We love to get away and see the world, but there's something so exciting about discovering all of the amazing places that are close to home! We asked our staff about some of their favorite places to visit in the United States and why they love them so much. Keep reading for some great recommendations for your next domestic vacation!

"Looking for a great all-inclusive family vacation in the United States? Then look no further than Club Med Sandpiper located in Port St. Lucie, Florida. This lovely resort is located only an hour from the West Palm Beach Airport and is the perfect destination for families and multi-generation vacations. From their mini club which takes infants (4 months) and toddlers to the wide variety of sports programs for kids of all ages including tennis, golf, circus training, mini golf, basketball and swimming to boating, kayaking, water skiing, sailing and paddle boarding to just relaxing by the pool – there is something for literally everyone. There is a great fitness center and a variety of classes are offered including yoga and other workouts. Club Med also offers a special adults-only pool and accommodations area, a wonderful spa and adults-only dining areas.  

Every night there is fun entertainment for everyone to enjoy, and there are evening cocktail parties by the pool. Dining is in a casual atmosphere, but the food is excellent and there are choices for every taste. A variety of wines and cocktails are also included in the price.

I have been there 4 times. Most were with my children and grandchildren, but I have also been there for a business meeting. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience (and I improved my golf game at the same time). The golf pro is a former LPGA champion and she was fantastic! You can take either free group lessons or pay for private lessons. I experienced both and they were great.

Enjoy a few days or a week at this fun resort right in the good old USA."

"One of my favorite places to visit in the states is Asheville ,NC! It is such a cute town filled with local shops and breweries. Surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, there are a lot of stops for waterfalls and trails to hike. I loved visiting the Omni Grove Park Inn for the stunning views! I hope to stay at this amazing property next time I visit Asheville!"

"There is nothing my family loves more than a trip to the beach! We have taken multiple trips to Fort Meyers over the years, as it is one of our favorite beach towns in the United States. So many memories have been made here as a family, which makes this place so special. One of our favorite things to do is walk along the boardwalk in the evening and explore the variety of little shops and restaurants."

​“My favorite U.S. destination is French Lick Springs Resort in French Lick, Indiana. Since I was 10 years old, I’ve visited this resort almost every summer with my family members that live in Indiana. We go the second weekend of August each year and we spend our time poolside listening to the DJ, wine tasting at French Lick Winery, and on Saturday night, going to nearby Legendz to sing karaoke. The resort is absolutely gorgeous and it’s a historic hotel that was built in the 1800s. The resort is adorned with gold leaf details in the lobby and classic rocking chairs on its wrap around veranda. On the weekends it’s so relaxing to sit on the veranda and listen to the live Dixieland band. It’s the perfect weekend getaway as it’s only 3 hours away from St. Louis and it’s near Santa Claus, Indiana, where Holiday World is located. Only 6 more months until my next visit and I can hardly wait!”

"​I’ve taken quite a few trips to Memphis, Tennessee, and always have a wonderful time! With its own unique mix of history, culture, and music, Memphis is a destination for people with a variety of interests. One of my favorite places in the city is the Peabody Hotel, home to the famous Peabody ducks! At 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., the ducks “march” through the lobby to the hotel’s fountain where they stay and swim all day. While you are downtown, Sun Studios (the “birthplace of Rock and Roll”) is a fun stop that takes you in the footsteps of legends like B.B. King, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis. It may be a small studio, but it is full of history! The National Civil Rights Museum is in the same area as well, telling the story of the American Civil Rights Movement through artifacts, films, and interactive exhibits. And the building itself is historical: the Lorraine Motel (the building housing the museum) is the location of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.

If you want your Memphis trip to have a focus on music, I absolutely recommend visiting Beale Street. It has been named a National Historic Landmark and is a hub for two things Memphis is famous for, music and delicious BBQ. If you are looking for some classic Memphis BBQ, Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous restaurant has exactly what you will be craving. I loved the whole experience there, though finding it was a challenge (the entrance is in a back alley)!

No trip to Memphis is complete without visiting Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley. While visiting, you will have an opportunity to visit the Graceland mansion and Elvis’ airplanes on the property. There are also several brand-new museum facilities that have everything from Elvis’ personal cars, stage outfits, and awards on display. While you are there, leave your mark! It is tradition to sign your name on the wall outside Graceland as fans have done for decades."

Nothing is better than taking that perfect travel picture to share with your friends and family. If you're willing to do anything for the perfect Insta, pack your bags and head to Nashville, Tennessee! From giant murals to aesthetically pleasing shops and restaurants, this city is the perfect backdrop for unique travel photos. Keep reading to find out about some of the most Instagrammble spots in Nashville!

