Which Alaska Land Cities should I visit

Folks often ask me, which cities do I want included in my land tour package with the cruise lines (what I prefer/what I choose).


If I had never been, I would automatically want to include Fairbanks into my package. Then when I come back in future, I may not necessarily have to choose this again (though I have several times).



FAIRBANKS. It’s fairly a plain city. Though all you may really get is the River Boat Tour and the Gold Dredge, I personally love both of these and would never go to Fairbanks without seeing BOTH !

So many people have said they love seeing Susan Butcher’s Iditarod camp from the boat ! And though the Gold Dredge is fairly commercialized, with being able to go into the store and buy many different items, that may hold your collected gold, I love the fact, that when I’m panning for gold, I’m not really in any type of creek atmosphere (like Juneau) ! If lunch is included on your tour, that’s a bonus; also if you get to go see an actual gold dredge machine; or stop to see the Alaska pipeline !

FYI, there are Bed and Breakfast places here, if doing package on your own or coming up day early !  Not suggesting where you stay, but I most definitely and highly suggest that everyone goes up a day early, even day earlier than the Cruise/Tour package begins !   

And FYI, my preferred choice and only way I have traveled to Denali is by the Alaska Railroad; never by motor coach or car ! I love the rail road ! This is a 4 hour trip.

DENALI. Most people automatically want to go here. You don’t necessarily have to go to Fairbanks to get there, but if not by way of Fairbanks, you’ll have to get there from at least Anchorage.

I’ve never stayed more than one night at a time. Problem is, you will not be given your schedule in advance of getting there; so you don’t know what time you arrive or how much free time you will have, other than looking at the Alaska Rail Road schedule. In essence, what I am saying, it’s possible, all you will basically have time for is a trip out into the National Park. You may want more. You may want to horseback ride, take a plane ride, water rafting, and one thing I totally love is Cabin Night (dinner & a show), and you might not even have time for this, with only one day there.

Again, I’ve only traveled to Anchorage by way of Railroad (8 hours); I have never done the motor coach (5-6 hours ? I forgot). My first time by rail, I totally loved it; many folks got board; but I was taking pictures, so I was a happy little person with all the sites !

ANCHORAGE. She doesn’t really do too much for me. I totally love flying into here and seeing the sugar coated look mountains, but a person could fly into here, before flying on over to Fairbanks, if they’re lucky or choose this. I do have a couple restaurants that I love here (Glacier BrewHouse and Sourdough Mining Company). I have to say, this last time in May, I wasn’t even really impressed with the Flea Market, which I normally love; and the shopping downtown didn’t get me too excited (but I was shopped out, cause I was about to catch my flight home). So if you’re on, such as a Princess, that is only stopping in Anchorage for lunch, this actually enough for me (usually it stops downtown, so I’m headed to the BrewHouse).

However, there are tours, nearby, that I love ! So if on your own, and possibly not really doing a cruise tour, but sailing North or Southbound, I would most definitely plan 2 nights here; rent a car ! The Seward Highway is gorgeous; the Wildlife Preserve; and Portage Glacier. If I had a lot of time, I might even drive down to Wasilla (Palin’s home area) to see the Iditarod Headquarters to ride the dog sled for $10. For hikers, going to Exit Glacier is great (Seward); but I’ve done this twice and it take 1 ½ hours, and that’s no longer for me ! Actually, I would prefer, if sailing out of Seward, to take the Alaska Railroad from Anchorage ! So for my 2^nd time, I would only do this, if it were me; however, usually I am taking groups, so I have to choose more.


As far as others stops.

SEWARD. It’s darling. Very few packages offer staying here. I’ve not stayed here, so I don’t know where the hotel is usually situated at. It’s not a must stay, just cute. You will automatically see this port, as long as you are sailing on any cruise line other than Princess (which leaves from Whittier, which is also cute).



As mentioned above, I prefer Alaska Rail Road to get to or from Anchorage; but by motor coach is good too ! There’s also a tour company out there that you can buy the motor coach transfers to include some tours (problem, if they don’t have a full bus going that day, they could call and cancel on you).


MNT MCKINLEY (with Princess). I hear this is great; my customers rave over it; I’ve yet to go here.

TELKEETNA (with Celebrity/Royal Caribbean). If you love the looks of a cabin type look for a hotel (outside) with wooded area in back to walk, quiet and peace, then this is great. There’s a deck on back and you can sit and eat or have a few drinks; was nice. I’ve done it once and for me, that was enough. My GF and associate, Bobbye, she loves this, as one of her most favorite. Not enough action for me ! I did take a jet boat ride; saw mountains and woods; had we seen some wildlife, this may have been better !
I traveled here from Denali by Alaska Railroad. Railroad, to me, is always easiest form of travel; but I can’t say that we saw much on this journey; and my customers totally seemed bored.


