The Last Frontier, Alaska
Glaciers, whales, bears and mountains on a scale you have to see to believe.
Big, wild and welcoming
Alaska is more than twice the size of Texas, and most of it is wilderness. Alaska Native peoples have lived here for thousands of years, and their cultures are part of every visit: Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian totem poles in Ketchikan, traditional dance and carving in Juneau, and Russian heritage in Sitka, once the capital of Russian America. Skagway still looks much as it did during the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898.
For most travelers, the best way to see Alaska is a cruise through the Inside Passage, a sheltered route of islands, fjords and glaciers. Many cruises sail round-trip from Seattle or Vancouver, some run one way across the Gulf of Alaska, and a few longer voyages sail round-trip from San Francisco. Add a land tour after your cruise, called a cruisetour, and you can ride a glass-domed train to Denali National Park and Fairbanks.
The season runs from mid-May to mid-September. June and July bring the longest days and warmest weather. May and September are quieter, often better value, and September can even bring the first northern lights in the interior. Bring layers and a rain jacket in any month: weather changes fast, and that's part of the adventure.
Alaska at a glance
Our favorite ways to spend your time
Not an exhaustive list, just the things our travelers come home talking about.
Things to do
- Cruise the Inside PassageWake up to a new port almost every day, with glaciers, waterfalls and forested islands sliding past your balcony.
- Go whale watching near JuneauHumpbacks feed in these waters all summer, and sightings on a small-boat tour are close to guaranteed.
- Take a flightseeing tourA floatplane or helicopter lands you on a glacier or flies you around the peaks of Denali.
- Ride the White Pass railwayClimb from Skagway into the mountains on the narrow-gauge route built during the Gold Rush.
- Cruise Kenai FjordsDay cruises from Seward pass tidewater glaciers, sea otters, puffins and orcas.
Places to go
- JuneauThe state capital, reachable only by sea or air, with the Mendenhall Glacier just outside town.
- KetchikanAlaska's "first city" on the Inside Passage, known for totem poles, salmon and the historic Creek Street.
- SkagwayA Gold Rush town of wooden boardwalks and false-front buildings at the top of the Inside Passage.
- Denali National ParkSix million acres of tundra and mountains, explored on park buses that watch for bears, moose and caribou.
- Seward & the Kenai PeninsulaFjords, fishing and glaciers south of Anchorage. Many one-way cruises begin or end nearby.
Things to see
- Glacier Bay National ParkA full day of cruising among tidewater glaciers. Only a limited number of ships are allowed in each day.
- DenaliNorth America's tallest peak often hides in its own clouds, so a clear view is a real treat.
- Brown bearsWatch them fish for salmon at a river or waterfall, by floatplane from port or on a lodge stay.
- Hubbard GlacierMore than six miles wide at its face, and known for calving huge chunks of ice into the sea.
- The northern lightsFrom late August, clear nights around Fairbanks can bring the aurora to life.
What to eat in Alaska
Dishes to order
- Wild salmonKing, sockeye and coho, grilled over alder wood or smoked. Nothing tastes like it in season.
- King crabHuge, sweet legs from the Bering Sea, best cracked open with plenty of melted butter.
- HalibutFirm, mild and fresh off the boat. Order it as fish and chips at least once.
- Reindeer sausageA smoky Alaska breakfast and street-cart favorite, often served with grilled onions.
Where to eat
- Salmon bakesOutdoor, all-you-can-eat salmon cookouts in the forest are a classic shore excursion.
- Dockside seafood shacksIn every port town, look for casual counters near the harbor serving the day's catch.
- Lodge dining near DenaliHearty meals with big windows and mountain views after a long day in the park.
What to drink
- Alaska craft beerSmall breweries all over the state, some brewing with spruce tips and glacier-fed water.
- Roadside espressoDrive-through coffee huts are everywhere in Alaska, even in the smallest towns.
- Wild berry everythingBlueberry, salmonberry and fireweed show up in lemonades, sodas, jams and treats.
Let's plan your Alaska trip
Alaska is one of the best trips for first-time cruisers, and we know which ships, itineraries and cabins put the glaciers right outside your window. Tell us when you'd like to travel and we'll come back with options and current pricing.