My husband and I have always been huge Disney fans which means we absolutely love to vacation at Walt Disney World. My entire pregnancy people told me "you know you have to wait years before you go back to Disney World?" because people knew I would be dying to go back there and to most people it sounds like a miserable idea to take a baby to Disney. Well, when I announced I was planning to take my baby to Walt Disney World I got tons of push back! Of course I was a little nervous, but guess what - taking my 10-month-old to Disney was the best decision I ever made and I can't wait to go back with him! I will say it definitely was a different type of Disney vacation than what I've been used to, but it was completely worth it and here are some of my tips for taking your baby to Disney: 

1. Be on your baby's schedule

On previous Disney vacations my husband and I would be the first ones in the park and the last to leave each day. We had to ride every ride, see every show and close out the night with fireworks. Unfortunately, this plan doesn't work too well with a baby. Nap time, feedings and bedtime all have to be taken into consideration. But this doesn't mean you can't still have fun! Be sure to have a stroller that you can recline back so baby can nap during the day and you can walk around the Park or get a yummy snack. Also, slowing down your pace will actually allow you to enjoy more of the Parks than constantly being on the go, which we definitely learned on this trip. Don't expect your baby will be awake for every photo opportunity. You have to learn to just go with the flow. 
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2. Ship baby necessities to your resort

If you plan to fly to Walt Disney World it's not practical to pack diapers, formula and food in your suitcase. You'll lose valuable space and you'll probably get stuck paying for heavy luggage fees at the airport. Instead, go on Amazon before your trip and select the items that your baby needs the most and have them shipped to the resort you're staying at. This was a lifesaver for us! I chose everything I needed and changed the shipping address to the resort. Be sure to include "Guest" with your name and check-in date on the shipping label so they can easily find the package when you check in.
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3. Pack a change of clothes each day

Accidents and babies go hand in hand. You just never know when something will happen to a baby's clothes. Be sure that before you head out to the Parks each day that you have a spare change of clothes in your diaper bag. To quickly locate everything I recommend putting the change of clothes in a Ziplock bag, and this will also help keep the soiled clothes separate from everything else in your bag. Trust me, accidents WILL happen.
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4. Mark your stroller

Any time you want to hop on a ride you have to leave your stroller in the sea of stroller parking. It can be difficult to quickly identify which stroller is yours, so to help out be sure to have a sign that you can attach to the back of your stroller. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, you could use a brightly colored ribbon. However I like to be a little extra and full of Disney flair, so I had a custom sign made that I found here on Etsy. Remember, don't leave valuables in your stroller! 
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5. Get a stroller fan

I can't emphasize this enough, you have to get a fan to clip on your stroller! There is almost nothing hotter than the Florida sun and you have to have something to keep your baby cool. I purchased this rechargeable fan on Amazon and it worked wonders. We clipped it to the top of the stroller so our son couldn't mess with it but it was securely aimed on him at all times. 
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6. Utilize Fastpasses for baby-friendly rides

Fastpasses are free with your park admission and they're a great way to make your ride-planning much easier. You get three Fastpasses that you can book in advance, and once you've used all your Fastpasses at one park you can request additional passes. To avoid waiting in lines and causing our son to get restless, we only went on rides if we had a Fastpass (or if there wasn't a long wait time). They made our day so laid back and our son thoroughly enjoyed every ride he went on! Our son got to experience The Seas with Nemo and Friends, Frozen Ever After, "it's a small world", Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Peter Pan's Flight, The Voyage of The Little Mermaid, Prince Charming Regal Carousel, Carousel of Progress, Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover and Kilimanjaro Safari. I loved how his face would light up with curiosity, he would let out happy squeals and clap his hands to songs! 
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7. Book Character Dining experiences

My son is obsessed with watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and I knew I wanted him to have the chance to meet all of the characters. The best place to do this is at Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary Resort. I booked this during breakfast when I knew it wouldn't interfere with nap time and he would be in good spirits. It was the best way for us to have one-on-one time with each character without having to wait in long lines to meet them. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto and Goofy all came to meet our son and he just couldn't get enough of them! It even brought a few tears to this Disney momma's eye.
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8. Document as much as you can

Since Disney is so dear to my heart I wanted to document as many moments as I could with my son. Before the trip I made "first" signs for different experiences I knew my son would have throughout Walt Disney World. It made us pause during the day to appreciate little moments and take in different experiences in a new way. Not to mention I have so many more pictures for our photo album because I captured the moment! 
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Coming home after a vacation is such a wonderful feeling! You are back in a familiar place and feel right at home, but then you begin to think about where you will travel to next. You have been a tourist in many unfamiliar places before, but have you ever thought about being a tourist in your own town? Many people have lived in our hometowns their entire lives, so we often take the amazing spots in our hometowns for granted. At Brentwood Travel, we are proud to call St. Louis, Missouri, our home! No matter if you were born and raised or have never been, here are the places you MUST VISIT when you're in STL!

10. Ballpark Village: Located just steps from Busch Stadium, Ballpark Village has a variety of bars and restaurants that will suit everyone! It is the perfect spot for before and after Cardinals games or any night out! With seven different bars under one roof, you can get a night of variety with the convenience of being only a couple of feet away from your next stop.

​9. City Museum: This unique museum is home to many exhibits consisting largely of re-purposed architectural and industrial objects. The City Museum is the perfect place to let your imagination and inner child run wild! If you enjoy heights and thrills, be sure to check out the school bus on the rooftop!

8. Imo's: Nothing is more St. Louis than St. Louis-style pizza! This unique thin crust, square-sliced pizza is something you don't see all over the country, so when you'll want to try it out if you never have!

