there is an open bar in the lounge, a dining room, hot tubs and a sauna, a sundeck, exercise equipment and a library with DVDs to play in your room. There is a wellness programme with yoga and walks around the deck. Without doubt, the exercise is necessary, because the buffet breakfast, three-course lunch and dinners can't be avoided and the choices are too good. The baking constantly available at the bar and pre-dinner appetisers like battered brie, and salmon dip on crostini, are also irresistible.</p> <p>With invisible cleaning fairies constantly at work returning to my room at night to find my bathroom clean, my bed made and a chocolate on my pillow added to the hotel quality comfort and care.</p> <p>The cruise company, Inner Sea Discoveries, markets these smaller trips as 'Un-cruises' - a slice of adventure amid luxurious surroundings. For anyone wanting to try out their cruising legs and see Alaska, this trip is without a doubt the way to go.</p> <p><em>Written by Amelia Romanos. First appeared on <a href="http://Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>.</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/09/po-unveils-plans-for-biggest-ever-cruise-ship/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>P&amp;O unveils plans for biggest cruise ship ever</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/08/6-things-to-expect-if-your-cruise-hits-a-storm/"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>6 things to expect if your cruise hits a storm</em></span></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/09/i-saw-the-best-of-europe-on-an-imperial-danube-cruise/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>I saw the best of Europe on an Imperial Danube cruise</strong></em></span></a></p>

Cruising

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Princess Cruises husky puppy program

<p>While cute husky puppies probably aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a luxury cruise, we’re sure you’ll agree they sound like a welcome addition!</p> <p>Princess Cruises is giving passengers on its Alaska itineraries the chance to meet these adorable sled-dogs-in-waiting as part of the line’s North to Alaska program.</p> <p>This award-winning program debuted last year, and aims to bring local personalities, culture and cuisine on-board Princess ships, to provide a more immersive experience.</p> <p>Puppies in the Piazza allows guests on select cruises to pet and take photos of the adorable puppies, as well as meeting the dog handlers who will eventually be preparing these cute little balls of fur for a lifetime of dog mushing. The handlers will also answer any questions you might have about the future sled dogs, although you may be a little disappointed with answer you get when you ask, “Can I take this sled dog home?”</p> <p><img width="499" height="304" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/18108/puppies-in-text_499x304.jpg" alt="Sled puppies"/></p> <p>In addition to the Puppies in the Piazza experience, Princess Cruises is also offering passengers the opportunity to enjoy their own catch of the day for dinner. A range a fishing experiences will now be offered, allowing passengers to bring back a well-earned catch and have it expertly prepared by the Princess’ culinary team.</p> <p>And, as if that wasn’t enough, Princess is also going to be offering a unique meet the Mountain Climber experience, which gives cruise passengers the opportunity to hear gripping, first-hand accounts from mountain climbers who have conquered the famous Denali Mountains.</p> <p>Climbers will present thrilling photos of their experience in Hudson Theatre at Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, and after the presentation you’ll be able to meet the climbers and ask them any questions. You can also go outside for a glimpse at one of the retired airplanes which is very similar to the one the climbers used to transport people to and from base camp.</p> <p>Princess Cruises is currently offering the North to Alaska experience on the Crown Princess, Star Princess, Ruby Princess, Island Princess, Coral Princess and Grand Princess.</p> <p>These six ships will be offering more than 120 Alaska cruise departures in 2016.</p> <p>We have to say our favourite part of the North to Alaska program has to be those gorgeous huskies though, they’d almost be worth the price of the cabin alone.</p> <p>For more information on Princess Cruises; North to Alaska program, <a href="http://www.princess.com/learn/cruise-destinations/alaska-cruises/north-to-alaska/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">click here</span></strong></a>.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/03/how-to-make-cruise-ship-towel-animals/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>How to make cruise ship towel animals</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/03/inside-worlds-biggest-cruise-ship/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Inside one of the world’s biggest cruise ships</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/02/can-the-historic-queen-elizabeth-2-cruise-ship-be-saved/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Can the historic Queen Elizabeth 2 cruise ship be saved?</strong></em></span></a></p>

Cruising

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Man legally named Santa Claus joins Alaska’s city council

