While planning your Alaska vacation, consider these extravagant views, things to do, and the best vacation spots in Alaska. For your trip, make sure to book an Alaska cruise so you have the chance to get an up-close view at all of these experiences unique to this mountainous, coastal, icy land:
#1. Alaska Tours at the Mountain
Denali National Park is an enormous, unspoiled wilderness of gigantic mountains and braided rivers tracing through immense and ancient glacial valleys. It is here that moose, caribou, grizzly bear, Dall sheep, and wolves roam freely through millions of acres of tundra. Denali, the Great One, towering at more than four miles high, it is the centerpiece of the Alaska Range.
Unlike most national parks in the Lower 48, Denali has only one road and paved only for the first 15 miles. Beyond that, access is restricted to reduce traffic and preserve the natural condition of the park. So choosing the right park tour is one of the most important decisions you can make when planning your Alaska vacation.
The Tundra Wilderness Tour takes about eight hours and ventures 62 miles into the park. Before you think that is too long, know that it focuses on wildlife viewing, and you will experience a dramatic range of colorful scenery, including terrific views of Mt. Denali, weather permitting.
Please note: when the park first opens in the spring, and just before it closes in the fall, the road may be closed past Teklanika at mile marker 30.
#2. Jump a Train
Throughout the last 100 years, the Alaska Railroad has shaped the development of the state's central interior by creating a transportation link between the coast and the communities inland. Most notably, the railroad was instrumental during World War II, and then again in the early 1970s during construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System.
Since 1984, cruise ship passengers have been whisked through the wilderness in the comfort of domed rail cars, surrounded by the vast Alaska landscape. And there is no more civilized way to enjoy and appreciate the stunning scenery! Guests travel in spacious surroundings with destination hosts, full bar service, cooked-to-order gourmet dining and onboard restrooms.
Today, there are four major legs along the 470 miles of track between the northernmost point in Fairbanks, and the southernmost point in Seward. Each range from four hours to eight hours travel time and has its own highlights. At least one is included in most tour itineraries, so check yours for specific information.
#3. Cruise the Coast
The Inside Passage is a geographical region along the west coast of British Columbia, Canada, and Alaska's southeastern panhandle. It is a 1,000-mile coastal route for ocean-going vessels, which provides protected travel from the open ocean.
Cruise ships sailing these waters offer guests stunning scenery from both sides of the vessel, while navigating among more than 2,000 islands, in this ancient glacial landscape. Inside the border of Alaska, the Tongass National Forest, which is the largest forest in the U.S., is almost 17 million acres of giant trees, soaring mountains and glaciers tumbling into the sea.
The bays and fjords of the Inside Passage are teeming with marine wildlife including orca and several species of large whales. Inaccessible by car, the Inside Passage and its ports of call are the heart of every Alaska cruise.
#4. Face a Glacier
Tens of thousands of years ago, most of the northern hemisphere was locked in the last great Ice Age. Today, more than half of the world's glaciers are found in Alaska, and some of the most fabulous are frequently visited by cruise ships for an up-close look.
One of the most fun is Hubbard Glacier, which is the largest tidewater glacier in North America, and the intensity of its blue ice can be seen from miles away, even on a cloudy day. This immense river of ice is an amazing 76 miles long, seven miles wide, and 600 feet tall at the waterline, dwarfing the largest ships. Also known as the "Galloping Glacier," it is advancing rapidly toward the ocean. Hubbard can put on quite a show, to a chorus of ooohs and aaaahs, as it ejects huge chunks of ice into the sea with a giant splash. Onboard naturalists provide commentary over the ship's public address system to further enhance your experience.
Sailing quietly into Glacier Bay is like emerging from a time machine. When John Muir first visited there in 1879, he observed that the ice had already retreated 30 miles since its first documented survey in 1794. Only thirty five years later, in 1916, the ice of the largest, the Grand Pacific Glacier, had melted back another 60 miles. Glacier Bay National Park is now the fastest glacial retreat on record. Today the park covers 3.3 million acres and contains nine tidewater glaciers. Plus, the nutrient-rich environment is a popular summer feeding ground for the humpback whale. Park service rangers provide commentary over the ship's public address system to further enhance your experience.
#5. Fly the Juneau Icefield
Located in the mountains north of Juneau, the Juneau Icefield is more than 1,500 square miles and the source of more than 140 glaciers, including the Mendenhall Glacier. Best appreciated from the air, a helicopter flightseeing tour is both thrilling and fascinating. Million-year-old rivers of ice wind their way among bare, jagged peaks, and converge in the massive expanse of valleys cut deep into the Coast Mountains.
