So many great ideas here. I'm thinking money belt which is what Rick Steeves recommends in his books and we found invaluable for our trip. However, the last thing you need when traveling on a long trip with carry-on only is a lot of stuff. And, as I learned when packing for my Europe trip, a lot of it is very personal. And buying sizes or what looks good is very difficult. I know for a surprise you can't do a "gift registry" and I know money is very useful but people don't like to give money, but is there something to give that doesn't require packing? Does she need someone to check her house? Take care of a pet? Her mail? Pay her bills while she's gone? Water plants? Can you all chip in on a gift card that can be used internationally or something to offset the phone charges internationally? Or how about helping prep the house before her return...buy her milk and other basics to stock her fridge? Maybe have a casserole waiting that just needs reheating? Turn up the thermostat? A ride to and from the airport?

My DD, SIL and I took a two week Cruisetour to Alaska this past June, and we had a great time. We did the tour first, started in Anchorage, then to Denali, Fairbanks, then by bus to Prudhoe Bay, and back to Anchorage for a one week cruise down the coast to Vancouver, BC. The only place we had mosquitos was in Coldfoot, on the way to Prudhoe Bay, otherwise, it was great. Be aware, Alaska is very wild and remote once you get outside Anchorage and Fairbanks. There are very few roads, and along the coast, the only way to get to some of the towns is by boat. There is a great Marine Ferry system, but you have to have a lot of time. Denali was very good, though it rained most of the time we were there. We took the Tundra Wilderness Tour into the Park, you pretty much have to take an escorted tour. We couldn't see the mountain, but on our flight back from Prudhoe Bay to Anchorage, the pilot circled Mt. McKinley, twice, so we all got a good look, and great pictures. Fairbanks is pretty small, but it's nice. We were there on June 21, for the Midnight Sun Festival - you can't do that too many places. We had over a week of non-stop daylight! The bus ride up to Prudhoe Bay was the best part of the trip. It is a wild place. We crossed the Arctic Circle and my SIL took a dip in the Arctic Ocean. I liked Anchorage, I would like to spend more time there. The best way to see the glaciers along the coast is to cruise, that's actually the only way to get into Glacier Bay National Park. It as a spectacular place. You can cruise in a big ship (we did Princess) or you can take on of the smaller cruise ships or connect up with a tour into the park. We stopped at Skagway, Junneau and Ketchikan, there are a few other towns along the coast that are worth visiting too, and there are some nice towns to visit along the Kenai Peninsula to Seward and Homer. There are some good websites, such as Alaska.com and TravelAlaska.com, as well as toursaver.com. If you are going to do a cruise, of course log on to Cruisecritic.com, they have a whole discussion board on Alaska, as well as forums devoted to individual cruise lines and ships. You will love the trip, I can't wait to go back. Here is a link that might be useful: What I did on my summer vacation

Been thinking it was about time you showed yourself here :o) And I just bet the weather was perfect! Pleased you and husband enjoyed the Aleutian Ballad. How about them crabs! Big big big! Ready for you to share pictures.

On Wednesday I received my first ever senior discount. The cashier was ringing me up and then said that I'm not 55 or over, am I? I was kind of caught off guard but responded that yes, I am 55 but it was the first time I had ever been asked. It struck me as funny and I was laughing telling people that I just received my first ever senior discount. No one laughed with me, or congratulated me. I must have looked like as idiot. But at least I don't look 55! LOL