Majestic Alaska

For people living in Southwest Florida, traveling to Alaska cannot be more different in topography, wildlife, views and experiences. Just imagine glaciers, whale watching, gold panning and dog sledding. This year, the nation’s 49th and largest state celebrates its 60th anniversary of statehood.

Alaska has something for everyone who wants to experience the great outdoors and see a place that has untouched beauty at every turn, according to Sarah Leonard, president and chief executive officer of Alaska Travel Industry Association. 

Like Florida, Alaska is an angler’s heaven. 

“Alaska is a dream place for anglers looking to reel in a big salmon. From freshwater, saltwater, fly fishing and ice fishing, Alaska has it all,” Sarah says. “There are five types of salmon but only three are typically kept during a sportfishing trip. Those are kings, silvers and sockeye/reds.”

One thing that might surprise Florida travelers is Alaska has more coastline than the rest of the United States combined. Alaska also has nearly four times more coastline than Florida.

“Some visitors to Alaska say a trip here feels like they are traveling to a far away, overseas location, but Alaska also feels familiar because it is still located in the U.S. Visitors will notice Alaska’s vast landscape full of awe-inspiring mountains and icy blue glaciers. Plus, the temperatures are mild and lots of sunshine in the summer,” Sarah says.

Fort Myers resident David Agin traveled to Alaska last summer via cruise with his immediate and extended family, including kids. 

“Alaska was a good choice for our group of about 15. We had people of different ages, interests and physical abilities. There was something for everyone,” he recalls. “I think everyone had fun experiencing the mystique and scale of Alaska.”

Alaska cruises offer different itineraries, some northbound or southbound (originating and ending at different cities), some Inside Passage or roundtrip (departing and returning to same city, like Seattle). Review the different options to see what is most appealing to you. 

David enjoyed his ports of call, including Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and Victoria, British Columbia. 

“All of the ports offered a menu of activities, ranging from sightseeing tours to kayaking, fishing, horseback riding, helicopter rides. So, there were plenty of options for everyone,” he says. “However, my favorite port was Skagway. We went on a horseback riding excursion. The guide took us through trails on federal land and told us the history of the area: It once housed thousands of miners who would head into the mountains looking for gold. She shared folk history regarding some of the characters who lived here. She showed us some remnants from the town. Once the railroad was built, the town disappeared because there was now an easier way to get into the mountains.”

With the railroad home in Skagway, Sarah describes the train tours available to travelers. 

“Skagway is home to White Pass & Yukon Route, one of the most popular shore excursions for cruise passengers. Passengers on this route ride 67 miles through the White Pass and along the shores of Lake Bennett from Skagway to Carcross Yukon Territory. Passengers are treated to panoramic views of mountains, glaciers, waterfalls and tunnels from their vintage rail car. The train trip climbs from sea level in Skagway to almost 3,000 feet at the summit in just 20 miles and features steep grades of almost 3.9%,” Sarah says. “The railway is also an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. It shares that designation with the Panama Canal, the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty.”

During the visit to Juneau, David and his family took a bus to the Mendenhall Glacier.  

“We toured the visitor center and took a short hike down to the water to view the glacier. The view was spectacular and accessible for everyone in our group,” he says. “After viewing the glacier, we went on a whale watching boat later in the afternoon.  We saw several whales while cruising through a beautiful fjord. It was very enjoyable.”

Whales can be spotted from the northernmost town of Utqiagvik to the bustling city of Anchorage and beyond, according to Sarah. 

“Numerous whale-watching tours are available from the waters of Resurrection Bay, Prince William Sound and Alaska’s Inside Passage. Every spring and summer, day cruises are packed with locals and visitors for a chance to see species like orca, humpback, gray, beluga and more.”

Juneau is the beating heart of Alaska’s Inside Passage and the state capital, Sarah says. 

“It is rich in Alaska native history, art, music and is a paradise for people who love to be around water. Some even say it is the most scenic capital city in the U.S. as it boasts both mountain and coastal views,” she outlines. “A visit to Juneau should include time exploring local hiking trails. The city has 250 miles of maintained walking trails, so there is sure to be a path that can fit any ability level.”

In Ketchikan, David and his group visited the historical center for the Tlingit tribe. 

“We viewed a tribal dance in a traditional long house. We observed Tlingit craftsmen making totems and other items,” he recalls. “We attended a lumberjack show which everyone, particularly the kids, enjoyed. Ketchikan has some nice shops. It is a good ‘walking around’ town with lots to see.”

Ketchikan is known as Alaska’s first city due to its location at the southern tip of the Inside Passage. 

“It is the first city visitors reach as they cruise north. The city features lush forests and mountain views that will make a visitor want to spend more than just a day here,” Sarah says. “A favorite activity is spending time walking the shops along historic Creek Street and taking time to view the totem poles found around the city. These totems make up the largest collection in the world and are an important part of the culture and history of the town.”

During David’s cruise, the ship sailed into Glacier Bay early one morning. 

“Passengers were on deck before dawn vying for the best viewing spots. Most everyone was on deck as we neared the glaciers,” he says. “My wife, Cheryl, was in the spa/solarium at this time, and she thought it was great because it was quiet and she could see everything. I watched from the balcony of the cabin with our son. He successfully held a huge glacier in the palm of his hand.”

