If you're planning a trip or cruise to the great state of Alaska, these resources will help. You'll find travel references and resources, as well as information about where to stay, dine, and shop. Fun things to do in Alaska are also included, such as attractions, wildlife tours, outdoor recreation, and special events. Finally, there's information to help you decide whether you'll want to visit Alaska by land or on a cruise, as part of an organized tour or on your own.

The Seattle region is home to a number of great outdoor concert venues, with more being added all the time.  Many of these amphitheaters and parks spaces offer evening outdoor concert series during the summer months. Old favorites like Woodland Park Zoo, Chateau Ste. Michelle, and Marymoor Park have been joined by outdoor spaces at Tulalip and Snoqualmie Casinos. As I gathered together the concert lineups for each of these venues - well over 60 performances - I was once again surprised to see that there was very little overlap between venues. You'll find everything from adult contemporary to classic rock to heavy metal.

The Route of the Hiawatha Trail runs from the Montana-Idaho state line into Idaho along a route a few miles south of I-90. The recreation trail, which runs through magnificent forest and mountain scenery, follows a section of the old Milwaukee Road rail line. Along with the way you pass through several tunnels, including one dark and chilly tunnel that is 1.7 miles long. You'll also pass over several rail trestles, enjoying fabulous scenery all the way. I did the Route of the Hiawatha myself and recommend it to anyone who can ride a bike. I'll even go so far as to say riding the Route of the Hiawatha should be on the bucket list of every adventurous Northwesterner.

Camping is very popular in the Northwest, especially during these times when people are trying to be more frugal. When it comes to camping, there are lots of different options. Will you stay in a tent, a cabin, a yurt, or some other special shelter? Do you want to be on the water? Bring your dog?  Do you want to stay in a national park, a state park, or a private campground/RV park?

For some of the Northwest's most popular campgrounds, you need to make your reservations early in the year. Fortunately, there are a number of different online tools that make it easy to find and reserve your Northwest camping place. Most allow you to search by a long list of criteria, including not only date and location but facilities, services, amenities, available recreation, and more. Here's the information you need to make your Northwest camping reservations:

• US National Parks, US National Forests, or Other Federal Land
• Alaska
• Idaho
• Montana
• Oregon
• Washington
• Wyoming