Fishing in Alaska is world class. Hundred pound King salmon, twenty pound rainbow trout, 4 pound grayling and many other record class fish can be caught in its crystal clear waters.

24-hour sport fishing information is available in many areas, for complete listing see the Sport Fishing Regulation Guide available from The Alaska Department of Fish and Game; Box 25526 Juneau AK 99802-5526, 907-465-4180. A toll free information number for out of state callers is 1-877-9FISHAK.

License fees for nonresidents: 1-day $10; 3-day $20; 7-day $30; 14-day $50; annual $100. If you wish to fish for King salmon you must have a stamp. The cost for these stamps is the same as the license fee. (ie. if you wish to fish for 7-days the cost would be $60). web: www.state.ak.us

What’s the road like? Most of the highways are paved or chip sealed and a lot of the rough areas are marked - but not all, so stay alert. Do not be afraid to try and drive on the smoothest part of the road. Keep to the right on corners and when going up hill. Watch your mirrors as some people travel the highway much faster than others. If you let them get by it is safest for everyone. Most highways are all-weather roads that are maintained year-round and grades are moderate except for those in the highest mountain passes. Drive with your headlights on at all times.

When should I make my trip? Early May to late September is the best time for a pleasure trip. At other times, extreme winter cold or spring thaws can make traveling difficult. Even so, once the highway is snowpacked and temperatures stay cold, the road surface is like pavement. As a result, many veteran Alaska Highway travelers prefer travel during the coldest months. If you plan a winter trip, have plenty of warm, winter clothing, down-filled sleeping bags, an electric engine heater that you can plug in at overnight stops, and remember to run only on the top half of your gas tank. Many of the lodges and service stations close during the winter so when you stop, you need to find out which facilities down the line are still open. If the weather is extreme, it is best to call ahead to make sure your next planned stop is open.

What about my car or camper? Your vehicle should be in top mechanical condition. A bug and gravel screen will protect the front of your vehicle and if it’s high enough, may even help protect your windshield. (It should not be so high as to impair your vision.) Plastic, bubble-type headlamp protectors are also a good idea and can be found easily in most northern communities. Automotive services are found about every 30 or 40 miles along the route (except in winter), and most sizes of tires are stocked by roadside services. You can get tires repaired at most lodges and highway services. Be sure to periodically check the wheel nuts on campers and motorhomes (particularly the vehicles with dual rear wheels). Maintaining proper tire pressure will cut down on problems.

What if my vehicle breaks down? Towing services are available at frequent intervals. Since these services are reluctant to respond to second-hand reports, it’s best if someone from your party goes in person to get help. Towing charges are about $1.25/mile for a passenger type vehicle buy more if it is a motorhome. Unless yours is an emergency or hazardous situation, highway maintenance crews are prohibited by law from towing you.

How fast can I travel? It is easy to get fooled into traveling too fast as some of the highways are wide and smooth with very little traffic. You can be sure, though, that there will be rough sections ahead, so don’t increase your speed to where it will be difficult to slow down. One thing to look for on the paved roads are the black tire marks that can be found in front of dips in the road. These are caused by the tag axle on the big trucks when the frame flexes as they hit the dip. If you get used to watching for these they are a great help in locating potential trouble spots. Blowout danger on gravel increases as your tires get hotter. Do not exceed posted speed limits. (30 mph/50 kmph when passing maintenance equipment).

What about my pets? If you are traveling with an animal you should not take your pet out at highway lodges, as dogs that belong to lodge owners are very protective and could attack. Rest areas are the best places to walk your animals.

Are there many campgrounds/waysides along the highway? In both the Yukon Territory, British Columbia and Alaska, government-operated camp- grounds and picnic sites have been established at frequent intervals along the route. There are many privately operated campgrounds, and most lodges have space for campers.

Will I have any problems crossing the border? Passports/visas aren’t required (coming or going) for U.S. citizens or permanent residents crossing the U.S./Canada border. Even so, native-born US citizens should carry ID verifying their citizenship. A driver’s license is not acceptable proof of residency.

