The world of music has many gatherings where performers come together to share their songs. Think Coachella. Think Lollapalooza or the Isle of Wight Festival.  Think Dawson City.

Wait, many of you are thinking. Dawson City? As in, that little place in Canada that has all of 2000 residents?

Indeed, this tiny town in the Yukon Territory annually plays host to bands both local and international. This weekend (July 15-17) will mark the 33^rd year of the event, and the festival’s official website boasts that the musical stylings will range from “traditional drumming” to “high-octane blues-rock, a fiddling aviator, and a yam puppet.”  A glance at the lineup leaves no doubt that there will be something for every taste, and a weekend pass to the event ($129.00 per person) guarantees entrance to all of the festival’s outdoor venues. Admission to the smaller indoor events are covered by the pass, but these events are limited to building capacities, so get there early. Tickets can be purchased from the festival’s official website.

Aaron Woroniuk performs on the Acorn stage at the Dawson City Music Festival.

Parents will be pleased to hear that children are welcome at this family-friendly event, although they are prohibited from the beer gardens. Saturday will feature KidFEST, with face painting, craft projects, children’s entertainers and more, designed specifically to make the little ones a part of the festival. Daytime and evening events make it possible to fit naptime around the can’t-miss shows.

Dawson City is admirably easy to access from Fairbanks. Flights are available, or you can take the scenic route and drive. Road-trippers will follow the Alaska Highway from Delta Junction to just past Tok, where the Taylor Highway takes off. Thirty miles past the town of Chicken, the Top of the World Highway intersects the Taylor and heads towards Canada. The Top of the World will take you over eighty miles of phenomenal views before dropping you straight into Dawson City itself. Anyone driving should be aware of the fact that a portion of the Taylor Highway is gravel; additionally, double-check that you have your passports before leaving home.

Once you’re in Dawson, options abound. You can vie for a hotel room or take advantage of the summer temperatures and camp at one of the city’s numerous campgrounds. RV parking is also available. The various festival events take place throughout town, so check out the official website before you go to decide where you’ll be spending most of your time. Food will be available from festival vendors as well as Dawson’s established restaurants, or you can opt to bring your own. No outside alcohol will be allowed in the events, but beer gardens will be open for anyone 19 and over.

If you find yourself needing a break from the heat and crowds, check out Diamond Tooth Gertie’s Gambling Hall, the oldest casino in Canada. You do have to be at least nineteen to enter, but once you’re inside there’s a wealth of gambling opportunities and other amusements. Those looking for a less raucous experience should head for the Dawson City Museum, which features re-enactments, costumed interpreters, and even a train shelter featuring four restored locomotives from the Klondike Mines Railway.

Fans of a good story ought to head for the Jack London Interpretive Museum, which features his reconstructed log cabin. Just down the street is the home of another famed writer of the North, Robert Service. Other sites relating to Dawson’s golden past are the S.S. Keno, the Palace Grand Theatre and Claim #6. The steamer Keno was responsible for carrying goods and raw material between Dawson and the rest of the world, and is now open for the public to walk through and explore. Built in 1899, the Palace Grand offers a glimpse into the pastimes miners had to look forward to on their rare trips to town. Finally, Claim #6, the spot from which the Klondike Gold Rush was launched, is an ideal spot for anyone bitten by the gold bug; visitors can pan for the precious metal at no charge, and may keep any that they find.

Although Dawson City offers so many different attractions no excuse is needed to visit, the Dawson City Music Festival makes for a great one. Take a little trip across the border and check out our Canadian neighbors’ music scene. While you’re there, you are sure to gain a better appreciation for the mutual history that binds Alaska and the Yukon Territory together.  A weekend of adventure, pain-free learning and great music; now that’s something to party about.

Dawson City Music Festival Official Website

Now that the tour buses and cruise ships are ferrying loads of visitors in and out of Alaska’s more famous sites and cities, what’s a starving college student to do? You want to get out and enjoy the summer, but all of the main attractions are overflowing with people and the price of everything related to travel has skyrocketed. Maybe you’re limited to day excursions by your busy summer course or work schedule. You may even be completely unaware of what the Interior has to offer aside from Denali. Dig out your roadmaps, fellow travelers, and introduce yourself to Alaska’s state recreation areas.

Much more than the run-down settings of horror movies past and present, state recreation areas offer access to a variety of different places and activities.  Some of these opportunities are surprisingly close at hand.  Been to Fred Meyer lately? If so you’ve probably driven past the Chena River State Recreation Site, located just over the bridge on University Avenue.  This is a great place to head if you’re new to the concept of camping out or you want to give your new gear a test run.  Better yet, go a little farther afield and venture into the quarter-million acre Chena River State Recreation Area, home to the locally well-known Angel Rocks and Granite Tors trails as well as many less popular spots.  Easily accessible from Chena Hot Springs Road, a day spent hiking here comes with the ultimate perk of being close to the hot springs themselves when it’s time to relax.

Liberty Falls State Recreational Site features a beautiful waterfall with plenty of trails. A great overnight camping trip with clean campsites and bathroom facilities. Heather Bryant/ Sun Star

If you’re looking to explore further, head south on the Richardson Highway towards Delta Junction. Between Fairbanks and Delta you’ll pass five different state recreation or historical sites, and a further four designated recreation areas lie to the south of Delta.  Each site has its own unique characteristics.  Those particularly interested in being on the water or looking for a more highly developed campground might give the Harding Lake or Quartz Lake State Recreation Areas a try. People with a more rustic bent ought to head for the smaller Donnelly Creek State Recreation Site, about 30 miles south of the junction with the Alaska Highway. History buffs should take a peek into the past at the Big Delta State Historical Park, which makes for a great day trip from Fairbanks.  Don’t forget to stop off at the Knotty Shop, just south of Eielson Air Force Base, for great ice cream.

