With an area of 656,424 square miles, the largest in the United States, and a relatively sparse population, Alaska's roomy, open spaces make it perfect for roaming. Whether by land, sea, or air, Alaska travel is an adventure.
Land
Why not travel Alaska as the early settlers did, by train? In 1903, the Alaska Railroad began service, surviving bankruptcy and 30 million dollars worth of damage from the 1964 earthquake, to thrive. The Alaska Railroad travels to many destinations, including Palmer; the site of the Alaska State Fair, and the newly opened SeaLife Center in Seward. The seasonal Great Alaska Beer Train follows Turnagain Arm, a scenic 80 mile stretch from Anchorage to Portage while passengers quaff local microbrews.
Buses are the only vehicles permitted beyond mile 15 in Denali National Park, which houses North America's highest peak-20,320 foot Mount McKinley, as well as grizzly bears, wolves, moose, caribou, and Dall sheep, in its 6 million acres of land. Interpretive bus tours, camper buses and shuttle buses are available in the park.
Exploring Alaska by foot gives a different perspective. Flattop Mountain, just outside Anchorage in Chugach State Park, is the most visited hike in Alaska. From the top of the 3,510 foot mountain, often shrouded in mist, panoramic views of Anchorage, Denali, Mt. Foraker, and Mt. Spurr can be seen. In winter, use extreme caution-the publisher of Anchorage's free newspaper, the Press, was paralyzed in an avalanche at Flattop Mountain.
Sea
Glaciers, whales, port towns-these are all components of Alaska's travel cruises in a state which is 13% water. Some cruises, such as the 26 Glacier Cruise, focus exclusively on glaciers. There are more than 100,000 glaciers in Alaska, and they can sometimes be heard as well as seen. Gunshot-like cracks ring out as pieces of calving glaciers fall into the sea, creating icebergs. Hubbard, the largest glacier in Alaska extends 76 miles from its source.
Another cruise follows the gray whale, as it migrates to its Bering Sea summer home from Baja, California. Orca or humpback whales, porpoises, and seals may also be spotted along the way.
Princess Cruises sail between Whittier, Alaska, and Vancouver, BC, making stops at port towns such as Alaska's capital city, Juneau, and Ketchikan, known for totem poles carved by the Tlingit and Haida.
Air
Alaska air travel is Alaska adventure travel. Era Aviation and Pen Air serve the rural communities of Alaska, providing planes with anywhere from 8-40 seats for use; these rides can be bumpy!
Alaska bush pilots originally flew people and much-needed supplies into Alaska. Today, they can fly the adventurous to remote, otherwise inaccessible areas and even land on glaciers. The Trans-Alaskan Pipeline, active volcanoes Mt. Spurr and Mt. Redoubt, Kenai Fjords National Park, the 1,100 mile Iditarod Trail to Nome, and Chena Hot Springs in Fairbanks are some of the sights that can be seen by air.
Travel to Alaska is for those that love the wild outdoors and don't mind a hint of danger. If this is you, find a travel map to Alaska and choose a destination.