Page 7 - Travel Advisors of Los Gatos – Fall 2016

aUstrIaand sWItZerland:
a land OF alPs, Castles & PalaCes
By Judie Karhan
Austria is in many ways a fairy-tale country, with magnificent palaces and castles seemingly built to aspire to the heights of its alpine scenery. Explore the whimsical castles of King Ludwig II and the bteauty of Bavaria’s lakes and countryside.
he city sights of vienna are just as inspiring as its
countryside. vienna, austria is the world’s largest and most charming museum. this is where Beethoven, schubert, Mozart and Brahms worked; where the great artists at the turn of the 20th century changed forever the way we look at art and life.
Old vienna is a walker’s paradise, with every building holding a richness of history. take the elevator to the observation platform in the north tower of st. stephen’s, started in the 11th century and finished in 1433 – look down. the streets and shops in the old city are exactly what Mozart saw.
at the Hotel sacher Cafe, take the time to sit back and sip the black and bitter tasting viennese coffee and savor the famous chocolate sacher torte mit schlag.
salzburg, austria is a city of green hills, romantic gardens and picturesque spires. the most dominant feature of the city’s skyline is the Hohensalzburg Fortress. situated high above the baroque towers of the city, it offers visitors amazing views of the valley. salzburg is the birthplace of amadeus Mozart, and
By Gretchen Zauner
Salzburg, Austria
there are two Mozart memorial museums in the city; one in the birthplace of the genius, the other in his former living place.
the magnetism of switzerland certainly rivals that of austria. the alps cover three-fifths of swiss territory. One of the best ways to see the main alpine destinations is by way of scenic trains. One of the biggest draws of the swiss alps is the iconic Matterhorn, which looms over the lovely village of Zermatt with its charming chalets and winding alleys. during winter, catch a ride on the Glacier express from Zermatt to arrive in internationally famous st. Moritz in style.
Lucerne, Switzerland
one of the world’s prettiest cities. Walking is one of the best ways to explore its many sites of interest, including the famous Chapel Bridge and Water tower, Mill Bridge and lion Monument. take time to sample the exquisite local cuisine and shop at a wealth of boutiques.
equally enchanting is the city of Zurich, which lies at the center of switzerland along the shores of lake Zurich. the city is known for its lively nightlife, but by day there are plenty of pleasures to pursue as well. there are more than 50 museums and 100 art galleries in this area. the swiss national Museum, housed in a building that is reminiscent of a fairy-tale castle, contains the country’s most comprehensive collection of exhibits relating to swiss cultural history.
lucerne, switzerland is considered by many to be
land adventUres IIn BeaUtIFUl alasKa
Alaska, the Great Land, is truly a wilderness adventure beyond any other. With towering mountains covered by evergreen forests, glistening lakes and an astounding array of wildlife that can be encountered seemingly anywhere in the region, this is a destination to experience at least once in a lifetime.
n the spring and summer months, scores of passenger offered by travel Impressions, also feature overnight ships cruise alaska’s famous Inside Passage and stays in the cities of anchorage and Fairbanks. In
other tributaries, but beyond these shores there is much to explore in the interior of this enormous state, which is almost one-fifth the size of the entire United states.
In denali national Park & Preserve, which sprawls six million acres, wild
animals – large and
small – roam unfenced
lands, living as they
have for ages. By way
of motor coach,
sightseers are sure to
catch glimpses of
foraging caribou, dall
sheep, foxes, moose,
wolves, brown bears and even grizzlies. While this park exploration is a wilderness experience, visitors needn’t sacrifice their creature comforts. tours of denali feature a luxury railcar ride to the park, home of the famous Mt. McKinley, and wilderness lodges within the park are exceptionally comfortable.
escorted land tours, such as those
anchorage, take a tour of the city, including the historic downtown district, and visit the anchorage Museum, which preserves, exhibits and interprets the art and
history of alaska. On travel Impressions’ Ultimate alaska Winter Wonderland tour, guests arriving in Fairbanks can even take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy aurora Borealis viewing, depending on weather and solar activity.
If you would like to combine a cruise with a tour of alaska, this option is available with various cruise lines. In 2017, Princess Cruises will offer four types of alaska land & sea vacations featuring seven-day cruises with
three to eight nights on land. In addition to venturing into denali national Park, the tours include excursions to Wrangell-st. elias, america’s largest national park, and/or Kenai Fjords national Park, which affords visitors stunning views of dramatic fjords teeming with wildlife. Princess Cruises also offers flexible extended- stay packages in the cities of anchorage, san Francisco, seattle and vancouver, B.C.
Why not make 2017 the year to see wild and woolly alaska? Call or visit yout travel agent to get you started on your way.
FALL 2016
7