Will my credit cards be honored in Canada? Yes, and you will be charged whatever the current rate of exchange is.

Exchange your US dollars for Canadian dollars at the bank, where you will get the current rate of exchange. This will save you time and aggravation as many small operators only bank once a week so will not pay a full rate of exchange. Remember that when they give exchange that it is only a courtesy, they are not required to pay any premium on foreign currency.

How can I tell where I am on the Alaska highway, determine mileage, etc.? Since its construction during World War II, information about the location of goods and services, campgrounds, recreation and scenic areas, etc., along the highway has been given with reference to Dawson Creek, “Mile 0,” where the highway begins. All of the boldface numbers in The Alaska Travel Guide refer to the markers that are in place along the highways. The ones in Canada are in kilometres and miles (km/miles). The ones in the USA are in miles/km. On the Canadian portion of the Alaska Highway you will find some numbers in (HM). These are the historical mileages from Dawson Creek when the highway was first built, and still are used as a mailing address.

All other highways are marked according to the mileage markers in place. Simply determine your destination and subtract the mileage you are at to see how far you will have to travel.

Generally, mid May to mid September is the preferred time to visit (with June-August being the best), but not all of the state is as unbearable, cold and miserable year-round as a lot of people believe. There are actually five or six different climates. The interior region (Fairbanks area) has a wide range, with summers in the 70s-80s F/20-31 C or higher and winters far below 0 F/-18 C. The south-central (Anchorage) region has summers in the range of 55-65 F/13-18 C and winters well below freezing.

Southeast Alaska (Juneau and the Inside Passage) has summers in the 50s-60s F/10-20 C with mild winters that hover around the freezing mark. The southwest is generally in the 50s F/10-15 C during the summer and below freezing in winter, coupled with lots of wind, snow, sleet and rain. In eastern Alaska (along the border with Canada’s Yukon), temperatures average about 60 F/15 C in the summer and about 10 to 14 F/-11 to -9 C in winter. Northern Alaska is cool to cold year round, with summer highs generally in the 40s-50s F/5-14 C and winter temperatures well below 0 F/-18 C (similar to winter in Fairbanks).

And just to confuse things, it can drizzle, fog over, gust mightily or chill out even during the peak of summer throughout the state. Hawaii it isn’t, but the climate is part of what makes Alaska such a magnificent place to visit.

No matter when you go, sweaters, warm clothing and rain gear will be useful. From mid May to 1 August, many Alaskans live in near constant daylight. This phenomenon, known as the Midnight Sun, reaches as far south as Fairbanks and Anchorage.

You should consider the benefits of travel insurance as part of your Alaska travel planning. Most travelers look for travel tips that discuss the importance of travel insurance and Alaska travel insurance from Travel Guard can help you make the most of your trip.

Whether you’re taking a family vacation or business trip, Travel Guard has a plan for you. These plans may include valuable medical coverage, trip interruption, medical emergency assistance and treatment services and more. And with Travel Guard’s 24-hour assistance line, your coverage can act as a travel guide should your plans change.

For more than 20 years, Travel Guard’s plans have covered millions of travelers throughout the world. We’re America’s leading provider of travel insurance plans and assistance programs and we’re here to help you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Coverage provided through Travel Guard is easy to buy and with our 24-hour emergency travel services it’s even easier to use.

Southcentral Alaska enjoys fairly mild temperatures year around, thanks to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean. In addition, Anchorage is sheltered by mountains on all sides so windy conditions are rare (not unheard of, just uncommon).

Typical summer high temperatures in the Anchorage area are in the 60s or low 70s. If the temperature hits 80, it’s a major news story in the Anchorage Daily News. But in the absence of wind, 60 is comfortable. And remember that summer days are very long. In late June it doesn’t get really dark at night. People are still doing yard work at midnight and, on the Fourth of July, the fireworks aren’t set off until after midnight. (Meaning, of course, that we celebrate the Fourth on the Fifth.)

