Lori Brose of Glen Rock spent 14 days in Alaska in July and caught this 120-lb halibut during a fishing trip out of the town of Homer. She rented an RV at the Anchorage airport an found it to be a good way to see the state. "Summer is a good time to go, as the salmon are coming into the streams and the bears come for the salmon."

Her travel tips: Alaska is a very large state, so allow yourself time to see as much as possible. Pack a little of everything because the weather ranges from 40 degrees and rainy to 85 degrees and sunny.

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Deb Beaverson took this photo from the Glacier Gardens above Juneau, Alaska, in July. Beaverson was on a 12-day cruise with her sister Janet Smith of West Manchester Township.

Their travel trip: Be sure to dress in layers, and be prepared for rain. Southeast Alaska is a temperate rain forest.

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Doris King of Windsor Township stands in front of the Mayflower II in Plymouth, Mass., during a trip through New England earlier this summer. She said the Mayflower II, an exact replica of the original ship, was much smaller than she had imagined.

'It truly drives home the fact that these people suffered many hardships in order to realize their dreams of a new way of life," she wrote.

King spent two days in Plymouth and found the town charming. "We roamed the streets until late at night. The local people were exceptionally friendly."

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Sharon Pichler of Spring Garden Township sent in this photo of her daughter Ellen Pichler, 19, a junior at Mount Saint Mary's University, in front of Big Ben and Westminster Palace during a trip to England in July.

Ellen traveled with her mother, Sharon, and her older sister, Kate Slaugh-Sanford. They visited London, Exeter, Powderham Castle and the coastal towns of Torquay, Dawlish and Paignton.

Her travel tip: If you plan to travel to more than one area of the country, purchase a British Rail pass. The United Kingdom has an excellent rail system and the pass allows you to hop on and off most all the trains in the England. But you must purchase it here in the States. It is not for sale in England.

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Ken, Cindy and Jason Roach pose for a photograph in front of the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, Alaksa. The Washington Township family took a 12-day cruise to Alaksa in May to celebrate Jason's graduation from Lebanon Valley College with a music education degree.

Their travel tips: Get off the cruise ship and explore. Book your excursions several months before you leave on your trip so it won't be sold out. Plan ahead -- Alaska trips sell out quickly!

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Josh Rowand, right, shares a camel ride with Benjamin Lee in Israel during a three-week scholarship program called "Israel Experience" run by Eagles Wings Ministeries.

Rowand, 19, of Dover Township, attends Valley Forge Christian College. Lee attends Georgetown University. The pair were in a Bedouin camp in the southern Israeli desert the first week of August when this photo was taken.

His travel tip: Drink A LOT of water. It's very easy to get dehydrated, and Israel is very hot and dry. Also, go during our summer months. It doesn't rain there. Ever. We had great weather every day for the three weeks we were there.

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Robyn Pottorff of Spring Garden Township took this photo about 6 a.m. off Shawan Road in Hunt Valley, Md. earlier this month. She was on her way to work in Owings Mills, Md.

Her travel tip: You don't have to travel all over the world to see beautiful things. By driving only half an hour away, you'll find gorgeous horse farms and serenity. If you happen to drive on Shawan Road and follow it until it turns into Tufton, right around sun up or sun down, you will see the most beautiful sight.

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Brett Pottorff of Spring Garden Township snapped this picture of a saxophone player in New York City's Central Park in July during a childless overnight escape with his wife, Robyn.

His travel tip: "Tip Before You Click." If you find a great musician or performer who you'd like to take a picture of, always tip them (all have a tip box). Then they never mind if you take their picture -- or a few.

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Carole and Don Davis of West Manchester Township took a trip to Istanbul, Turkey, and Egypt in February and March. The highlights were a Nile River cruise, a short flight to Jordan and a tour of Amman, a float in the Dead Sea and the sights of Petra. They also visited Alexandria, Cairo and Abu Simbel.

Their travel tips: Pack light and give away your clothing as you travel. This will give you space in your luggage to bring hom new treasures. Take many pictures and keep a daily journal.

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York Catholic High School graduate Steph Carr, 18, of Windsor Township recently returned from a seven-day cruise to Bermuda with her family as a graduation present. She loved the beautiful pink beaches at Horseshoe Bay.

Her travel tip: Wear a hat and/or plenty of sunscreen. Carry lots of water and wear comfortable shoes to navigate uneven terrain. Take advantage of a $1 ride to the top of Horseshoe Bay and get free Internet access at both the post office and library.

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Arlene Schmitt of York Township stands in the Galleria in Milan during a 10-day trip to Italy last fall. She also visited Rome, Florence, Pompeii, Capri, Venice, Lake Lugano and Sorrento.

Her travel tip: If you are traveling with a companion, pack half of your things in each other's suitcase. That way, if one suitcase is lost, you each have enough to get by for a few days.

