Travel Guides for Alaska
| Tourist Attractions in Cities/Destinations: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | Haines | Kodiak |
| Cooper Landing | Homer | Seward |
| Denali National Park | Juneau | Sitka |
| Fairbanks | Kenai | Valdez |
| Girdwood | Ketchikan | |
Alaska Regions: Weather, Climate
You can take sightseeing tours of most of the regions, glaciers and cities here.
Artic Alaska is located from Brooks Range to the Artic sea. Temperatures reach -40 degrees in winter.
Southeast Panhandle is located between the Pacific Ocean and Canada. The climate is moderate.
South central Alaska is along the Gulf of Alaska. There are mountains, glaciers and fjords. The area includes Kodiak island, Cook Inlet, Kenai Peninsula and the Prince William sound. Temperatures reach -20 degrees in winter.
Southwest Alaska includes the Aleutian island and the Alaska Peninsula. Temperatures reach 0 degrees in winter.
Interior Alaska is located between the Brooks and Alaska mountains. Rivers in the region are Kuskokwim, Tanama and Yukon rivers. Temperatures reach -50 degrees in winter.
Western Alaska and the Bering Sea coast is located from the Artic circle to Bristol Bay. Rivers in the area are Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers. Temperatures reach 0 degrees in winter.
Juneau
Alaska, The Capital
Juneau is the capital of Alaska. It is pronounced Juno. Main points to see nearby: Eaglecrest Ski Area, University of Alaska, Alaska state museum, Marine Park, Red Dog Saloon, St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, State Capital building, Juneau Douglas City Museum, State office building, governor's mansion, gold creek, Evergreen cemetery, Mendenhall glacier (the face of the glacier is one mile from the visitor center), Last Chance Mining Museum, Juneau icefield, art galleries with displays of leatherwork, totem wood carvings, ivory and jade, clearly marked hiking trails, glaciers. The best known trails are Mount Roberts, Mount Juneau and Perseverance. The most popular trail is Perseverance Mine trail because it has gentler slopes and is easier to hike. Although the hike is strenuous to the top, Mt. Juneau provides the best view around the area. A few of the glaciers can be reached by car. Juneau was once at the heart of the Goldrush in Alaska so there are lots of references to mining around the area. The US Forest information center is about 13 miles from town. Airports: Juneau International Airport (JNU)
city hotels near Juneau:
Anchorage is a good place to start your visit to Alaska because of its location and vacinity to other places to see throughout the state. The layout of the city is laid out on a grid system so its easy to find your way around.
The visitor information center log cabin is open daily and located at the corner of F street and 4th avenue. The Alaska Public Lands Information Center has information on national parks, outdoor activities and wildlife. The Old City Hall exhibits the city history through photos and displays. The Anchorage Museum of History and Art displays historical and Native art exhibits. The Imaginarium is an award winning science museum has lots to seeing exhibits. The Oscar Anderson House Museum is listed on the National Register of Historic places and was the first wood frame house built in Anchorage. Other places to see include: the Alaska Heritage Library and museum, the Earthquake park, the Alaska Native Heritage Center and the Tom Knowles Coastal Trail.
The University of Alaska is in Anchorage. The university hosts the Great Alaska Shoot Out which is an invitational college basketball tournament.
In February, Anchorage has a 10 day carnival known as the Fur Rendezvous or Fur Rondy which is held annually. The carnival includes the World Championship Sled Dog Race.
Places
of to see outside of Anchorage: Lake Hood, Merrill Field,
Lake Hood Air Harbor, Anchorage coastal Wildlife Refuge,
Beluga Point Interpretive Site, Chugach State Park, Potter
Section House Historic Site and Eagle River Nature Center.
The Best skiing in Alaska is around Anchorage: Russian Jack Springs Park has gentle slopes and 4 miles of lighted trails. Other Ski areas include: the Hilltop Ski area, Alpenglow at Artic Valley Ski area and Kincaid Park.
city hotels near Anchorage:
Cooper Landing is located on the Kenai Peninsula.
Places to see Nearby: Kenai Lake, Russian Lakes Trail, camping in Russian River campground, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Skilak Lake, hiking Skilak Lookout Trail and many more hiking trails in the area.
cities/towns hotels near Cooper Landing:
Cooper Landing Hotels, Moose Pass Hotels
The
entrance to the park is the George Parks Highway. Denali
park is north of Anchorage and south of Fairbanks.