If you aren’t into tent camping but want to spend a night or two away from the stress of schoolwork and summer employment, consider reserving one of the many public use cabins around the Interior.  Public use cabins are available from several different government agencies, including the state Parks and Recreation Division and the Bureau of Land Management, and can be a great alternative to carrying a tent, especially on longer hikes.  Some locations, such as North Fork Cabin in the Chena River State Recreation Area, are road accessible year round; others, such as the cabin at the Fielding Lake State Recreation Site, require alternate transportation during the winter months.  While these cabins are slightly less cost effective, coming in at between 20 and 50 dollars a night, most of them sleep at least four people, with a few ranging up to eight or nine guests.  Invite a few friends, and suddenly your nice, dry cabin is cheaper than the cost of risking a rainstorm under a tarp.

Regardless of whether you’re new to the state, a born and bred sourdough, or somewhere in between, the state park system has something spectacular to offer you, and at a much lower price than you’d pay to stay at the swanky hotels on the Denali Strip.  Even the most seasoned backcountry explorers are sure to find someplace new to discover on the Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, which outlines destinations beyond the Interior for those heading out on the road.  This summer, let the tourists have the big name spots; you’ll be too busy exploring an Alaska they’ll never see.

For more info, visit:

AK Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation

BLM Public Use Cabins

Jamie Hazlett / Sun Star Columnist
April 26, 2011

It is a frequent pleasure of mine to hop in the car and drive south along the Richardson Highway toward Delta Junction. This might sound odd, but the river-edged panoramas the route offers make the trip well worth the time and gas money. This summer, with fuel prices expected to peak at more than $5 a gallon, many of us will be searching for cheap getaways.  With thrift in mind, we hit the Richardson, your short route to the sea and places in between.

At the far end of the highway is Valdez, a city that seems to be clinging to the surrounding cliffs for dear life. The final section of switchbacks leading into town offer stunning views and, when there’s a semi behind you, compulsive nail biting. The eye candy doesn’t end once you reach your destination, especially if you invest in a wildlife- or glacier-viewing tour of Prince William Sound. I still have fond memories of a trip my family took with Lu Lu Belle Cruises when I was five. Despite having taken several similar tours since from a variety of companies and in several places along the Alaska coastline, the Lu Lu Belle experience remains my favorite for its small size and knowledgeable staff. Fishing for pink salmon is a great activity for anglers or anyone who enjoys freshly caught seafood. On your way in or out of town, don’t miss Worthington Glacier or the Horsetail and Bridal Veil falls, all of which are great photo opportunities.

Midway between Valdez and Glennallen is the turn onto the Edgerton Highway, which heads towards the historic McCarthy mining area. This area, including the surrounding Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, the largest in the country, is well worth a visit if you have the time. Services are relatively sparse in the McCarthy area, so do your research and plan. Chitina, known by most Fairbanksans as a place to dip-net for salmon, is also located along the Edgerton.

Glennallen is more than just the junction of the Richardson and Glenn highways. The Aspen Interpretive Trail offers a short, one-mile jaunt through the forest near town along an easy, clearly marked path that is suitable for virtually all ages and abilities. As with any occasion when you’re out in Alaska, keep your bug dope handy and your eyes peeled for wildlife. Give a nod to the 40-year anniversary of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act that established the first Alaska native corporations, with a visit to the Ahtna Cultural Center.

The Paxson Lake area is great for fishing, wildlife viewing, camping and hiking. Bear sightings have been common in this area in the past, so stay alert. The drive between Paxson and Delta Junction is a scenic overload, with sweeping valleys rushing to meet ice-covered peaks. The 60 miles or so just south of Fort Greely are especially amazing in late summer and early fall, when the alpine tundra turns the brilliant red that our trees can’t quite manage. As you approach Delta, watch for caribou and wild bison. On the north side of town, you’ll find the historic Rika’s Roadhouse and Quartz Lake. The lake is gorgeous year-round, and summer visitors can rent small watercraft right on the lakeshore. Hiking, volleyball, camping, fishing and numerous other activities make Quartz Lake a destination that everyone will enjoy. Closer to Fairbanks is Harding Lake, which offers some of the same activities as Quartz without as long of a drive.

The road south might look empty on a map, but that is one of its many charms. A sense of isolation has given the communities that do exist along the way a unique air, something that is becoming rare in our ever more connected world. Don’t let gas prices – or anything else, for that matter – keep you from experiencing one of the most breathtaking highways in existence.

Jamie Hazlett / Sun Star Columnist
April 19, 2011

Heading north up the Parks Highway from Anchorage, one encounters the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. For many people, it’s just another leg of the journey to Anchorage or the Interior. Fear not, fellow traveler: fun and interesting things to do abound in what locals refer to as “the Valley.”

The true measure of a destination is its food and drink.  The Last Frontier Brewing Company, situated within sight of the Parks Highway, offers a selection of delicious local brews, as well as a variety of low-priced and delicious dishes. Although there has long been a brewery on this spot (it was previously the home of the Great Bear Brewery Company), this new establishment is still working out the kinks. Be patient, and your taste buds will be amply rewarded.  Another great Wasilla restaurant is Piccolino’s, a Greek and Italian spot that features one of the best wine lists in the state and is located directly off the highway.

If you love driving by the reindeer pens on campus, the Palmer Musk Ox Farm is the place for you.  Yes, you can see these guys here in Fairbanks, but the Farm offers you a chance to get more up close and personal than most research facilities can offer the public.  Go during the spring when the muskoxen are shedding their underfur (commonly known as qiviut) and you might get a chance to handle some of the rich, raw substance that sticks to the grass and fences around the Farm.

Nearby Hatcher Pass is a hiker’s paradise.  Possibly the best part about the Pass is that the road loops from outside of Palmer and comes out in Willow, which means you can easily make this a side trip on your way back to Fairbanks without adding more than three or four relaxing hours surrounded by the peaks of the Talkeetna Range.  From Archangel Road, on a clear day you can see down the valley to Anchorage, some 50 miles distant. Summit Lake is a great place to toss down a blanket and have a picnic.  Stop by the historic gold mining area of Independence Mine to check out early 20th century buildings and industrial techniques. Attempting the road over the pass is not advised in the winter when the road is not maintained and caution should be used on some of the curvier sections even in the best weather. The hills make for great sledding and snowmachining in the winter, and the area is popular in summer with parasailers as well.

Finally, there are some phenomenal views to be had by driving around the area. Follow Knik Goose Bay Road (locally known as KGB) out of Wasilla toward its end for glimpses of the Knik Arm, part of Cook Inlet. For a touch of the absurd, keep your eyes open for a long-ago beached boat perched in the middle of a field of high wild grass.  Travel from Hatcher Pass toward the Glenn Highway along Palmer Fishhook Road for sweeping agricultural fields bordered by the jagged ridges of the Chugach Mountains; this drive is especially romantic during late summer nights when the low sun presents a play of alpenglow across the few remaining patches of high-altitude snow and the forests below them.  Those who prefer to view the ever-looming mountains in other ways should climb aboard the Ferris wheel at the Alaska State Fair towards the end of August. Bring a camera and someone you love.

Many Alaskans pass through the Mat-Su Valley without ever stopping to enjoy the area. Don’t miss this gem nestled between the ocean and the mountains – next time you’re headed south, save a little time and let the Mat-Su surprise you.

Jamie Hazlett / Sun Star Columnist
April 12, 2011

Anchorage: the largest city in Alaska and a popular retreat for Fairbanksans looking for a cheap way to escape 40 below zero temperatures. Many readers have no doubt been there before, but don’t assume that that makes Anchorage a blasé getaway.  I spent 10 years living in the Mat-Su Valley and ventured into the city for everything from school shopping to midnight movies, and I’m still discovering new and exciting things about this coastal-plain community. Look closely, and you will be amazed at what you may have overlooked.

The scenery alone is breathtaking, especially after a long winter spent peering towards the distant peaks of the Alaska Range.  There’s no squinting necessary in Anchorage – the mountains seem to be ready to tip the whole place into Cook Inlet with a careless shrug.  In fact, falling into the water is exactly what part of the city did during the 1964 earthquake.  Stop by the Alaska Experience Theatre to watch a video about the quake while the equivalent of a 4.5 temblor rocks your seat.  Outdoorsy types might prefer Earthquake Park, which has been kept just as the quake left it and offers views of the city and the Chugach Range. as well as interpretive signs about the event.  The park is prime mosquito habitat, so bring bug spray.

Many return visitors overlook the recently expanded and remodeled Anchorage Museum.  While the Alaska Gallery remains a great experience for anyone looking for a whirlwind tour of state history, make sure you stop by the Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center, which showcases Alaska Native artifacts by region and is a fascinating look at how people survived here before the introduction of modern technologies.  This summer, the museum is also presenting a must-see special exhibit on mammoths, mastodons and the world they roamed, which runs through Oct. 9.

Arts and entertainment also abound in Anchorage.  Musical acts scheduled to appear this summer include Blue Man Group, As I Lay Dying and Unearth. Groups as diverse as Queensryche, the Charlie Daniels Band, Chevelle, and Uncle Kracker are set to play the Alaska State Fair in nearby Palmer at the end of August. The Three Barons Renaissance Fair is a fun event whether you like to dress up or not, and the weekly Music in the Park sessions downtown are an opportunity to hear local musicians perform for free.

Shopaholics will be pleased with Anchorage’s retail options, which are drastically more varied than in Fairbanks.  The past few years have witnessed the creation of commercial spaces that house Lower 48 staples such as Kohl’s, Bed Bath & Beyond and others.  The more bookish among us should head for Title Wave, the Anchorage version of Gulliver’s, which stocks as many options as Barnes and Noble at used prices.  Sugar fiends might fancy a visit to the Alaska Wild Berry Products store; although they have branches in Homer and Wasilla, Anchorage’s Juneau Street location is the only one with a 20-foot-high chocolate waterfall.

Foodies will be delighted to discover the various ethnic cuisines the city has to offer.  You can’t do better than to start at Twin Dragon Mongolian Barbeque, which offers all-you-can-eat Chinese and Mongolian food.  You’ll be surprised to find out how much watching an expert chef tossing your food artfully across a sizzling grill will add to the experience.  Beer and pizza fans should swing by the Moose’s Tooth, where they brew everything from Arctic Apricot to Pipeline Stout.  Arrive early and be patient – the lines at the Moose’s Tooth can be long, but the wait is well worth it.

Even if you’ve been to Anchorage a dozen times, try looking at it with fresh eyes the next time you go.  You’re sure to find something you haven’t tried, or at the very least, rediscover a forgotten favorite.

Jamie Hazlett / Sun Star Columnist
April 5, 2011

As the snow melts and the daily sunlight increases, many Alaskans’ thoughts turn to the destinations our state has to offer, such as Homer.

One of the best things about this small coastal “city” is its location.  Balancing on the southern edge of the Kenai Peninsula, Homer is close enough to drive to (10 to 12 hours with good weather) but far enough away to feel like a real vacation.

A phenomenal introduction to the local culture is an afternoon spent at the Bear Creek Winery and/or the Homer Brewing Company.  The winery serves up varietals made with locally grown berries, and visitors are welcome to tour the production rooms and sample the resulting liquid bliss.  Connoisseurs keep their eyes peeled for seasonal specialties such as the Shorebird Wine and a range of meads and melomels (honey-based wines).  Beer lovers will revel in the simplicity of the Homer Brewing Company (HBC), where the works are viewable from the small store that sells HBC memorabilia and a selection of the brewery’s finest output.  Settling around a fire and sharing a growler of Red Knot Scottish ale with friends while watching dusk fall over Kachemak Bay is a sublime end-of-the-day experience. If you do nothing else while in Homer, do this.

Part of Homer’s charm is its local art scene.  Be sure to check out the Art Shop Gallery or the Fireweed Gallery, which feature famous Alaska artists, such as Barbara Lavallee, Byron Birdsal, and Ed Tussy.  The Blackberry Bog, a unique gift store, sells various hand-crafted pieces and trinkets from all over the world.  Most of the shops on the Homer Spit are run by local artists selling their paintings, pottery, jewelry, etc.

If you’re looking for a good read or a unique find, stop by the Old Inlet Bookshop.  What this hole in the wall lacks in organization, it more than makes up for in breadth of inventory. The tottering stacks and narrow aisles will turn any browsing session into a treasure hunt fit for a pirate. Refuel at the Mermaid Cafe before walking five minutes up the road to the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitors Center, which packs a wealth of information about local natural history and ongoing scientific research into its compact exhibit space.

A short traipse away is Bishop’s Beach, where long stretches of sand make a superb platform from which to look out towards the Gulf of Alaska and catch a glimpse of Mt. Augustine.  A great place to grab a relaxed meal nearby is Fat Olives, an Italian restaurant/pizza joint with a great selection of beer and wine.  Located within close walking distance of several lodging choices, Fat Olives is a particular treat to look forward to after a long halibut fishing charter has left you exhausted and starving.

Finally, the well-known Homer Spit is a feature that is difficult to avoid.  With an array of small shops and eateries (some open only seasonally), the Spit has something to keep every member of your trekking party entertained.  Some people find the Salty Dawg Saloon to be an indispensible stop, but unless you’re a fan of cramped surroundings and drinking beer from old Sobe bottles, you’re probably better off skipping it.  Whales and other marine life are commonly seen from the Spit and the hills around Homer, so keep an eye turned toward the water.  You can camp here, but beware of the ever-present wind; more than one tent has been lost here.  This is also the jumping-off point for a number of fishing and wildlife charters and the home of a small harbor.

When you have a four-day weekend staring you in the face this summer and no idea of what to do with it, my suggestion is to head south and give Homer a chance to endear itself to you. You will not be disappointed.

Jamie Hazlett / Sun Star Columnist
March 29, 2011

While idly surfing the internet, looking for inspiration for this week’s column, I came across a link to a short quiz* that promised to help me “find my travel style.” I was intrigued, but skeptical; what could an internet quiz tell me that I didn’t already know about myself? Despite my doubts, I clicked the link. The process was quick, painless, and told me absolutely nothing new. According to the all-knowing quiz makers, I’m a “cultural explorer,” which means I “seek constant opportunities to embrace, discover, and immerse [myself] in the entire experience of the culture, people and settings of the places [I] visit.” Really? Gee, I would never have guessed that a person who spent four years studying history and anthropology would be interested in cultural immersion. Go figure, I don’t magically morph into a stylish, club-hopping diva the moment I step foot on an airplane!

It seems painfully obvious that you are the same basic person on vacation that you are in your day-to-day life. If you’re a worrier at home, you’ll find something to worry about on vacation (Is the water safe to drink? Will you make your connecting flight? What if you run out of shampoo and can’t find the right kind?). If you’re the laid-back, anything-goes sort normally, you probably won’t spend the weeks leading up to your departure making rigorous, minute-by-minute itineraries for each day of your trip. Despite the apparent blatancy of this fact, many of us still seem to be operating under the assumption that we’ll be different people on holiday. After all, who wants to pay thousands of dollars to do the same thing they would have done if they’d stayed home?

Most of us, actually. Sure, you might participate in a few activities that you wouldn’t have if you’d lugged your Kindle to the couch instead of Hawaii, but the odds are good that that’s mostly because there aren’t many cliff-diving opportunities in Alaska in March. Most people are going to read, shop, watch television, and update their Facebook status 12 times a day whether they’re on vacation or not. You might also take a surfing lesson or swim with dolphins, but you’ll be sure to find the time on vacation to do the things that you’ve made space for in your every day routine. The difference isn’t so much in what you’re doing as where you’re doing it.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. The human brain craves new experiences, and most of us have the common sense to know roughly what our boundaries are and how much change is too much. Try new things, but don’t be so caught up doing things that will impress your friends back home that you forget to do what makes you happy. Kicking back on the beach with a drink and a book might not yield any great stories, but it’s better than being the person who paid $300 to chicken out of skydiving – or worse yet, the person who paid that much to panic in mid-air and end up as an interesting new topographical feature.

The lesson to carry away from this is to make sure you know yourself before you plan your next trip, especially if your goal is to just relax and unwind. Don’t rent a villa in the middle of nowhere if you recharge your batteries by hitting the bars. Don’t go to Rio during Carnival if you hate crowds and loud noises. Find someplace that offers you a few opportunities to test your boundaries but make sure it has plenty of things that cater to your everyday personality, too. Even if looking before you leap isn’t your style, at least if you know just how long of a fall you’re equipped to handle.

*To take the same quiz, go to http://www.tourismvancouver.com/visitors/ and click the “What’s Your Traveler Type?” link.

Jamie Hazlett / Sun Star Columnist
March 22, 2011

WAKUYA, Japan (March 15, 2011) An aerial view of damage to Wakuya, Japan after a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami devastated the area in northern Japan. Ships and aircraft from the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group are conducting search and rescue operations and re-supply missions as directed in support of Operation Tomodachi throughout northern Japan. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alexander Tidd/Released)

I have lost count of the number of times this last week I have heard someone talking about how they wish they could go to Japan and lend a hand with that nation’s current crisis. The same ineffectual lamentations of would-be do-gooders were made after the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, the humanitarian issues in Darfur and in the aftermath of a thousand other disasters. The desire to help other people in desperate need of aid is wonderful, don’t get me wrong. If all the goodwill of the people wanting to do something to help the latest group of victims could be transmogrified into needed material goods and the ability to get said supplies where they were in the shortest supply, that would be phenomenally useful.  Unfortunately that isn’t how things work.

Some of you may have heard the term “Dark Tourism” before.  For those who have not, the phrase is used to describe traveling to places that have an air or history of death or destruction.  It also applies to situations like the one unfolding in Japan, where a new chapter of pain is being written.  Even if you do not travel to a place specifically because it has a bloody past or present, you are still engaging in dark tourism, unless you’ve somehow managed to make your way to Auschwitz without knowing anything whatsoever about the Second World War. The only people who might be exempt from this are seasoned aid workers who have seen so many apocalyptic scenes that it’s no longer exciting, the people who come home and don’t want to talk about what they saw or did or how things were because they’ve become numb to it. The rest of us must face the fact that we are driven to help first-hand at least partly by a perverse need to experience an extreme that we simply are not equipped to understand.

