Alaska Vacation
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It’s not just the mountains, crystal clear lakes and glaciers that draw travelers to an Alaska vacation, but also in the pull of the land. It’s a place that ignites the imaginations of people who live in the city but truly long to wander into the woods. The expansive nature of the state will help you put your size in perspective as you marvel at the sight of a brown bear catching salmon upstream, or kayak past a tidewater glacier shedding icebergs the size of a small car. Quite possibly the best part is that an Alaska vacation needn’t cost you a fortune.
Alaska’s climate is for the most part inconsistent; it’s not uncommon to encounter multiple seasons in a single day. I wouldn’t bet your raincoat on it, but the Southeast and South-central regions generally experience high rainfall and moderate temperatures, with summers also averaging moderate temperatures. In the Interior, precipitation is light but temperatures fluctuate madly, having been known to spike considerably in late August. The climate along the western coast is mostly cool with summer temperatures in the mid-forties (°F), with regular fog and rain. Most of Alaska experiences the wonder of midnight sun, a stretch of constant daylight that apparently sanctions the kind of madness which finds people undertaking extremely long hikes after dinner and softball teams convening for midnight games.
There are a wide variety of things to do during an Alaska vacation, though you’ll likely find yourself the most satisfied if it’s outdoor adventure and splendor you seek. On the short list of top attractions is hiking, biking, kayaking, fishing, and wildlife expeditions wherein you seek out wolves, whales, moose, and bears. There are also month-long expeditions to the top of Mt. McKinley for the extra daring. Fine dining is also very prominent in Alaska, with a healthy mix of the sea’s bounty, and local, homestyle food. The portions here are huge, and almost every little town will have a local diner where one can get a filling meal with lots of hot coffee. For that true Alaskan experience, make sure you try the reindeer sausage with your eggs and hash in the morning.
If you intend on traveling across the state for your Alaska vacation, it’s important to note that most cities and villages are accessible only by sea or air. The Alaska Marine Highway System serves the cities of Southeast and the Alaska Peninsula. Those cities not served by road or sea can only be reached via air travel, accounting for Alaska’s extremely well developed Bush air services, an Alaskan novelty. Although Anchorage itself is accessible via most major airlines, Alaska Airlines has a virtual monopoly on jet air travel within the state, meaning prices are extremely high. Travel by bus and rail are still an option if you’re willing to omit the more isolated regions from your travels, and although renting a car is no more expensive than anywhere else in the states, Alaska is arguably the least-connected state in terms of road transportation, so you’ll again find yourself somewhat limited in places that car can take you.