We are just back from our listener trip to Alaska hosted by Collette Tours! They are the best and always make our trips first class. This was a trip to be remembered for a lifetime.

Alaska is one of those places most people say is on their bucket list, and it is stunning. Take it out of your bucket and get there because you won't regret it.

Andy Rent/TSM
Andy Rent/TSM
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Susie and I traveled with 31 of our 100.5 The River listeners for 11 days. We began in Fairbanks and traveled by land for four days before boarding our Holland America Nieuwamserdam cruise ship for the final seven days.

Andy Rent/TSM
Andy Rent/TSM
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The sights, the beauty of the mountains, something we sure don't see in the Midwest, were awe-inspiring.

Andy Rent/TSM
Andy Rent/TSM
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On land we traveled on a Sternwheeler through rivers for a while, stopping to see sights along the river.

Andy Rent/TSM
Andy Rent/TSM
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Okay, I now know that the moose antlers are upside down. What do I know?

We visited an animal sanctuary with BEARS. Boy are they big!

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Andy Rent/TSM
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There were Porcupines...

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Andy Rent/TSM
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Cute, but you'd better not touch!

Polar Bears!

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Andy Rent/TSM
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Cute ear muffs, right? Maybe not!

Andy Rent/TSM
Andy Rent/TSM
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We drove to the top of mountains above the tree line to see a stunning panorama of the the Alaskan landscape.

Then to finish the land portion, we boarded a domed train railcar to ride through Denali National Park. It was too cloudy to see Denali, the mountain, but none-the-less, breath taking.

Andy Rent/TSM
Andy Rent/TSM
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Ahh, now the cruise awaits to finish our fabulous listener trip.

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Andy Rent/TSM
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We cruised the inside passage of Alaska going to Glacier Bay!

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Andy Rent/TSM
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Andy Rent/TSM
Andy Rent/TSM
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Then it was on to whale watching as we were "chasing tail!"

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Andy Rent/TSM
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WOW!

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Andy Rent/TSM
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More WOW!

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Andy Rent/TSM
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A cruise is certainly the way to see fabulous Alaska, and at the same time be pampered.

A beautiful ship.....

Andy Rent/TSM
Andy Rent/TSM
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delicious food.....

Andy Rent/TSM
Andy Rent/TSM
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fun entertainment and a great group to travel with made this one of my most memorable trips.

But wait, there's more! Next year.....SPAIN! Come with us!

Details to follow!

LOOK: Stunning vintage photos capture the beauty of America's national parks

Today these parks are located throughout the country in 25 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The land encompassing them was either purchased or donated, though much of it had been inhabited by native people for thousands of years before the founding of the United States. These areas are protected and revered as educational resources about the natural world, and as spaces for exploration.

Keep scrolling for 50 vintage photos that show the beauty of America's national parks.

Gallery Credit: Alexander Raeburn

 

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