COPPER RIVER. I’ve not been here; it‘s between Anchorage and Seward. My GF and associate Bobbye says it’s a bumpy long road getting there and it’s like Telkeetna or Mnt McKinley.

ALYESKA. I’ve stopped hear a couple of times, yet, have not gone up on the gondola (never seems to be open when I’m there).  Note, I have not seen Alyeska based on the view you see here on the left !





DAWSON CITY.  I've been here.  These are usually not done except on longer packages. I did like this.  City is much smaller and dead than Skagway !  However, went to an area that people have bought tiny sections of land and people are searching out their gold.   Also, we went to a show here.  Also, went to a lounge, and when we left a midnight, it was still light !

WHITEHORSE, CANADA.  Can't say much for here.  Just big city.  Has hospital. 

And I've been to a couple other cities on these longer tours !



Though I 100% love the history and sites (and possible wildlife), that I mentioned above, on the land portion of Alaska, that’s all I like. I’m not really into the woodsie-log cabin concept or total peace and quiet and most definitely do not care to hike (afraid I would run into wild life).

I’m really just a cruise lover. I love going into the ports and then come back onboard for a great meal (with no bill) and then optional entertainment. Alaska by day and luxury at night !

So my choices for land, are truly listed above ! But honestly, unless you try each of these places yourself, you miss out … Whether you ended up liking it or not ! EVERYTHING IS AN EXPERIENCE and you should not choose to miss any of it !


Note, look at pictures on line at the above locations.  This truly will help you decide !  Admit it, these pictures turned you on right ? !









　
　

If I only have, give or take a day or 2, just 7 days vacation, what should I choose to do in Alaska ?

If you only have estimate 7 days of vacation and want to venture to Alaska, ultimately choose a 7 night cruise !

Why Choose to Cruise ?

* It’s laid back
* Meals, entertainment, and daily activities onboard are included
* No driving or figuring out how to get to another area of destination
* Where you go next is all planned for you
* Day time focus on the destination and night time do something different

Why not just choose to be solely on the land and take the Alaska Railroad ?
You can !

What type of opportunities will I adventure only on a land package that would not be available by Choosing just the cruise ?

Fishing ? Fishing is available in the ports of your cruise, such as Ketchikan or Juneau.
Can I pan for gold ? Yes, you can opt do this in Juneau.
Visit a dog sled camp ? Yes, @ $ 129 in Skagway.
Opportunity for a Salmon Bake ? Yes, this is available in Juneau
Take a train ride ? Yes, this is available in Skagway.
Can you go bear watching ? Yes, tour available in Icy Straight of on Royal Caribbean
Can you see Mt McKinley from the cruise ship ? No.
Can you go into a National Park such as Denali ? No.

Will I feel that I truly saw Alaska when Choosing to Cruise ?
Most definitely !

* Mountains (possibly with snow)
* Glaciers

* Salmon running
* Wildlife (birds, eagles, whales, etc)
* Towns
* History

Again, if I do not have time to do the land portion in Alaska, what advice can you give, in helping me feel that I have not missed some of the more simple yet explicite opportunities ?

Many folks want to at least touch Anchorage ! If you do a round trip cruise from Seattle or Vancouver, you do not get this chance at all. If you choose at least a North or Southbound cruise in Alaska, you will at least get to go to Anchorage, even if it’s only to fly in or out (airfare cost more). You then have that spectacular view of the sugar coated mountains coming into Anchorage (as long as not dark or cloudy), which is truly a plus.

Also, even if you do not have much more than a week for your vacation, you could opt to stay at least 2 nights in Anchorage before or after the cruise. If cruising in or out of Seward, you could opt for the fabulous train ride on Alaska Railroad to or from Anchorage. Then take another day, rent a car, and ride down to the Wildlife Refuge and go over and take a cruise to Portage Glacier. From jagged peaks and alpine meadows to breathtaking fjords and crystal lakes, this tour of the Seward Highway offers a concentrated series of diverse landscapes and experiences found together nowhere else in the nation. These are my 4 most favorite things, however, they are actually outside of Anchorage (south).
　




　
　

Alaska Photo of the Month

This month photo, submitted by :  Kevin Peterman - sunny Alaska Scenery 

Travel Alaska wants visitors to subit/share their Alaska photos.  They will be selecting one photo each month in their newsletter.

Submit them on TravelAlaska.com. Simply create a My Alaska account and post away.

Should I read up and even possibly choose my Alaska Shore Excursions in advance of Alaska cruise ? What if I choose to do nothing in port

Reading up on opportunities of availability answer is a sure YES.
Making decisions and committing to decisions in advance, is a little toss-up of an answer, however, I totally lean towards YES !

