Alaska – Three ways to visit

Do you dream of visiting Alaska?

Mendenhall Glacier

What stories do you want to bring home?  Is it better to go by cruise, land tour, or cruise-tour?

Some quick facts about the “Great Land:”

• Home of 19 of the 20 tallest mountains in the US
• 4x the size of California
• Contains one-half of all US natural parkland
• Highest concentration of bear and bald eagles on earth and more caribou than people

Alaska Cruises start at 7 Days Round trip or Northbound and Southbound one-way itineraries with available land-tours to combine the best of land and sea.

There are three basic ways to “do” Alaska:

1) Round trip cruise from Seattle or Vancouver (limited  cruises from San Francisco):

Experience the scenic inside passage – Alaska cruise ports may include:

Juneau – the Capital city featuring featuring Mendenhall Glacier and majestic mountains.

Skagway – the gateway to the Klondike; Klondike National Historical Park commemorates the place where the prospectors first arrived.

Ketchikan – the salmon capital of the world; venture outside town to see a forest of hand-carved totem poles.

Other ports include Sitka, with its totem pole lined paths, and Icy Strait Point which is prime for whale watching.  Various itineraries also may include Glacier viewing days featuring Glacier Bay National Park (with the 40 story high Margerie Glacier), the five mile long Hubbard Glacier, and College Fjord – 16 dramatic Glaciers named after Ivy League Colleges.

One my favorite parts for planning an Alaska trip is suggesting shore excursions.  Shore excursions related to the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau include flying, heli-sightseeing, walking, dog sledding, or kayaking along the base.

2) North-bound Alaska Cruise ending  in Whittier or Seward followed by land tour

You will depart from Seattle or Vancouver and continue North bound through the inside passage.  North or south bound one-way cruises may afford you the opportunity to visit Hubbard Glacier.  Then transfer to luxury rail for a land tour of Denali National Park, Mt McKinley, and perhaps Talkeetna. You also  have the option to continue on to Fairbanks.  The North bound options is less expensive than option (3).  With this option, you will fly home from Anchorage or Fairbanks. Further, flights are generally at off hours and make for a long flight home.

3) Tour from Anchorage or Fairbanks followed by a South-bound Alaska cruise.

Fly to Anchorage or Fairbanks to begin your land tour first as in (2), then cruise and fly home from Seattle or Vancouver (More $$ than (2), but a more convenient flight home).  My commentary about flying to Anchorage or Fairbanks first:

• Enjoy a better “operational tempo” – get the long flights done first
• Go on your active land tour
• Relax on your South Bound Alaska cruise
• Enjoy a more convenient flight home.

Visiting Alaska is an authentic travel experience which cannot be duplicated.  Being in Alaska affords you the privilege of viewing nature as it was thousands of years ago.   Cruising and touring Alaska between the months of May and September gives you the opportunity to experience this state’s  pristine beauty at its finest.  Some glaciers are best experienced from sea; while, sites like Denali, with its unique flora and fauna must be visited by land.  Thus, the optimal way to visit Alaska is by taking a cruise combined with a scenic rail tour.

Questions? comments?