The Alaska Railroad provides daily service to the park from both Anchorage and Fairbanks. Located inside the park are the visitor center, a post office, a general store, a train depot and campgrounds. Campground and backcountry camping registration is done at the visitors center. The sled dog kennel is located near the park entrance area. Park rangers use the sled dogs to patrol the park. Dog sledding demonstrations are held in the summer time daily. There is a bus shuttle service provided within the park.
The Park contains the highest mountain in North America, Mt. McKinley which is 20,320 ft high.
Wildlife are abundant here. Dall sheep are often seen on Primrose Ridge. These sheep prefer the steep cliffs. Other Alaskan wildlife include: Grizzly bears and wolves. Sable pass is Grizzly territory so off road hiking is prohibited in this area. Polychrome Pass is a good place to observe Wolves. Caribou are usually seen around the Highway Pass area at Mile 58.
For lodging see: Denali National Park Lodging
Fairbanks is best seen in the summer time as winter has short days and frigid temperatures. Temperatures plummet to - 40 degrees or lower for days or even weeks. The low temperatures cause ice fog which hangs in the still air. However, one winter tourist attraction is the Northern lights which are spectacular to watch in the winter skies. The Northern Lights are seen from late August through early April. The show can last for hours in the winter. But, the sky is too light in the summer for seeing the Northern lights.
The Fairbanks Convention and Visitor Bureau and Information center is located at 550 First Avenue. Here you can pick up brochures on tourism.
Fairbanks is located on the Chena River. You can take a 4 hour narrated riverboat excursion 20 miles on the Chena and Tanana rivers. Riverboats run twice daily. Places to see include: The Immaculate Conception Church and St. Matthew's Episcopal Church. Both churches have beautiful stained glass windows. The Key Bank was the First National Bank started in 1905 which is the oldest national bank in Alaska. Other places of see are: The Old Federal Courthouse, Co-op Plaza, Ice Palace or the Northward Building, shopping for native handicrafts and animal furs. Pioneer Park is located at the corner of Peger Rd and Airport Way. Here you will find the Mining valley on the west end of the park. There is a mining town worth visiting here.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) has a museum that features exhibits featuring Native Cultures, prehistoric objects, a 36000 year old bison carcass and Eskimo artifacts. The Geophysical Institute offers tours. Creamers field is within the city limits offering hiking trails to a waterfowl refuge.
The nearby Trans Alaska oil pipeline is at Mile 8.4/13.5.
Events include the Winter Carnival, the North American Open Sled Dog Championship, The Yukon Quest, Festival of Native Arts, The World Eskimo Indian Olympics, The Alaska State Fair, the Tanana Valley Fair, arts and crafts fair. The Yukon quest is a 1000 mile sled dog race that races between Whitehorse Yukon Territory, Canada and Fairbanks.
Airports serving the area: Fairbanks International Airport (FAI)
For lodging see Fairbanks hotels.
The largest ski area in Alaska is the Alyeska Resort and Ski area. It is located 40 miles southeast of Anchorage in Girdwood.Places to see: Pan for gold at the Crow Creek Mine, Explorere Glacier, Portage Glacier, Portage Lake, Begich Boggs Visitor Center, The Twenty Mile River where you can see moose, mew gulls, Bald Eagles and Artic terns.
For lodging see Girdwood Hotels.
Haines is located on the Alaska Panhandle north of Juneau.
Places to see: Mountain scenery, salmon fishing, Native art, Bald Eagles, The American Bald Eagle Foundation Natural History Museum, the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, Alaska Indian Arts center for a totem pole carving studio, Chilkat Native dancers. For lodging see Haines Hotels.
Homer is located on the Kenai Penninsula, on the shore of Kachemak Bay. Its a beautiful town situated between the mountains and the sea. The Homer Spit is a landmark that juts out into the bay 5 miles. Major attractions in the area are halibut fishing trips and boat tours. Places to see include: the Pratt Museum, which is a natural history museum of the marine life that live in Kachemak Bay. The town is known for being an arts center. Local galleries display paintings, jewelry and pottery.
Across the Bay, is the Kachemak Bay State Park, the Grewink Glacier, fjords, a coastal rain forest and rugged mountains. During the summer, the state ferry service runs from Homer to Seldovia, Kodiak and Seward.
The town is 220 miles south of Anchorage.
For lodging see Homer Hotels
Kenai has an airport with flights in and out of Seward, Homer, Soldotna and Anchorage. You can also take charter flights to the nearby parks.
Kenai is the largest city on the peninsula. It is a port There is a fishing fleet that that frequents the mouth of the river looking for red salmon.
Things to see: Kenai Visitors and Cultural center located on the corner of Main street and Kenai Spur highway. The center features exhibits on Native and Russian history. Other points to see are: the Holy Assumption Russian Orthodox Church, the Beluga Whale lookout. North of Kenai are oil refineries that aren't open to the public. Further north, is the Captain Cook State Recreation Area and Lake Clark National Park which are popular for fishing, camping, hiking and more outdoor activities.
city/town hotels near Kenai:
Ketchikan is considered the first city by Alaskans because it was the first major community in Alaska. Ketchikan is located in the Southeast Panhandle.
Points to see include: Misty Fjords National Monument is a must see when visiting the state and only accessible via air or water. There are air charter companies in the town that provide tours of the monument. Dolly's house is a old brothel turned museum. Other places to see are: Totem heritage center, Deer Mountain Tribal Hatchery and Eagle Center. The Southeast Alaska Discovery Center, Tongass National Forest,. Deer Mountain offers beautiful views you can hike to the top to see. Cruise ships follow the Inside Passage Route which goes from Vancouver to Skagway.
Ketchikan is one of the ports of call on these Cruises. Salmon run in nearby creeks to their spawning grounds.
For lodging see Ketchikan Hotels
Kodiak is in the southwest part of Alaska on the island of Kodiak. The city lies between the ocean and rugged mountains. It is a major fishing port producing fish and shellfish for markets around the world. The island is covered in dense forests. Bald Eagles frequent the area along with other Wildlife.
Places to see include: the Alutiiq Museum and the Baranof Museum. Both museums contain Alutiiq Native artifacts. The Erskine House was a storehouse for furs and now is a National Historic Landmark. It is the oldest Russian building on the continent. Other places to see include: the Holy Resurrection church, St. Herman Orthodox Theological Seminary, Spruce Island, Fort Abercrombie State Park with bunkers and gun emplacements from World War 2, Pillar Mountain.
Places to see on Kodiak Island: St. Paul harbor, Near Island, St. Herman Harbor, Buskin River State recreation Area, Bells Flats, Beaches, hiking in forests, mountains. Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge can only be reached via the air or by boat. You'll find lots of bears on the refuge which is a mountainous wilderness. There are bear viewing tours available.
The visitor center is located on Marine way next to the ferry dock. There is a small airport about 5 miles from the city.
For lodging see Kodiak Hotels
Seward is a port city located on the Kenai Peninsula. It is a Cruise ship port where close to 100,000 tourists visit each year. Charter boats for sailing, sightseeing and fishing are available in the vacinity. You can rent kayaks here too. The state ferry system has a dock in Seward.
Places to see: Seward Historical Museum, Alaska Sea Life Center, Kenai Fjords National Park Harding Icefield and Resurrection Bay. Resurrection Bay is a good place to spot Orca Whales. For lodging see Seward Hotels.
Sitka is a port city located on the Panhandle.
Places to see: The Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Michael, the Sitka National Historical Park and the Alaska Raptor Center.
For lodging near Sitka see: Sitka hotels
Soldotna is located on the coast of the Kenai Peninsula. The Kenai River is a very popular place for sport fishing.
There are fishing guides in the area that will help you find King Salmon.
Soldotna festivals include: Progress Days, a winter sports festival and the sled dog racing championships.
city hotels near Soldotna:
Valdez is between Prince William Sound and the Chugach Mountains. Due to an earthquake and the resulting tsunami in 1964, there are no historical buildings. The Valdez Convention and visitors bureau has lots of information on the area.
Places to see: The Valdez Museum and Historical Archive, the Wrangell-St Elias National Park, Keystone Canyon, Bridal Veil Falls. Thompson Pass has the most spectacular view.
For lodging see Valdez Hotels.