Alaska - FAQ

Where do cruises go in Alaska?
The Inside Passage is Alaska’s biggest cruise destination, but popular cruises also visit Prince William Sound, the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea.

The Inside Passage is also known as the Panhandle and as “Southeast.” The main ports of call are Ketchikan, Sitka, Juneau and Skagway, along with Glacier Bay National Park and Hubbard Glacier in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.

Prince William Sound, tucked into the underbelly of Alaska, holds abundant wildlife and glaciers, including Columbia Glacier.

Cruises in the Gulf of Alaska visit Seward and Kodiak.

Bering Sea cruises call at Unalaska/Dutch Harbor, Nome and the Pribilof Islands.

In addition to these weeklong cruises, there are local day cruises, especially in Juneau, Whittier and Seward. These visit glaciers and search for whales and other wildlife such as eagles, bears, sea lions and sea otters.

What’s the summer weather like in Alaska?

The Southcentral climate (Anchorage, the Kenai Peninsula and the surrounding area) boasts relatively mild summers (highs near 70).
The Interior climate (Fairbanks and Denali) has warm summers (highs in the 90s).

The climate of the Inside Passage, where most of the cruise ships go, is usually warm and damp (summer highs in the 60s and 70s).

Coastal areas have more moderate temperatures than inland areas as well as more precipitation. Daily temperature fluctuations are wider inland.

In late spring and early summer (close to the solstice in mid-June), the days are the longest. Early summer has less rain than late summer and fall.

What clothes should I pack for my summer trip?

Is Alaska cool or warm in the summer? Rainy or dry? Chances are, it’ll be a little bit of everything during your visit.

An August bus ride into Denali National Park, for example, can start out in warm sunshine and reach Eielson Visitor Center in a driving snowstorm.

The suitcase of a well-packed summer traveler will include items to cover most situations.

• Long-sleeve shirts — These provide warmth and general protection against mosquitoes.
• Fleece jacket — This is a versatile item for layering your clothing during cool periods.
• Rain jacket and pants — Chances are good that it’ll rain sometime during a weeklong visit. Don’t expect prairie-style torrents.
• Sturdy socks and good walking shoes– Many tourist-area trails are covered in asphalt or are boardwalks. But adventurous travelers may want to head up a rocky or muddy trail, of which there are hundreds.
• Watch — During summer’s long days, it’s easy to lose track of time. Of course, that may be why you’re coming to Alaska in the first place.
• Sunglasses — The summer sun rises in the northeast and sets in the northwest, so no matter what you have planned it will involve facing the sun sometime. Anglers and passengers on cruise and tour boats will find sunglasses especially helpful.

Dressing up

A few high-dollar restaurants encourage guests to wear jackets and ties, but you’ll be welcome just about anywhere in slacks (and often in jeans).

Around Denali and the other big parks, you’re welcome to come as you are.

Where can I find a map of Alaska?

Paper
The best printed-on-paper highway map of Alaska appears to be the one printed by Rand McNally. It can be purchased at bookstores in many states for about $5.

Atlas
The Alaska Atlas & Gazetteer, an oversize book, is a favorite in the state for its topographical maps. It costs about $20 and is available at many large bookstores and through online bookstores. Like many maps, it is based on the U.S. Geological Survey series of topographical maps.

Trail maps
Another good source of topographic maps for activities is the series produced by Trails Illustrated and National Geographic. These maps cover many of Alaska’s fun places: Prince William Sound, the Inside Passage, Kachemak Bay State Park, and several national parks, including Denali, Klondike Gold Rush (the Chilkoot Trail and Skagway), Gates of the Arctic, Glacier Bay, Kenai Fjords, Katmai, Lake Clark and Wrangell-St. Elias. These maps cost about $10 each and can be bought online from www.nationalgeographic.com or from outdoors-oriented stores.

Outdoor recreation
Another popular map series is the Road and Recreation set produced by Todd Communications in Anchorage; ask by e-mail for information at sales@toddcom.com or look in dozens of stores in Southcentral Alaska. In addition to showing lake and river access points, these maps show campgrounds, buildings, mileposts, some businesses and what kind of fish are in each lake. The maps cost about $5 each.

Map makers and sellers
Here is an Alaska.com Business Directory listing of companies that sell or make maps in Alaska.

How good is the Alaska Highway?

The Alaska Highway, despite its reputation, is not terrible. It’s a fast, scenic and wildlife-filled adventure with plenty of businesses along the way to make travel easier.

The highway surface is almost all asphalt. The exceptions are some construction zones, and these are gravel.

The 1,422-mile Alaska Highway starts in Dawson Creek, small city in northeastern British Columbia. It runs about 1,220 miles through British Columbia and Yukon Territory to the Alaska Border and for another 200 miles from the border to Delta Junction, Alaska. (Sometimes the 95 miles of the Richardson Highway between Delta Junction and Fairbanks are considered part of the Alaska Highway.)

The Alaska Highway is only part of the trip between the Lower 48 and Alaska. To reach Dawson Creek, drivers from the United States generally motor up from Washington state through British Columbia, or from Montana through Alberta.

Including the Alaska Highway, the distance to the Yukon-Alaska border is 1,950 miles from the Montana-Alberta border and 1,900 miles from the Washington-British Columbia border.

Speed: The Alaska Highway in the 1940s and 1950s was a nightmare of mud and potholes. Now it’s possible to drive everything from a four-wheel-drive pickup to an RV to a low-slung sedan up and down the asphalt road at 55 or 65 mph, depending on the local limit. A steady driver can expect to average 50 miles an hour over the course of a day.

Construction: Some places are under construction, as might be expected on a road 1,600 miles long, and some places are packed gravel instead of asphalt. Chipped and cracked windshields are possible.

Weather: The Alaska Highway is a lot friendlier in the summer than in the winter, when temperatures fall below -50 and blowing snow can make the road hazardous. Summertime temperatures may reach the 70s, but late summer rains can also make the road seem pretty long.

Wildlife: Drivers can reasonably expect to see black and brown bears, bison, caribou, sheep and moose, plus many species of migratory and resident birds.

Gas: Drivers shouldn’t worry about running out of gasoline or diesel fuel; the longest stretch without a gas station is about 100 miles between Whitehorse and Haines Junction in Yukon Territory.

Sleep: Accommodations, from frequent campgrounds to nice lodges, are open during the warm months and sometimes in the winter.

Will mosquitoes devour me?

Let’s be upfront: Mosquitoes are a pest.
But for most travelers in Alaska, mosquitoes are nothing more than an inconvenience.

Mosquitoes are most prevalent near standing water, in the forest and on low tundra. They’re present during all the warm months, but they taper off late in the summer.

Wear long sleeves, long pants and a hat; go where mosquitoes aren’t; or use bug dope with a high percentage of DEET.

Applications based on citronella or Avon’s Skin-So-Soft also work for some people.