Just like many other things in your every day life, you have a true investment in your vacation, such as your Alaska cruise … Whether it’s just the cruise it’s self or a cruise/tour package. Therefore, in my opinion, it logically makes sense, to choose to read through all the shore excursion available, way before you sail !
It’s only to your personal advantage to read up and know what is actually available for you to see and do !


Again, whether you decide to make a choice prior, will have to be your decision.

The only two reasons, that I evern consider waiting on making a decision till I get onboard or on land is (and NOTE, I do not wait on any cruise, unless I specifically know that I can buy once on land) ...
* On the 2^nd day of your cruise, like on many cruises, there will be a port talk. This allows you to know and learn more, in helping you make the best decision for you and those traveling with you.
* Some ports offer you the opportunity at buying select tours, just right after you get into port, on the land, at a lower cost, such as Juneau. Yet NOTE, it’s to your advantage to know the type tour you want, and then know someone who knows, whether these type tours are ones you can wait on deciding on.

However, like on many cruises, there are select tours, offered through the cruise lines, that will undoubtedly sell out very quickly. Such tours, but not limited to, may include helicopter ride, zip lining, canoeing, kayak, plane rides, whale watching, dog sledding, and more ! For this reason alone, I would be unable to wait, in making a decision, till I got there !

Select tours, you do not dare wait till you get to port to sign up for, in hopes of lower rates … Such as the train in Skagway. As soon as the ship ports, it’s time to board that train. You possibly would never have time to run up to the train station and buy this on your own. Matter of fact, look online to see if there would even be enough savings to take such a chance ! Don’t get me wrong, you may be able to sign up for the afternoon train (?) by waiting ! But again, I would be watching online, because your date could easily sell out, with the cruise lines buying all the space !

In Ketchikan, it is my understanding, that you can NOT, buy on your own, the horse and buggy ride, that goes through the town, on your own. A couple years past, this was only available through buying through the cruise lines. I would wonder if you could buy the Deadliest Catch tour on your own ?). Again, from past experience, the Totem Pole Village, NOT brought from the cruise line, does NOT include the Indian dance show.

NOTE, select tours, like helicopter rides. If the tour becomes unsafe, it will be cancelled, and your money is returned, so it doesn’t really matter that you not know the weather in advance. And often, though the weather is bad in the town, it does not mean it’s the same, over on the glacier or up higher in the clouds.
One option I would not buy in advance, is the Tram Ride in Juneau. I would wait, and decide on the weather, after I got there.

It’s to your advantage, when buying your cruise, that you are buying specifically with an agent who has been to Alaska several times, in order to help you know whether you should choose to buy in advance, or what might be available for you in waiting and deciding once there on land !

If you are considering doing NOTHING, as far as tours in Alaska, especially due to their cost, this would NOT be my advice to you !
* You may only go once to Alaska, though many of my clients, like myself, continue to return, year after year !
* Like I tell clients, 6 months down the road, you won’t remember you spent this money, so go for it !
* So many great things to do and see here, and it’s all worth it
* There are economical choices, that you can make, to not break the bank and yet you will still feel, you “reaped” in your Alaska adventure. You just need that agent who can share insight with you !
　

HAPPY ALASKA ADVENTURES IN PORT !









　
　

What's Fun to SEE in Alaska

What’s Fun to SEE in Alaska ?
SEE pictures on Yahoo.
http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=A0PDoKh_5kNQNSIAldyJzbkF?p=see+in+alaska&fr=sfp-img&ei=utf-8&n=30&x=wrt

There’s so much to see and do in Alaska ! After being there 12 times, there is still so much that I have yet to see/do, yet, many times when there, I repeat the same things over and over. Why ? I love seeing/doing it again !

Some “Fun” things to get ready to SEE …
Here’s a few of what I continue to look forward to, each time I go !

While on cruise (and ports) …
* Mountains
* Snow
* Glaciers
* Trains
* The towns
* Other ships
* Sales (in the stores)
* Jewelry
* Indian artifacts
* Souvenirs
* Whales
* Dungeness crab (on a plate to eat)
* Eagles and other birds
* Salmon running
* Float planes
* Totem poles
* Natives
* Dogs and dog sleds
* Gardens
* Chunks of gold

Some folks may enjoy the views while …
* Riding in helicopter
* Riding in plane
* Kayaking
* Canoeing
* Fishing
* Zip Lining
* Hiking

Additionally, on Land Tours …
* Cities
* Bear/Moose, etc
* Log Cabins
* Gold Dredges
* River Boat
* Shows
* Rivers

No time like 2013 to get started in seeing Alaska !