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Alaska lodges provide the perfect opportunity to see parts of the state that are not normally visited. Lodges can be found all over the state and each provides a unique experience for their visitors. Travelers have a wide range to choose from. With lodges found near Mt. McKinley to the ones nestled near the Arctic Circle, the variety is endless.

Alaska lodges provide the challenge and beauty of the wilderness. Minutes away from prime fishing streams or wildlife refuges, these accommodate people of many interests. For the angler, salmon and halibut provide challenges galore. Many lodges are located right next to streams or coastal waters that will keep fishermen busy for days. For those that want to view wildlife, the choices are even wider. Some lodges are nestled along the coast where whale and dolphin watching is a favored past time. Eagles seem to swoop on command. Others lodges are nestled in the Interior where bear, wolves and caribou dominate the landscape. During the brief summers, wildflowers and birds add their beauty as well.

Alaska lodges provide comfortable accommodations in the wilderness. Some lodges provide private or semi-private cabins for their guests. Others have guest suites and common rooms. No matter the situation, these lodges are built for the comfort of their guests. Jacuzzis and saunas are often seen sites. And many boast world class cuisine as well. Services vary from lodge to lodge. Some provide fishing lessons for the beginning angler. Others provide cooking classes and other amusements. Excursions on water and land can help the days pass away. Evenings are often spent with other guests in the common rooms or in the privacy of your own suite. It is all up to the visitor and what they want.

Alaska lodges can be easy to find or difficult to get to. But each is well worth the journey. In the remote mountains, roads are often difficult to navigate. Some lodges will fly their guests in by plane. On the coastal waters, boats are used to ferry people to lodges located on islands. Some lodges are available by train or by car. Some are near major airports, but many are not. No matter how you need to get there, each one is well worth the time to go. Surrounded by the majesty of mountains and the sparkling waters, these lodges will help you go back to a simpler time and pace. And let you relax.

Alaska’s Inside Passage Resorts (AIPR) is a consortium of Alaskan fishing lodges, yacht charters and small ship cruises. Our consortium members strive to create unforgettable wilderness adventures while providing guest services unmatched anywhere in Alaska.

George DE Filippo, President
Toll Free: 800-926-2477
Web: http://www.alaskalodgesandyachts.com
Email: aipr2@ix.netcom.com

Alone in the Wilderness

As the season turns, it is time to consider a little vacation leisure time. If a Michigan getaway is on your menu, there are a lot of informal lodging options.

Relaxing Lodgings for Michigan Getaways

Michigan is one of the most popular vacation spots in the Midwest. Situated between four Great Lakes (Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Superior), this state has over 2000 miles of shoreline for excellent lakefront vacationing. Add to that the charm of the forest wilderness that abounds in Michigan, which includes great golfing, fishing and hunting, and the state becomes a great place to take a family vacation away from it all.

When you are thinking about taking a vacation in Michigan, why not choose to stay in one of the many vacation rentals that are more homey than hotels? Aside from being more rustic and outdoorsy, these cabin lodgings also offer families an affordable and fun place to stay. Available for long or short term rental, these cottages are perfect for family retreats and trips. Finding a relaxing lodgings that suit you is as easy as taking a look at the area you want to vacation in.

The beautiful area around Oscoda, Tawas City and Mackinac Island, Michigan is known as the “Sunrise Side”, and it borders Lake Huron. Here, lodgings can be found on the sugar sand beaches of Lake Huron or on any of the smaller, more secluded lakes that are found in the vicinity. Some unique places to check out here are the Anchorage Cottages, located in Oscoda. Available with a weekly rental rate, these cabins are situated along 150 feet of sugar sand beach bordering Lake Huron. The Anchorage Cottages offer separate bedrooms, kitchens and living areas, as well as amenities such as water sports, swimming and fishing.

If you would prefer to stay in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, there are also plenty of interesting little places to choose from. Here, A Cottage UP North, located in the Porcupine Mountains State Park, offers family vacation fun. UP North is actually a four season vacation home, which is available to be rented weekly year round. It sleeps ten with three bedrooms, and it is near both the state park and Lake Superior. This gives you the opportunity to go water skiing, fishing, hiking or just loaf at a relaxed pace of life.

Whether you prefer to stay on a lake or in the mountains, Michigan offers the charm and economy families need and enjoy. Whether you plan on staying in Michigan for a few days or a week, relaxed vacation lodgings beat out hotels any day.

Richard Rspad is with ResortSpaDestinations.com – reviews and articles on resorts.

IceRain in the Michigan Wilderness

You can drive the 34 miles between Lincoln and Conway on Route 112 in just about an hour. But you’d miss experiencing one of the most colorful scenic drives in the entire northeast – and some would say the U.S. for fall foliage.

Route 112, or as its better known the Kancamagus Highway, is the only road that runs directly east and west through the heart of the White Mountain National Forest. This is a dramatic road built to show off the magnificence of one of New Hampshire’s best-loved scenic spots.

During the summer and fall foliage months you’re likely to have plenty of company on your drive. But if the weather is clear who cares if the going is a little slow – this isn’t a drive to rush anyway.

You’ll find plenty of pull-offs to admire the views and take a bunch of photos if the weather cooperates. Be warned though… the White Mountains are notorious for generating their own weather, especially in the Presidential Range, where many of the peaks are above timberline.

So what will you see?

At the western end of this drive where Interstate 93 meets Route 112, lies Lincoln. The Lincoln, and close-by Cannon Mountain, areas abound in gift and specialty shops, including Clark’s Trading Post.

Lincoln is your starting point on this fall foliage scenic drive, and as you head east towards the Kancamagus Pass you’ll be climbing to 2,860 feet in the first 10 miles.

Just east of Lincoln you’ll find Loon Mountain, a ski resort by winter and a playground in the summer and fall foliage months. Loon is worth a side trip to ride the Gondola to the summit for breathtaking views, and exploring the Glacial Caves, and the summit observation tower.

Continuing east on the two-lane highway you’ll enter the Pemigewasset wilderness region of the drive. Close to Hancock Campground is the parking lot entrance to the Lincoln Woods Trail. This popular and easy trail leads into the wilderness area and makes a great excursion to view the Pemigewasset River, and the wildlife that inhabits the area.

As you head out to the Sandwich Range Wilderness Area the road offers interesting turns and views through the Kancamagus Pass. You’ll find plenty of scenic overlooks to admire the mountain ranges, especially during the vibrant fall foliage season. Autumn is a spectacular time to travel this part of the road.

Another side excursion along this stretch of the road is the Greeley Ponds Scenic Area. Located about one mile from the highway and about 9 miles east of Lincoln this is a beautiful place to have a picnic lunch, and view the two ponds and towering cliffs.

Continuing east you’ll enter the Swift River valley region. This area abounds in scenic stops, and hikes through the forest offering stunning views of the valley and mountains. The hike offering the best views is the MT. Potash hike but at 4 miles requires a few hours to appreciate fully.

For a shorter and easier hike drive to the Rocky Gorge Scenic area and take The Lovequist Loop Trail. This is about an hours walk around Falls Pond and offers fishing and a marvelous window into the beauty of the natural plants and vegetation of the region. You’ll cross the gorge formed by the Swift River over a rustic footbridge.

Back in the car you’ll drive a short distance east to the Covered Bridge and the trailhead to the Boulder Loop Trail. If you’ve been saving your energy for only one hike then this is it. At about 3 miles round trip it can take you anywhere from 2-4 hours but you’ll get outstanding photo opportunities of MT. Chocorua and the Swift River Valley. The hike itself is mostly a gradual climb with some step pitches. This is one of the more popular hikes during fall foliage season.

The last piece of the Kancamagus Highway fall foliage scenic drive takes you to the eastern end of the drive where Route 112 meets Route 16 in Conway.

Look for other articles in this series of fall foliage scenic drives. Or if you can’t wait you can pick up the complete scenic drive free report containing these and other New England scenic drives, along with detailed route coverage and attractions, at his New England vacation site.

Anchorage at the Lake – NH Lakefront Cabin & Cottage Rentals on Lake Winnisquam

Where can I purchase a REALLY good topographical map of the Flat Tops Wilderness Area in Colorado?

My husband hunts and camps there every summer and the group has never been able to find a good map of the area. They use their GPS systems and their heads to navigate the difficult terrain. I’d like to get him one on the internet, but I’m not sure where to start…please help!

I think my first choice would be the Trails Illustrated maps from National Geographic. They are good quality topographic maps, and their trail information is relatively current.

Here’s their web site for Colorado maps:
http://www.natgeomaps.com/ti_colorado

Unfortunately, you need four different maps (#122, 123, 124, and 125) to cover the entire Flat Tops Wilderness.

You can buy the maps directly from this web site, or from other stores with outdoor supplies.

The best (but not necessarily current) topographic maps are from the United States Geological Survey; but with their scale of 1:24000 or 1:25000, you’d need a lot of maps to cover the entire wilderness area.
http://topomaps.usgs.gov/ordering_maps.html

If you want to view the USGS maps from your computer, you can order the TOPO! software for Colorado:
http://www.natgeomaps.com/topo_colorado

This is useful for exploring by map before or after the trip, but it’s not very practical to print out a lot of these maps from your home computer.

A previous answer mentioned the DeLorme maps. These are excellent for exploring an area (including back roads) by car, but they are not adequate for hiking.
http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DELibeCCtdItemDetail.jsp?beginIndex=0&item=108§ion=10096

Curious_45’s recommendation to contact the Forest Service is also good. The Flat Tops are split between two units — Medicine Bow & Routt National Forest, and White River National Forest. Here are their web sites for maps:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/mbr/maps/
http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/whiteriver/maps/

Maps made by the Forest Service aren’t as detailed as the USGS or Trails Illustrated maps, but might have the most current information on facilities such as roads and campgrounds. (Also, Forest Service maps are usually *not* topographic maps, unlike the other maps mentioned above.)

Colorado Wilderness 2009 HCS (1 of 2)