Other people insist on wearing a headnet — but unless you’re going to wander through miles of marshy tundra or have a strong allergic reaction to bug dope, there’s no really need for a headnet or special anti-skeeter gear.

If you’re hiking, try walking in a breezy place or along ridges to reduce the number of mosquitoes that line up at the lunch counter.

A case of West Nile virus was reported in Alaska in 2002, but it was a man who had contracted the disease in his home state.

Can I rent a car? An RV?

Cars and other vehicles can be rented in many cities around Alaska, even in isolated places such as Nome where there are few roads.
National car rental companies — Thrifty, Budget, Avis, Hertz, National and others — join local agencies in providing sedans, SUVs and vans. Note that agencies have limits on where their cars can be driven; some gravel highways and roads are off-limits.

Renting a vehicle for a week in the summer will cost several hundred dollars, but unlimited mileage is usually allowed.

Recreational vehicles, or RVs, can be rented in Anchorage and Fairbanks.

Where can I catch the railroad?

Alaska has a couple of big passenger railroads and some that are just for fun.

Alaska Railroad
The Alaska Railroad carries passengers between Seward and Anchorage and then Anchorage, Denali National Park and Fairbanks. An excursion is available from Anchorage to Whittier through a 2.5-mile-long tunnel.

Passenger service is also available for people who want to go shorter distances, say from Anchorage to Wasilla or Talkeetna. The railroad also carries freight inland from Anchorage. It hauls refined petroleum from North Pole (located on a spur from Fairbanks) to Anchorage. Northbound trains deliver coal, mined at Healy near Denali, to Fairbanks.

During the winter, the railroad’s only passenger service is a whistle-stop train that goes from Anchorage to Fairbanks on Saturdays and back on Sundays.

White Pass and Yukon Route — Skagway
The White Pass and Yukon Route railway once was a bustling freight hauler, but now it’s an excursion line carrying passengers only during the summer between Skagway and Lake Bennett, British Columbia. There also are shorter excursions.

The rails generally follow the route taken by Klondike gold rush prospectors in the late 19th century.

In general, however, you can’t reach Alaska by rail.

On the bright side, the Canadian passenger rail system does go to Prince Rupert, British Columbia, where tourists can catch the Alaska state ferry for the trip north.

Should I come with a package tour?

Although many people come to Alaska as part of a cruise, air, bus or railroad package tour, there are plenty of possibilities for people who want to go it alone.

Rail and air transportation can be arranged separately, and vehicles can be rented in larger towns. Driving oneself around is easy and safe, and independent travel provides a lot of flexibility.

Fishing, flightseeing and wildlife-viewing trips can be arranged individually.

Where’s a good place to get married?

Inside Passage cruises offer a wealth of scenic backgrounds for romance.

Cruise lines can arrange shipboard ceremonies, and localities have churches and government officials who can also perform weddings.

Denali National Park is another fine setting for a wedding, offering restaurants, campgrounds, some wilderness lodges and a range of hotels.

Wedding parties who head for the backcountry of Denali — or any other public lands — can have nearly absolute privacy.

On the Kenai Peninsula, Homer is often considered a romantic location.

Cloud-shrouded mountains, a seashore and Homer’s artistic, iconoclastic community at the end of the road create a romantic setting.

Lodges along the turquoise Kenai River also draw praise for their settings.

Closer to Anchorage, the Alyeska ski resort in Girdwood attracts wedding parties. Tram cars carry wedding parties up from the Alyeska Prince Hotel to the Seven Glaciers Restaurant, 2,350 feet up 3,939-foot Mount Alyeska with a grand view of Turnagain Arm.

North of Anchorage, a viewing deck near the Eagle River Nature Center in Chugach State Park is scenic site that has seen its share of marriages.

License: The fee for a marriage license is $35. Both the bride and groom generally must be 18.

There’s a waiting period of three business days after the notarized application is received by the Bureau of Vital Statistics offices in Anchorage, Fairbanks or Juneau. The license is good for 90 days anywhere in the state.

Who can marry: The Alaska Constitution recognizes marriage only if it joins one man and one woman.

What are Alaska’s national parks?

Alaska has 10 national parks, 16 national wildlife refuges, four national monuments, three national preserves, two dozen national wild rivers and the Chugach and Tongass national forests:

National parks and preserves
Denali National Park and Preserve, in the Interior between Anchorage and Fairbanks. Its best-known features are grizzly bears and Mount McKinley, at 20,320 feet the tallest peak in North America.

Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, in Northern Alaska west of the Dalton Highway.

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, in the northern part of Southeast Alaska, west of Juneau. Glaciers are the big attraction, obviously, and whales feed in the area for several months each year.
Katmai National Park and Preserve, on the west side of Cook Inlet in Western Alaska. Thousands of people each summer visit the park’s volcanic Valley of 10,000 Smokes and watch grizzlies stand in the Brooks River to catch salmon.

Kenai Fjords National Park, west and south of Seward on the Kenai Peninsula. It has glaciers, whales and millions of seabirds.
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, in Skagway.

Kobuk Valley National Park, in Northern Alaska northeast of Kotzebue.
Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, on the west side of Cook Inlet in Western Alaska. Rugged scenery, good fishing, lots of animals.
Sitka National Historical Park, in Sitka.

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, in the southeastern part of Southcentral Alaska. Wrangell-St. Elias is the nation’s largest national park and is part of a World Heritage Site, along with Glacier Bay National Park and Canada’s Kluane National Park.

Only Denali, Kenai Fjords and Wrangell-St. Elias national parks can be reached easily from the road system.

Determined hikers can make their way to Gates of the Arctic from the Dalton Highway. Glacier Bay is reached most often by floatplane, cruise liner or passenger tour boat from Juneau.

Katmai, Kobuk and Lake Clark are most frequently reached by small plane.

National monuments

Alaska boasts four national monuments:

Admiralty Island

Aniakchak

Cape Krusenstern

Misty Fjords

Are there ATMs? Are credit cards accepted?

Banks in Alaska have the same features as they do in the Lower 48. In fact, most of the banks are part of national or regional chains.
Automated teller machines are found at many banks and savings and loan offices, as well as at grocery stores, gas stations and some hotels. Some ATMs have fees of $1 to $2, in addition to any charges from your home bank.

Visa and MasterCard are accepted statewide. Quite a few businesses also accept Discover and American Express. Traveler’s checks are usually accepted.

Canadian money may not be accepted at many businesses. Larger banks may be able to change currency.

Where can I check my e-mail?

The Internet is available at public libraries all over the state.
Libraries provide the service for free, but users who drop off a buck or two at the desk “for the book fund” will get a nice thank you. There may be a sign-in sheet and an assigned time period.

Many towns on the tourist track have coffee shops and cafes with for-a-fee Internet service. In Southeast Alaska, look for Internet services near the cruise ship docks.

Can I see a glacier closeup?

A number of Alaska’s coastal and landlocked glaciers can be seen close up.

