Aaron and I flew to Alaska a few days before the rest of the family, and we made the most of it. This post covers the part of our Alaska cruisetour that came before the ship ever left the dock: the glass dome train to Talkeetna, the lodge at the base of Denali, and two nights in Anchorage that were nothing like what I expected. If you are trying to decide whether the land portion of an Alaska cruisetour is worth adding to your trip, this one is for you.

Ireland road trip planning involves a lot more moving pieces than most people expect. In this post I am pulling back the curtain on exactly how a travel advisor thinks through a big multi-city trip, from route logic and pacing to castle hotel stays and driving tips. Whether Ireland is on your bucket list or you are dreaming of any big European adventure, this one is for you.