<p>We couldn’t make this up if we tried: a man whose legal name is Santa Claus has just been elected to council in Alaska’s chilly North Pole.</p><p>Santa Claus, formerly known as Thomas Patrick O’Connor, acts as the town’s “Santa Claus” for the town’s young children, and served as president of the North Pole’s chamber of commerce.</p><p>Claus campaigned to his nearly 300,000 Facebook followers, and upon winning, posted the following grateful message: "My thanks to everyone who voted for me, the news media that covered my campaign, and all who supported my run for office via social media."</p><p>It looks like Santa Claus is coming to… council.</p><p><img width="500" height="500" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/10052/http-wp-prod-02distractifycom-wp-content-uploads-2015-10-02be19_629d9bddf9734d7ca52f9d4e16453e40png_srb_p_748_748_75_22_050_120_0_500x500.jpg" alt="Http ---wp -prod -02.distractify .com -wp -content -uploads -2015-10-02be 19_629d 9bddf 9734d 7ca 52f 9d 4e 16453e 40_srb _p _748_748_75_22_0.50_1.20_0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></p><p><strong>Related links:</strong></p><p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/lifestyle/family/2015/10/old-school-skills-that-are-dying/">6 old-schools skills that are dying</a></span></em></strong></p><p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/lifestyle/family/2015/09/funny-kids-notes-about-running-away/">6 hilarious notes where kids threaten to run away</a></span></em></strong></p><p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/lifestyle/family/2015/09/the-joy-a-new-grandchild-can-bring/">The joy grandchildren bring explained</a></span></em></strong></p>

News

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Man legally named Santa Claus joins Alaska’s city council

<p>We couldn’t make this up if we tried: a man whose legal name is Santa Claus has just been elected to council in Alaska’s chilly North Pole.</p><p>Santa Claus, formerly known as Thomas Patrick O’Connor, acts as the town’s “Santa Claus” for the town’s young children, and served as president of the North Pole’s chamber of commerce.</p><p>Claus campaigned to his nearly 300,000 Facebook followers, and upon winning, posted the following grateful message: "My thanks to everyone who voted for me, the news media that covered my campaign, and all who supported my run for office via social media."</p><p>It looks like Santa Claus is coming to… council.</p><p><img width="500" height="500" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/10052/http-wp-prod-02distractifycom-wp-content-uploads-2015-10-02be19_629d9bddf9734d7ca52f9d4e16453e40png_srb_p_748_748_75_22_050_120_0_500x500.jpg" alt="Http ---wp -prod -02.distractify .com -wp -content -uploads -2015-10-02be 19_629d 9bddf 9734d 7ca 52f 9d 4e 16453e 40_srb _p _748_748_75_22_0.50_1.20_0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></p><p><strong>Related links:</strong></p><p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/lifestyle/family/2015/10/old-school-skills-that-are-dying/">6 old-schools skills that are dying</a></span></em></strong></p><p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/lifestyle/family/2015/09/funny-kids-notes-about-running-away/">6 hilarious notes where kids threaten to run away</a></span></em></strong></p><p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/lifestyle/family/2015/09/the-joy-a-new-grandchild-can-bring/">The joy grandchildren bring explained</a></span></em></strong></p>

News

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Bombe Alaska

<p>This spectacular dessert mixes a crisp, lightly browned meringue crust with a delicious ice-cream and cake filling. It’ might take a little extra effort, but this show-stopping dessert is worth it.</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Ingredients:</span></strong></p> <ul> <li>2 plain sponge cakes</li> <li>¼ cup flavoured liqueur (orange, coffee, almond, etc)</li> <li>2L vanilla ice-cream</li> <li>½ cup slivered almonds</li> <li>4 egg whites</li> <li>1 cup caster sugar</li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Method:</span></strong></p> <ol> <li>Take a wide (instead of deep) pudding basin and line it with two layers of plastic wrap.</li> <li>Scoop the ice-cream into a large bowl and leave aside for a few minutes until it has softened.</li> <li>Cut a round of sponge cake to fit at the bottom of the basin and another one to fit at the top. Place the smaller layer at the bottom and brush generously with the flavoured liqueur.</li> <li>Fold the almonds through the softened ice cream and then scoop into the pudding basin on top of the sponge cake. Be sure to spread the ice cream evenly so you coat the sides.</li> <li>Brush the larger piece of sponge cake with the rest of the liqueur and place on top of the ice cream. Cover the basin with plastic wrap and freeze overnight, or for at least six hours.</li> <li>Just prior to serving, beat the egg whites to form soft peaks. Gradually beat in the caster sugar until the mixture is thick and glossy.</li> <li>Remove the plastic wrap from on top of the basin and dip the dish into hot water for about 30 seconds to loosen it. Invert the pudding onto a plate and carefully remove the basin and plastic wrap.</li> <li>Spread your meringue mixture over the pudding to completely cover the surface. Use a kitchen blowtorch to lightly brown the meringue before placing your bombe Alaska onto the table for your guests to admire and enjoy.</li> </ol> <p>NOTE: If you don’t have a kitchen blowtorch, you can place the bombe Alaska into an oven set to 200°C for three minutes, or until the meringue is just set and lightly colouring.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/07/cinnamon-baked-apples/">These cinnamon baked apples are melt-in-the-mouth delicious</a></strong></span></em></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/06/apple-rose-tarts/">Another show-stopping dessert: apple rose tarts</a></strong></span></em></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/06/apple-rose-tarts/">Strawberry and rhubarb cobbler: a top that looks like cobblestones, a filling that tastes like heaven</a></strong></span></em></p>

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