7. Grant's Farm: This historic farm is built on land given to President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife by his father in law. Today, you can visit Budweiser Clydesdales in-training, feed goats, watch animal shows, or relax in the courtyard for lunch and complimentary Anheuser-Busch products.

6. Ted Drewes: This is one of our favorite places in STL! The line is always worth the wait for the best frozen custard concretes around. Their large menu has something to satisfy every type of sweet tooth. Because of this, Ted Drewes has been a St. Louis classic for 90 years!

5. St. Louis Zoo: What is better than a day at the zoo? A day at a zoo that is FREE to the public! Visit all kinds of animals, from polar bears to prairie dogs to elephants; the St. Louis Zoo has it all!​

4. Anheuser-Busch Brewery: Visit the King of Beers and see how your favorite beer is brewed right in St. Louis. The (FREE) brewery tours are not only educational but also fun! Try freshly brewed samples throughout the tour as well as redeeming your free beer at the end. If you're visiting around the holidays, be sure to stop by the brewery for some of the best light displays around!

3. Cardinals Game: St. Louis has always been the ultimate baseball town! Nothing is better than a beautiful summer evening in Busch Stadium cheering on our team. We recommend trying the loaded nachos while you're there, you won't regret it!

2. Blues Game: We are proud to be the home of the 2019 Stanley Cup Champions! If you are in town during hockey season, make sure to pick up some Blues tickets to watch the boys in action.

1. Gateway Arch: ​The Gateway Arch is the most iconic landmarks in St. Louis. Take a ride to the top to get a breathtaking view of downtown St. Louis, or if heights aren't your thing, walk around the beautiful grounds or cruise around the Mississippi River in a replica 19th century paddle-wheel riverboat.

In May of this year, Travel Consultant Christine Hakenjos sailed to Alaska on Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of The Seas. She, along with her fiancé and 14 of his family members, departed out of Seattle for an Alaskan Cruise they would never forget! Keep reading for her experiences in Alaska and her thoughts on the ship itself. 
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​We boarded the ship on Friday, May 24th after spending the evening prior in Seattle. We arrived at the Cruise Terminal and boarded Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas. The check in at the terminal was a breeze! We had completed our check in process before we even arrived in Seattle. I highly recommend doing this!
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​Our itinerary was absolutely wonderful! Although I will say, after this cruise I DEFINITELY want to see more of Alaska! This 7-night cruise featured stops to Juneau, Skagway and Victoria, British Columbia. We also had two days out at sea and one day cruising through Alaska’s Inside Passage as well as one day cruising through Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier. 

​I will be honest, I was a bit bummed at first that we were only going to have 3 days in port, but after experiencing the views from our balcony stateroom during our days cruising, I totally changed my mind! I swear we could have sat out on that balcony for HOURS.
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​With a group of 16, it was hard for us all to decide on the same shore excursions so some of us did different things while in port. All our excursions & tours were booked through a company called Shore Trips because we were wanting smaller group excursions. Everyone LOVED their shore excursions! We all thought our tour guides were very knowledgeable and entertaining. The tours were very well done and worth every penny!
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​On our 4th day of the cruise, we arrived in the small town of Juneau, Alaska. The town was absolutely adorable and has a lot to see and do just within walking distance of the pier. 
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The tour that 8 other members of our group and I went on was the “Whale Watching and Mendenhall Glacier Combo Tour.” ​First, we were taken to Mendenhall Glacier where we were given an hour and half to do what we wanted. We decided to take the mile hike to the foot of Nugget Falls. The views from this point were just stunning! I have never seen a waterfall that big before. The waters of Mendenhall Lake were a mixture of blues and from where we were standing, we could actually see where the fresh water from the lake met the glacier’s run-off. This change in colors was beautiful to see! The glacier itself was unbelievable. I had seen many photos of it from all the research I had been doing prior to the trip but seeing it in person was a whole new perspective. 
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After our visit to Mendenhall Glacier, we were driven to Auke Bay where we boarded our boat and met our very knowledgeable captain and marine biologist tour guides. They were both very insightful and entertaining. They lead us directly to whales, sea lions, harbor seals, bald eagles, and other wildlife while teaching us all about life in Alaska and the habits and lives of these beautiful mammals. 
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Even though we had chances to see whales and dolphins from our ship, seeing them up close and personal like this was a whole other experience! We were all SO glad we took part in this tour!
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​​Two members of our group did the “Mendenhall Lake Canoe Adventure.” They paddled their way across beautiful Mendenhall Lake leading them to the face of the living Mendenhall Glacier.  

Three other members of our group decided on the “Helicopter and Dog Sled Tour” in Juneau. Their tour began with a 20-minute helicopter ride through glacier-carved mountains to the top of Herbert Glacier where they found about 80 huskies waiting to greet them. The mushers (tour guides/dog sled leaders) then took them on a 2-mile look through the mountains, even letting them drive the sleds!
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​We arrived in Skagway, Alaska, on our 5th day. This was the port that I had been most excited about. There is so much history in this small town! Skagway is best known for the Gold Rush and is still home to gold-rush-era buildings that are now preserved as part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. ​Walking the town of Skagway is an experience within itself. While it is a very small town, there is so much to see and do!

