Hi Kate, I just happened to come across this site when I was going through some old gardening magazines. It does list some great gardens in the Vancouver area. The only thing is, I don't know how you will get to them without paying an arm and a leg in taxi fare. Hope you can find something on this site that you can get to. Syreeta Here is a link that might be useful: Garden Link for Vancouver

caroleoh - in Juneau I would suggest: 1. The Princess Alaska GAstineau Mill & Gold mine tour - is great, and young ones really like it also "A half-day tour visits the ruins of a hard-rock gold operation that operated from 1915 to 1921, then goes 360 feet into one tunnel for a mining demonstration. Guests also get to pan for gold from the mine's tailings." I think it can be booked through Princess Tours, 151 Mill St - Phone 907/463-3900. It was locals and miner's that actually established this tour, however. 3. If you don't want to spend $60 per person but are interested in mining...take a walk out to a beautiful area called Basin Road. Or taxi out ($6.00)and walk back. Snuggled in the mountain side are the original minining buildings and equipment called the Last Chance Mining Museum ( about $3.00). From Frommers " On the site on forested Gold Creek where gold was first discovered in Juneau, the museum preserves old mining buildings and some of their original equipment, including an immense 1912 air compressor and a layered glass map of the tunnels. This was once a nerve center for one of the world's biggest hard-rock mines. The highlight is its energetic and learned guide, Renee Hughes, who lives above the compressor with her husband Gary Gillette. Both are leaders of the Gastineau Channel Historical Society. Ask Renee about the cave-in of the Treadwell Mine to hear her riveting storytelling. The entrance to the site -- which contains relics and buildings spread over several acres -- is a bridge over the creek, which leads to a steep trail up to the buildings." Check for the open times before you go out there. 2. Mendenhall Glacier - is awesome and cheap. http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/districts/mendenhall/webcam.html. There are a couple of $10 RT Glacier Express buses (in contrast to the "expensive tours" - the $10 RT bus is all you need). It generally runs every half hour in both directions - takes 20minutes to get to the glacier. The glacier is free, as are the trails there. There are a couple very short ones trails , and a 3 mile trail. The glacier visitor's center is informative (costs $3-$5 per person) but you do not need to even go in it if you don't want. The beauty is outside! Plus there is a bear lookout there (free).. and in August bears can frequently be seen trying to get the salmon. 4. Fish Hatchery is another inexpensive possibility - and is really interesting to see when the fish are coming in (usually August). http://juneaualaska.com/visit/stories/12jun_dipac.shtml For this .. you also do not need to take an expensive "tour" - the city bus goes very close to it - maybe a block 1/2 away .. and the entry fee is $3-$5. IMO the helicopter tours and dog sled tours are very unique but extremely overpriced. As for safety, when compared to the number of flights it is probably pretty good. Does that mean there are not ever any incidents? No - there are but the majority of flights are problem free. Scary problems exist on cruise ships too ... keep a sharp eye on your child! Have a fun trip .. and make sure you have rain gear .. it could be sunny every day or it could rain 24/7.

April We did a road trip for ten days in August 2004 when our son was 17 and daughter 14. Flew in and out of Anchorage. We drove up through Denali but were disappointed we could not drive farther in but stayed further north and did a horse back trip For a full day. Wonderful! We were ALONE except for guide. We ride and have our own horses so this may not be for a novice. But you cant see that scenery otherwise. We drove via Denali Highway to Paxon. Gravel road only open in summer. Nothing there but scenery. Then south to Copper Center where we hired a small plane (landing strip was on the bank of the Copper River where the salmon wheels were running. so cool) to McCarthy and Kennecott. This was the Wrangell St Elias Park area and WOW! Far surpassed Denali. This area is just breathtaking and off the beaten path for most because you have to fly in. Cant drive rental cars. Road is too bad you would have to change tires. This is where the old copper mine is and glacier hiking - that was cut short by the bears... On South to Valdez and the ferry to Whittier (great WW2 history) Fabulous scenery of wildlife from the ferry. Then further south to Seward and back to Anchorage. The kids still talk about the great trip. This was ten years ago. Get your ferry tickets booked well in advance for the vehicles. And be aware that the potential to overdose on the bigness of it all its a big state lots of wilderness. I grew up out west upper plains states and am used to this type of car trip but some folks get a little antsy if they don't see a house for a few hours...

Yes, in open seas, waves are a bigger problem than engines. Mist and clouds can be beautiful to photograph. Just take your camera everywhere with you and take advantage of every shot you have a chance to get. Better to take tons and have some bad ones than miss out on what might have been a great one! And most of all, enjoy! (When you go on a daytrip off the ship, the clouds/fog don't seem to burn off until about 2 p.m. So plan on staying all day if you want to actually see much! So much to do, and all so beautiful. JoanMN/FL