This is not necessarily a bad impulse.  Like anything in moderation, dark tourism can be an extraordinary – and in some cases necessary – tool. Visiting places like Auschwitz or Hiroshima serves to both make us more aware of the past and to begin to recognize the incredible amounts of damage and pain we are far too easily capable of wreaking amongst our fellows.  With any luck, dark tourism on this level makes us better, kinder human beings.  There is an extreme, however, that should only be ventured into by those who have the necessary skills, foresight, and mettle to not only survive the trip, but to be of use to the real victims rather than becoming one of them.  This is the extreme that those purporting desires or intents to venture into war zones, plague areas, and disaster sites “just to help” have to realize they are facing before they set out to do good.

Take Japan as a case in point.  Do you speak Japanese fluently?  Are you familiar with Japanese customs beyond taking your shoes off at the door?  Have you been trained for disaster aftermath management, or do you have some specialized skill or knowledge that would lend itself to the situation such as being a doctor or nuclear technician? Have you ever had to perform in high-stress, high-risk situations? If you answered no to more than one of the above questions, the odds are astronomically on the side of you being little more than a burden once you arrive. Even if you managed to not have an immediate breakdown when confronted with the sheer level of awful to be found on what’s left of the streets of Sendai, you probably wouldn’t even be any good at shifting rubble. Especially if you don’t know enough Japanese to call for help or ask where you should concentrate your efforts.

OFUNATO, Japan (March 15, 2011) A Mickey Mouse doll lies among debris in Ofunato following a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Matthew M. Bradley/Released)

This is not intended as a mockery of people who are compassionate enough to want to do something to alleviate the suffering that we are being constantly told is present in this week’s cause celebre.  Quite to the contrary, it is meant to be an encouragement to think, and then to act.  If your first thought is that you want to help, that’s great.  Now step back and realize that your non-fluent, untrained self can do much more good if you don’t immediately try to get to Japan to “pitch in.” Give some of that airfare to a charity that is sending over supplies and people who are trained for these types of situations. Contact local charitable groups like the American Red Cross and ask what you can do to assist their efforts. Sign up for disaster preparedness courses through recognized organizations and then practice what you learn so that if your hometown turns out to be the next breaking news location, you’ll be more likely to both survive and be of aid to others afterwards.

Finally, remember that a disaster, even one that registers as a 9.0, doesn’t spell the end of a destination.  The biggest thing that you will be able to do for Japan in the months and years to come is to keep your eyes and ears open, because sooner or later they’ll be inviting the world to come eat sushi rather than to lug emergency supplies.  When the nation and its people are ready for travelers to return, they will make it known.  The return of foreign visitors not dressed in blaze orange is a sign that a place ravaged by disaster is on the road to an economic upswing.  Perhaps more importantly for an international hub like Japan, such a return will foster a sense of normalcy for the residents who remember when badly-dressed tourists were an everyday sight.  That, seatmates, is when those of us whose Japanese ends at “domo arigato” will be able to do our part.

Jamie Hazlett / Sun Star Columnist
March 8, 2011

Chosen as the number one 2011 spring break destination by www.studentuniverse.com, a website catering to the travel needs of university students and faculty, Las Vegas is a great option for those hoping to trade snow in for sand. Since it’s located in the United States, you won’t need a passport to fly in or out, money won’t need to be changed, and the language is one you already know. Plus, Las Vegas offers something for everyone, so you can split your hotel room with an offbeat roommate without worrying about running out of things to do.  This time of year, the heat won’t be too unbearable for those of us accustomed to packing ourselves into parkas, with daily highs averaging in the 60s and low 70s.

The price might seem a little prohibitive at first – Alaska Airlines is advertising round trip fares from Fairbanks to Las Vegas in the $800-900 range if you pick carefully – but considering that round trip fares to Mazatlan or Miami are being quoted in the $1500-1600 brackets for the week of spring break, Las Vegas starts to look like a steal. Split your hotel with a friend or two, and not only will you have more money when you reach your destination, you’ll also have more energy with which to spend it. Since Las Vegas is a lot closer to home than the Caribbean or Europe, you’re looking at less flight time, which equals less jet lag.

The obvious attractions in Las Vegas are well known; gambling, drinking, and taking in a show are more or less standard vacation staples in this town. For a less predictable visit, stop by the Ethel M Chocolate Factory and let your Willy Wonka fantasies take over as you watch chocolatiers mix, melt, and mold candy delights, then sample the results on the free tour. A trip to M&M’s World will have your head spinning from all the different colors and the heady smell of so much sugar.  If your fancy leans more towards animal attractions or juxtaposition, hit up the MGM Grand’s Lion Habitat, located inside the hotel itself.  Perhaps you might also drop by the Flamingo hotel and casino to take a stroll through their indoor Wildlife Habitat, which features the establishment’s namesake species, as well as a variety of other birds.

Once you’ve gotten your fill of urban sprawl, consider taking a one- or multi-day trip away from the city.  Floyd Lamb Park, located 20 miles from the Strip, offers a green playground to those whose eyes need a break from the desert. This park has been home to everything from dinosaurs to divorcees, and is worth a visit if you want an ultra-abridged tour of the area’s history. Nearby Red Rock Canyon offers hiking and sightseeing, and man-made Lake Mead caters to water enthusiasts.  Those eager to stand 700-plus feet above the Colorado River or view a National Historic Landmark should head for the Hoover Dam.

Need to nurse a nasty sunburn? Duck into the Atomic Testing Museum and measure your own radioactivity, or stop by the Luxor, where “Bodies…The Exhibition” is currently displaying actual preserved human bodies that showcase the various bits and pieces that make us, us.  This is rumored to be a particularly good show for those trying to kick their cigarette habit to see.  Check for local exhibitions particular to your interest, too. There’s always something cool going on.

