Derrick L Strother - Alaska: A Foodie's Paradise ?

Speaker: Derrick L Strother, Business Development Manager , Holland America Line

Derrick L Strother: Mhm Hi there. My name is Derek L. Strother BDM for the mid- Atlantic region here at Holland America Line. Today for my HAL-entine story I'd like to share with you in my newfound love of Alaska. Um my first time to this, visiting the state was back in 2021 and since then I have been back in additional uh four times. So to say I have a love is probably a bit of an understatement, probably obsessed with it at this point. Now I will admit Alaska was not high on my bucket list prior to visiting there because I just thought of ice and snow and cold weather and who wants to be thinking about that when they're supposed to be relaxing on a cruise. But luckily for HAL they definitely changed my mind about that. Um I think the most important part, at least for me, the reason why I fell in love is that the fact of I'm a foodie probably by birth, thanks to my mom and dad. Um So just some of the recommendations I received from the locals while visiting ports such as Ketchikan and um you know, and even inland when we were in Fairbanks, just the food alone, just the different cultures that just kind of settle there and just the options and the fresh seafood that you have was enough if I could have done an eating tour every single day of each trip, I probably would have been happy with that. Um And also can't forget to mention the scenery. Um Just Denali National Park was the first time I went there was last year and fell in love. Um but just not just the mountains, but just just so green and just the history and even the gold mining history. I love so much and didn't really care for history while growing up in school. But now when I travel, you know, it's one of my main things I like to focus on, but there's so many things to list, but Alaska is just definitely has to be on your list and that's my HAL-entine story.