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     Cruise Travel Close To Home From The West Coast
By Mary Hanna 

Cruise travel from ports close to home is what passengers want now. In almost all of the cruise reviews, cruise travelers have expressed concern with long airline trips to distant lands. Now they want to cruise from ports that are close to home to enjoy a less stressful cruise vacation. The cruise lines have caught on to this trend and are now positioning their ships up and down the United States East and West Coasts and along the Gulf of Mexico. Let's explore the ports of embarkation on the West Coast starting in Southern California at the port of San Diego and go northward.

If you can take the time before or after your cruise travel, spend some extra time in San Diego. The city of San Diego is blessed with year round warm weather and seventy miles of Pacific Coastline. There are many activities to enjoy while in the city. They have a first class, world famous zoo in Balboa Park. At Old Town State Historic Park learn about the History of California. Near the downtown area there are 15 excellent museums and gorgeous gardens.

A little further up north is Long Beach just 20 miles south of Los Angeles. Here is where the Queen Mary retired to in 1967 and is permanently docked serving as a Hotel. With more 12,000 sea creatures the aquarium is a delightful spot to spend a couple of hours.

If you plan to take your cruise vacation out of Los Angeles there are plenty of sights to see. A pre or post cruise package from the cruise lines will allow you to see the many cultural centers or drive by the star studded neighborhoods of Malibu, Bel Air and Hollywood. Be sure to see Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Chinatown and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Visit funky Venice Beach and dine in the many excellent restaurants. And don't forget to at least window shop on Rodeo Drive.

The dazzling Golden Gate Bridge will be what you sail under on you cruise vacation from San Francisco. Many cruise reviews have mentioned this city as one of the favorites from which to start a cruise. You may opt to take a side trip to the vineyards of Napa and Sonoma Valleys for a day. While in San Francisco check out Fisherman's Wharf, or take a cable car ride through the city. In this city there are numerous excellent restaurants. There is a ferry that will take you over to Alcatraz Island for a glimpse into the life of the prisoners.

Perhaps you have chosen Seattle, Washington as your embarkation port. The lovely Puget Sound area is rich with history of the maritime industries. The Olympic Mountains will leave you feeling awed when viewed from the Space Needle that is 607 feet high. For fun don't miss the Pike Street Market for fresh seafood and produce. There are many fleets of sport fishing boats for fishing or for whale watching.

Even further up the coast you are now in Alaskan territory. Fairbanks, which was once a booming mining town, is the entrance to Alaska's interior. If you stay here for a day or two try a really Alaskan adventure and go dog sledding. Maybe you would like to pan for gold, another part of Alaska's history. If you want to see the Northern Lights plan your cruise vacation for late August or early September.

Choosing a cruise vacation out of Whitter, Alaska will allow you to go whale watching, and look for sea lions and bald eagles. This is a small quaint town that really lets you feel what Alaska is all about.

You will fly into Anchorage for departure from Seward, Alaska. Try to stay a few days to explore the riches Anchorage has to offer. There is the beautiful Denali National Park, where Mt. McKinney offers spectacular scenery. In Seward you can take a cruise to the Kenai Fjords as a day trip.

Any of these cruise ports will make a great start for your cruise vacation. So when planning any cruise travel pick a port that's close to home and leave some time for exploring the town of embarkation.

Happy Cruising

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