Alaska Travel Guide
More than twice the size of Texas, Alaska is the largest state
in the USA: a land of vast natural splendour, abundant wildlife and
few people. It offers unique experiences such as walking in
unspoilt wilderness, spectacular cruising through the fjords of the
Inside Passage, and frontier towns rich in gold rush history.Alaska's sense of undiscovered wilderness and promise of
adventure is still as strong today as it was in the past, and
having attracted thousands of pioneers in search of gold, fur,
fishing, logging and oil, this 'Last Frontier' today lures
travellers in search of an unspoilt beauty and close encounters
with nature. In fact, Alaska's three largest cities, Fairbanks,
Juneau, and Anchorage, are home to fewer than 300,000 people
between them.The southeast epitomises classic Alaskan scenery, with its
fjords, mountains, forests and glaciers. Alaska is one of the top
cruise destinations in the world and the main draw-card for
visitors to this region is the lack of roads between towns and
scenic wonders that make the waters of the Inside Passage a major
marine highway ideal for ship travel.The number one attraction in the interior heartland is Denali
National Park, an area of untamed magnificence that also
encompasses North America's highest mountain, the snow-covered
Mount McKinley. Arctic Alaska in the frozen north is less
well-travelled, and few venture as far as Barrow and Nome.Because of its location in the far north, Alaska is the land of
the 'midnight sun', and visitors can experience the odd phenomenon
of having over 21 hours of sunlight each day in the summer.Despite a reputation for high prices and inhospitable winters,
millions of people have discovered a piece of America that is worth
every dollar. Nowhere else can that frontier feeling be truly
experienced, a place where wilderness surrounds every part of the
Alaskan way of life.
Alaska Travel Guide
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Alaska Travel Guide
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Description:
Famous for its spectacular mountain vistas, abundant wildlife,
glaciers, vast expanses of sub-arctic tundra, and North America's
highest mountain, Mt McKinley, Denali National Park and Preserve is
a real wilderness area that attracts millions of visitors a year.
More than six million acres encompass grizzly bears, caribou,
moose, Dall sheep, wolves and numerous species of birds. The main
attraction is the snow-covered massif of Mt McKinley, towering
20,320ft (6,096m) above the peaks of the Alaska Range, the
definitive symbol of untamed Alaska. On a clear day its twin peaks
can be seen from Anchorage, 149 miles (240km) away. The Alaska
Range divides the park into north and south sides, the majority of
visitors accessing the north where the main visitors centre is
located. Mountaineers seeking out the challenges of Mt McKinley
need to access the park from the south side, and other peaks offer
excellent climbing opportunities for those not wishing to risk the
mountain that affords one of the world's most difficult climbs. The
park region also offers a wide variety of activities including day
hikes or backcountry hiking, camping, mountain biking, white-water
rafting and ice climbing. Early June or late September is the best
time to avoid the crowds.
Address:
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Telephone:
(907) 683 2294 (park headquarters)
Email:
Website:
www.nps.gov/dena/index.htm
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Description:
When the early explorers and pioneers of the 18th century sailed
this way, Glacier Bay was hidden under a huge sheet of solid ice,
more than 4,000ft (1,219m) thick and up to 20 miles (32km) wide.
Today the branching 65-mile (105km) long fjord is the work of the
fastest-receding glacier on earth, the melting ice of the Grand
Pacific Glacier opening up a spectacular carved terrain of steep
rock walls lining deepwater fjords. Sliding out of the mountains
are 16 active glaciers that fill the sea with different shaped
icebergs, creating the icy blue landscape that is world-renowned.
At the head of the fjord is the massive ice wall of the Grand
Pacific Glacier, slowly melting and sculpting the still-unfinished
land as it backs away from the sea, a natural work of art in
progress. An added attraction is the variety of aquatic life
including humpback whales, sea otters, seals and porpoises, while
bears, moose, mountain goats and many species of birds inhabit the
land. This rugged landscape can only be accessed by boat or small
plane as most of the park is made up of water. Because
opportunities to see this huge wilderness are limited, facilities
can be crowded, especially on the tour boats; activities are also
expensive, and wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed. Gustavus is
the small settlement that services the park, but the park
headquarters is at Bartlett Cove from where boats can be arranged
or alternate means provided to enjoy the park experience. Kayaking
or camping in the backcountry, ranger-led programs or walks, hiking
and fishing are all available.
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Telephone:
(907) 697 2661
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Website:
www.nps.gov/glba
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Description:
The world-class Museum of History and Art is the largest museum
in Alaska and is one of the most visited attractions in Anchorage.
The exhibits cover Alaskan history, art and culture, from Native
American beginnings to American colonisation.
Address:
121 West 7th Avenue
Postcode:
Telephone:
(907) 343 4326, or (907) 343 6173 (recorded
information)
Email:
museum@AnchorageMuseum.org
Website:
www.anchoragemuseum.org
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Description:
There is surely no more spectacular experience on the planet
than to witness the calving of a titanic glacier. A stopover to
watch nature's incredible marvel, the Hubbard Glacier, in action as
the incredibly high wall of ice thickens and advances towards the
Gulf of Alaska is one of the unforgettable lures that draws
thousands of holidaymakers to opt for an Alaskan cruise every year.
The Hubbard Glacier is the largest tidewater glacier in North
America, beginning its 75-mile (121km) journey to the sea on the
tallest mountain in Canada, Mount Logan, and finally shedding tons
of its bulk in awesome ice falls across the six-mile (10km) wide
head of Yakutat Bay.Every day cruise liners pull in, their passengers bundled up in
their warmest clothing and festooned with cameras and binoculars,
as they hang over the deck rails to witness the stunning sight of
the luminous blue-green ice wall as it creeps inexorably forward.