Cruise ships carry their passengers close to glaciers and icebergs in Glacier Bay National Park, at Hubbard Glacier near Yakutat and Columbia Glacier near Valdez.

In addition, day-tour companies carry hundreds of passengers a day on glacier and wildlife tours from Juneau to Glacier Bay, from Whittier into Prince William Sound and from Seward into Kenai Fjords National Park.

Several land-locked glaciers, notably Exit, Matanuska, Worthington and Kennicott, are close to the highway system. People willing to hike a short distance can walk up to and touch several other glaciers as well.

Helicopters carry passengers onto glaciers from Juneau, Haines, Seward, Anchorage and the Denali area.

Can I see the Northern Lights in the Summer?

Usually not because of the daylight. To see the Northern Lights it needs to be dark, cold and clear out. The best time to see them is in the winter between November - March.

Does Alaska take US Currency?

Alaska is the 49th state in the US. We do take US Currency, we also take personnal checks for deposits and final payments on tour packages and major credit cards like discover, visa and master card.

How do I get to Alaska?

There are three different ways to get to Alaska. One way is flying from the lower 48 into Anchorage or Fairbanks. The second way is by cruise ship from Vancouver and the third way to get to Alaska is by driving the good old Alaska Highway.

How many hours of daylight in the summer?

May - between 17 and 18 hours
June - between 19 and 21 hours
July - between 18 and 20 hours
August - between 15 and 16 hours
September - between 12 and 13 hours

How much do meals cost?

For the cost of meals it depends on where you eat and what you like, but on average meals can cost:
Breakfast - $7.00 to $10.00 per person
Lunch - $8.00 to $12.00 per person
Dinner - $10.00 to $30.00 per person

How much does gas cost?

Gas can cost anywhere between $1.35 to $1.93 a gallon.

Is Denali and Mt. McKinley the same thing?

Yes. Denali the “High One” is the name Athabascan native people gave the massive peak that crowns the 600 mile long Alaska Range. Denali is also the name of an immense national park and preserve created from the former Mt. McKinley National Park. The changes in the names and boundaries that have occurred over the years can be confusing.

What is the time difference in Alaska?

Alaska has its own time zone and we also have daylight savings. Alaska is:
4 hours behind the Eastern Time Zone
3 hours behind the Central Time Zone
2 hours behind the Mountain Time Zone
1 hour behind the Pacific Time Zone

What is the weather like in Southcentral Alaska?

Southcentral Alaska includes Anchorage, Kenai Peninsula Matanuska and Susitna River Valleys.
May - 54′ high / 38′ low
June - 61′ high / 47′ low
July - 65′ high / 51′ low
August - 63′ high / 49′ low
September - 55′ high / 41′ low

What is the weather like in the Interior?

The Interior of Alaska includes Denali National Park and Fairbanks.
May - 59′ high / 38′ low
June - 70′ high / 49′ low
July - 72′ high / 52′ low
August - 66′ high / 47′ low
September - 54′ high / 36′ low

What type of animals might I see in Denali?

Denali is known for its land wildlife such as:
Caribou
Wolf
Moose
Grizzly Bear
Dall Sheep
Arctic Ground Squirrel

What type of animals might I see in Kenai Fjords?

Kenai Fjords National Park is home to many animals such as:
Sea Otters
Orcas
Humpback Whales
Harbor Seals
Steller Sea Lions
Tufted Puffins
Black Oyster Catcher
Dall Sheep
Black Bears

When should I make my reservations?

You should make your reservations as soon as you know your dates of travel. By doing this early you will not have any problems booking tours, lodging and tranpsortation. Even though you are booking early you still have up until 45 days prior to your arrival to cancel and get a full refund on most activities.

Can I bring my dog and cat?

It’s perfectly OK to bring your dog or cat to Alaska, as long as it has a veterinarian-supplied health certificate stating that the pet has had its shots. Pets arrive daily on airliners, the ferry system and the Alaska Highway.

Plenty of places to drink and boogie under the midnight sun It’s easy to burn daylight all night long up here — fishing, hiking and mowing the lawn, then singing karaoke from dusk to dawn; toe-tapping, thigh-slapping, moving and grooving, sitting on a bar stool, nodding and approving.

With the midnight sun, nightlife means anything from spinning wheels to spinning discs, but when it comes to finding a good drink, the right atmosphere, decent entertainment and a reason to dance, it all comes down to one’s mood.

At a place like Bernie’s Bungalow Lounge, 626 D St., anyone can find a niche by sinking into one of the couches inside or basking in the sun on the spacious patio. On weekends, DJs ramp up the energy with dance tunes, and on sunny afternoons, the patio gets hot and crowded. But whatever the day, getting a seat and a drink is worth the wait.

As far as he knows, it’s one of the few bars in the country “where you can go in and see 450 to 500 people from every single age group and income bracket and ethnic background.�

The main bar features pool tables, darts, shuffleboard and a karaoke system with more than 30,000 songs. The place has diamond-plated walkways, walls and dance space along with abstract iron art with kegs, bicycle rims and other debris coming out of the ceiling and walls.

Theme bars include the Area 51 Bar with hip-hop music and an alien decor, and the Voodoo Lounge with New Orleans art, voodoo dolls, masks, beads and leather couches and chairs.

In major Alaskan towns, food is similar to what is available elsewhere in the U.S. Anchorage offers the greatest diversity, particularly when it comes to international restaurants: You’ll find Greek, Mexican, South Korean, Filipino, Thai, East Indian and many other specialties. Coffee aficionados will discover espresso shops in all the larger towns and most of the small ones, too — Anchorage has dozens of them. In the restaurant scene, however, the general rule of thumb is that the farther away from Anchorage you go, the less fussy the restaurant decor will be. There are plenty of dining treasures to be found wherever you travel, so don’t be fooled by the lack of pretension or a bland exterior. For example, a tiny shack in Barrow happens to house a charming Japanese restaurant with numerous delicious sushi options.

Alaska’s justly famous seafood includes crab, shrimp, scallops, salmon, cod, steamer clams, oysters and halibut. Few people who live in the “Lower 48″ have ever tasted truly fresh Alaskan king crab — it’s a delicacy not to be missed. The same is true for fresh or smoked Alaskan salmon and halibut. Alaskan salmon — unlike salmon from Norway, Chile and many other areas — are almost entirely wild fish, not farmed in pens. The flavor of the fish is noticeably better and the flesh is firmer. Often your server will be able to tell you where the fish were caught and the name of the fishing vessel, too, if you ask.

Traditional Inuit foods such as muktuk, which is whale blubber and skin, are rarely found outside small Native American villages, and then only when they have had a recent and successful whale hunt. Travelers often have an opportunity to taste reindeer sausage, smoked salmon jerky and lox, which are available commercially throughout the state.

If you happen to be a microbrewery aficionado, this is the place. Anchorage is home to half a dozen award-winning breweries and brewpubs. Several of them also happen to be best-loved restaurants of Alaskans. You can also find microbreweries in Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan and Fairbanks.