​Our group was split into 3 on this day also. Five members of our group went on the “Mt. Riley Nature Hike with Catamaran Cruise” taking them on a scenic boat ride and then to the trail for a hike to the summit of Mt. Riley at a height of 1,760 ft. The trail took them through the temperate rain forest in their almost 5 hours long round trip. From the top, they experienced panoramic views that include the snow-capped Chillkat Mountains. They LOVED their experience on this excursion! 
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Another group of 4 joined the “Yukon Suspension Bridge and White Pass Trail by Jeep” tour for an adventurous trip through the mountains. Each group of 2 was given a 4-door Jeep Wrangler to drive caravan style for the day. Their driving path paralleled that of the narrow-gauge railroad, the White Pass Railway and featured stops to experience many different beautiful mountain views. They also walked the 200 ft long Yukon Suspension Bridge, a pedestrian cable bridge hanging 65 ft above raging rapids of the Tutshi River Canyon. 
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I, along with 4 others, decided to take part in 2 excursions while in Skagway. One in the morning and the other later in the afternoon. We began our day boarding the Scenic Railway of the World on the “White Pass Train and Drive” tour, which took us on a 28-mile journey between Skagway, Alaska and Fraser, British Columbia. The historic train ride took us through breathtaking panoramas of mountains, glaciers, gorges, waterfalls and tunnels while we listened to our guides narration of the history of this route. The views from this train were unreal! There were many points in which I looked off the back of the train car and felt as if we were just going to fall right off the side of the mountain. The scenery changed drastically as we rode from Alaska into Canada. 
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Once we reached Fraser, a tour vehicle picked us up and transferred us back to Skagway with stops to Pitchfork Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and the infamous Alaska Sign along the way! This tour and our guides were simply amazing! I would recommend this tour to ANYONE visiting Skagway.
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In between excursions, we walked the town of Skagway and grabbed lunch. Afterwards, 6 of us joined the “Speed Boat Fjord Discovery” tour for some thrills on the water! We met our captain and our tour guide and got into our “exposure suits” to protect us from the wind. Our boat was the same type of boat used by the U.S. Navy Seals and Coast Guard and was VERY fast! The tour took us through the Lynn Canal which is North America’s longest and deepest fjord! Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and got us up close and personal with many hidden coves, massive waterfalls and a lot of wildlife. We got to see harbor seals and a whole lot of bald eagles and their nests! This was yet another tour that I would recommend to anyone visiting Skagway. It was not only informative but very thrilling all at the same time. 
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​On our last and final day on our cruise we stopped at British Columbia’s capital – Victoria. None of us had booked an excursion for this day because we wanted to explore this city for ourselves. Some visited the infamous Butchart Gardens while the rest of us walked the city and the surrounding parklands. It was such a beautiful day! We walked around and did a bit of shopping since we had the Canadian dollar on our side 😉 I missed out on the visit to Butchart Gardens and after seeing the photos from the other members in our group, I definitely regretted not going! This will be on my list of “must-dos” when I get a chance to go back!
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The food on board our ship was always so delicious, and the service was always amazing. We had a group dinner one evening at the specialty dining restaurant Chopps Grille that I think made everyone’s trip. Our waiter turned the dinner into a full-on dining experience with magic tricks involving the whole group. The goat cheese salad was so good, and I’ve had a craving for it every day since! For dessert, our waiter drew a picture of Joe’s grandmother with chocolate as an early birthday celebration for her. It was a great evening! 
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​Our balcony stateroom really did make our vacation! Waking up and enjoying room service on our balcony as we sailed past glaciers felt like living in a dream. 

Like I said before, this cruise was so amazing and it left my Fiancé and I wanting much more of Alaska! I have never traveled to a destination that immediately had me wanting more, but after the pure beauty we witnessed we are wanting to go back ASAP!

​I am still in complete AWE of what we experienced during our trip and I still find it hard to believe that all these views are right in our backyard! If Alaska is not on your travel bucket list, it should be!!

Nothing is more classic than an annual family vacation to Florida, at least that's what Marketing Associate Brenna Shea thinks. Her family has traveled to Fort Myers, Florida, almost every year since she was little and they have found some of the best spots around. Aside from the relaxing beaches, Fort Myers is full of great restaurants, beautiful nature, and fun activities for all ages. Here are Brenna's Top 5 places to visit in Fort Myers, FL!

If you want an up-close tour of Florida's natural life, an airboat tour of the Everglades is a must! Expect to see alligators and native birds in their natural habitat. It is such a cool experience for any age. You should definitely plan on taking a day tour during your stay in Fort Myers!

The perfect beach vacation should always include fresh seafood with an ocean view. There is a lot of great seafood in Fort Myers, but I think Sunset Beach Tropical Grill is one of the best spots in town! With the beach being a couple steps away, it can't get much more perfect than that!

Live music, food trucks, and craft beer, SAY NO MORE! Fort Myers Brewing Company was the first microbrewery in Fort Myers and has been around since 2011. They have over 20 beers on tap, as well as brewery tours and events every night of the week! They recently announced their plans to expand to a 40,000 square-foot facility with a tasting hall, event space, an outdoor beer garden and more. I can't wait to see the renovations next time I am there.

Heavenly Biscuits is a local breakfast gem. We discovered this little restaurant on our most recent trip to Fort Myers, and we wish we discovered it sooner! Their claim to fame is their heavenly over-sized cinnamon rolls and biscuit sandwiches. It is the perfect way to start your vacation mornings. If you are searching for the best breakfast in Fort Myers, look no further!

Looking for the most picturesque way to spend your evening in Fort Myers? Take a Sunset Dolphin Cruise with Good Time Charters. Relax and soak in the beautiful Floridian wildlife as you cruise around the Gulf of Mexico. Even not being the biggest fan of boats, this is still one of my favorite things to do in Fort Myers. Have your camera ready when you spot the dolphins and bird rookeries as you watch the sun set!

Call Brentwood Travel at (314) 439-5700 or email us to start planning your next vacation!

"The cruise itself was amazing and we want to thank our Travel Consultant Stacey Hoehne for the wonderful dinner on our first night and the strawberries and champagne!

A highlight during our voyage was our balcony stateroom especially as it gave us the option to open the partition between our room and my parents which was fun! We also got up in the middle of the night while going through the inside passage and watched as we threaded that ship through a needle while sitting on our balcony in our robes. And it was a full moon that night!

One morning we were sitting out on our balcony and a humpback literally waved one of its fins at us. This was the first cruise that I’ve taken were you can see land all around most of the time. It was incredible when a momma brown bear and her 3 cubs were spotted on the shore and the captain would get us as close as he possibly could! And we spent many nights watching the sunset in the Crow’s Nest. The onboard naturalists were incredible and we all learned a lot about Alaska. The ship board credit also came in handy and we appreciated it.  Food was good and service was great!

It really was a trip of a lifetime with my family and we all have awesome pictures of the trip and great memories. I believe that every single human being on this planet should see the many wonders that I saw in Alaska!”

-Lynne A.  

This trip of a lifetime began when my aunt and uncle came to me for help planning their cruise to Alaska. As we got further into the planning process, my cousin and I decided to book our own room and tag along!

Vancouver

We started our trip by flying into Vancouver two days before our cruise was scheduled to depart. We stayed at the Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown Hotel which was in a great location for exploring the city. To see some of the beautiful scenery in the surrounding area, we booked a small group tour with a local guide. He took us North to Squamish, where we were able to see Shannon Falls, the Sea to Sky Gondola, and the famous suspension bridges. 

​Scenic Cruising

Our first full day on the ship was a day at sea. We decided to hangout on the top deck and enjoy the sunny weather while keeping an eye out for whales and dolphins. That evening we cruised through the inside passage, and the crew opened up the bow of the ship so we could all get a great view as we sailed forward! We then went to dinner in the main dining room and got a table next to a window to continue enjoying the passing scenery. 

Ketchikan

The first port we visited was Ketchikan, where we booked an excursion to go sea kayaking. Ketchikan is known for being the rainiest city in Alaska, and even though there was a light rain falling when we started our tour, the guides were prepared with rain gear that kept us completely dry as we paddled through the peaceful coves! After our kayaking adventure, we walked through the famous Creek Street. The sun came out and we had perfect weather as we did some shopping and sampled local beers. We then returned to the ship and spotted lots of eagles as we sailed on to our next port! 

Juneau

Our next stop was Juneau, Alaska’s capitol city. We started or day by visiting the famous Mendenhall Glacier. We took a leisurely hike down to the lake for a closer view of the glacier and Nugget Falls.

​Our next adventure in Juneau was an excursion that I had been looking forward to for months. We had decided to splurge and book a helicopter tour to a dogsled camp on top of a glacier, and it was definitely worth it! The helicopter ride took about 15 minutes each way, and the views from the sky were stunning. When we landed at the dogsled camp, the workers there gave us an insight to their way of life and let us meet some of their sled dogs. (As an animal lover, I was in heaven!) They hooked up a sled and we took off on a ride around the snow-covered glacier. I was happy to see how much the dogs loved running through the snow, and we could see that they were well taken care of by their handlers. This tour was very well done and was a highlight of the trip!

​Skagway

Our next port was Skagway, which is known for the White Pass and Yukon Railroad. We had planned to take the famous train excursion, but there was a landslide the night before and the railroad was closed for repairs. Instead, we took a bus tour up the Klondike Highway (which runs parallel to the train route) and had a great time! Our local driver made multiple stops for us to get out and take pictures of the beautiful scenery, and we spotted a family of bears hanging out right next to the highway. 

​We spent the rest of the day hiking a local trail, sampling the local breweries, and walking around the historic town before heading back to the ship.

Denali

When we arrived in Seward, we were sad to leave the ship, but excited to head up to Denali! We boarded a motor coach and began the drive North. We were able to stop at Potter Marsh for some free time and wildlife watching, and then we continued our drive. As we approached the park, our driver stopped at a scenic viewing point and we got our first look at the massive Denali Mountain! We then arrived at the impressive McKinley Chalet, which would be our home for the next 3 nights.  

​Because we booked a Triple Denali tour, we had another day in the park to do whatever we wanted! We decided to go whitewater rafting, and even though the water was freezing, our wetsuits kept us warm and dry. Our experienced guide told us fun stories about his life in Alaska and kept us safe as we paddled through the rapids. After our exciting rafting tour, we took a relaxing hike that followed a river and led us to a scenic mountainside with a whole family of caribou. 

​After our adventure in Denali, we boarded the McKinley Explorer for our scenic train ride back to Anchorage. The dome windows gave us great visibility as we traveled through the mountains. There were lots of food and drink options available onboard and we had a guide that gave us information about the areas we were passing through. This was a fun and comfortable way to make the 8-hour journey!

Anchorage
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We had one night in Anchorage, and then our flight home was late the next day. We had lots of fun walking around town, shopping, and trying out more local breweries! I was glad that we had free time to explore this unique town before heading back to reality. 

​Overall, this was an amazing vacation! Holland America did a fantastic job of helping us experience Alaska by land and sea. The transition from the ship to Denali was seamless and very well organized. Each employee we met was so kind and helpful, and I would highly recommend Holland America for anyone who wants to visit Alaska. Many people consider this a once-in-a-lifetime trip, but we enjoyed it so much that I know I’ll be back again someday! 

Just because you're pregnant this doesn't mean you have to sit at home for the next 9 months waiting for your child to be born. Now is a great time for you to get out there and travel because once that baby comes, traveling will be put on hold for a while (still trying to figure out how I'm going to cope with this reality!). With that being said, there are some challenges and joys while traveling that I experienced first-hand and here are some tips that I put together to help you as you make your travel arrangements. 
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​#1 - Get Maternity Leggings ASAP

Whether you choose to fly, drive, walk, run, or lay down you will want to be comfortable at all times, or as much as your growing baby will allow you. The best possible thing to wear is maternity leggings, and I bought about five pairs from Motherhood Maternity before starting my travels. Depending on the color and design they cost anywhere from $15 - $20 a piece (gotta love the cost of maternity clothes!). They have definitely been a lifesaver and I take them everywhere! 
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​#2 - Combat Swollen Feet 
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If your feet don't swell while you travel then consider yourself VERY lucky. This is probably the most difficult thing I've had to deal with while traveling. If you're in a car or plane for long hours without moving those little piggies just get bigger and bigger and it can become extremely uncomfortable. Try elevating your feet as much as possible and be sure to get a pair of compression socks (aka the most attractive things you will ever wear). I purchased mine at Walgreens for about $7. If your spouse or a very considerate friend is traveling with you and they are willing to rub your feet, definitely take advantage of that as well! 
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#3 - Ask for Non-Alcoholic Equivalent Drinks 

One of my favorite things about traveling is tasting that area's local craft beers and cocktails. In the pregnancy world, you're often left to try that region's finest Coca-Cola or aqua products instead. However, any time I found myself at a brewery or restaurant I always asked if they had any NA (non-alchoholic) beers/root beers or if they could make a virgin Piña Coloda or Strawberry Daiquiri. Just because you're pregnant that doesn't mean you can't still have something similar to the alcohol you're used to drinking. It also helps to make you not feel so left out when you're with a group of people who get to enjoy the real thing. 
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​#4 - Take Your Maternity Pillow 

First off, if you don't have a maternity pillow go out and get one now! Unfortunately they are not cheap though, I got mine for $100 at Destination Maternity but it was $100 well spent. Sleep is so important during pregnancy so why sacrifice your quality of sleep while traveling just because it's a bulky item? Obviously if you're flying this probably isn't the most user-friendly carry-on item, but on a road trip, cram that sucker in the trunk and get a good night's sleep when you check in to your hotel. You, and your growing belly, will thank you for it. 
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​#5 - Go on a Babymoon

Babymoon? What's that? Essentially it's your last vacation before the baby is born. This is your time to be with your spouse or partner while traveling before you have to lug around Pack n Play's, strollers and diaper bags. Take the time to reflect on this exciting time in your life as a couple and enjoy the wonders of traveling before you have a new travel partner with you. My husband and I went to Gulf Shores to relax on the beach for a few days and I would highly recommend it. Pregnancy is exhausting at all hours of the day, so getting to just sit on the beach and float in the water to relieve belly weight and back pain was the perfect thing. 
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​#6 - Talk With Your Doctor

One final piece of advice, always talk with your doctor before making your travel arrangements. Depending on how your pregnancy has been going, they may give you a cut off at how many weeks you're allowed to travel, how far you can travel, or they may give you specific restrictions. For example, my doctor has advised me not to swim at Lake of the Ozarks. Although I've swam in this lake my entire life, it is filled with bacteria that can be dangerous to the baby, so until I give birth I just have to hang out on the dock and stare at the water. I have been told other lakes, pools and the ocean are safe to swim in, however had I not said anything to my doctor I never would've realized I could've put my baby at risk. 

July 21 -The Journey Begins
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For the first part of our journey, we flew on Alaska Air to Vancouver. At the airport we got Canadian currency and flagged a cab to our hotel, the Radisson Park Inn on Broadway. Nice place. That evening we walked to Granville Island and enjoyed strolling. The hills going down to the water there like San Fran. Steep! We liked Granville and had fish and chips at a local place called Tony’s Oyster and Seafood.  The area on our walk was right by the water and very nice. 
​Weather…GREAT.