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Deb Forry snapped this photo of her husband, Art, and grandson, Brendan Minton of Tempe, Ariz., "standin' on a corner in Winslow, Arizona," just like the line in the Eagles hit "Take it Easy" during a March trip.

They were returning to Tempe from a petrified forest and meteor crater.

Their travel tip: If driving here from Phoenix, you might want to consider booking a hotel/motel because it's a 5-hour drive and you'll want plenty of time to enjoy the desert.

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Doris King of Windsor Township stands at the highest point along the Blue Ridge Parkway during a motorcycle trip through the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains in June. She traveled all 469 miles of the Parkway.

Along the way, she toured Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., ate shrimp at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. in Gatlinburg, Tenn., enjoyed saucer-sized biscuits and amazing home fries at Floyd Restaurant in Floyd, Va., and rode and walked to the top of Clingman's Dome. She used a GPS unit to locate the nearest food, lodging and gas.

Her travel tips: Keep a digital camera close by at all times. Make friends with motel clerks - they are a wealth of information. Talk to the locals to find some out-of-the-way points of interest. Don't over-plan your trip. After all, it is a vacation.

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Deb Godfrey and Andy Wertz of York Township took a trip to Puerto Vallarta in February that included beautiful sunsets, dinners on the beach, tequilla tours, dune-buggies in the jungle and zip-lining in the Predator Movie jungle.

Their travel tip: Stay in the old town. You can walk everywhere, shop in street markets, and eat authentic foods.

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Joan and Tom Mountford of Dover pose for a photo in front of what is known as “Little House” in Rothenburg, Germany during a trip to Europe in May. They also visited Munich, Dachau, the Bavarian Alps, France, Austria, and Amsterdam. While in Holland, they also attended the tulip festival in Keukenhof.

Their travel tips: If you go to Holland in April or May, don’t miss the tulips. Take lots of film — the scenery is gorgeous. It’s also good to learn a little German, so that you can speak to the local people in the small towns of Germany.

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Keith and Eva Eisenhart and Sandra and Harlan Harlacker, all of Dover Township, pose for a photograph in front of Alaska’s Mount McKinley during an August 2007 trip.

Their travel tip: Tour Alaska in a counterclockwise direction. That way you can relax and unwind as you cruise for three days down the west coast.

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John Bailey of Bailey Travel escorted a trip of 18 people to Ecuador's Galapagos Islands from April 25 to May 5. They flew to Quito, then Guayaquil, then an old Air Force base in the Galapagos.

From there, they got in little rubber boats called Zodiacs, which took them to the 98-passenger Xpedition ship (operated by Celebrity Cruise Lines). They cruised nearly 700 miles around the islands, using the small Zodiac boats to go from ship to land.

"Sometimes you had to chase the seals away so we could land," Bailey said.

His travel tip: All of the Galapagos Islands belong to a protected national park, so no one is permitted on the islands without a licensed, authorized guide.

Note: I have been to Ecuador twice, but I never made it to Galapagos, so I am obviously very jealous that I am posting this on my blog as a "Wish you were here" rather than a travel tale and photo from a journey of my own. I have read about Galapagos since I was little and so it has always been atop my list of places to go. I've heard it can be rather pricey though. Any tips on doing it cheaply?

Quick quiz: What is the largest (most populous) city in Ecuador? Post your guess as a comment (no Googling or otherwise cheating)

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David Smeltzer of West Manchester Township snapped these two pictures while driving from Seattle to San Diego.

Most of the summer 2007 trip, which he did with his daughter, Donna Mabry, was along the Pacific Coast highway, except for an inland visit to Mount Hood, Oregon, shown in the one shot.

His travel tip: Stick close to the coast the whole way down because it’s so beautiful you can’t believe it.

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From left, Shaely Gamble; Oona, Andy and Grayson Raffensberger; Dana, Trevor and Bryan Gamble gather for a photo at Castaway Cay in the Bahamas. The families, both of Dover Township, set sail aboard the Disney Magic in February for a seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruise.

Stops along the way included Key West, The Grand Caymans, Cozumel and Castaway Cay, which is Disney’s private beach in the Bahamas.

Travel tip: Bring plenty of sunscreen. You’re closer to the sun, so you will need to lather up several times. Consider use of walkie-talkies. They’re a great way to communicate with members of your group while on opposite sides of the ship.

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Gerry Hartman of Hellam Township traveled to Ely, Minn., last March for a five-day dogsledding and camping trip along the Canadian border. The trip was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. This picture was taken on one of the frozen lakes of the boundary waters with fellow dogsledders and Inuit sled dogs.

Travel tip: Be sure to take the proper clothing and extra betteries.

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Carole and Don Davis of West Manchester Township pose for a photo in front of the Taj Mahal in Agra, India, during an October trip.

Carole's travel tips: Wear comfortable walking shoes that are easy to take off and put on because when you go into the temple you take off your shoes. Go with an open mind because it’s a whole different culture.
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