Many flightseeing Alaska tours offer the opportunity to touchdown on a glacier for a short walk on the ice, and a closer look at its effect on the mountainsides, crevices and clear meltwater channels exposing pure blue ice. For an even more exciting Alaska-only experience, choose an excursion that includes dog sledding!
#6. Hug a Husky
In Alaska, dog sleds are not only for delivering the mail; dog mushing is the official state sport! Today, most Alaskans have a snow machine, so mushing is largely recreational. And there are many famous winter races, including the annual 1,100-mile Iditarod.
However, dog mushing is still all about the dogs. It is interesting to note that the Alaskan Husky is not actually a recognized breed. The dogs are a mix of several breeds because their personalities, intelligence and athleticism are more important than their appearance. And who can resist the puppies? It is easy to find a kennel that welcomes visitors in the summer. Everyone loves to meet the dogs, cuddle the puppies, and learn about what it takes to become a champion. There are also plenty of opportunities for visitors to join the fun and excitement of the mush. Check the specific tours and excursions available for your trip and "Let's Go!"
#7. Relive the Gold Rush
In downtown Skagway, the most notorious gold rush town in Alaska, there are several points of interest available within just a few blocks of one another. The visitor's center of Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park is housed in the historic 1901 White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad Depot. It holds extremely interesting exhibits and photographs, and is a great starting point. On the corner is the famous Red Onion Saloon, and down the street is the infamous Mascot Saloon.
You can ride the vintage cars of the historic, narrow gauge White Pass & Yukon Railroad up the scenic mountain pass toward the gold fields of Canada’s Yukon Territory. The trip takes about three hours round-trip, but is also available one-way, which is recommended.
#8. Explore Native Totems
Located just 10 miles north of Ketchikan, Totem Bight State Historical Park is 33-acres of lush, picturesque forest and rocky coastline. Originally the site of a native Tlingit fish camp, the park boasts more than a dozen colorful, hand carved, cedar totem poles depicting humans, birds, animals and mythological creatures. There is also a recreated Clan House that could have housed 30-50 people.
The park represents the rich artwork and craftsmanship of the Haida and Tlingit, two of the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast. These cultures have no written language, so totems were created as a way to transmit stories, history and wisdom. For a full interpretation of the totems, and the natural beauty of the Inside Passage, a guided walk is highly recommended.
#9. Roll on the River
A tour aboard the Riverboat Discovery is the story of the Binkley family, who has made their way of life in the heart of Alaska for five generations. Arriving during the gold rush in the late 1900s, Charlie Binkley made a business transporting people and supplies throughout the heart of Alaska's interior by sternwheeler riverboat.
Today you can experience 100 years of history in just one day. These narrated, three-hour Alaska tours depart from Steamboat Landing, reminiscent of a historical trading post, where you can enjoy a hearty miner’s lunch in the dining hall. The tour also includes exciting Alaska-only experiences, including a bush plane demonstration, a look at Iditarod champion sled dogs in action, and a walking tour of the Chena Indian Village, where you can immerse yourself in Athabascan culture.
Back at Steamboat Landing, make sure to visit the Alaska at 40 Below Experience and learn what a day in midwinter really feels like!
#10. Savor the Seafood
When most people think about what there is to eat in Alaska, salmon immediately comes to mind. And certainly, Alaska's wild salmon is an extraordinarily delicious staple on the menu. Fresh or smoked, the famous Copper River salmon is some of the best in the world and literally melts in your mouth.
And there is much more to tempt you. For a few short weeks in summer, Alaska bursts into bloom and produces an abundance of flavorful berries. So you might start your day with some fresh buttermilk biscuits, wild berry jam and fireweed honey.
Surprisingly lean and tasty, reindeer sausage is a popular side dish for breakfast, and reindeer meat makes great burgers and chili. Also fresh for lunch and dinner, halibut and red king crab are served in many scrumptious and creative ways. And don't forget warm, soft loaves of sourdough bread! Alaska also has more than 20 breweries producing craft beer. One of the largest and most well known is the Alaskan Brewing Company
, and its beers are found throughout Alaska and the Lower 48.
From majestic Mt. Denali to the jagged edge of Glacier Bay, Alaska is unlike any place else in the world. And there's no better way to visit the best vacation spots in Alaska than an Alaska Cruise and Land Tour. Read more about Alaska Cruisetours...