Shop for mukluks (Inuit boots made from sealskin and reindeer hide), smoked salmon, beadwork, basketry, jewelry of gold and jade, ivory and whalebone carvings, knitted clothing (especially qiviut wool combed from the musk ox) and other representative examples of Native American arts and crafts. Many travelers also buy an ulu, the curved knives traditionally used by Alaskan Native women to prepare hides, cut up and clean fish, and to prepare everyday meals.

Be sure to look for the Made in Alaska logo, which indicates that an item is an authentic Alaskan artifact. Another logo, the Silver Hand, indicates that an item was crafted specifically by Alaska Natives.

As for crafts made from walrus ivory, the only products that can be legally marketed in Alaska are items in which the ivory used is the byproduct of subsistence hunting. Only Alaska Natives are allowed to process unworked ivory (unless it’s fossilized), and gift shops will include a certificate indicating that the item is Alaskan ivory from nonendangered species.

(Though all walrus populations appear to be declining.) Be aware that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service requires a special permit (US$25) to export walrus ivory outside the U.S. This applies to visitors who will be traveling through Canada after leaving Alaska, even if their final destination is the U.S. We suggest you avoid any confusion at the Canadian border by mailing the items home — with the certificate — before you leave Alaska. (Many shops will be happy to handle the mailing for you.)

Excursions in Alaska

Anchorage

Just when you think you’re in a northern version of the USA (check Kmart, check Wal-Mart, check Computer City), a black bear will unexpectedly join you for tea; or 20 hours come and go without the sun setting; or you don’t see the sun at all; or a wolf slays a yearling moose in the park.

You can easily hoof around most of Anchorage’s sights, or freewheel around them by bike. They include indigenous art and culture, panoramic parks, monuments, and within hoppping distance, the superb Alaskan wilderness, overlooked by Flattop Mountain.

Denali National Park

Situated on the northern and southern flanks of the Alaska Range, 237mi (382km) from Anchorage, Denali is the nation’s premier subarctic national park, encompassing 6 million acres (2,400,000ha). Making its presence felt here at a towering 20,320ft (6096m) is Mt Kinley, undoubtedly the main attraction of the park and something to behold on a clear day. The park offers camping, hiking, backpacking, mountain biking and white-water rafting. It all comes at a slight price though, since nearly a million visitors queue up for permits and the shuttle buses during the summer months. Try to go in early June or late September to avoid the crowds, and remember, they all disappear once you get into the back country. There is camping within the park as well as other accommodation. Buses service the park from Fairbanks, but a better, if pricey, introduction to this natural spectacle is offered from the glass dome-topped cars of the Alaska Railroad, with trains departing daily from Fairbanks and travelling south to Anchorage.

Glacier Bay National Park

Sixteen tidewater glaciers spilling out of the mountains and filling the sea with icebergs of all shapes, sizes and shades of blue have made Glacier Bay National Park an icy wilderness renowned throughout the world. It is an area of green forests, steep fjords and icebergs. An added attraction is the variety of marine life, including humpback whales, harbour seals, porpoises, and sea otters, while other wildlife includes brown and black bears, wolves, moose, mountain goats and over 200 species of birds. Glacier Bay offers an excellent opportunity for kayakers to enjoy the protected arms and inlets where the glaciers are. It is a trail-less park, but it still provides enjoyable backpacking. The park is serviced by a small settlement, Gustavus, which can be reached by plane from Juneau.

Juneau

Juneau isn’t the most accessible of capital cities: you can’t reach it by road and every year 200 scheduled flights never make it into the city due to bad weather. Once there, though, you’ll appreciate this ‘little San Francisco’ whose drastic elevation gain gives it a picture-pretty skyline.

Though there is a downtown attraction or few worth your while, the real oomph of the place is its wild frontiers. In winter there’s pristine, sculptural white, and summer months make the lush terrain really come alive: bears are done hibernating, wildflowers are whistling and streams are skipping.

Kenai Peninsula

The Kenai Peninsula to the south of Anchorage is the most popular recreational area in the state. The peninsula is a conglomeration of mountains, fjords, icefields and glaciers serviced by a range of hiking trails, numerous campgrounds and beautiful paddling areas. Kenai Fjords National Park covers 587,000ac (234,800ha) with an abundance of marine wildlife and glaciers, including Harding Icefield, measuring 50mi (80km) long and 30mi (48km) wide. Many towns in this area are delightful: Homer is a colourful fishing village that has a number of artists lured by the region’s beauty. A handful of galleries display mostly local art. Camping is the most inexpensive way to experience the peninsula but you can also find reasonable accommodation in the towns of Seward, Homer and Soldotna. The Kenai Peninsula is 43mi (70km) south of Anchorage and is easily accessible by road. Buses run daily between Seward and Anchorage.

Sitka

Rivaled by few for the sheer beauty of its surroundings, Sitka is fronted by the Pacific ocean and behinded (to the west) by Mt Edgecumbe, an extinct volcano.

Near the city’s waterfront is St Michael’s Cathedral, a replica of the 100-year-old Russian Orthodox cathedral that burned down in 1966. Luckily, Sitka’s residents saved the priceless treasures and icons inside. East of the city centre, past the boat harbour, is the octagonal Sheldon Jackson Museum, in which you’ll find a highly regarded collection of indigenous artefacts.

Land Activities

Bird watching

The pristine wilderness of Alaska is, perhaps, the last vestige of thriving populations of North American wildlife. Where else can you see polar bears, bald eagles, blue and humpbacked whales, gray wolves, grizzly bears, orcas, lynx, moose, and hundreds of other rare and endangered species in their original and undisturbed natural habitats?

Select from Alaska’s best wildlife viewing operators to plan a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife adventure!

Adventure Travel and Ecotourism

Alaska is the premier destination for adventure and ecotourists seeking a personal connection with nature, wilderness and the local people. Alaskan adventures come in all shapes and sizes, so wherever you choose to go in Alaska’s 365 million acres, you’re bound to experience the adventure of your life!

The largest mountain in North America, Mount McKinley, located in spectacular Denali National Park offers unsurpassed experiences for hikers and backcountry enthusiasts. Choose a day hike, mountain bike excursion, or the “Crown Jewel” of adventures, a month-long mountaineering expedition to the summit of Mount McKinley. Each is sure to be an experience of a lifetime!

While visiting the southcentral region of Alaska, you will find at least four mountain ranges within driving distance of Anchorage. You can go for day hikes in the mountains of Chugach State Park or go for multi-day excursions to the Matanuska-Susitna Valley and the Kenai Peninsula, both offer a variety of exciting adventures including, camping, hiking, fishing, backpacking, mountain biking, river kayaking, rafting and much more.

Heading west, sea kayaking among the remote and untamed Aleutians will bring countless coves and delightful views of sea otters and puffins. Here you can experience untamed coastal regions, wild rivers, granite peaks and majestic glaciers. Or explore the rugged beauty of Lake Clark National Park and Preserve - 4 million acres of expansive wilderness.

The north country offers a variety of unique Alaskan experiences, explore the history and culture of Alaska’s native people, raft down the Yukon river, pan for gold in Fairbanks or cross the Arctic Circle as you head up the Dalton Highway to the tip of Alaska’s far north.

At the opposite end is Alaska’s inside passage, where you can discover the vast, unspoiled coastline by kayak as brown bears forage for food along the beaches; enjoy diverse mountain ranges, spectacular glaciers and the extensive Alaskan rain forest. When you’re done, you can sit back and contemplate on the variety of species of birds you saw just in one day!

Backcountry Experiences

Alaska is full of outdoor adventures, from the mild to the wild. Picnic near an Ice Age glacier or raft a raging river. Experience gold rush excitement aboard a sternwheeler or try your hand fishing for Alaska’s world-class halibut and salmon. Skim the wilderness in a “bush� plane or helicopter. Or take a flightseeing trip over some of the most breathtaking mountains in North America. Drive for miles beside a turquoise glacier-fed river.

Endless Summers :Alaska has some of the most incredible scenery to be found in the United States. In order to enjoy all Alaska has to offer, visitors must get out and experience it for themselves.

With an amazing trail system that snakes through most major communities, Alaska has a trail for all abilities – from accessible nature paths to mountain hikes that are physically challenging. Cyclists, joggers and walkers will discover endless possibilities at their feet. Long-distance riders can use the highways – which vary in road surface and shoulder width.

For those who prefer water to land, kayak and canoe enthusiasts have unlimited opportunities to explore Alaska’s many rivers, streams, lakes and protected coastal waters.

Flightseeing

Flying is a way of life in Alaska and a trip to Alaska would not be complete without a flightseeing excursion. From one end of the state to the other, there’s never a shortage of colorful pilots to take you for a bird’s eye view of this great land. Circle majestic Mt. McKinley, land on a glacier and go exploring, access backcountry wilderness, visit a remote village or drift peacefully in a floatplane past bears as they feast on summer salmon.

You’ll find your aviator and guide well versed on the history, culture, geography and wildlife of the area. Whether your pleasure is a one-hour scenic overview of the area, a fly-in fishing foray, a full day of wildlife viewing or the chance to get intimate with a glacier, you’ll find a flightseeing scenario to fit your agenda. The sky’s the limit, the memories are priceless, and it’s all within your reach.

Aurora Viewing

The curtains of light that sometimes flow across Alaska’s northern sky on clear dark nights are mysterious and awe-inspiring. But the dancing lights can still take a person’s breath away as quickly as the freezing temperatures in which they are most likely to be seen. They appear to be manifestations of magic. Or perhaps spirits playing in heaven, a traditional view of the aurora held by some northern indigenous cultures.

In the scientific explanation, invisible charged particles are blown toward earth as the solar wind. They carry the solar magnetic field, which merges with earth’s magnetic field and directs the particles toward earth’s north and south magnetic poles. The particles hit the atmosphere in unevenly shaped oval rings centered on these poles, exciting atmospheric atoms that release the energy as light.

Bear Viewing

Bears are the living symbol of wild Alaska. Many backcountry travelers here catch a glimpse of bears, particularly in the wildlife refuges and parks. Wise travelers usually prefer a distant view, since close encounters with an aggressive black bear or a half-ton grizzly can get pretty scary. Bear incidents occur every year, and hikers should follow safety practices.

In most areas, hikers are more likely to see signs of bear along trails than the creatures themselves. Bears are solitary, and the truly wild ones tend to avoid humans. Even so, you should always be prepared. A simple stroll to a mountain trailhead just off a subdivision in the state’s largest city, Anchorage, might lead you smack into a black bear browsing on trailside foliage.

Perhaps the most watched bears in Alaska are in Denali National Park. Visitors taking the tour bus on the 80-mile dirt road into the park regularly spot grizzlies on the tundra, sometimes in the distance, and sometimes digging squirrels out right beside the road. Backpackers are required to take precautions.

Kodiak Island is one area with a concentrated bear population, home to more than one bear for every two square miles, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. These are the world’s largest bears, a subspecies of the brown bear. A big male can stand taller than 10 feet when on his hind legs, and five feet when on all four legs. They weigh up to 1,500 pounds. There are many opportunities to see bears on the island, with excursions to wild areas such as the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge.

Kodiak Island and nearby areas on the coast of the upper Alaska Peninsula are among the best places to view large numbers of brown bears together, a rare experience. These bears eat mostly salmon, and the normally solitary bears congregate in large numbers in certain areas to feed on the fish as they migrate up streams to spawning grounds. The bears fish and jockey for position and spar with one another. Air charter services out of, Anchorage, Kenai Peninsula, Homer and Kodiak offer bear-viewing trips to this area. Some multi-day tour boat charters are also available.

The best viewing times vary with the fish runs in any year, but generally they are in June, July and August. In developed areas, visitors can sometimes get close enough to the action to hear the bears breathe and eat, and to smell their fur. While getting close to bears can never be considered entirely safe, in these areas bears seem to have become habituated to humans. As long as people follow the rules and obey area rangers, there seem to be few problems.

There are two developed bear viewing areas on the Alaska Peninsula: Brooks Camp within Katmai National Park, and the McNeil River State Game Sanctuary. Of these, Brooks Camp is the more accessible. There are relatively few restrictions on visitors, who may come and go to the river along trails also used by bears, with traffic regulated by rangers. There are two viewing platforms at the river. There is a lodge, and visitors may also camp about a half-mile from the river.

Bicycling

Back in February 1900, an adventurous young man named Ed Jesson left Dawson in the Yukon Territory on a bicycle he had just learned to ride. Five weeks and 1,000 miles later, he arrived in the gold rush town of Nome, with nary a flat tire or broken spoke. While no one has tried to duplicate Jesson’s effort of late, bicycling has grown in popularity in Alaska.

Arctic Bicycle Club in Anchorage, and the Juneau Freewheelers Bike Club in southeast Alaska both sponsor a number of rides and competitive events. The clubs post upcoming competitions on their websites.

A number of trails at various locations, particularly in southcentral Alaska, are shared by hikers and bikers in summer months and cross-country skiers in winter. But Alaskans, being an adventuresome lot, are known for taking their mountain bikes just about anywhere and in all kinds of weather. Bike rides, like 5K and 10K runs, may become a community event in spring, summer or autumn, with organized groups of riders heading south out of Fairbanks on the George Parks Highway for Nenana, or north from Anchorage to Mt. McKinley National Park.

Other mountain bikers may head for places such as Katmai National Park and Preserve, where one commercial tour operator offers a combination of bicycling, kayaking, brown bear viewing, camping and photo opportunities at the Valley of 10.000 Smokes, a 40-square-mile volcanic area.

