This vacation was an actual family reunion, similar to a three course meal . . . Appetizer: San Francisco, Main course: a ten-day cruise to Alaska aboard the Sea Princess, and Dessert: San Diego . . . all accomplished in three weeks.
Relatives from near, and as far away as Dubai (traveling 16 hours by plane over the North Pole), came to have this glorious sailing adventure and get-together. And what a time we had!

One of San Francisco’s Famous Cable Cars

The city has a strong sense of neighborhood, each having a distinct identity. We visited many of each area’s outstanding attractions.

We were located not very far from Pier 39 in Fisherman’s Wharf with its myriad of restaurants, shops, and so many exciting things to do.

We stayed at the Argonaut Hotel, a stone’s throw from the Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory high up on a hill. The hotel has brick and wooden beams throughout the lobby, public places, and rooms (which are spacious and exude a warm feeling). On the outside, it occupies an entire block and is a plain brick building which looks like a factory; it was originally the Del Monte Tomato Sauce Cannery. This hotel actually had a free daily wine tasting at 5 PM in the lobby . . . very civilized indeed! And the staff was certainly the most professional and helpful group of individuals I have ever encountered.

Across the street from the hotel is the turnaround for the famous old cable cars which afforded us a thrilling ride through the heart of the city. We also rode the electric streetcars through San Francisco as well. Interesting to note that these were vehicles brought in from all over the world, some dating back to the 1920s. Cars were seen from various American cities (including good old Brooklyn) and from Australia, Switzerland, Italy, and a number of other countries. And they were all in good working order.

We also took a side trip to the wine country in Sonoma and Napa Valley. Vast vineyards stretched as far as the eye could see. The Coppola Winery had an added attraction: movie memorabilia and the actual Academy Award statues from the renowned director’s motion pictures. One saw costumes, props, and the desk used by Marlon Brando as Don Corleone in “The Godfather.” On display too was an original Tucker automobile from the 40s with its third headlight in the front and many before-their-time innovations. The automobile looked spanking new as if it came right from the factory.

Another outstanding winery was Artesa, atop a hill, with ultra delicious wines. The wine tasting was great both here and at the Coppola facility.

The Golden Gate Bridge observation area was a photographer’s dream, as one saw Alcatraz Prison, now a tourist attraction, plus the whole bridge close up. Twin Peaks atop a very high hill afforded us the view of the entire city, and what a view it was!

Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau

Riding the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad to Skagway

Our next stop was Skagway where we boarded a motor coach for trip into the Yukon Territory, following the path of the Klondike Gold Rush. Included was a stop at a dog sled camp where one could actually pet the pups and also the mountain goats which were there as well. But the highlight of the tour (and of Alaska itself) was the ride back to Skagway on the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad, the train built in 1898 to accommodate the gold rush. What an amazing and exhilarating experience! Finally, a stop in the town of Skagway itself for a beer at the Red Onion, a saloon and turn of the century brothel, was interesting due to its rustic memorabilia.

On board the Sea Princess in Glacier Bay

The weather, surprisingly for Alaska (as we had been told), was sunny and in the low 70s. Not knowing what to expect, we had carted around heavy layers of clothing which we never used while in port. The day traversing through Glacier Bay afforded such wondrous views of glaciers. It was quite cool sailing through this National Park and Preserve, but as we stood on deck we were amazed by the sights that unfolded before us.

Sitka, our third stop, showed us an all female dance group doing Russian folk dances in the costumes of the time when the city was a Russian town. St Michael’s Cathedral had wonders for the eyes to behold. The Cathedral was completely rebuilt after a fire in 1966 destroyed the original structure. Miraculously, most of the sacred icons and religious objects were saved by the townspeople and can be seen today. The Alaska Raptor Center, a bird sanctuary, afforded us a close-up view of bald eagles and other birds while they recover from accidents before being released. One bald eagle too badly injured to ever be let free is now a resident of the sanctuary, going out to visit schools and attend meetings.

A recovering bald eagle at the Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka

Sitka, with its totem poles and unique history, was definitely an interesting place to visit.

Our last cruising stop was Victoria, British Columbia. By a shuttle bus, we saw the various points of interest in the city famous for its Empress Hotel and gorgeous floral displays. A “very British city!”

Shamu at San Diego’s Sea World

This powerful video capture device makes it easy to transfer video from a VCR, DVD player or camcorder onto a DVD or your PC. The included software lets you edit and manage your home movie collection with ease. Anyone can produce great looking movies to share with family and friends. Dazzle Video Creator Plus is so easy, no prior video editing experience is required. Simply transfer videos to the laptop then create a DVD backup of your video using Pinnacle Instant DVD Recorder or use Pinnacle Studio software to quickly edit your movie. An extensive library of music backgrounds, transitions and effects is provided for amazing results. 

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Read the entire review in the Business Pages.

The Turbo charge as the name implies is a very handy portable charger which runs on two AA batteries and can power up any cell phone battery in minutes.  Compact and stylish, the TC2 can charge up your phone battery anytime by just plugging one end of the Turbo Charge adapter into the unit and the other end into a cell phone. Whether you are traveling or an on-the-go businessperson, youknow that cellphone will die at the worst possible time. The TC2 in your pocket or bag is the ultimate rescue for people who live with their phones.  Keep one in your car, desk drawer or purse and forget about bringing a bulky charger cord and transformer when you are way from home and then hunting for an outlet.

The new Turbo Charge 2-Battery Travel Cell Phone Charger is the best sleek, reusable cell phone charger and the best one we've ever tested. It's all digital and the Dual AlgorChip™ technology regulates the flow of energy from your Turbo Charge Travel Cell Phone Charger unit into your cell phone battery, protecting it from overload and damage. Don’t be afraid to use your cell phone while the Turbo Charge Travel Cell Phone Charger is powering up your phone. Make and receive calls with ease knowing that your cell phone will be powered with up. The Turbo Charge will take no more space nor weigh any more than a tube of lip balm, which makes it easy to keep around for an unexpected emergency! Beware of cheap imitations! This is the only real deal. Best results are obtained with "AA" lithium batteries whichprovide three full charges for most phones.

This little gadget is perfect for travel when you may not be able to use or access your regular charger. The Turbo-Charge is inexpensive, under $30 in most retail stores and it comes with adapters for most phones. This gadget makes a perfect holiday or birthday gift for that special someone who can't get off the phone.

The Turbo Charge works with a single "AA" battery and comes with adapters for most makes of cell phones - Samsung, Nokia, Motorola, Sony Ericsson, Nextel, Sanyo and many more. Plus it comes with an adapter to make it function as an emergency flashlight. If your phone needs a special adapter, go to the web site and you can get a FREE adapter for your phone make and model.  This unit is also available in models for iPods and for portable video games.

For more information go to  www.turbocharge.com