Whether your spring break goal is to get a tan, see a great musical act, view an amazing museum exhibit, hike a breathtaking trail, or just kick back for a week with a slot machine and a mixed drink, Las Vegas is the destination for you.   This city has many options for gourmands of every appetite, so what are you waiting for?  Dig in!

Whether you begin your trip with $50 or $50,000, the one thing you are more or less condemned to find plenty of on your vacation is spending opportunities. Traveling guarantees that you will be confronted with schlock-filled storefronts or street-side souvenir sellers aiming to drain your wallet and leave you holding a handful of garbage that you will probably never look upon fondly.  You don’t need a snow globe from Tahiti; not only will you have no place to put it when you get home, it also makes no sense.  Unless you’re buying it specifically for the anachronism, put it back.

Many people make the mistake of thinking they have to bring back something from every place they stop to go to the bathroom on their trip.  Each item should preferably be emblazoned with the locale’s name in an annoyingly bright color or unreadable font, and must be either exorbitantly overpriced so the buyer thinks they’re purchasing quality or so cheap that we crafty tourists won’t be able to wait to brag about the deal we got.  But what are you going to do with what you’re preparing to pay the equivalent of several hours of labor at your boring/annoying/stressful job for?  If you can’t think of a legitimate use or reason why that particular item will bring a smile and good memories to you or the person you’re intending to give it to, walk away.  You can do better.

A big part of intelligent consumerism while on vacation is tailoring your wants to fit your needs.  Are there things that you could use or have wanted for a long time now that your destination is known for producing?  Do you have an interest, skill or talent that is important to you?  Look for things that speak to that need or characteristic.  If you find something that has a history of being made locally in a traditional style, that’s even better.  A musician might plan on buying a Glockenspiel xylophone in Munich; a tea aficionado might search for a unique service set in Tokyo or Beijing.  The possibilities are as endless as your interests.

This isn’t to say that you won’t get pleasure or use out of photo books, funny t-shirts, or other dime-a-dozen items you can pick up on your travels.   Sometimes those things do have sentimental value.  The idea is to shift your focus towards buying mostly or only those items that really move you, the things that you know you will regret not getting for the rest of your life.  There are natural limits to this procedure – namely your budget, since no matter how much owning the original Batmobile might make you grin, you’ll probably never be able to afford it – but practicing it on vacation is a great way to begin using it in everyday life.  Yes, vacation is a time to let go and do what makes you happy, but that’s why it’s such a powerful time to hone skills like smart shopping.  If you can manage to do it on holiday, you can do it anywhere.

If the idea of having things of great sentimental and, in some cases, monetary value around you isn’t enough to get you to give intelligent consumerism a chance, try thinking of it this way: the more money you save by not buying worthless or meaningless garbage at home and abroad, the more money you can put towards planning your next trip.  Besides, who wants to fork over a hundred bucks to ship home a suitcase full of pewter statues of every semi-famous building you saw on your Grand Tour?  The baggage handlers will loathe you eternally, and so will your back after you finish lugging that thing up the stairs.  Don’t be tempted by trash on your next trip – only bring home the things that inspire you.

Jamie Hazlett
Feb. 22, 2011

Admittedly, some trips are more likely to fill your luggage with papers than others. If you’re going someplace you’ve been before or to a destination with a specific purpose – like a ski resort – you probably won’t feel much of a need to squirrel away every free city map or lift ticket. When you take trips to places that are new or carry some special cultural, historical, or personal significance, though, you might be surprised by how many tree scraps you come home with.

Once those papers are sitting in an untidy pile on your desk, your perspective of their value is likely to shift from what it was when you reverently folded it into your bag.  As we discussed last week with photos, the first thing to do is to toss what doesn’t grab your attention or bring back a fond memory.  Don’t allow the size of a paper memento to be your only guideline when deciding what should go and what should stay. Just because a map folds out to cover half the wall doesn’t mean it isn’t worth keeping.  On the other end of the spectrum, your subway ticket might seem like perfect trash fodder.  If you’ve got an underground transportation fetish like I do, though, that magnetized strip of construction paper might be the greatest thing you picked up on your trip.

Examine each item closely.  Is there part of it you want to keep, like a really great picture or design?  Cut it out and toss the rest.  If you don’t scrapbook or do some other form of art that the smaller pieces you keep will lend themselves to, that’s okay. You can still hang the menu from that trendy seaside bistro on your fridge. Many frame stores will be happy to work with you in creating something that combines several aspects of your trip, so take your favorite papers and a few photos with you and have them put under glass together as a visual montage of your vacation. Not only will this reduce your pile at home, but it also nets you a great piece of wall art.

Larger items that you want to keep intact can be more of a challenge.  What do people do with topo maps once the journey’s over, anyway?  The best way I’ve found to organize big items worthy of being kept but too unwieldy to be displayed is to purchase a binder and some protective sleeves.  Most items folded along their original lines will fit comfortably into a standard sheet protector, and putting all the items you store this way into a single three-ring notebook makes it easy to pull out all of your Puerto Rico papers without a long search.  You can store smaller items this way, too, or tuck a thumb drive with your vacation photos on it into one of the cover pockets.  This method of storage is great if you don’t have the time and inclination to do anything more complicated.

Let’s face it: you wouldn’t have brought all those papers back so carefully if at least a few of them didn’t mean or represent something to you. Letting them mold in your attic after you went through the hassle of keeping them neatly folded during your vacation seems like a waste, and it is. It takes very little time, effort and money to do a basic organizing of your paper souvenirs, and in the long run you will be glad you did.  Think of it as an investment. After all, who knows whether or not that delicious hole-in-the-wall place you had lunch at will end up as a four-star restaurant in 20 years? The menu you keep may let you afford to eat there again some day. Even if it turns out to have no monetary value at all, it will still mean something to you.