Those who visit at the right time could be fortunate enough to see
one of nature's most awesome events, when a chunk of ice cracks and
falls thunderously from the wall into the ocean as the mighty
glacier calves, startling the seals basking on ice floes. In
contrast to what one would expect with many glaciers shrinking due
to global warming, the Hubbard is growing and advancing, controlled
apparently more by mechanics than climate. It is predicted that if
the Hubbard Glacier continues to advance it will close the entrance
of Russell Fjord and create the largest glacier lake in North
America. Many cruise ships snare a chunk of ice so that their
passengers can end the memorable day by getting up close and
personal with the Hubbard Glacier, and enjoy a chunk of her ice in
their evening cocktail.
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Description:
The Alaska Native Heritage Center is a wonderful place for
visitors to learn about the culture and heritage of the native
Alaskan people. Indigenous traditions, customs and lifestyles are
showcased in the centre's exhibits which include artefacts such as
tools, watercraft, clothing, pieces of art and drums. The centre
also hosts local storytelling, dancing and craft events. The Alaska
Native Heritage Center is closed in winter, but hosts monthly
cultural events. Check the website for a schedule.
Address:
8800 Heritage Center Drive
Postcode:
Telephone:
(907) 330 8000
Email:
Website:
www.alaskanative.net
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Description:
Large cruise ships regularly travel to major ports in Alaska but
a better, smaller option is the Alaskan Ferry. Departing from
Bellingham Washington, these large ferries bounce against the major
coastal towns of Canada and The Gulf of Alaska before stretching to
the Alaskan Peninsula. The landscape is staggering, revealing
hundreds of craggy forest-dense islands and coastlines. Eagles,
killer whales, bears and other hardy wildlife are all part of the
view. The months of operation are May to September, when the
weather is bearable and sunshine illuminates most of the evening
hours. Costs vary greatly on length of voyage and accommodation.
Most ferries rent cabins but those in tune with Alaska's pioneer
spirit can pitch a tent on deck or just use a blanket.
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Description:
Downtown Anchorage hosts the fantastic Anchorage Market &
Festival each summer, a great attraction for visitors. The market
offers an array of locally-made goods including clothing,
paintings, handmade jewellery and
babushkadolls (Russian nesting dolls), as well as
a great selection of food from all over the world. There are also
entertaining music and dance performances to enjoy, and a special
Kids' Market where children sell their hand-made items to raise
money for charities and other organisations.
Address:
3rd Avenue, between C and E Streets
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Website:
www.anchoragemarkets.com/main.html
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Description:
One of the most popular tourist attractions, the El Dorado Gold
Mine tour is conducted on a train that takes visitors through a
permafrost tunnel, educating them about gold mining in the early
1900s. Still functioning as a placer mine, visitors can also take a
walking tour and talk to Alaska miners while trying their hands at
panning for gold for a guaranteed payday.
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Website:
eldoradogoldmine.com
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Description:
The 'salmon capital of the world' started as a summer fish camp
on the shores of Ketchikan Creek used by the Tlingit natives, and
became a major salmon canning centre. Native Inuit heritage plays a
large role in the tourist destination of Ketchikan's culture today
with the largest collection of totem poles in the world found in
Ketchikan Totem Bight State Historical Park, Saxman Native Village
and the Totem Heritage Center Museum. Rustic Creek Street with its
wooden boardwalks and stilts was once the town's red light
district, and today the houses have been converted into
restaurants, shops and galleries. Ketchikan is located on
Revillagigedo Island, 235 miles (378km) south of Juneau. The town
is a popular cruise destination and is the starting point for most
Inside Passage tours. Excursions into the surrounding wilderness
include air or boat trips to nearby Misty Fjords, an area of
pristine, spectacular scenery with soaring cliffs, waterfalls,
lakes and glaciers.
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Description:
The most popular attraction in Juneau is the Mendenhall Glacier,
located just 12 miles (19 km) from the downtown area. Originally
known as Sitaantaagu ('the Glacier Behind the Town') by the
Tlingits, it was renamed in honour of Thomas Corwin Mendenhall, an
American physicist, in 1891. The Mendenhall Glacier is 1.5 miles
(3km) wide, and calves into its own lake.Visitors have several options for seeing the Mendenhall Glacier.
It can be viewed from the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, which
includes a recreation area good for viewing black bears; or you can
hike to the glacier via the Mendenhall Glacier West Glacier Trail,
which takes roughly five hours both ways. It is a good idea to hike
with a guide, and bring crampons if you want to hike on the glacier
itself. As an added option, several businesses in Juneau offer
helicopter rides to the glacier itself, although these are fairly
expensive.
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Description:
For the best views of Juneau, visitors can take the Mount
Roberts Tramway up to the Mount Roberts Nature Center. Clear air
and panoramic vistas await, along with a network of hiking trails,
including the 2.5-mile (4km) hike back down to Franklin Street in
downtown Juneau and difficult trails up to the summit (where
snowfields can be found even in summer). The Mount Roberts Tramway
is one of the most popular attractions in Alaska, carrying around
200,000 passengers each year. Along with the Visitors Center, there
is a restaurant, theater, and several shops at the top.
Address:
490 South Franklin Street
Postcode:
99801
Telephone:
(907) 463-3412
Email:
mail.mrt@goldbelt.com
Website:
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