IS THERE A WAY TO SEE EVERYTHING?
CROSS-GULF
CRUISE
THE GREAT
CIRCLE DRIVE
ALASKA WILDLIFE
ADVENTURE
Sailing through wild nature while
enjoying the luxuries of a modern
ship is an unforgettable way to
explore Alaska. Most cruises go up
the Inside Passage, and some sail
across the Gulf of Alaska to end in
Seward, Whittier, or Anchorage.
Along the way, they stop in ports of
call for a wide variety of excursions,
from hiking in Tongass National
Forest, to sampling fresh seafood
(or fishing for it!), ziplining above the
rainforest, learning about Alaska
Native arts and culture, and flying out
to see wildlife in their habitats.
Cross-gulf cruises give you the best
of both worlds when you add on a
land-based tour after your cruise.
Continue your adventure on a
motor coach or train to experience
the sights and adventures of
Southcentral and Interior Alaska.
Head north to visit Denali National
Park and fly out of Fairbanks.
Rent a car or RV to explore Alaska
at your own pace. Start in Anchorage,
and head north to Talkeetna. This
quaint town—some say it was the
inspiration for Northern Exposure—
is a starting point for Denali
mountaineers. From here, visit
Denali National Park and Preserve
for a guided wilderness tour.
Continue north toward Fairbanks
and explore the town before taking
a day trip to the Arctic Circle. On
dark nights, look up: this is prime
aurora-spotting territory.
Begin your return trip by driving
toward Delta Junction, Copper
Center, and the awe-inspiring
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park &
Preserve. Here, visit McCarthy and
Kennecott. This early 1900s copper
mining town has been partially
restored and is fascinating to explore.
Wrap up with a trip to Valdez,
where you can catch the Alaska
Marine Highway ferry to Whittier
and a quick return to Anchorage.
From Anchorage, rent a car and head
south to Seward. Take your time: stop
to have lunch in Girdwood, fish in
Cooper Landing, or explore the trails
near Exit Glacier along the way. On a
half-day glacier and wildlife viewing
cruise in Kenai Fjords National Park,
look for whales, otters, Steller sea
lions, and puffins.
From Seward, drive west and south
to Homer, a quirky town that's called
the halibut fishing capital of the world.
Make the most of the trip: stop in
Cooper Landing or Soldotna to fish
the legendary Kenai River, or just to
have lunch with a gorgeous water
view. Take your car on the ferry to
Alaska's garden island of Kodiak and
explore the Kodiak National Wildlife
Refuge, or book a flightseeing tour
to Katmai National Park & Preserve
to watch the world-famous coastal
brown bears in their natural habitat.
Book ahead for a return seat on the
Alaska Marine Highway ferry or, to
save time, fly from Kodiak to
Anchorage instead.
The short answer is no. But you can get a pretty good introduction
to the state with one of these popular trips.
You can find dozens more itineraries at TravelAlaska.com/Trips
©
St
a
te
o
f
A
l
aska
/
M
ar
k
K
e
lley
©
S
ta
t
e
o
f
Al
a
s
k
a
/
R
ein
h
a
r
d
Pant
k
e
©
S
ta
t
e
o
f
Al
a
s
k
a
/
Mar
k
K
el
l
e
y
10
