Alaska Sealife Center

The Alaska Sea Life Center is a non-profit marine science facility dedicated to understanding and maintaining the integrity of the marine ecosystem of Alaska through research, rehabilitation and public education. The Center's research facilities and naturalistic exhibits immerse visitors in the dynamic marine ecosystems of Alaska.

Research

Center-based research projects help scientists discover reasons for declining marine animal populations and environmental changes.

Education

From early education to Elderhostel, the Alaska SeaLife Center educational programs and presentations are designed to expand the public's knowledge of Alaska's marine ecosystems.

Exhibitry

The many exhibits at the Alaska SeaLife Center immerse visitors in Alaskan marine ecosystems and provide opportunities to watch animals in naturalistic habitats as well as research settings.

June 1 - September 12, 2010

Cost: $22.00 per adult / $10.00 per child

Seward Alaska Vacation Tours

Seward is the coastal gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park and is one of Alaska's most popular destinations for Alaska vacation-goers. Explore just a few of the many activities Seward has to offer.

Full Day Cruise This 110-mile full-day cruise travels into Kenai Fjords National Park and to the Chiswell Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Your host will be a uniformed National Park Ranger, who will provide narration on your journey and point out the many spectacular sights while fielding any questions you may have.

Wildlife is abundant throughout the Kenai National Park, and the tidewater glaciers are massive. You'll visit the mighty Holgate Glacier where guests often witness calving - a process by which glaciers shed giant blocks and slabs of ancient ice - from a close distance. With photo opportunities galore, your cruise will be unforgettable.

The full-day Kenai Fjords National Park cruise departs daily from Seward. The drive to Seward from Anchorage is about a three-hour trip and is full of scenery including: mountains, inlets, lakes, rivers, glaciers and more. If you'd rather use your travel time to gaze at the spectacular sights, we can arrange transportation via motor coach or the legendary Alaska Railroad.

The modern Coast Guard-certified vessel features heated cabins, multiple outside decks, a full-service bar and clean restrooms, not to mention our experienced and friendly crew who will assure your comfort and safety at all times.

A delicious Alaska salmon and prime rib meal is served buffet style with guaranteed reserved table seating in a heated cabin for every guest. Free full-color guide to the Kenai Fjords National Park for every paying adult. Large, stable vessels with multiple viewing decks and fog-free windows. See more wildlife with our "cruising restaurant" service, allowing you the comfort and convenience of exploring as you dine. Cost (with meal): $156.00 per adult / $70.00 per child

Cost (without meal): $127.00 per adult / $63.00 per child

Departure: 11:45 am

Alaska Travel and Vacation Tours in Denali

It is never too early to start planning your 2010 Alaskan Vacation! Take a look at our newly expanded Alaska tour, Alaska hotels, and Alaska vacation packages. Our 2010 selection offers the most Alaska travel options in our history! Alaska Denali Tours is a 100% Alaskan owned company that has been serving thousands of Alaska Travel goers since 1992 with only the highest quality Alaska tours and Alaska vacations. Unique among other Alaska travel and tour companies, Alaska Denali Tours owns and operates our own Denali lodgings and tour buses inside Denali National Park, not to mention a luxurious motorcoach service between Denali and Anchorage. Denali National Park is the number one attraction in Alaska vacations and Alaska travel tours, and we would love to tailor a vacation experience for you. We offer fully customizable Alaska travel and Alaska tour packages where you can build your own itinerary. The options are endless and the choices are all yours. We can customize the Alaska tours, Alaska vacations, or Alaska travel itineraries that you desire and fit your budget, from economical to luxurious. You buy only the Alaska travel components you would like to experience. Every aspect of your Alaska vacation is tailored for you.