Jamie Hazlett
Feb. 15, 2011

Virtually everyone has a stack of muddled vacation mementos lying around in their house: the photos you just never had time to sort through, the programs and maps that you kept perfectly pressed in your suitcase right up until the moment you got home, the weird little tchotchkes that were just so darling in the store window but look ridiculous on your bookshelf.  Every time you see them, you vow to go through it all soon, and yet it keeps not happening.  With each trip you take, the pile looms higher, and now Hawaii is mixed in with Niagara Falls, and who has the energy to sort that mess out?

As with any monumental organizing task, the hardest part is getting started.  The tower of papers seems unassailable, right?  Then start small.  Spend a couple hours just sorting your pictures, be they printed or digital, into the right stacks – Grand Canyon over here, Mexico over there, etc.  Sound too main-stream for you?  Break your shots up based on whether or not the focal point is a living thing, divide them based on the most dominant color, or categorize them off of what time of day it was.  Some people will have a pile of pictures from various weddings they’ve attended, while someone else will have a shoebox full of shots they snapped from the summits of all the 13,000-footers they’ve climbed (pro tip: shoeboxes are a great tool when you’re doing preliminary photo organizing).  The point is to stop putting it off. Believe it or not, you can watch ‘Glee’ and sort photos at the same time.

Next comes the pruning stage.  Even professionals often take many so-so or just plain bad shots, so don’t feel bad if you delete or toss a lot of pictures.  Before posting your album to Facebook or buying a 50-page album, turn an editorial eye on all those grand vistas and goofy grins and get rid of the ones that don’t speak to you in some way.  This is also your opportunity to remove any embarrassing shots.  Let’s say you took 50 pictures of the same fountain.  Unless you’re trying to create a 360° view of the fountain, or you captured someone being murdered, you don’t need most of those shots.  Some of your pictures of will be blurry, have sun flares or be photobombed.  Unless these factors somehow add to the shot, which occasionally happens, pictures with these qualities should be the first to go.

Use gut instinct from here. A picture you took in the early evening might lend a really neat perspective to the fountain compared to an identical one you took at noon.  Keep the few that really grab your attention or evoke the best memories. Get rid of the rest or save them somewhere separate from your “keeper” shots.  Once you know how many good pictures you’ve got, you can divide the remaining work up more knowledgably than you could when all you knew was that your vacations tried to swallow you every time you opened the closet.

It’s up to you how far you go in organizing your vacation(s).  Some people are content to save them on their computer with no labels, others insist that each “keeper” be meticulously captioned, and some prefer digital photo frames.  Those with a bent towards arts and crafts might like to print their pics and organize them into albums or scrapbooks.  Whatever you do, make sure that when your friends ask to see your Caribbean cruise, you don’t bore them to tears with grainy or repetitive photos.  Even if your best shots make it no further than a Sharpie-labeled shoebox, at least when you pull it down from the shelf you can be so confident that you won’t be labeled the worst vacation photographer ever (even if you really are).

By Jamie Hazlett

Travel intimacy has been lauded – and frequently lamented – in song and story ever since humans decided that life on two legs was a considerable improvement over knuckle-walking.  What started off as a quickie in the brush on the way to the mammoth fields has evolved and been cultivated by eager practitioners so that the modern traveler can now get their groove on at 36,000 feet.  As anyone who has gotten down and dirty in an airplane can testify, there is a dearth of comfortable positions available when two grown people are crammed into a space so small that an energetic snail would be bored after a few hours.  I imagine that our ancient ancestors would express the same complaints about the annoyances caused by prickly forest undergrowth, especially if they were somehow made aware of the existence of pillow-top mattresses.  Even with roughly two million years of practice at the old game of wink-wink, nudge-nudge, meet me up the gazelle trail in five minutes, humanity has not managed to improve the facility of en route fornication.  What is the amorous adventurer to do?

The first thing you have to do is face some of the basic facts.  Regardless of whether or not you have a tryst in the toilet, while traveling you are going to encounter a huge variety of bugs that will be new and interesting challenges to your immune system.  The odds are outstandingly in your favor that the worst you will experience will be a touch of flu or a nasty head cold.  Just because you are in an unfamiliar place and have heard an urban legend or two doesn’t mean that you should try to stop being human.  You are going to need and want to fulfill the basic drives of living organisms, and the exoticism of being away from home will most likely catapult your libido several rungs up the ladder of importance.

If the plane isn’t your ideal spot for a romantic interlude, then by all means, wait until you can hit the wall with the hotel’s headboard instead of with your actual head.  Despite the “ick” factor associated with sky-high love-ins, the two locations are roughly equivalent when it comes to nastiness.  A hotel room may require less complicated calisthenics than the in-flight lavatory, but have you seen the black-lighted exposés on Dateline?  Yes, the airplane bathroom is cramped, far from private, and, well, a bathroom, but consider that the most realistic logistics for a mid-air fling require that you remove only minimal clothing, thus limiting your skin’s contact with whatever those who came before you left behind.  Unless you have some sort of special fetish or an extremely clumsy partner, the bed sheets are infinitely more likely to come into repeated contact with delicate and easily breached areas than the exact spot on the sink where the smelly guy in row 14 put his fingers.

One of the few things that will be more intimate with you than your hotel sheets or the bathroom surfaces is whoever you choose to share the occasion with.  If the body against yours is carrying something nasty, you’re just as likely to catch what they’ve got no matter where you choose to meet up.  Your first concern when preparing for an assignation abroad shouldn’t be whether or not you’ll be joining the elite ranks of the Mile-High Club, but rather whether you’ll be doing so with someone who will leave you on the jetway carrying an unfriendly souvenir.  As you consider a Valentine’s Day trip this year, whether it be with someone known or in the hopes of getting to know someone new, spend a little less time worrying about the where and a little more worrying about the who.  Still in doubt?  Any caveman will tell you that shacking up in unknown places with known partners is how we got this far in the first place.  You might get poked in the back a time or two, but at least you’re doing your part to advance humanity.

By Jamie Hazlett
Sun Star Columnist

Regardless of whether or not you went to see the Blackwater Blues Band perform at the Pub last Friday night, there can be no question that the blues and blues culture are a heady recipe for travel.  Not only does a good playlist of Leadbelly, Willy Dixon, B.B. King and John Lee Hooker help long layovers and tedious flights pass with ease, it can be the inspiration for a whirlwind tour of the places and faces essential to the genre.  With that in mind, prepare to shake off your February funk and get your toes tapping in places near and dear to the heart of the music.

