Alaska, also called The Great Land, has a wide variety of travel opportunities, including:
Alaska cruises begin in May and end in September. Nearly all Alaska cruises depart off the west coast of the United States in a number of different cities, including:
Similarly, you can choose between a number of different cruise liners for your Alaskan cruise, including:
In general, cruises offer a more planned out vacation option. Food, lodging and entertainment are usually all included in the cost of cruises. Typically, Alaska cruises take travelers along the:
Tours on Alaska cruises to last seven to 10 days on the Gulf of Alaska. While travel agents or online sites can quote you a more specific price for the cruise in which you are interested, the cost of your trip, which will be at least a few thousand dollars, depends on:
Pre-cruise land-based trips can range from $800 to $2,200 during Alaska's travel peak season. Post cruise tours can range from $670 to $2,500. Some of the factors that can affect this cost include:
Summer temperatures in Alaska range from 60F to 80F. Evenings and mornings are cooler, measuring in at about 40F to 50F in the summer. As fall approaches in September, temperatures drop and daylight decreases. Temperatures will also vary according to which the region you're exploring.
You may, of course, travel to Alaska during every season. However, keep in mind that you will need to pack warmer clothing to be adequately prepared for the cold weather in fall, winter and spring. While these seasons can be especially cold and have minimal sunlight, in contrast, summer is far warmer with long daylight hours, which can be more appealing for those who are especially sensitive to cold weather.
Alaska has five different regions:
Visitors to the Far North in Alaska may enjoy visiting:
The Inupiat Eskimos reside in Alaska's Far North. Many still live off the land and continue their culture's oral history.
Located in the Western Artic Region of the Far North, Nome is one of the largest cities in this region. Other major areas of attraction in the Far North include St. Lawrence Island, Barrow on the Arctic Coast (Barrow is the northernmost city in the state) and Coldfoot in the Brooks Range to the East.
The Interior is home to:
The southwest region encompasses the Bering Sea, Kodiak Island and the Aleutian Islands, which extend toward Asia for 1,000 miles. The Novarupta Volcano erupted in 1912, creating the stunningly rugged geography of Katmai National Park.
Southcentral Alaska includes the Gulf of Alaska and the city of Anchorage. Half of the state's population lives in this region, which also draws an international crowd because of its trout and salmon fishing, hiking and other outdoor opportunities.
Alaska's capital, Juneau, is in the Inside Passage, which extends along the coast of the Pacific Ocean. In terms of scenery, the Inside Passage has a lot to offer, including exclusive access to old Russian churches, wildlife (bald eagles, sea lions, porpoises and whales) and fjords (glacial valleys flooded with seawater).