Visitors may want to bring their own bikes, or check the websites of the Arctic and Freewheelers bike clubs for the availability of rental bikes at a particular destination.

Before heading out on the open road or anywhere else with a bike, check the current condition of the route to be sure it is safe for bike traffic. Find out if there are construction projects underway and whether wildlife is likely to be nearby. More than one bike rider has had to press on suddenly, even in the Anchorage area, after suddenly crossing paths with a bear or moose.

Another option is joining a commercial tour, with all gear provided, for the day or longer, possibly a trip combining bicycling, hiking, kayaking and other options. Carefully weigh the cost of shipping a favorite mountain bike and associated gear all the way from home with renting from a firm offering a bike tour. Choose a tour guide with extensive experience in Alaska who knows the particulars of weather and roads in the area to be traveled, especially for lengthy trips.

Get specifics on the level of difficulty of the tour. Purchase trip insurance. Ask exactly what the tour guide will provide in the way of equipment, meals and lodging, and what the customer provides. One tour operator may provide everything, including roadside snacks of fresh fruit, granola, candy bars and drinks. Another tour may require customers to pack their own snacks, plus a meal to share with the group. Find out if the tour guides have first aid and CPR training and/or emergency medical training.

Ask what communications systems and backup staff are available, in the event of a mechanical or logistical breakdown. Then grab a helmet, rain gear and sunblock lotion and prepare for a great time mountain biking on Alaska’s trails.

Camping

Camping in the far reaches of Alaska’s wilderness, from the Arctic to the rainforests, can be the ecotourism adventure of a lifetime, complete with wildlife, fishing and photography experiences galore. The last frontier is big and wild, with many camping adventures to choose from, so travelers need to plan well in advance for travel reservations, equipment and outfitters and guides, as need be. Whether taking a short trip over Resurrection Trail on the Kenai Peninsula, sleeping at night in U.S. Forest Service cabins, or backpacking for two weeks with a guide in the Brooks Range, time should be spent to make sure the trip fits the needs of the traveler and that the traveler is physically fit for the trip.

Alaskans, particularly those who camp, backpack and run rivers, are passionate about the environment and wildlife, and always happy to educate visitors on how to keep it pristine.

Outfitter Chuck Ash of Anchorage, a Vietnam veteran with a degree in biology, who guides hikers through the Brooks Range and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, says travelers who are specific can help the guide give them the trip they want. If travelers want to see the vast caribou migration through the Brooks Range, for example, he would tell them to come in June, to see the migration and avoid bugs. There are numerous state, federal and private campgrounds in Alaska, many accessible to the road systems, for those who want to combine some camping experiences with road trips. Travelers into the Alaska wilderness who lack extensive experience in wilderness camping should strongly consider a guided trip, to assure safety and comfort.

Most professional outfitters and guides recommend travel insurance, because Alaska’s weather can cause delays in air or water travel. For a reasonable fee, travelers can reduce the financial risk by obtaining travel insurance through a travel agent who provides reimbursement if the trip does not proceed as planned.

Dog Sledding

Sled dog racing over the Iditarod Trail from Anchorage to Nome is an international event these days, having become the state’s Olympics of mushing and the stuff of which legends are made.

People come from several countries to compete in this race. They also come by the hundreds to watch the ceremonial start at Anchorage and official start at Wasilla, and the finale at Nome.

Many other Alaskans do compete in shorter races, in cities and villages all over Alaska. The races attract numerous onlookers, to cheer on competing friends and relatives and to photograph the mushers going out of the shoot and crossing the finish line.

For those who don’t have a friend or relative with a dog team, a number of commercial dog mushing operations in various communities of Alaska are ready to take visitors for a real sled dog ride, lasting from one hour to several days. The dog mushing is the greatest thing in the world.Alaska invites everyone to bundle up and come ride with a team, to go sled dog mushing in Alaska.

Golfing

In a state best known in the sports world for its world-class sled dog mushers and downhill skiers, golf is an increasingly popular sport, with the added attraction of wildlife on the golf course.

The greens in Anchorage, the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, Kenai Peninsula, Fairbanks and Kodiak attract a growing number of golfers. Moose, caribou, black bears, fox, lynx, rabbits, eagles and even Dall sheep are known to wander onto the greens, much to the delight of golfers who pack a camera in with their golf clubs. Golfers say the wildlife is more of an attraction than a nuisance.

The average three-month golf season is more like five months, because with the midnight sun, greens hours are lengthy, “almost like double months,” Griffin says. “We use orange and yellow balls a lot, because if there is frost or snow it’s easier to spot them,” he says. “And if you have room for one extra club, bring a chain saw, because there are plenty of trees on the golf course,” he says.

Because of the growing popularity of golf, players are advised to book course time three to five days in advance at the height of the summer season.

Professional organizations for golfers include the Alaska Golf Association, the Alaska Women’s Golf Association and the Alaska Junior Golf Association, which are open during the summer season.

Indoor driving ranges, featuring a number of world-class courses from around the world, are open year-round, seven days a week, in Anchorage. They are particularly popular during colder months. The indoor courses attract a cross section of golfers for league competition, from veteran golfers to high school students just learning the game, says Russ Kaiser, president of Nevada Bob’s, a popular indoor range and pro shop. “We’re busy every day,” he says.

Hiking

From the Mt. Roberts Trail in Juneau to Exit Glacier in Seward and wilderness routes far beyond, Alaska offers an enormous range of opportunities for hikers of all levels.

Juneau alone offers 30 major trails, or 90 short walks that combine the adventure of a hike with the thrill of viewing wildlife and glaciers. There are trails everywhere, to meet every need; some are surprisingly close to Juneau, Fairbanks, Anchorage and other population centers. “Alaska is just an absolutely marvelous place for day hiking, family overnights and wilderness trips,” says Chip Dennerlein, Alaska regional director for the National Parks Conservation Association. “The average person could walk up alongside a glacier for the day at Seward, walk up a mountain at Flattop in Anchorage, walk onto broad tundra ridges at Denali,” he says.

The route to Exit Glacier, just outside Seward, is essentially a flat mile-and-a-half round trip; there is also a longer, steeper route up to the Harding Ice Fields. “After a couple of miles you get a really great view, and at the Harding Ice Field trail you can be walking in snow even in mid- summer,” says John Quinley, of the National Park Service. “It’s a good trail, but there is no downhill until you turn around.” The most-climbed trail in Alaska is Flattop, in Chugach State Park near Anchorage, says Al Meiners, park superintendent.

Another popular hike is the 33-mile Chilkoot Trail, in southeast Alaska, managed jointly by the Canadian Parks Service and the U.S. National Park Service. Permits, which are free, are required for hiking the Chilkoot Trail, and trips must be scheduled. While the trail does not offer solitude, with more than 2,600 hikers annually, it offers a step back into the history of the gold rush days, and camping in designated areas.