Winters around Anchorage are mild, too. Snowfalls are as gentle as the summer rain. But, if you want lots of snow, Buffalo, New York, or Valdez, Alaska, is a better bet. Temperatures stay pretty much in the teens (Fahrenheit, that is) from November through March with perhaps one or two cold snaps when temperatures drop below zero during that period. The average high temperature in early February, for example, is in the low 20s (Fahrenheit), providing pleasant conditions for cross-country and downhill skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. Winter days are short; in December when they’re shortest, the sun rises after 10 a.m. and sets around 3:30 p.m.

Occasionally, as in late January and early February 1999, the winter weather provides some surprises. A chinook wind blew through in late January, raising temperatures from the minus teens to about 40 above in just a few hours. Then the cold snap returned, keeping temperatures below zero for days and setting a record on Feb. 3 when the high was -13 Fahrenheit and the low was -25. The National Weather Service reported that the high eclipsed the previous record of -12 for coldest high for that date, set in 1947. The normal temperatures for that date are a high of 23 and low of 10. Usually, if you want to experience real cold, you have better luck in Fairbanks, about 375 miles to the north, where it can get to 40 below or lower (the high there Feb. 3 was -39 and the low -49).

Alaska is a pretty informal place. Casual clothes are acceptable almost anywhere and sweaters come in handy year-around. If you’re a man, you could wear jeans and a sports shirt to a Broadway touring company performance at the Anchorage Performing Arts Center without being stared at, although most people would be wearing sports coats or suits. But chances are you’re not coming to Alaska to see “Cats” or “Phantom of the Opera.” If you’re coming in the summer, you’ll want to pack a jacket. In the winter, you’ll want a heavier coat. A parka would be overdoing it, however. I bought a parka years ago and there are winters where I never take it out of the closet (I was wearing it this Feb. 2 though).

You might want to make that jacket a waterproof one. After three or four summers that seem mostly sunny, we’ll get one that seems mostly rainy. And some popular places to visit such as Portage Glacier and Seward are especially prone to rainy conditions. A rain hat is probably a good idea, but the umbrella can stay at home. Anchorage rainfalls are gentle; in windier places (Portage Glacier often is), an umbrella would be blown inside out in no time.

The fight for Alaska statehood began in the early 20th century, after gold rushes in the North brought national attention to Alaska. Since the Alaska purchase in 1867, Alaska had been under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army (1867 - 1877), the U.S. Treasury Department (1877 - 1879) and the U.S. Navy (1879 - 1884), before becoming the District of Alaska in 1884 with a territorial governor appointed by the president of the United States.

In 1906, Alaska was given a non-voting delegate in Washington. In 1912, Congress passed a bill written by Judge James Wickersham, making Alaska a territory. Although many Alaskans insisted they deserved to be a full-fledged state, it wasn’t until the 1940’s that the U.S. government began to seriously consider its statehood.

During World War II, the Defense Department constructed military bases and the Alaska Highway. When the Japanese bombed Dutch Harbor and occupied Attu and Kiska islands in 1942, the strategic military people remained in the territory, but adversaries of statehood argued that its population was still too sparse and its location too distant for it to be a state.

Another argument against statehood was Alaska’s lack of a sound economic base. The discovery of oil in 1957 helped the territory leap the final hurdle toward becoming a state. As Alaska’s immense wealth of resources was realized, Congress was quickly convinced to disregard past arguments against statehood. On January 3, 1959, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed into law the 49th state of the union.

Getting there is easy. The Alaska Railroad - connecting Seward to Fairbanks - and Lake Hood - the world’s busiest floatplane base - bring the most pristine and remote areas in Alaska closer to Anchorage.

The Glenn Highway, a National Scenic Byway, heads north from Anchorage towards the Mat-Su Valley. The Seward Highway, an All-American Road, runs right along scenic Turnagain Arm from Anchorage to the Kenai Peninsula.

