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