by Megan Torres

Created on: August 11, 2008   Last Updated: April 18, 2011

Alaska Vacations: Seeking Fun & Beauty

Alaska, also known as the Last Frontier, is more than worth the trip. It's so beautiful and all the wonderful wildlife that you will see will keep you captivated. This is the perfect place to go for those who even slightly enjoy being outdoors. There is so much to do you will want to come back!

The normal tourist season for Alaska starts May 15 and ends on September 15th. These are the times when the cruises are running and it is beautiful weather to be in. There are many cruise lines that run along the coast of Alaska, some cruises even start in British Columbia, Canada those usually being the 7-day cruises. There are other cruises that are great day trips that come out of Seward, Alaska. Kenai Fjords Tours and other companies run the cruise around the Glaciers of Prince William Sound and if you're lucky enough you may see an Orca whale. The whales migrate through the area and love to play among the shallow rocks. You can even charter a boat for a personal cruise.

If you are a fisherman then you may want to visit Homer, Alaska. There are boating trips available to catch the weird looking, but scrumptious tasting Halibut. If you are staying in Anchorage, Alaska the Salmon run in July down the creek the locals know as Battle Creek because there are so many fishermen along the shores you have to fight to keep your spot! Of course there are other rivers were you can peacefully fish for Salmon, but sometimes the fight makes it more fun.

While you are in Anchorage catch the train up to Fairbanks. It runs up through Denali National Park, where you can catch a splendid view of Mt. McKinley, the largest peak of North America, at some 23,000 feet it's an amazing sight. If you wanted to you could even catch a flight around the park from the Kantishna Air Taxi, the only privately-owned Air Charter that can fly into the Park and land on their own airstrip.

There are other tours available like kayaking, 4-wheeling, and horseback riding, which are available almost throughout all of Alaska. There are old mines for you to visit to see if you can pan up some of your own gold. There are Native villages to also see and learn about their culture and how they survive through life. Visit Santa, Mrs. Claus and the elves where they live in Santa Claus Town at the North Pole. It's a cute souvenir shop where you can take the kids and show them there really is a North Pole.

However, if you plan on skiing in Alaska the perfect time would be in the middle of December, when the winter chill hasn't really set in yet, but it has been snowing since November. There is a great ski resort located about 30 minutes South of Anchorage in a small town of Girdwood, Alaska named after its state. Alyeska Ski Resort has two different peaks to ski from and beautiful accommodations to sleep in.

Like stated before there is so much to do in Alaska you will have to come back, unless you are available to stay for at least 4 months, then only maybe you will be able to see and do everything that the beautiful state of Alaska still has to offer.

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