By focusing on the two main centers of blues culture, Chicago and Memphis, one can easily visit a number of music-based attractions in the span of a week.  The first stop is Memphis, Tennessee, where the infamous Beale Street witnessed the birth of the blues.  The epicenter of Memphis nightlife in the first decades of the 20^th century, Beale Street was a magnet for Delta blues musicians drawn to the sound pioneered by W.C. Handy, writer of the hallmark song “Memphis Blues.” Today’s Beale Street-bound blues aficionados can visit Handy Park to hear live performances, visit the W.C. Handy House and Museum to get a sense of the man himself, or head down to B.B. King’s Blues Club for good food and great music. Shop the myriad street vendors, drop into a club or two, and don’t forget to keep your eyes and ears peeled for the modern bluesmen who can frequently be found playing up and down the length of Beale Street.

If you really want to steep yourself in blues history, swing south to Clarksdale to visit the Delta Blues Museum.  Only an hour and a half from Memphis, Clarksdale and its surroundings were the early stomping grounds of greats from Muddy Waters to Sam Cooke to John Lee Hooker. Visit Red’s Lounge to experience the feel of a real juke joint, and catch some phenomenal music while you’re there. Overall, Clarksdale can be done in a day or so, and it makes an excellent side trip from Memphis.

Fast-forward to Chicago, where blues migrated during the early 1940s.  In their new urban setting, the blues took on a more electric sound that was perfected by the likes of Tampa Red and Elmore James. Go in June if you want to catch the annual Chicago Blues Festival, where performances run the gamut of blues styles and feature both well known and up-and-coming acts.  If you’re an aspiring blues musician, a visit to the Chicago Music Exchange absolutely must be on your to-do list.  This emporium features a wide range of new and vintage equipment, with a diverse stock that changes constantly.  Your mouth will water and your fingers will itch at the sight of the guitars that cover the showroom walls.  Swing by Vintage Vinyl Records or Coop’s Underground Music to search for rare recordings in any and all genres of music – there’s no better piece of memorabilia to take home from a music-centered trip than a hard-to-find LP of your favorite artist.  Finally, make sure to reserve some time for the Chicago Blues Museum before taking in a drink and a live performance at one of the city’s numerous blues clubs.

Although the above itinerary highlights only the two broadest and most well-known types of blues, both new and old fans are sure to find something to delight and inspire them.  Singles, couples, and families can easily tailor a music-themed trip to suit their own needs, and the beauty of traveling with everything blues as your destination is that you are guaranteed to encounter others along the way who share your passion. Whether you prefer to follow in the footsteps of iconic Blues Brothers Jake and Elwood or to have a deep conversation about the pros and cons of various scales with a local musician, there’s no better way to escape the winter doldrums then to go chasing after the blues.

By Jamie Hazlett
Sun Star Columnist

As Santa Claus, that most well-traveled of fellows, prepares to touch down on your roof in a couple of weeks, it seems high time to consider what you and other venturers on your holiday gift list might be excited to see under the tree this year.  Some items are obvious. For example, passport holders, unique luggage, or books and gear specific to the recipient’s upcoming destination are always popular.  If you want to give something truly suited to the needs of a traveler though, you have to think outside of the box.  With this in mind, I’ve picked out five of my favorite world-trekker-worthy items for you to keep in mind as you shop for those that fall into the ‘intrepid voyager’ category.  All of the below items are available at www.uncommongoods.com, which offers lots of travel-friendly items.  Watch out for your bank account and your closet space, as the site has more goodies than Santa has elves.

Travel Chopsticks ($12.00).  These handy little utensils are perfect for eating on the go or for anyone heading for a country with a dearth of forks.  Not only do they screw apart for easier storage and less trouble at security, they have their own carrying case.  Plus, their stainless steel construction makes them easy to clean and damage resistant.

The Hookup Purse Hanger ($40.00).  Airport bathrooms can be nasty, and many don’t offer a place to set your handbag while you do your business.  The Hookup offers a solution in the form of a clip that converts from a heart-shaped bit of purse bling to an S-shaped hook that holds to tables and doors and keeps your things from hitting the floor.  Despite its shape, this is far from a ladies-only tool; its ability to hold up to 30 pounds makes it ideal for anyone carrying a backpack into places where the floor sanitation is questionable.

Wallet Pen ($49.00). Let’s face it – we all wish we had better memories.  Studying would be easier, you’d never forget how to get to that awesome party everyone else will be at, and it would eradicate the fear of jumbling up the phone number that super hot guy or gal just gave to you.  Unfortunately, we’re stuck with the memories we have, and as such, we find ourselves looking for a writing stick at the most inconvenient times.  Thanks to the wallet pen, your quill and ink can be produced in the wink of an eye.  The pen nestles neatly in the fold of any wallet, it is no longer than a credit card is wide, and it comes with a lifetime guarantee.

Picnic Backpack ($35.00). Whether you’re re-creating “The Sound of Music” in the Austrian Alps or just out for a day hike near home, the picnic backpack is a sure-fire way to get your meal and all the accoutrement safely there and back.  The main compartment fits your food and a bottle of wine, while the front flap replaces spots for pens and pencils with places for forks, knives, and plates.  Extra pockets leave space for cell phones and other small necessaries.  At this price, no picnicker can afford to be without this backpack.

Bottle Cap Tripod ($10.00).  If you have a photographer on your list, this item is a must-buy.  The name explains the item: a simple plastic cap, designed to fit over the regular lid to any standard-size plastic water bottle, that also happens to feature a universal camera mount.  The only caveat here is that heavier cameras will require a mostly full bottle if you’re planning on letting go long enough to hop into the picture.

If none of the above items tickle your fancy, check out the rest of the site to find something that suits your needs and tastes.  Wherever in the world you spend your holidays this year, be safe, be savvy, and have fun.