After producing and distributing a hunting and fishing television show for 44 years, airing on most of the outdoor television networks under the names of O’Neill Outside, O’Neill Outside with Travis Johnson (my grandson), Reel Adventures, and many other names, it’s safe to say I have exercised the distinct privilege of visiting dozens of distant, responsive and productive destinations and to return with a reasonably popular television program loyal audience. Permit me to list a few whereby a television crew made the trip, worked several days at the direction of my very kind host and returned with a show to be edited and finalized to air: Africa, Canada, Costa Rica, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Alaska, dozens of destinations in the United States and too many others too exhaustive to list.

Also, O’Neill Outside Radio has been airing on WSB and dozens of other radio stations live every Saturday morning for over 33 years with a surprisingly loyal audience of over 800,000.

Anyway, with that self-generated credit, please grant me appreciation for the following. Gail Williams and I were classmates since the sixth grade, dated exclusively when I was attending Emory and married after my graduation in 1965. Simple math will tell you that we are celebrating our 60th year of marriage in 2025.

With that background and self-serving introduction, Gail and I having been fortunate to have made three other Alaskan Cruises and this one is part of our 60th anniversary celebratory year.

And we want to invite you to come along. The beauty of Alaska in the early weeks of winter is beyond description. The invitation has its obvious purpose, but my overall intent is to have you go to Alaska with us during October under a special set of gathered features. These features you can locate on Facebook at “O’Neill Outside Cruzin’2 Retirement.” We’ve worked with an experienced travel personality to bundle a trip we expect to single out perfectly with dozens of “add-ons” you will not find elsewhere, including a full day’s train trip to Mount Denali during a day the ship is in port.  You just can’t miss this. You can find out all about it by visiting that Facebook page and you will easily recognize the special features.

I am not generating a commission. No. I just do not want anyone who listens to the radio show or reads this column to say later, “O’Neill, you should have told us about it, we would have loved to have seen Alaska in the early days of winter.”

The only thing to say now is my encouragement to make the arrangements and reserve your spot. There are only so many available. Don’t wait, do it now.