Glaciers have ebbed and flowed in the Glacier Bay region for thousands of years. As recently as 1750, a single glacier thousands of feet thick filled what is now a 65-mile long fjord, according to the Alaska National Park Service.

Cape Coral resident Ann Cash also traveled to Alaska last summer with her family. In addition to the cruise, they embarked on a land trip. They visited Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan, as well as Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay. The Cash family started their trip in Fairbanks and visited Denali before they took the train to Whittier. 

“We actually booked our trip to arrive a day earlier in Fairbanks so that we could tour on our own before the cruise-booked excursions began. We rented a car and prearranged to visit a working reindeer farm personally owned by a local family in Fairbanks,” Ann recalls. “The tour was incredible. The family spent several hours with us giving us a behind-the-scenes tour of their daily lives raising reindeer. Also, we visited a local dog sledding place called Touch of Magic, and the owner gave us a behind-the-scenes tour of her dog sledding operation. We spent several hours visiting with the owner and her dogs. My girls loved spending so much time with the sled dogs.”

In Fairbanks, Ann says they officially started their cruise-booked excursions and kicked off the day with a tour of the trans-Alaska pipeline and then hopped aboard a train replica of the narrow-gauge Tanana Valley Railroad, which took them to tour Gold Dredge 8, a national historical monument, where they panned for gold. 

“From there, we boarded the only remaining authentic Alaskan sternwheeler for a cruise along the Chena and Tanana rivers. Along the way, we saw a bush pilot take off and land, watched a dog sled demonstration and visited the old Chena Indian Village on land for a glimpse into their Alaskan life and history,” Ann says. 

 Then the Cash family ventured to Denali National Park and Preserve, where they took a national history tour with a stop at Savage Cabin within the park to learn about the local native culture. 

“We, of course, were on the lookout for any wildlife we could see along the way,” she says. “We did see several bears, but it wasn’t until we just about exited the park that we saw a female moose standing under a tree right beside the sign entrance to the park.”

Denali is one of Alaska’s most iconic landmarks and is a big reason why people come to the state on vacation. 

“Visitors want to experience both the park and the peak. When the mountain (Denali is the tallest peak in North America) appears on a clear day, it still amazes even longtime Alaskans who stop and stare at its mass,” Sarah says. “Inside the park, visitors have to spend some time looking for the big five. Those are the big animals found inside the park: moose, wolves, caribou, Dall sheep and grizzly bears. There is also the chance to complete the ‘pick six,’ which is seeing all five of the big animals found inside the park as well as Denali.”

Planes, trains and automobiles were part of the Cash family vacation. 

“Next, we boarded the Wilderness rail to Whittier. When I discovered how long the train ride was going to take to get to Whittier (9 1/4 hours), I couldn’t even imagine how we were going to pass the time. We were a traveling party of nine, including three teenagers and my 6-year-old nephew. I have to say that the train ride ended up being my nephew’s favorite part of the whole entire Alaska trip as well as a couple of other members of my family,” Ann says. “The scenery was absolutely incredible. You literally could not take your eyes away from the windows for a second. We saw moose and bears running away from the noise of the train approaching alongside a river while we ate lunch on the train.”

Once aboard the cruise ship, Ann had arranged for a variety of activities in each port. 

“We were a party of nine for this Alaskan trip, so different family members ended up doing different excursions in some ports,” she says. “For example, in Skagway, my mom took two of my girls horseback riding on a tour through the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park of Dyea Valley; whereas, my sister, brother-in-law and nephew rode the White Pass Scenic Railway. My husband, Jimmy, and third daughter Makayla went ziplining, and I personally took the tour to see the Kroschel Wildlife Refuge. I loved this tour, because I love animals. I got to see up close and personal the native animals of Alaska.”

However, in Juneau, nearly the entire traveling party went on a tour of the Mendenhall Glacier by native canoes. 

“We loved this excursion. We literally canoed right up to the glacier on Mendenhall Lake. We also stopped near to the glacier on land next to a waterfall,” she says. “The scenery was beautiful.”

Seeing the glaciers were a vacation highlight for Ann and her family. 

“Glacier Bay was breathtaking. We had incredible views as we were literally the first cabin at the front of the ship in a family suite, so our balcony was huge. We didn’t have anything blocking our view to the whole front and side of the ship where we were located,” Ann recalls. “I can’t imagine going on an Alaskan cruise without seeing Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay.”

Ann is already hoping to book another trip to Alaska. 

“We all loved everything about every aspect of Alaska,” she says. “I think what I personally love the most about Alaska is how untouched and serene the beauty of not only the landscape is, but also seeing nature in its purest form.”

Ann is not alone in wanting to return to Alaska. 

“Research has shown that nearly 60% of repeat visitors to Alaska say they are very likely to return to Alaska within five years,” Sarah says. “We recommend people visit a new region of the state on a return trip. Many first-time visitors will cruise Alaska’s Inside Passage, so on a return trip they could try bear viewing in Southwest Alaska, travel to Denali National Park in the Interior, riding along the Railbelt in Southcentral Alaska or even visit to the Arctic region to see the finish of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.”