Destination attractions things to do in alaska

Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest

A visit to Alaska will certainly provide a vacation full of memories to last a lifetime. The 49th state is huge, covering over 586,000 square miles, and there are many activities for a tourist to plan. The traveler will have to decide which part of Alaska to visit because it is not like smaller states than can be driven from coast to coast in a matter of hours.

If a traveler's interests in deciding where to plan a trip include wishing to see breathtaking scenery and landscape, this is definitely the place to visit. Alaska touches two oceans, three seas, countless lakes and rivers, many islands, and also very many glaciers. The majestic Mt. McKinley, the highest mountain in North America, is found here in the Denali National Park and Preserve.

From the tundra to the rain forest, Alaska has it all. Fortunate visitors will be able to see the aurora borealis, Alaska's northern lights if visiting from early fall through spring. If visitors would enjoy seeing active volcanoes, the Katmai National Park and Preserve is the place to visit. There are more than a dozen active volcanoes at the park. There are fourteen other National Parks in Alaska in addition to Katmai, and over two hundred parks that are not National Parks.

Unique wildlife found in Alaska includes wild bison, caribou, and moose. There are actually more caribou in the state than there are human residents. Research will point out where to find brown and polar bears, and some of the other wildlife unique to Alaska.

Alaska is well known for its fishing in general and salmon fishing in particular. With all the lakes and rivers in the state, as well as the oceans' shorelines, this area is a virtual paradise for people who enjoy fishing. It will not be difficult to find a place to purchase a fishing license. Many places sell them, and a permit can even be bought over the internet. Licenses can be bought for a period of one day, three days, one week, two weeks, and annual license.

Activities in Alaska are so abundant! Some folks prefer spending time in the areas where the native people live, or rafting on the Yukon River. Others prefer panning for gold or crossing the Arctic Circle. The four major cultural groups of native Alaskans are the Aleuts, the Athabascans, the Northwest Coast Indians, and the Eskimos. As tourists, please respect the traditions and lifestyles of these Native Alaskans as they go about their daily chores and activities.

One of the most memorable and often chosen activities when visiting Alaska is taking a day or multi-day ocean cruise. Cruises often go to places such as Prince William Sound, Glacier Bay, and Kenai Fjords. The scenery that these cruises offer is unmatched, and be sure to have plenty of movie or camera film for the wildlife, marine life, and magnificent beauty you will be seeing. These sailing and cruising options are not available year-round, of course, so plan for the proper time of year to visit if a cruise is of interest.

The sports enthusiast traveler will not only thrill at the fishing and mountain climbing, but there are many opportunities for kayaking, biking, hiking, and rafting, as well as other "great outdoor" activities.

ANCHORAGE is the largest city in Alaska and offers some fabulous dining, lodging, and shopping for the tourist. A few activities to do in and near Anchorage are the Coastal Wildlife Refuge, the Botanical Gardens, the Native Heritage Center, Anchorage Museum of History and Art, the Alaska Zoo, and the Imaginarium Science Center. The Chester Creek Sports Complex hosts fairs and concerts as well as sports events.

JUNEAU is the capital of Alaska and also offers many activities for the tourist. The Alaska State Museum is found here, as well as the USS Juneau Memorial, the Mendenhall Glacier, and a few area cruises leave from this capital city. A visitor can book a helicopter flight here to see the Juneau Ice Field. Evening activities may find the tourist taking in a cancan show and dinner at the Gold Nugget Revue, or finding one of the salmon bakes widely available. Completely opposite in ambiance from the ice fields, visitors can ride or walk though 50 acres of rain forest at the Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure. Other attractions in the Juneau area include the Sentinel Island Lighthouse and the Last Chance Mining Museum.

FAIRBANKS If Fairbanks is the traveler's destination point, some of the activities available will be panning for gold at the El Dorado Gold Mine, a tour on the Alaska Riverboat Discovery, or visiting the University of Alaska Museum. Fairbanks was originally founded as a trading post town for gold prospectors and riverboat people. This is a great place for starting a tour that crosses the Arctic Circle.

GLACIER BAY is maintained by the National Park Service. The park is open year round, but its visitor center is only in operation from the middle of May until the middle of September. Be advised that there are no roads leading to Glacier Bay. Visitors will most likely want to approach the area by boat.

Many visitors will wish to arrange a dog sled ride, or plan to stop by the North Pole if in the Fairbanks area. Yes, there is a giant Santa Claus for those great tourist pictures, and his own Santa Claus House, of course! There are ice carving art work attractions all over the state, and if in the pipeline area, stop by for a sight not often seen elsewhere. No matter how long your trip to Alaska will be, it promises to offer full-time entertainment.