July 22 – Bon Voyage
We were both very excited to board Holland America’s Westerdam.  All the luggage & transfer to get on board and thru customs went well. It was really exciting getting to our state room on the ship.  The Bon Voyage from Vancouver was grand. We stood on the top deck and next to us were two couples. We began to chat and the ladies said they were from St. Louis!
 
Emilie and I dined that night the first night in the main dining room of the ship, and I had shrimp Diablo. She had apple pie and I had crème Brulee’. After dinner we enjoyed the Main Stage entertainment on the ship. When we came back to our room, we watched a beautiful sunset. As we sailed out, everything seemed so quiet and tranquil. Our first experience on a ship. NICE!

July 23 – A Day at Sea
After a good night’s sleep, we woke up for this full day at sea. Had eggs Benedict in the main dining room and enjoyed meeting a wonderful couple from Tasmania! There was a tour group of around 25 folks from Australia. We loved this couple and ran into them throughout our sea/land journey all the way to Anchorage. We walked through the shops and a lovely art gallery. Had lunch with a couple from Toronto. There were afternoon lectures on the upcoming ports of call and then a 5:00 happy hour called “Sip & Savor”. Always looking for a cheap glass of wine, I personally enjoyed this event.  The chief sommelier offers a tasting of the appetizer of the day and a glass of his choice red/white for five bucks. Appetizer – incredible! Wine – very, very good.
 
We ate in the main dining room and this is when we met Ann & Dennis from Rhode Island. I had escargot as an appetizer and they were incredible! I savored every bite! We enjoyed getting to know Ann & Dennis and a great meal. After the show we hit the main stage show which featured Jim Short, the Australian humorist.. Good show! As we turned in, we knew that we’d gain an extra hour of sleep as we cruised onward in the Inland Passage to our first port.

July 24 – Ketchikan, Alaska
It was neat to wake up, look out our veranda and see that we were docked! We came into port at 7AM. Had a nice breakfast and then had an hour to wander around downtown and look at a few shops. Ketchikan is the salmon capitol of the state and they also get lots of rain. They get an average of 180” of rain a season!
 
We enjoyed wonderful weather our entire trip. It never went over 74 degrees and we walked around Ketchikan in shirt sleeves. After our walk we got the shuttle to take us to our first excursion which was a one hour walk in the rain forest & a trip to the raptor center. Our guide in the rain forest was great!
 
After we got back to the city we had time to walk historic Creek Street and look inside the shops. We had a late lunch back on the ship with a lovely French couple from Montreal and then sat on the deck in the sun. It was 70 and an incredible day!
 
I enjoyed Sip ‘n Savor, and Dennis and Ann asked us to join them for dinner. I had crab legs for dinner and after dinner we saw the song & dance troupe again, on the Main Stage.   After that we went to the Lincoln Center State to listen to the string quintet play a while. Turned in for sleep after a GREAT day.

​July 25 – Juneau, Alaska
Right after breakfast I went to the Crow’s Nest and watched the ship dock. It was incredible to see how the captain came slowly into the dock and literally turned the ship around and had it bumped exactly parallel up to the dock!  Our excursion did not leave until 2:00 so we had time to investigate Juneau. We walked for 2 hours and went into the state office building, walked by shops and spent a little time inside the state capitol. We got a great photo outside the capitol of William H. Seward, the guy who got Alaska from the Russians for $7,000,000. Since Emilie and I met 49 years ago in Seward, Nebraska, we enjoyed seeing the man for whom the Alaska and Nebraska sister cities is named.
 
We had lunch back on the ship and had time to sit on our veranda before our tour. Weather was perfect and 70 degrees!   Our 2nd planned port excursion was a trip to Mendenhall Glacier and then a four hour whale watching trip. We only had about an hour at the glacier, but enjoyed seeing it, had a bear sighting and spent some time in the Park Service Visitor Center there.
 
Retiring to the ship, I had salmon for supper and then we stood on the deck before retiring. Great day!  They say Alaska has 50,000 eagles and that 30,000 of them live in Juneau. We saw a number of eagles on our tour and near the ship. They say they are so plentiful in Juneau that the locals call them “crows”.

​July 26 – Skagway
Cruising up the Inland Passage is so peaceful. The water is like a lake. We got right off the ship and hopped right onto a van that carried us out of the city and up a winding highway. We ended up in Frasier, British Columbia in Canada which was the 2nd time we needed our passports. Process was simple.  Our guide stayed with us all the way and we saw lots of interesting terrain as we came back over the Dead Horse Pass and wound our way back toward Skagway.
 
About 5 miles north of town, we were dropped off the train with 15 other folks and three guides. The guides were young and friendly and two were EMT trained. The path into the Denver valley was very rugged with lots of roots and rocks. We had to go slow and watch all the time to avoid stumbling. Em & I ended up at the end of the group and before long the rest of our group was out of sight far ahead of us. One of the guides stayed back with us and walked with us; we really appreciated this young man and it felt like we had a personal guide as we walked at our pace.
 
That night at dinner I had seared kingfish with risotto and it was great. On the Main Stage we saw an incredible illusionist; he put on a phenomenal show! I’d seen this man on TV and he did some super tricks! My favorite was when he makes it snow like crazy on stage.