The Resurrection Pass trail system, in Southcentral Alaska, similarly offers a step back into history. The Resurrection Pass route was originally established by miners in the late 1800s, hot on the trail of gold. There are eight public use cabins along this 39-mile trail, between Hope and Cooper Landing.

In Eagle River, near Anchorage, the Eagle River Nature Center offers many easy trails, including an interpretive trail three-fourths of a mile long and accessible to hikers with handicaps. Visitors should keep in mind that hiking in Alaska can mean everything from a stroll in shorts and a tee shirt to a rugged wilderness experience in fog and rain. “Sometimes it can run that gamut on the same day on the same trail,” .The rule is always to remember this is a northern area where weather can change. Hikers need to be prepared. Dress in layers. Wear sturdy, comfortable footwear. Carry water. Let others know the route plan.

Alaskans take pride in minimum-impact hiking and camping, to protect the fragile northern environment for generations to come. Those not experienced in low-impact hiking, and those unfamiliar with certain areas, should consider hiring a guide. Assisted hikes are available using horses, llamas, or other pack animals. Those choosing to go it alone should check on current trail conditions, weather forecasts and probable presence of wildlife. Dogs likely to chase wildlife should be left home.

Horseback Riding

From Juneau to Nome, and all along the railbelt, from the Kenai Peninsula to the Interior, horseback riding is growing in popularity among residents and visitors alike. For those who just like being around horses, there are plenty of events to choose from, including horse shows, rodeos, and competitive trail rides. One group, the Chugach Range Riders, has a scavenger hunt on horseback each September. And don’t forget the Alaska State Fair, where numerous riders show and compete on their horses each autumn. More adventuresome folks also may want to look into ecotourism on horseback. Then grab an apple and a bunch of carrots for the horse, and come ride the backcountry of Alaska.

Snow Skiing

For downhill racing, Olympic training, and just plain fun, snow covered mountains near Anchorage, Juneau and Fairbanks attract alpine skiers from all over the world. Alaska is, after all, the home base to several US Ski Team members and hundreds more young skiers in training on sunlit days and crisp, starry nights. For holiday periods and special events, make reservations for accommodations adjacent to ski areas well in advance.

The scenery is spectacular and the atmosphere very informal, with fast moving lift lines to well groomed trails, professional ski instructors for group and private lessons, comfortable lodging and good restaurants nearby. Alternative activities range from sleigh rides and cross country skiing to snowmobiling and dog sled rides.

Public transportation is available to and from the slopes. There is also ample parking for private vehicles at the ski areas.

The Anchorage area alone has several ski areas, the largest of which boasts average annual snowfall of 560 inches over 786 skiable acres, with 12 beginner runs, 71 intermediate runs and 17 advanced runs. North of Anchorage are alpine ski areas at Palmer and Hatcher Pass.

The state’s second largest ski area, on Douglas Island near downtown Juneau, gets an average of 300 inches of snow annually over 640 skiable acres. The Fairbanks area has several downhill options, including one area which uses heated buses to move skiers from the bottom of the hill back to the top. At Cordova, skiers get a spectacular view of Prince WIlliam Sound on runs ranging from a bunny hill to expert slopes.

When planning a trip to include downhill skiing, check with the ski area nearest the destination on hours of daylight, probable weather and ski conditions and hours of operation.

Water Activities

Fishing

Alaska offers some of the most spectacular fly-fishing, saltwater fishing, freshwater fishing and even ice fishing in the world. It can be as easy as pulling off the side of the road and casting a line. Or you can charter a boat or float plane to whisk you off to a secluded fishing hole where you can reel in one of the more than 627 species that inhabit the Alaskan waters. With over 3 million lakes, 3,000 rivers and countless fish-filled streams, you can see the challenge isn’t catching fish, but deciding what kind to catch and where!

Every region of the state offers accommodations that cater to the needs of the angler - ranging from luxurious to rustic. What kind of experience are you after?
A night out in the unspoiled wilderness, taking in the pure Alaskan air, enjoying the northern skies and cooking over your own campfire…

Or, do you prefer to peacefully sip a tasty Merlot as you relax in a cozy hearthside chair, as a fresh gourmet meal is prepared just for you.

Whatever your fishing heart desires, Alaska offers the angling experience of a lifetime!

Cruising

Cruising Alaska, with its hundreds of miles of coastline, fjords, waterfalls, glaciers and marine mammals, is a natural transportation and vacation choice for thousands of visitors each year. It’s a package deal that includes everything, plus many more comforts than one usually has at home, making it attractive to singles, families, couples and groups alike.

Cruising is essentially travel aboard a floating resort, with all meals (and what meals!) included, plus lodging, entertainment and lots of other friendly travelers to become acquainted with. Prices vary. Shop around. Look for package deals that may include reduced costs of side trips, such as sightseeing tours at ports of call and flightseeing over nearby glaciers.

Alaska is so popular with a growing number of cruise lines of international caliber that travelers can choose from among many options like when to go, where to go and amenities on board, from chocolates on the pillow of a freshly made bed to first-rate movies.

It’s a good idea to ask several cruise lines exactly what amenities are included among the on-board activities, and about special options, for example, to accommodate dietary restrictions of individual travelers. Certain cruise lines cater to certain age groups. Travelers may request, through their cruise coordinator, such specifics as the age group of persons with whom they will share their dining table. Families with children may ask to be seated with like families.

If you’re not looking for luxury, but want to travel by ship, you may want to check with the Alaska Marine Highway System , which calls at many ports in the state.

One of the nice things about cruising the Inside Passage is that it is the most comfortable way to see the area, known for its magnificant fjords, wildlife, and sea mammals. The cruise vessels glide through protected wildlife areas, with thundering waterfalls, towering mountains, green forests and small fishing villages. Ask in advance if there will be a certified naturalist aboard and about precautions the cruise line takes to protect the waters these ships travel through.

Then book reservations, purchase trip insurance, pack some layered clothing, rain gear and a camera, and prepare for a great trip.

Rafting/Kayaking/Canoeing

River-running is becoming increasingly popular on Alaska waters, offering solitude at a price, along hundreds of miles of waterways weaving through the wilderness. It is possible to travel for days under the midnight sun by kayak, raft or canoe without seeing any other people.

The price is being prepared, and, depending on the destination, perhaps a sizeable air-charter bill to reach and return from the river. The payoff can be the adventure of a lifetime, with spectacular scenery, wildlife viewing and sportfishing. One such adventure might be the Colville River, the largest river north of the Continental Divide and one of the most remote rivers in Alaska. The Colville is accessible in areas by raft, canoe or kayak.. The National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, which encompasses the Colville, is managed by the Federal Bureau of Land Management.

Sea kayakers will find hundreds of miles of sheltered waterways in Southeast Alaska, with the solitude broken only by the sight of whales, porpoises, eagles and ravens. Wet weather is to be expected always in Southeast Alaska, however, and travelers will find hypothermia more of a hazard than bears.