Anchorage, Alaska - Elevated Railroad Car

Visitor Tips and News About Elevated Railroad Car

Following are Elevated Railroad Car reports and tips that were sent in by RoadsideAmerica.com visitors. Some tips may not be verified. Anchorage, Alaska - Elevated Railroad Car This is no longer there. I drove by just the other day and noticed they took it down, reportedly, sometime last year. Luckily I got the picture I wanted of it before they took it down. [Kristie, 08/01/2009]

Anchorage, Alaska - Elevated Railroad Car On the south side of Anchorage is a bar/hotel that has a rail car up on pillars, standing guard by the side entrance. [Adam Scott Lankford, 04/15/2008] [RA: Adam has added to the pile of steadily accumulating evidence that Alaska is a really bizarre place. It's perhaps even worth the extraordinary road trip it takes to get there!]

Cantwell, Alaska - Igloo City - Igloo-shaped Building

Visitor Tips and News About Igloo City - Igloo-shaped Building Following are Igloo City - Igloo-shaped Building reports and tips that were sent in by RoadsideAmerica.com visitors. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip or update.

Cantwell, Alaska - Igloo City While traveling to Alaska by motorcycle we couldn't help but stop at this landmark located right on the George Parks Highway. We found out from locals that the "Hotel" has been built for many years, perhaps in the 70's, and has never been open because of not meeting building codes. Different individuals have owned it and yet no one has been able to open it. It is currently padlocked and becoming dilapidated. The RV park adjoining it is also closed and buildings and pumps are gone, leaving only "The Igloo" [Larry Klink, 09/10/2009]

Cantwell, Alaska - Igloo City The attraction, Igloo City, is sadly no longer open. The Igloo is boarded up, the gas pumps are missing, and one of the dormer windows has started to collapse in. [Kenton Henry, 06/01/2007] Cantwell, Alaska - Igloo City - Igloo-shaped Building The 4-story igloo building. I used to live 3 miles from the Igloo -- now live about 100 from there. [DeVonne Koppenberg, 03/20/2005] [RA: DeVonne sent her 1998 photo of the Igloo building in its prime.]

Cantwell, Alaska - Igloo City I just returned from the 49th state and saw a couple of things that you might find interesting. First is Igloo City, approximately 180 miles out of Anchorage on the Parks Highway that goes to Fairbanks. It is a 4-story igloo that is supposed to eventually be a motel, the exterior is done and visible from airplanes at 30,000 feet, so I am told, but the interior is not. The great pleasures of using an outhouse in Alaska in the middle of winter can not be overstated. Unfortunately the Gift Shop doesn't carry any giant igloo t-shirts or other locally relevant stuff, just typical Alaska T shirts that you can get anywhere in the state. They have big plans however, plumbing is being put in slowly and the cashier in the gas station is the CEO of the company! Also on that same road about 30 mile south of Fairbanks is a motel/Bar with a great name -- Skinny Dick's Halfway Inn -- this guy has the Merchandising end down pat, almost as much stuff as a Hard Rock Cafe. Unfortunately there is not much else to see there but every tourist stops to take a picture. I did. [David Everett, 12/

Sendai Travel Guide_in Japan

basic information

With roughly one million inhabitants, Sendai is by far the largest city in the Tohoku Region and one of the country's fifteen largest cities.

The modern city of Sendai was founded around the year 1600 by Date Masamune, one of feudal Japan's most powerful lords. Many of Sendai's tourist attractions are related to Masamune and his family.

Less than an hour northeast of the city center lies the town of Matsushima, whose bay is dotted by pine clad islets and is known for one of Japan's three most scenic views.

Zuihoden Mausoleum

basic information

Zuihoden, the mausoleum of Date Masamune

Zuihoden Mausoleum is the site of entombment of one of the most powerful feudal lords of the Edo Period, Date Masamune. Masamune was the first in a long line of Date lords to rule over Sendai from Aoba Castle. His son and grandson, Date Tadamune and Date Tsunamune, are entombed in nearby mausoleums, while other descendants are laid to rest in less elaborate graves and tombs.

Zuihoden was designed in the ornate style of the Momoyama Period. It features intricate woodwork and a rich variety of vivid colors. Masamune's son and grandson are entombed in smaller mausoleums designed in the same style.

Massive cedar trees surround the paths in the area, and are meant to symbolize the long history of the Date clan. A museum beside the Zuihoden main building shows some of the personal artifacts of the Date family, and even some specimens of their bones and hair.