The Alaska Marine Highway calls several ports near Anchorage such as Whittier, Seward and Homer, and Valdez which are all connected to Anchorage by road and rail.

Money: The US Dollar (USD) is the unit of currency and is divided into 100 cents. Only major banks exchange foreign currency. ATMs are widespread and credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted. Travellers cheques should be taken in US Dollars to avoid hassles. Banking hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm.

EarthSong Lodge

Located just 17 miles from Denali National Park on scenic and historic Stampede Road, EarthSong Lodge is one of the most unique and beautiful lodgings in the Denali area. EarthSong offers cozy cabin accommodations, excellent food, a working sled dog kennel, and a wide variety of summer and winter activities.

Denali Lakeview Inn

A beautiful and comfortable bed and breakfast nestled on tranquil Otto Lake, just 10 miles north of Denali National Park. Enjoy spectacular views of Otto Lake, Mt. Healy and Mt. Dora from every suite.

Kennicott Glacier Lodge

Imagine yourself in a ghost town, beside a glacier, surrounded by some of the highest mountain peaks in North America! You could be there, at Kennicott Glacier Lodge, a premier Alaskan wilderness lodge in the heart of America’s largest National Park.

Glacier Bay Bear Track Inn

Experience Alaska! The Bear Track Inn located in Gustavus, Alaska, Gateway to Glacier Bay National Park has complete packages that can include choice of world-class fresh and salt water fishing, kayaking, whale watching, glacier viewing, hiking, wildlife and more.

Major Marine Tours

Offering world-class wildlife and glacier cruises, including half- and full-day cruises in Kenai Fjords National Park, hosted by a National Park Ranger. We also offer 5-hour glacier cruises in Prince William Sound. Enjoy an optional all-you-can-eat salmon and prime rib buffet as you cruise past amazing wildlife and scenery.

Alaska ! “Land of the Midnight Sun, and our Last Frontier.” Alaska Guide offers many unique opportunities to travelers unsurpassed beauty of our nation’s 49th state an awesome sense of nature in all its glory. basket, boots, fairbanks, wedding gift, fur coat, gift basket

Alaska Guide brings together the finest in Alaskan treasures found right here in our online secure Alaskan gift section. Browse through hundreds of unique Alaskan gifts from the official Alaska Railroad HO model trains made by Lionel and Athearn painted to match our famous Alaska Railroad’s current rolling stock.

Alaskan handmade Ulu knife sets, handmade Alaskan dolls, Ivory, Jade and wood carvings. Visit our Alaskan basket shop for baleen and grass handmade baskets. For the finest handmade Alaskan boots, moccasins and mukluks see our Alaskan mukluks. Alaska is known for fine handmade jewelry, visit our Alaskan gold nugget jewelry for necklaces, watches, Alaskan masks and dream catchers. Alaskan ivory and jade comes together for the finest gifts handmade here in Alaska. Stop by for those special occasions, birthdays, weddings, and anniversary gifts. Corporate Alaskan Gifts, see our new corporate gift section designed for the man or woman with the corner office.basket, boots, model train, cruise, fur coat, gift basket, ho train

Alaska is one of the worlds finest places to vacation, for the experience of a lifetime we offer a wide variety of complete unique vacation packages for you to choose from right here at Alaska Guide Travel. Stop by and for a Cruise of The Last Frontier, come and see an unforgettable view of this majestic land, up close and personal. Alaska Guide Travel offers cruise packages, road trip and city tours of Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and so much more. For the vacation of a lifetime see our Alaskan travel and cruise specials, we can help you get here! doll, gold, juneau, knife, lionel, online shopping cart

Alaska fishing, some of the world’s best fishing and hunting await you. Fly into the most beautiful country in the world - mountain passes, lakes, streams, and forests are home to caribou, moose, grizzly bears, Steel head and salmon fishing - and don’t forget your camer!