July 27 – Glacier Bay
This had to be one of the highlights of the cruise! Sailing into the area of the National Park, the water is like a mirror. The scenery is lovely. Tranquility. We had another picture perfect day for weather and just kept saying, “Wow!”  The captain got us to four glaciers and at one of them he simply eased up near it, stopped parallel to it, and let the boat sit. For an hour we listened for the cracks and pops and then got our cameras ready. We saw the glacier calving four times and got great photos. The sound of this is really neat!  Early that day, we’d picked up about 6 park rangers. They were on board, making presentations, answering questions and talking about what we were seeing. Before the captain turned the ship around 180, we literally sat on our veranda and watched all this happen.
 
New friends, Dennis and Ann invited us to their room for a glass of wine, and then we dined together in the main dining room. I just had to do it: steak and lobster! I thought the steak was quite good. After dinner we went to the Lincoln Center Stage where a five person string and piano ensemble played some great music.

​July 28 – Day at Sea
We had no trouble with seasickness. Traveling thus far was smooth, you had to look out a window to tell we were moving. This was the day I had worried about…crossing the larger Bay of Alaska. This was the ONLY day we had rain and it really didn’t matter much. It was partly sunny most of the afternoon, 55 degrees and mostly calm sea. We stayed busy on the ship and had no motion problems.

July 29 – Disembark Ship in Seward, Alaska & Head North
We woke up early to have breakfast and to prepare to disembark. After breakfast it was fun standing on our veranda and watching the dock crews begin to unload all the luggage from the ship. They have this down to a science!
 
Our first stop was just south of Anchorage where we walked a bit at the Potter’s Marsh area…a large bird sanctuary. Having passed through Anchorage, we stopped for lunch at a very nice place in Wasilla. I thought that was some little town, but it is a huge bedroom community for Anchorage. On the way up to Denali, we had one more stop at an Iditarod race crossing. There was a small museum and gift shop, and one musher had his team there. Emilie was quite happy to hold one of the puppies.

July 30 – Day in the Denali National Park
We had a wonderful night’s sleep and awoke to another gorgeous morning. It was 54 degrees. Our wonderful travel agent Stacey Hoehne encouraged us to purchase a meal package at Denali. We did that and had a great dinner last night. Breakfast this morning was super! Emilie said it was the best biscuit she’d ever had; also loved the jam. With her eggs she ordered ham and the slab of ham was an inch thick! It has a huge piece, far more than she could eat. I had a splendid pecan waffle with delightful cinnamon vanilla syrup.  
 
They say only about 30% of the tourists get to see Mt. Denali ‘cause of the clouds. It’d say we say the bottom 2/3 of the mountain. We saw one Dall sheep, a bear in the distance with two cubs, a moose with her baby and 14 caribou. Caribou were much more visible and close to the bus when sighted. In fact, when we stopped for a break, two of them walked down a roadway right behind the bathrooms where we were!  We got back to the resort late and went straight to bed.

July 31 – Scenic Train from Denali to Anchorage
The train ride was another real highlight of the trip. If Glacier Bay was the high point of the cruise, this ride was the highlight of the land portion of our adventure.  Luxury is the best word to describe them! The entire top of the upper seating area is glass to allow viewing. At the front of the car is a full bar. The dining car is beneath the seating area. White table cloths. First class, like on the ship. 
 
There were hours of forested views and lovely lakes, mountains and vistas. We had a great bar tender and an absolutely fantastic guide in our car. She was a 4th grade teacher from Portland. Her ongoing commentary (along with the scenery) made these 8 hours fly by. This young gal was very knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor. She had us laughing almost as often as that humorist on the ship.
 
To our surprise our Denali meal package included coupons for lunch on the train, dinner that night in Anchorage and breakfast the next morning. Nice surprise, as we thought we’d bought meals only at the resort!  Sandwich in that dining car was fun and tasty.
 
Motor coaches took us from the train station to our hotel in Anchorage, the Westmark, downtown and owned by Holland. Like magic somehow our luggage again made it from our room in Denali to our new room here at the Westmark! 
 
We had dinner in the hotel restaurant. Great service. Food good, but not out of the ordinary. We walked around downtown after supper and ran into Dennis & Ann.  We walked about five blocks to a place called Simon & Seafood. We had a night cap and watched evening fall over the bay.  The walk back to the hotel was nice, but then we had to say our final good-byes to our lovely, new friends and feel the sun setting on the last day in Alaska.

August 1 – Fly from Anchorage to Seattle
We enjoyed breakfast and there was light rain this morning. A nice motor coach took us to the airport for our 3 ½ hour Alaska Air flight to Seattle. Everything was on time and Meredith and the girls drove us home. Matt spoiled us with a glass of red wine upon our arrival and grilled steaks for us. Tacoma had lovely weather that evening and we sat by their fire pit and enjoyed talking and making s’mores.

​August 3 – Home Again. Home Again…
All good things must come to an end and this was the concluding day of our vacation. Great adventure! Many, many memories. We’d taken over 250 photos, so I know we’re going to have a great photo album as well to remember these blessed and fun days! Great to be with family, to make pleasant new friends and to see so much of God’s beautiful creation!