Don't Miss Nugget Falls

When visiting the Mendenhall Glacier don’t skip the 30-45 minute detour to Nugget Falls.

The falls are less than two miles round-trip from the main Mendenhall overlook trail.  Nugget Falls water source is Nugget Glacier.The trail leads you to a sandbar that ends less than 20 feet from where a 377-foot tall gushing waterfall crashes into Mendenhall Lake. 

For me, the most impressive thing was how close you are to the base of the falls - no more than 20 feet. Feeling the cool glacial water spray across your face (and in my case head as well), is invigorating.  And of course the pictures you get to take of the waterfall and it’s spray across the lake and in front of the glacier and her icebergs makes it a photographer’s paradise.

It was a real shame hearing people on the path say, “oh we don’t have time for that”, and “I am sure it isn't worth it”, and another family debating to go to the visitor center or the falls.

It is an easy hike with little elevation gain. See photo to the right. My friend's 82-year old uncle did it. Mind you, the man is an amazing human being. The point is, just do it. You will be glad you did. 

Cancun Part 3 - 4 Tickets for Cancun $276!

After spending $4,000 within 3 months, Chase awarded us 100,000 Chase Sapphire points to either book travel through their website or transfer it mileage rewards program partner.

If you use the points on their website, Chase provides a 50% point bonus. This means Chase will remove $1,500 from whatever travel related purchase booked on their website.

We booked 4 plane tickets on Aeromexico to Cancun for $1,736.00, or $434.00 each. After spending the $4000 to meet the mileage bonus requirement (any amount you spend on the card translates into more points), the amount charged to my Chase card was $126.00. 

Adding the $150 annual fee, the total cost for the tickets is $276.00. (I reduced the annual fee by $300 as you also receive a $300 travel credit with the card.)

To sum up, the total cost to stay in Cancun for 8 nights, all breakfasts, food at the Ziva for four days, and airfare was: $198+198+$150+$126 = $672.

If anyone has suggestions on places to go and things to do, please post in the comments section.

Finally, as stated in the first Cancun post, please check with all the credit cards mentioned regarding their latest signup bonuses, fees and fine print as they change all the time.

Cancun, here we come!