Travel Agent - September 29, 2008 - (Page 29) seeing this natural wonder. At most of them, clients can ask the front desk to call and wake them up if the aurora appears. The best places for viewing are outside town, away from the city lights. At nearby Ester Dome, visitors are treated to a view from horizon to horizon. Advise your clients to ask for directions locally and head up there during the day so they know their way—it’s completely unlit at night. If staying in town, recommend that they try to get away from the lights. If your clients prefer a more organized (and warmer) approach to Northern Lights viewing, the Aurora Borealis Lodge (www.auroracabin. com) offers tours to a location 20 miles away from the city lights, where they can watch the Northern Lights from inside. Included in the tour are roundtrip transportation from Fairbanks and hot beverages served in a comfortable lodge. The tour runs from 10 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. and costs $75 per person. Note: A minimum of two guests is required. Reservations can be made at 907-389-2812. Where to Stay Accommodations in the Fairbanks area include the Westmark Fairbanks (www.westmark hotels.com), the newest and largest downtown hotel, owned and operated by Holland America Line. A $34 million expansion has transformed this 400-room hotel into one of Fairbanks’ finest properties, with a brand-new fitness center, two new restaurants and free Wi-Fi. Agents can contact Shelley McCool, regional sales manager, at 907-459-7706. Set right on the Chena River, and close to the Fairbanks Airport, the 208-room Pike’s Waterfront Lodge (www.pikeslodge.com) is a rustic resort with an upscale sensibility. Conveniently located near both the airport and Alaska Railroad, Pike’s Lodge offers complimentary shuttles to both. For the winter season, Pike’s is offering a special weekend package: Clients can stay in a riverview room Saturday night and enjoy Sunday brunch, with a noon checkout on Sunday for $129 for two, plus taxes. Contact General Manager Patty Weaver at gm@pikeslodge.com, or call 907-456-4500. And for those clients who may find Alaska’s winter a little too intimidating, the 325-room Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge (www. princesslodges.com) offers its summertime “Northern Lights Photosymphony” from May through September. Guests can experience the wonder of the aurora borealis in a special theater at Ester Gold Camp, where they will learn a brief history of this phenomenon and watch the Northern Lights display on a panoramic screen in a multi-image presentation set to inspirational music. At $10 for adults and $5 for children, it may be the most comfortable and family-friendly way to enjoy the Northern Lights. Visit the website for details. —MICHAEL BROWNE CONNECTING YOU Have clients heading to The Last Frontier state? Visit www.travelagentcentral.com/usa-alaska Truly the local expert! Gray Line of Alaska will build custom vacation packages with flexible sightseeing, comfortable accommodations and various meal options combined with an extensive array of transportation modes. Commitment to exceptional service and our dedication to providing customized itineraries make us the best choice in Alaska. We offer more options in Alaska – glacier viewing, gold panning, luxury rail travel, bear viewing, flightseeing, fishing excursions, custom charters, and more! Call for rates and reservations: 1-800-544-2206 www.graylineofalaska.com Book your clients online, learn about travel specials for your clients and discount travel to Alaska for yourself. Login at http://graylinealaska.com/industrytrade.cfm Interested? Request #006. September 29, 2008 TravelAgent | 29 http://www.westmarkhotels.com http://www.westmarkhotels.com http://www.princesslodges.com http://www.princesslodges.com http://www.pikeslodge.com http://www.www.auroracabin.com http://www.www.auroracabin.com http://www.travelagentcentral.com/usa-alaska http://www.graylineofalaska.com http://www.graylineofalaska.com http://graylinealaska.com/industrytrade.cfm
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