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If you are looking for a great vacation idea and love nature and scenic vistas, consider Alaska. It truly is the last great frontier for US citizens. It is accessible by air and by sea. Flights are available into Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau, and you can book shuttle flights into smaller cities. Even remote areas can be accessed by chartering a bush pilot to fly you to your desired destination. There are also some great cruises that follow the inland waterway and you can combine this with excursions from the various ports.

Alaska is a sportsman's and photographer's paradise. Be sure to carry plenty of storage for your digital camera or lots of film if that is your choice of equipment. The ultimate for the photographer is to experience a clear day with an excellent view of Mt. McKinley or Denali as the locals call it. Denali means "the great one" and it certainly lives up to the name. The majestic, snow-covered peaks and towering peaks are breathtaking.

The rivers are beautiful and the chalky green color caused by the glacial silt gives them a unique appearance. The Kenai, Talkeetna, Susitna, and Yukon are names that spell adventure and fantastic fishing opportunities for the vacationer. You can book a guide or stay at a lodge dedicated to servicing fishermen, but free-lancing is also an option.

If you are a competent angler, you can purchase guidebooks before your trip and make plans based on expert advice. It is still advisable to talk to locals when you arrive. Conditions can affect the fishing and choice of locations, flies, lures, and other gear.

Salmon are the favorite species here: Chinook, Silver, Pink and others. Trout are also abundant with lake trout, Rainbow and Char being sought after quarry. It is a sport fisherman's dream to fish these waters.

Wildlife is abundant and depending on the area that you travel, you may see moose, wolves, caribou, Bald Eagles and more. Keep the camera handy. You never know what is around the next bend.

If you are planning to drive in Alaska, purchase a copy of the Milepost. It is a publication that lists every major business, city, river access and every imaginable detail that the driver will need to know (especially the gas stations). It gives detailed maps and lists the details by every milepost on the major highways. It is the bible for the Alaskan driver.

Take a variety of clothing that can be layered to be able to adjust to the rapidly changing weather conditions. It may be sunny and warm one day and snowing fiercely the next.

There is a saying that advises travelers not to visit Alaska until they are old, because nothing else will ever compare to it.

Learn more about this author, L. Woodrow Ross.
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