Alaska is one of the most beautiful places in the world, and if you haven’t been, what are you waiting for?
Imagine living with no nighttime. Alaska is known for its long summer days, and in the northernmost parts of the state, the sun doesn’t set for about eighty days.
Since Alaska is accessible year-round by air, land, or sea, you can choose to combine your mode of travel—arriving by air and departing by sea, or driving to Alaska and then boarding the ferry for the trip home. Each will offer a unique perspective: see the coastline by ferry or cruise ship, or catch glimpses of certain rare wildlife by taking the open road.
The northern lights, one of the world’s Seven Natural Wonders, will be something magical. The aurora borealis is a natural display of iridescent color dancing across the night sky. They’ve rightfully earned a spot on many travelers’ bucket lists. The best time to witness this magic is October through April.
The glaciers in Alaska are amazing! No matter where you are, you will be face to face with at least one of these icy mammoths. Highlights include places like Glacier Bay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and named a Cruise Wonder of the World by Condé Nast Traveler. Farther north is the breathtaking Tracy Arm Fjord and College Fjord and Hubbard Glacier.
You can do more than just look. You can touch, glide, or soar above them since all the cruise ships offer optional excursions for further glacial exploration. They often combine helicopter/hiking tours that put you square on the surface of these massive ice beds. Take a flightseeing tour over the glaciers, kayak around them, or even ride across one on a dogsled.
Alaska is a dream for watching nature. Most of us haven’t had the opportunity to see moose grazing in vast meadows, whales frolicking in glistening waters, or bears in their native habitat. In Alaska, all that is possible—including glimpsing Denali National Park’s Big Five: brown bears, wolves, moose, Dall sheep, and caribou.
Venture north to catch the sight of a mammoth forty-ton humpback whale breaking the surface of the water for air, or see something stir in the brush as a huge moose rises from rest and wanders off. Moments like this only happen in Alaska—the Great Land.
Alaska has some of America’s most stunning national gems—awe-inspiring Denali National Park, home to North America’s tallest peak, 20,310-foot Denali; Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, larger than the country of Switzerland; Glacier Bay National Park with towering Margerie Glacier; and beautiful Kenai Fjords National Park, with its glaciers and abundant marine life.
Get a glimpse of the welcoming personality of the Great Land by sailing into ports along the Inside Passage. Peek into the fascinating gold rush history that left its mark on the region’s streets, saloons, and storefronts in cities like Skagway, Sitka, Ketchikan and Juneau. Visit Native villages, or go dogsledding with a real musher. The stories of The Inside Passage will expand your understanding of its culture, history, and lifestyle.
The beauty of Alaska awaits you. Hurry and plan your Alaskan adventure by land or by sea. You will not regret it!
