Trip booked! Alaska is a done deal, here I come!

[jimnyc]

Sat down and finally figured out how I want to do this trip. The in between crap isn't necessarily there for extending the vacation, as much as it is minimizing how much time on the airplane in one day. I don't have a fear of flying, but I DO have a fear of being stuck in that tiny damn seat for hours on end. :(

So it starts with a flight outta this shithole on February 28th. A flight to Chicago, short layover (I hope not too short that I can't find the next flight!) and an hour later I take connecting flight to Las Vegas. Both these flights are 1st class. I never one flew 1st class before!! I only did so for the extra legroom and ability to move a little bit.

I stay that night at Harrah's, and they have a casino! No gambling for me though. I will arrive early though, probably even too early for check in. But then I have all day to do some sort of sight seeing on the strip.

Then on the 1st it's an early flight out to Seattle, another 1 hour layover, then off to Anchorage, arriving at 2:41pm NT's time.

Then it's 10 days in heaven again. I though about accidentally forgetting to book the return trip. :) But alas...

On the 10th I leave Anchorage at 9:10pm (Sorry, Rick, all the flights are late!). This is a direct flight to Chicago. I was able to upgrade to some business seats of some sort with some more leg room and quicker boarding. I arrive in Chicago early in the AM. But it's lie a 7 hour overnight flight I think? So I'm gonna do some sight seeing in Chicago as well, arriving the morn of the 11th...

And then stay at a hotel, and then it's a 1st class flight directly from Chicago to Laguardia. Hell, I could have went coach direct for $53!! But hell, it was "only" a couple hundred more for 1st class. It's a once in a lifetime trip for me, and then some.

I'll be paying this back for a long, long time, in various ways, mostly to the woman. But man, I can't wait! The flying was the only somewhat negative thing last trip. Everything else was complete perfection. So this time, I tried to make the flying a little easier if I could.

Perhaps some stunning views...

https://i.imgur.com/M0zsJmg.jpg

And then off to L5, which is the heaven I speak of. :)

https://i.imgur.com/RnnM6yH.jpg

[High_Plains_Drifter]

Go fishing and bring us back some Halibut and Alaskan King Crab... I'll eat that shit 'til I puke... PARTY AT JIM'S PLACE... ;)

[hjmick]

Taking the wife and kid?

[jimnyc]

Taking the wife and kid?

The kiddo is in school, unfortunately, and no way around that. The wifey was going to come... but we surely can't expect the kid to go to school himself, and we're having attendance issues with him to begin with. I thought of my brother, but 10 days is a lot to ask someone to take off of work, even if I would of course reimburse, but my son would walk all over him and stay home anyway. And then we have the dang dog and cat to worry about.

But her not being able to do so this go 'round is what allowed me to take the slow trip and 1st class! :) :)

[jimnyc]

Go fishing and bring us back some Halibut and Alaskan King Crab... I'll eat that shit 'til I puke... PARTY AT JIM'S PLACE... ;)

We'll only be in the one area, and no halibut around there (Rick will correct me)... and unless you do some ice fishing, we'll be doing our fishing via snowmobiles! :)

I dunno about the crab, but sure as hell willing to buy some to eat while I'm there!! :)

[NightTrain]

Closest halibut is down in Whittier, about 75 miles south of Anchorage - but I don't have any buddies there anyway. We'd have to drive down to Homer which is 300 south of Anchorage and I have a friend who has a nice boat there... and she's been trying to get Shar & I to go fishing with her, but we just haven't had the time.

King Crab will be had, though.... that's for sure. Probably will take 15 pounds up to the cabin. Been a while since I've gorged!

[jimnyc]

So I got me a new balaclava to cover my face and ears in Alaska. Got a little bit of new luggage. Dug out my brand new Timberland Pro Series boots, which are waterproof. I actually bought them like 2 years ago but haven't worn them since, now is a good a reason as ever! I also added a new piece of luggage. I usually use on large/medium piece of luggage and a carry on which is my laptop bag. So I updated the 2 of them a little to make the trip easier. And some thermal underwear too. I hate being "freezing. I can deal with the regular cold, and I can take things off if necessary, but I hate when you're out and freezing the eggs off and nothing you can do about it.

So feet are good, legs are good, will have plenty of sweatshirts and a hoodie. A regular winter hat in addition to the thingy above, plus NT has a regular snow outfit to wear, less to pack.

Can ya tell I'm a little excited about going again? :) Hey, you never know when a trip may be your last, and I very very rarely go on vacations.

What else do I need for a trip to Alaska in March?

[gabosaurus]

You should have scheduled your trip to Alaska during Spring Break. I am sure your son would love Alaska. Might even convince him to log off his laptop or phone. My daughter is certainly a more well-rounded person for having traveled so much. I never flew first class, but business class on Quantas was certainly worth the added expense. And your wife alone for 10 days? Bring on the male strippers! :cheers2: