When it comes to breathtaking natural landscapes and impromptu encounters with a myriad of wildlife, there is no other state quite like Alaska. Renowned as “The Last Frontier”, Alaska may have been admitted into the union as the 49th state but it certainly jumps right to the very top in terms of amazing beauty.
If you have yet to visit Alaska, where have you been? All right! Let’s find it out what exactly Alaska can offer you if you visit Alaska.
Scenery
Most of the visitors venture to Alaska to see the jaw-dropping scenery of eye-catching nature, majestic mountains, glaciers, fjords, clear lakes, and the National Parks. Cruising along the Inside Passage and seeing the villages with picturesque backdrop was one of the highlights of our trips. Some cities, like Sitka, are only accessible by water or air.
Alaska has some of the world’s most scenic highways like the Seward Highway or Denali Park Road perfect for an unforgettable road trip. The trains also offer memorable journeys through stunning landscapes.
Wildlife
The state is one of the best places for wildlife spotting. It was incredible to see many magnificent bald eagles flying overhead. Cruising on Alaskas waters will give you many opportunities to see seals and sea lions on the water and even bears and whales from a distance.
The land excursions included seeing bald eagles up close at Sitkas Alaska Raptor Center. You will also see hundreds of salmon swimming and jumping on a cove in Ketchikan. If you’re traveling further into Alaska, consider the Denali Park Road to see the US version of the Big 5: grizzly bears, moose, wolves, caribou, and Dall sheep.
Native Culture and History
Alaska has abundant as well as the varied history that consists of the Native Indians, Russian fur traders and gold miners. Don’t miss checking out the distinct galleries and cultural heritage facilities throughout Alaska. We loved learning about the state’s background and culture with interesting paintings, displays, and artifacts.
Ketchikan has the world’s biggest symbol post collection with a number of parks to see these distinct hand makings. They told the tales, heritage and also tales of the Native Indians. Sitka was Russia’s major Pacific port for over 60 years and where the USA obtained it from the Russians. There are still Russian impacts as well as historic structures below.
Glaciers
The Alaska Almanac approximates that the state has concerning 100,000 glaciers. Glaciers are specified as a “body of snow and ice that moves”.
They develop when snow, ice, and rock particles relocation from higher altitudes eventually producing layers of packed snow. Juneau’s Mendenhall Glacier is one of the most available ones. Lots of cruise ships sail into Glacier Bay National Park to see these glaciers at a close yet safe distance. One of our most remarkable travel moments was seeing the glaciers calve as well as hearing the roaring noise accompanying the glacial ice items break off. It was an extraordinary view.
Unique Adventures
Alaska’s landscape offers some special journeys on numerous travelers’ wants to list no matter what time of year you check out. This is exterior heaven, specifically throughout the summer season, for kayaking, river rafting, hiking, sport angling or beautiful flightseeing.
Glacier hiking and also ice climbing are also available. The midnight sun ensures you have plenty of time for these adventures. Winter months are the prime-time show for pet sledding in Denali National Park, ice angling, hot springs dipping, heli-skiing as well as north lights seeing.