Walk On Your Life

Posts Tagged ‘Vancouver’

THE OPENING ceremony for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics is just around the corner, and final details are hurriedly being worked out in Whistler and venue attractions throughout the Vancouver region.

Americans have dominated Olympic snowboarding since it debuted in 1998 at Nagano, Japan, and have expectations soaring high ahead of the Winter Olympics.

“We are going in to the 2010 Games with one of the strongest athletic lineups possible,” US Snowboarding coach Peter Foley told news agencies on Wednesday . “We’re hoping to go into Vancouver and build on the successes we saw in 2006. This team is in position to do great things.”

Reigning snowboardcross champion Wescott will be joined by five-time X Games champion Nate Holland, 2006 Olympian Graham Watanabe and newcomer Nick Baumgartner.

Lindsey Jacobellis, who settled for silver at the 2006 Olympics, returns to the women’s snowboardcross lineup as a favorite, joined by Olympic newcomers Faye Gulini and Callan Chythlook-Sifsof.

Vancouver International Airport will be the first stop for more than 230,000 Olympics-bound athletes, officials, coaches, support teams and out-of-town visitors, and it is taking its role as the city’s front door very seriously. All private aircraft heading to Vancouver will have to land in a “gateway” airport before going to Vancouver.

Thorough security screenings and searches will be done at the gateways and the aircraft must go nonstop to Vancouver from there.
Customs will be cleared on the ramp at Vancouver International and no one will be allowed to leave their aircraft until after the customs check.

Alaska – The Great Frontier

Aw Inspiring scenery, glistening glaciers, plentifull wildlife, and Native American culture are only some of the marvelous attractions that attract cruise vacationers to Alaska. With so much to see and do in Alaska, it’s no wonder the state’s official flower is the alpine forget-me-not!

Cruise Lines that sail to Alaska on a seven-day itinerary usually cruise along the Inside Passage and visit Glacier Bay National Park or Hubbard Glacier, stopping at four ports along the way. Most cruise lines also offer a arrange of extended cruise-tour package options which take passengers deeper into Alaska via train and include land stays at lodges and sightseeing in Denali National Park – making their trip to Alaska even more exciting.

For weather and sunlight purposes, cruises to Alaska cruise strictly during the summer months, from early May to mid-September. June, July and August can be known as peak season when average daily high temperatures can reach 75 degrees Fahrenheit, so those looking for the best rates should check sailing dates in May and September when temperatures settle around 50 degrees.

A variety of ships & cruise lines sail to Alaska, including luxury vessels and midsize ships – most of which offer expanded kids activity for family vacationers. While the majority of cruise ships sail from Vancouver, BC, Seattle is increasingly becoming a favorite summer homeport for many lines. Both embarkation/disembarkation points allow cruise ships to visit the most popular ports on an Alaska cruise, including Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway.