Vacation to Alaska
Impressive peaks. Untapped wildlife. First class fishing. Alaska makes for an ideal vacation destination when you consider all that it has to offer. You can take a cruise, explore Denali National Park, or do some deep see fishing. And these are only a few of your options. When planning your vacation to Alaska, how can you decide what to do?
I’ve been to Alaska twice and have seen the state from different perspectives. The first time, I approached the state by sea during a luxury cruise. The second time I got to see more of the land and did some incredible fishing. Here are some tips based on my experience that will help you plan your vacation to Alaska.
When to go. If you want great weather, the summer is ideal- particularly July and August. Winter in Alaska is covered by virtual darkness but in the summer the air is crisp, the temperature is constantly around 70�° F, and the sun sets around 11 PM, giving you tons of extra time to see the sights. If you would like to fish for salmon, time your visit for when king salmon is in season. There are many varieties of salmon and king salmon is the tastiest.
How to get there. This is where you decide if you would like to take a cruise or explore the state primarily by land with optional side trips into the water for fishing and other sightseeing trips.
A cruise can give you a great overview of the coastal areas such as Juneau, which is landlocked, Ketchikan, home of their famous totem poles, and impressive glaciers such as Hubbard Glacier. It is also offers a great opportunity to view marine wildlife. Dolphins swam with our ship daily and whales could be spotted in the distance in the early hours.
However, a cruise doesn’t often give you enough time to explore the impressive beauty of the land. There’s never enough time to hike through the wilderness, explore a glacier, or simply drive on scenic highways. Though, it is possible to do some of these things as shore excursions.
If this is the case, then you should plan to fly into Anchorage and rent a car. This will allow you to explore the Seward Highway and drive to various towns throughout the state. It will also allow you the opportunity to explore Denali National Park.
What to See. There are a few impressive must see sites to consider when planning your vacation to Alaska. There’s Denali National Park, home to Mt. McKinley, North America’s tallest peak. You can also go deep sea fishing- when we went Halibut fishing off of Homer, Alaska we caught so much fish we needed to purchase a chest freezer when we came home.
Hubbard Glacier is also amazing. Take an excursion to it by boat and listen as chunks of ice break off of the glacier, making thunderous sounds before they fall. Anchorage is also worth exploring. The city is in bloom in the summer and boasts a coastal trail that is bicycle friendly and a lively restaurant and brewery scene.
No matter what you decide to do, remember that when planning your vacation to Alaska, you make it a point to see the sites that matter to you. Also remember to leave enough time to be spontaneous. Alaska can often feel wild and untamed and you want to give yourself ample time to experience that.
