Your Alaska Travel Guide
Alaska’s majestic glaciers, grizzlies, bald eagles and whales, plus the spectacle of the aurora borealis and more, make it one of the West’s most breathtaking destinations. Here’s how to get there and what to do.
The ferry
Alaska’s unique ferry system―officially, the Alaska Marine Highway System (http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/pubs/landing.shtml)―lets you create your own cruise itinerary, stopping in a town for a day or two then moving on. Pluses: greater flexibility and less cost, and reasonable comfort, including private cabins. Minuses: none of the luxuries (gourmet dining, casinos) of the big cruise lines. Ferries run from Bellingham, Washington up the coast of British Columbia to Inside Passage―Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway―and then on to Whittier and Homer and Kodiak. Or you can fly into Juneau and begin your ferry trip there.
Flying in If you want to take your own car tour of Alaska, Anchorage or Fairbanks are the logical places to fly into and rent a car in. If you want to catch the Alaska ferry, Juneau makes more sense. Airlines flying into Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau from elsewhere in the U.S. include Alaska Airlines); Continental, Delta, and Northwest. Buy a book For 60 years, the most authoritative source on Alaska travel has been The Milepost. Although geared for car travelers, its thorough and trustworthy listings make it essential for any Alaska visitor. Choose your trip: Alaska travel guide