Alaska Local Tips

Whatever time of year you travel, keep in mind that weather can be unpredictable, a fact that Alaskans address by wearing layers – be sure to consult the Alaska Travel Industry Association’s regional climate tips and packing advice before packing (www.travelalaska.com/climate).

One of the main reasons visitors come to Alaska is to partake in the superb wildlife viewing – binoculars make the experience all the more enjoyable, allowing you to zoom in on the breaching humpbacks of Glacier Bay or the grizzlies of Denali (from a safe distance!).

While the summer sun can be deliriously energizing, having a 3am sunset can take some getting used to. Be sure to establish your own cues to establish a healthy sleeping schedule – blacking out your hotel room’s windows with blinds and curtains will help you get some shuteye.

Renting cars and RVs is easy in Alaska’s larger cities and offers maximum freedom in exploring the state via its scenic highways. Additionally, RVs are a great option for those seeking to take their time exploring the open country between destinations. Pay close attention to fuel levels, especially when driving off the major roads, as gas stations are not always easy to find.

Local tourism boards can usually provide information on when cruise ships will be in port – steer clear of port areas when multiple cruise ships are scheduled for arrival or risk being trammeled by the mad shopping spree that ensues.

While most visitors make the trek to Denali National Park with plans of glimpsing snow-clad Mount McKinley, keep in mind that cloud-cover often obscures the 20,320-foot behemoth.

Book everything from train tickets to hotel rooms as far in advance as possible in the high summer season, particularly if planning to travel to the national park areas, where tours and accommodations book up quickly.

The capital is physically cut off from the rest of Alaska by the Gastineau Channel and an extensive inland ice field, making it inaccessible by road. Visitors here must plan accordingly to fly or hitch a ferry.

Alaska has about one registered pilot for every 58 residents – six times as many pilots per capita as the rest of the country. “Flightseeing” trips on “bush planes” (small airplanes) to road-less Native American villages or above the Arctic Circle make for fascinating day trips, while helicopter tours that incorporate landings on glaciers or mountaintops are also perennially popular.

The most popular way to travel to Alaska is on a cruise ship. But even if you’re based on land, traveling on one of the state-run ferries operating on the Alaska Marine Highway is a scenic means of travel, particularly on routes between the water-bound coastal communities of the Inside Passage or from the Kenai Peninsula to Kodiak Island. 907-465-3941; www.ferryalaska.com