Christmas in Alaska might only arrive in late December, but the holiday season and spirit are celebrated year-round in the quaint and quirky town of North Pole. No, this isn’t the North Pole set deep in the icy Arctic at the top of the world. This North Pole is a welcoming commuter community about a 15-minute sleigh ride …(or even... Read More
While most travelers plan Alaska visits for the peak season of summer sun and fun, those who wander north for Alaska's winter are welcoming by a surprisingly warm vibe, as well as many unique winter outdoor opportunities and special surprises. Winter travelers can break out their warm winter jackets, a fleece hat and some toe-roasting snow boots and by taking... Read More
Alaska is enormous, and it’s practically bursting with out-of-this-world natural beauty and wonder. It has so many special settings and so much spectacular wildlife that it is home to eight Alaska National Parks covering 54 million acres — not to mention 50 National Historic Landmarks, 16 National Natural Landmarks, 24 official National Park Service units, and nearly 100 state park... Read More
Alaska, the Land of the Midnight Sun is also the Land of the Majestic Mountains. When people think of Alaska mountains, their minds instantly go to Denali, formerly Mt. McKinley. And for good reason: Denali is North America’s tallest peak and easily Alaska’s most popular. The mountain is magnetic to climbers, sightseers and Alaskans, who visit its namesake park by the... Read More
Caribou in Denali (c) Jeff Schultz/Schultzphoto.com/ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Traveling in Denali National Park, it’s easy to find yourself constantly gazing skyward for a glimpse of The Great One – Denali. A sighting of the majestic mountain and precarious peak, as well as its summits and spurs, will take your breath away. The experience also provides instant perspective on how massive... Read More
It’s a thrilling and chilling Alaska wildlife moment in a classic "Last Frontier" setting – bear viewing, where dozens of the big brown bears of Bristol Bay, treat you to a view of authentic Alaska. Haunches deep in cold, crashing waterfalls, grabbing fat flopping salmon out of the water and even out of midair with unforgiving chomps and precision paw... Read More
Many people work hard so they can take their dream trip to Alaska. Alaskans totally understand – they also work hard to finance their "Last Frontier" fun. Job descriptions in Alaska might look the same as anywhere else, but Alaska's workplaces are often unlike any others. In Alaska, even a corporate suit or someone in retail occasionally has to work late... Read More
As amazing as Alaska is to experience from the air, water and road, there’s something very special about exploring the state on foot on an Alaska hiking tour. There are hundreds of hiking options in Alaska encompassing varying distances, difficulty levels, and landscapes. You can hit a trail for an hour, a day, or a week, and see parts of... Read More
Kodiak Island juts out of the Gulf of Alaska with a rugged beauty all its own. Snow-capped mountains, dense old growth forests, rocky cliffs, wildflower-laced meadows, and sandy beaches are the foundation for this stunning landscape. The southwestern areas on Kodiak Island together with Uganik Island, the Red Peaks part of Afognak Island and Ban Island are part of the... Read More
When it comes to conversations around Alaska’s unique geography, Alaska trivia, fun facts and unusual statistics are dependably fascinating and practically infinite! For example: What’s the distance of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race? ALASKA ANSWER: The traditional route is 1,149 miles. What’s the proper name of the state’s great mountain: McKinley or Denali? ALASKA ANSWER: Alaskans and the federal government... Read More
I live in Anchorage and I’m always craving new adventures. One September, when I discovered that there were over 200 miles of road I had not been on in Northwestern Alaska, I grabbed a friend and we hopped a plane to Nome, located in Alaska's Far North. Our 3-day road trip began with a 2-hour flight from Anchorage. Nome sits on... Read More
McCarthy, Kennicott & Wrangell-St. Elias: A Motherlode of Magnificent Mountains and Alaska Mining History Located at the end of one of Alaska’s roughest rural roads, and set deep in the Interior and mountainous wilds of America’s largest national park, the 13.2 million acre Wrangell-St. Elias National Park has two tiny towns with one big history: Kennicott and McCarthy. This is where... Read More
For avid anglers and first-time fishermen, Alaska is where most fishing fantasies come true. Fishermen travel to Alaska from around the world with dreams of hooking a spectrum of salmon, heavy and hearty halibut, beautiful biting trout and graceful grayling. Fly-fishing for salmon on Big River Lakes from Redoubt Bay Lodge. If there’s a will, there’s an Alaska waterway filled with fish:... Read More
There's nothing more exciting than coming to Alaska. Many people have had Alaska on their bucket list for years and for good reason. What's a visit to the 49th U.S. state feel, look and sound like? Watch this video from TravelAlaska to find out! Dive into an Alaska vacation experience by video you'll never forget (go full screen for best results!):... Read More
Like any traveler, I'm always looking for those experiences that are almost unique to any place, and watching films around Alaska of the skies in winter made me want to taste those unworldly showers of light in person.