| Cruise travel from ports close to home is | | | | you over to Alcatraz Island for a glimpse |
| what passengers want now. In almost all of | | | | into the life of the prisoners. |
| the cruise reviews, cruise travelers have | | | | |
| expressed concern with long airline trips to | | | | Perhaps you have chosen Seattle, Washington |
| distant lands. Now they want to cruise from | | | | as your embarkation port. The lovely Puget |
| ports that are close to home to enjoy a less | | | | Sound area is rich with history of the |
| stressful cruise vacation. The cruise lines | | | | maritime industries. The Olympic Mountains |
| have caught on to this trend and are now | | | | will leave you feeling awed when viewed from |
| positioning their ships up and down the | | | | the Space Needle that is 607 feet high. For |
| United States East and West Coasts and along | | | | fun don't miss the Pike Street Market for |
| the Gulf of Mexico. Let's explore the ports | | | | fresh seafood and produce. There are many |
| of embarkation on the West Coast starting in | | | | fleets of sport fishing boats for fishing or |
| Southern California at the port of San Diego | | | | for whale watching. |
| and go northward. | | | | |
| | | | Even further up the coast you are now in |
| If you can take the time before or after your | | | | Alaskan territory. Fairbanks, which was once |
| cruise travel, spend some extra time in San | | | | a booming mining town, is the entrance to |
| Diego. The city of San Diego is blessed with | | | | Alaska's interior. If you stay here for a day |
| year round warm weather and seventy miles of | | | | or two try a really Alaskan adventure and go |
| Pacific Coastline. There are many activities | | | | dog sledding. Maybe you would like to pan |
| to enjoy while in the city. They have a | | | | for gold, another part of Alaska's history. |
| first class, world famous zoo in Balboa Park. | | | | If you want to see the Northern Lights plan |
| At Old Town State Historic Park learn about | | | | your cruise vacation for late August or early |
| the History of California. Near the downtown | | | | September. |
| area there are 15 excellent museums and | | | | |
| gorgeous gardens. | | | | Choosing a cruise vacation out of Whitter, |
| | | | Alaska will allow you to go whale watching, |
| A little further up north is Long Beach just | | | | and look for sea lions and bald eagles. This |
| 20 miles south of Los Angeles. Here is where | | | | is a small quaint town that really lets you |
| the Queen Mary retired to in 1967 and is | | | | feel what Alaska is all about. |
| permanently docked serving as a Hotel. With | | | | |
| more 12,000 sea creatures the aquarium is a | | | | You will fly into Anchorage for departure |
| delightful spot to spend a couple of hours. | | | | from Seward, Alaska. Try to stay a few days |
| | | | to explore the riches Anchorage has to offer. |
| If you plan to take your cruise vacation out | | | | There is the beautiful Denali National Park, |
| of Los Angeles there are plenty of sights to | | | | where Mt. McKinney offers spectacular |
| see. A pre or post cruise package from the | | | | scenery. In Seward you can take a cruise to |
| cruise lines will allow you to see the many | | | | the Kenai Fjords as a day trip. |
| cultural centers or drive by the star studded | | | | |
| neighborhoods of Malibu, Bel Air and | | | | Any of these cruise ports will make a great |
| Hollywood. Be sure to see Grauman's Chinese | | | | start for your cruise vacation. So when |
| Theatre, Chinatown and the Hollywood Walk of | | | | planning any cruise travel pick a port that's |
| Fame. Visit funky Venice Beach and dine in | | | | close to home and leave some time for |
| the many excellent restaurants. And don't | | | | exploring the town of embarkation. |
| forget to at least window shop on Rodeo | | | | |
| Drive. | | | | Happy Cruising |
| | | | |
| The dazzling Golden Gate Bridge will be what | | | | Copyright ? Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved. |
| you sail under on you cruise vacation from | | | | |
| San Francisco. Many cruise reviews have | | | | This article may be distributed freely on |
| mentioned this city as one of the favorites | | | | your website and in your ezines, as long as |
| from which to start a cruise. You may opt to | | | | this entire article, copyright notice, links |
| take a side trip to the vineyards of Napa and | | | | and the resource box are unchanged. |
| Sonoma Valleys for a day. While in San | | | | |
| Francisco check out Fisherman's Wharf, or | | | | Mary Hanna has traveled the world by Air and |
| take a cable car ride through the city. In | | | | Ship while writing eBooks, Software Reviews |
| this city there are numerous excellent | | | | and Practical Articles on Internet Marketing, |
| restaurants. There is a ferry that will take | | | | Cruising, Gardening and Cooking. |