A Detail of Zuihoden Mausoleum

Any advice or questions? Voice them in the forum!

how to get there

Zuihoden can be reached in about 15 minutes from Sendai Station by the Loople Sendai bus. Get off at bus stop #4. A day pass for the Loople bus costs 600 yen, otherwise one ride costs 250 yen.

How to get to and around Sendai

hours and fees

Hours:	9:00 to 16:30 (until 16:00 from December to January)
Closed:	December 31 and January 1
Admission:	550 yen (100 yen discount to Loople day pass holders)

Autumn Color Report 2009_Japan Tourism

This are the official japan-guide.com autumn color reports for 2009 from our trips to various autumn leaf spots across Japan. Check our page on Autumn Leaves for general information.

Okunikko from Konsei Pass Today we returned to the Okunikko area of Nikko National Park to update our October 5th, 2009 - Nikko Koyo Report. Okunikko is the Inner Nikko area in the mountains above the famous temples and shrines of Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture. Our first stop of the day was at Konsei Pass overlooking Lake Yunoko. The trees near the very tops of the mountains have peaked, but the view over Okunikko still looks nice as the larch trees are now turning yellow. Along Lake Yunoko From the top of Yudaki Falls overlooking Okunikko We then headed down to Lake Yunoko where along the shore the leaves still look good. Some of the earlier changing trees have dropped their leaves while later changing trees are just coming into color. The view from the top of Yudaki Falls, the outlet of Lake Yunoko, offered a great view over the lower areas of Okunikko. Senjogahara Marsh Senjogahara Marsh Continuing on we took a short hike into Senjogahara Marsh. By now many of the trees surrounding the marsh have dropped their leaves, while the views inside the marsh itself are still good especially as the later changing larch trees are approaching a brilliant yellow. Ryuzu Falls Above Ryuzu Falls Then we stopped by Ryuzu Falls, which we expected to be in decline since it has a slightly faster leaf changing schedule than the rest of the area. Indeed many of the trees have already dropped their leaves and the autumn colors around the falls have clearly passed their peak. Ryuzu Falls remains crowded with visitors, however. Lake Chuzenji from the Chuzenjiko Skyline From the Chuzenjiko Skyline Our next stop was on the Chuzenjiko Skyline which travels into the mountains overlooking Lake Chuzenji. From the skyline we had some great views of the lake which is currently at its peak. Akechidaira Ropeway Irohazaka Road From the skyline we headed to the Akechidaira Plateau which was also at its peak with many oranges, yellows, and reds seen just below the ropeway cars. From up here we could also see the uphill route of Irohazaka Road which was also in full color and had surprisingly little traffic at the top. Kegon Falls From the base of Kegon Falls Continuing on, we went back down to Lake Chuzenji and made a quick stop at Kegon Falls. From our recent trips to Kegon Falls it seems that the free observation deck provides the best views of autumn colors, while the lower observation deck (accessed by a paid elevator) has a better view of the falls but without the volume of colors that would make it truly spectacular. Irohazaka Road to central Nikko Irohazaka Road to central Nikko As the fall colors gradually descend into Nikko as the season progresses, we decided to head down to the shrine and temple area to see what the current leaf situation is around the city. Irohazaka Road, a famous koyo spot in its own right, connects Okunikko to Nikko and during autumn weekends it can become a virtual parking lot. However, as today was a weekday morning it was relatively quiet on the way down, and we got to enjoy a pleasant drive through beautiful trees that were around their peak of color. The uphill section of the road, however, was backed all the way to the town center with visitors from the opposite direction. Shinkyo Bridge Because of the difference in elevation, Okunikko has an advanced koyo schedule compared to Nikko, and we didn't expect to see too much color around the town. We found that the leaves around the world heritage area are just beginning to turn but are still mostly green, as could be seen at Shinkyo Bridge, a vermillion and black lacquered bridge said to be one of Japan's three finest bridges. However, we had a pleasant surprise at Shoyoen Garden at Rinnoji Temple where the leaves are becoming quite beautiful and should be at their best in the next 1-2 weeks.