Two of the most popular day trips in Alaska are the Nenana Gorge, an 11-mile whitewater trip down the Nenana River that begins at the entrance to Denali National Park, and Lion’s Head, a 17-mile trip down the Matanuska River, about 100 miles north of Anchorage.

The Nenana Gorge, one of the most accessible difficult whitewater rivers in Alaska, is a swift-flowing section of the Nenana River that is home to caribou, grizzly bears, Dall sheep, moose, fox and other mammals. Bears in particular are attracted to arctic grayling and chum salmon swimming up the river. Only kayaks and rafts are suitable on the middle river, but canoes also may be used in upper and lower river areas.

Rafting and kayaking adventures run the gamut from a two-hour trip that begins from a paved roadside to customized wilderness trips, with rafters flown into remote areas. Remember that not all river-running firms are created equal. Choose carefully a guide for trips of any length. Look for outfitters who provide dry suits, who use at least two rafts, and whose guides are trained in swiftwater rescue techniques, says John White, an executive with a firm that offers rafting trips in the area of Denali National Park. Full-body floatation suits designed for lakes and oceans are not suitable for whitewater conditions, he says.

For whitewater trips, outfitters should provide a U.S. Coast Guard-approved type 5 commercial life preserver, White says. For whitewater kayakers and all paddle rafters, helmets are also a must, he says.

Keep in mind that river-running in Alaska is wilderness river-running. The trade-off for solitude is that help may be many miles away. Unpredictable weather conditions may cause a delay in getting to or from the river. Clothing, food, camping and other supplies must be packed with consideration for unpredictably foul weather and other unforeseen circumstances delaying the return flight from the end of a river trip. Always file a trip plan, either with the district ranger station or park headquarters of national parks, and let others know your trip itinerary. Be knowledgeable about the river run planned.

Sailing

For those who love to sail, an Alaska adventure may begin where the road ends, in the waters of Prince William Sound, Resurrection Bay, Kachemak Bay and Southeast Alaska.

Alaska waters attract sailors from as far as Australia and New Zealand, who winter over on their way around the world, plus a number of Alaskans who engage in competitive and pleasure sailing. Sailors bringing their own vessels into port should check in advance on the availability of mooring space. Ship repair facilities are also available. Visitors who want to see the wilds of Alaska from a sailboat will find several charter companies that offer skippered day trips and overnight or longer sailing/camping trips, and may offer sailing lessons as well. Some charter sailing vessels are available to visiting skippers qualified to operate them without another skipper on board.

There are a number of options to choose from, some combining sailing with kayaking or other activities. Sailing in Alaska offers a wonderful opportunity for adventurers, photographers and wildlife buffs alike to see glaciers and waterfalls, whales, sea otters and other sea mammals, and sea birds up close, while eagles soar overhead.

Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Homer and Seward all boast sailing clubs, and visitors are welcome to watch their racing events. In the time-honored tradition of sailors everywhere, it is still okay for sailors of some experience to wander down to the dock before a race and inquire about skippers needing crew for the race, say sailors from these yacht and sailing clubs.

Sea Kayaking

Sea kayaking in Alaska offers the best of all worlds for lovers of the outdoors who want an adventure that combines the peace of the wilderness with an up-close view of wildlife. It is an adventure that shouldn’t be tried on your own unless you are already experienced and know what you’re getting into. But even if you’ve never been sea kayaking, you can explore the world in this special way by going with one of the many guides in Alaska who lead these trips.

Set out in a 16-foot fiber-glass kayak, equipped with a double paddle and life jacket for day or overnight trips to see the coastline of Alaska, its glaciers, waterfalls and rain forests as they have been for thousands of years.

Whales, sea lions, sea otters, seals and dall porpoises may all be encountered along the way, playfully swimming by as kayakers quick with a camera snap their pictures. Kayakers may also see eagles soaring overhead, puffins and land mammals, including mountain goats. Guides will pinpoint areas to watch for wildlife.

Anchorage is the main entry hub, served by several major carriers to the rest of the United States and sometimes flights from Germany, Japan, or Korea. It’s also possible to fly into Fairbanks or Southeast Alaska. Most passengers come into Anchorage through Seattle, but for a bit more you can fly nonstop to Anchorage from various major cities. There are far more choices in summer than in winter.

Alaska Airlines has more flights than all other airlines combined, with as many as 20 a day to Seattle in summer, plus summer nonstops to various other cities, including L.A., Vancouver and Chicago. Other major airlines serving Anchorage at this writing include Northwest , Continental , United , Air Canada and Delta . Alaska Airlines is the only jet carrier with more than token coverage anywhere in Alaska other than Anchorage and has arrangements with commuter lines that fan out from its network to smaller communities.

To fly to a road less village, or to fly between most towns without returning to a hub, you will take a small, prop-driven plane with an Alaska bush pilot at the controls. Small air taxis also charter to fishing sites, lodges, remote cabins, or anywhere else you want to go. An authentic Alaskan adventure can be had by taking a Bush mail plane round-trip to a village and back.

Visa for Alaska

Visa

Check at any U.S. embassy or consulate for current information and requirements. You can also obtain a visa application and other information online at the U.S. State Department’s website, at www.travel.state.gov

Do You Need a Visa?

Most tourists coming to the United States do not need a visa. Canadian citizens only need proof of residence (not even a passport). The U.S. State Department has a Visa Waiver Program allowing citizens of certain countries to enter the United States without a visa for stays of up to 90 days. At press time these countries included Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Citizens of these countries need only a valid passport and a round-trip air or cruise ticket in their possession upon arrival. If they first enter the United States, they may also visit Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, and/or the Caribbean islands and return to the United States without a visa. Further information is available from any U.S. embassy or consulate.
Citizens of all other countries must have (1) a valid passport that expires at least 6 months later than the scheduled end of their visit to the United States, and (2) a tourist visa, which may be obtained without charge from any U.S. consulate.

Obtaining a Visa

To obtain a visa, the traveler must submit a completed application form (either in person or by mail) with a 1 1/2-inch-square photo, and must demonstrate binding ties to a residence abroad. Usually you can obtain a visa at once or within 24 hours,
British travelers can obtain up-to-date visa information by calling the U.S. Embassy Visa Information Line or by visiting the “Consular Services” section of the American Embassy London’s website at www.usembassy.org.uk.

Irish citizens can obtain up-to-date visa information through the Embassy of the USA Dublin, 42 Elgin Rd., Dublin 4, Ireland or by checking the “Consular Services” section of the website at www.usembassy.ie.

Australian citizens can obtain up-to-date visa information by contacting the U.S. Embassy Canberra, Moonah Place, Yarralumla, ACT 2600 or by checking the U.S. Diplomatic Mission’s website at http://usembassy-australia.state.gov/consular
Citizens of New Zealand can obtain up-to-date visa information by contacting the U.S. Embassy New Zealand, 29 Fitzherbert Terr., Thorndon, Wellington , or get the information directly from the “Services to New Zealanders” section of the website at http://usembassy.org.nz