Alaska
In the course of our lives we can only hope to have a few travel experiences so immersive, so awe-inspiring, and so life-changing.
There is travel leaves you feeling powerful, in control of your own destiny. There are places in this world that, once traveled to, provoke within you an innate sense of your own strength and purpose. Alaska, is not one of those places. This is a land where imposing snow capped mountains dwarf everything in sight. Where verdant forests of hemlock and spruce paint vast swaths of earth in emerald. Here, unyielding glaciers carve out the landscape, and abundant wildlife inhabits nearly every inch of land and sea. Alaska is simultaneously serene and invigorating, tranquil and aggressive. There are few travel experiences on this planet that can compare.
Alaska Videos
Blogs
Tyler’s Tips
Eat
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The Historic Alaskan Hotel & Bar is the oldest operating hotel in Juneau.
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Originating during the heyday of Juneau’s glorious mining era, this world famous saloon has provided hospitality and fellowship to weary travelers and local patrons alike.
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A sustainably minded brewery with beer garden, pub, and aquaponics garden located in Skagway.
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The Klondike Brewing Company features brewery fresh beer, tours, and gifts.
Experience
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Although glaciers are abundant in southeast Alaska, only a few are as accessible as Mendenhall Glacier.
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The White Pass & Yukon Route Scenic Railway in Skagway is an experience not to be missed!
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Covering 3.3 million acres of rugged mountains, dynamic glaciers, temperate rainforest, wild coastlines and deep sheltered fjords, Glacier Bay National Park is a highlight of Alaska's Inside Passage and part of a 25-million acre World Heritage Site—one of the world’s largest international protected areas.
Glacier Bay National Park Website
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Check out my curated list of suggested tours and activities for Alaska on Viator. These are ones that I have done, or ones that are very similar. There are also a few that are on my own bucket list as well. I hope you enjoy and let me know how it goes! (Link will open on a separate website.)
Stay
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In the southeast region of the state lies Alaska’s panhandle. This remote area has only three cities that are connected to the main continent by road. Therefore, if you want to visit the spectacular towns nestled within verdant rainforests along this narrow stretch of water, mountains and rugged wilderness, you can only get there by air or by water. That’s why cruising is the most ideal way of seeing this area of Alaska. Working with a travel agent can help you sift through the many cruise lines and find the best for you!
Immerse
Read
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A fantastic memoir by Dick Proenneke, detailing his life living alone and building a cabin by hand in the Alaskan wilderness. This is one I recommend getting a physical copy of so you can see the incredible photographs he took in 1968.
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I love a good guidebook, and Fodor's hits the mark with this one. The Complete Guide to Alaska Cruises guidebook is packed with maps, carefully curated recommendations, and everything else you need to simplify your trip-planning process and make the most of your time on an Alaskan Cruise.
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This guide book came out in 2016, so I hope they come out with an updated one soon. That said, this is still a fantastic guide book and it will complement your research well prior to heading to Alaska.
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Oft imitated but never duplicated, the reigning champion of the historical sweeping novel, James Michener, brings history to life in Alaska - A Novel. It's a beast of a book, but well worth the read.
Watch
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Check out my Alaska videos on YouTube!
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This is a fun adult animation show from the creator of Bob’s Burgers. "The Great North" follows the Tobin family as they face the challenges and joys of wilderness life.
As of right now, it’s available to stream on Hulu.
Listen
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I love to make a soundtrack to every place I visit! If you have Apple Music, you can click "Listen Now" below. If you use Spotify or any other music streaming service, you can click the "Playlist" button below for a PDF with my playlist!
Top Destinations
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Juneau is not your average state capital. It is geographically isolated and not connected by road to the outside world. The only way to access Juneau is by air or by sea.
In Juneau, two of the most popular excursions are dog sledding on top of a glacier and the Mt. Roberts Tramway. Cruise ships dock right by the tramway, which takes passengers on a 6 minute ride up a steep incline 1,800 feet of the nearly 4,000 foot mountain for a panoramic view of the town.
It is also home to Alaska’s most accessible glacier, the Mendenhall Glacier.
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In its day, Skagway was a scrappy little town. Today, it’s an amazingly preserved artifact from North America’s biggest and most storied gold rush. While many of the buildings are re-creations, Skagway is still one of the most authentic “gold rush” towns.
Even once many of the raw frontier towns had largely been abandoned in the lower 48, Skagway was still very much a free for all. Lawlessness was rampant, liquor abounded, and prostitution flourished in houses of “negotiable affection”. This type environment attracted misfits seeking their fortunes, further exacerbating the area’s chaotic atmosphere.
It’s also home to the White Pass & Yukon Railway.
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The exploration of glaciers in Alaska is one of the greatest travel experiences in North America, and nowhere allows you to do that better than here. This is World Heritage site, an immersive natural lab, a United Nations Biosphere reserve, a national park, and a spiritual homeland for Tlingit natives. Here you’ll find countless species of plants and wildlife, placid and serene waters, soaring mountains, and earth shaping rivers of ice.
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Ketchikan is a town with stories to tell. It has an incredibly rich Alaskan Native culture, with thousands of years of history. In more recent times, at the turn of the century it was a boom town, and during prohibition its red-light district was home to many speakeasies and more than 30 brothels.
Ketchikan bills itself as the “Salmon Capitol of the World”, although the salmon industry here has dwindled in recent decades. At one time, the salmon and timber industries employed many residents. Now, with the dramatic rise of the cruise industry, many people work in travel and tourism.
Gallery
Alaska 101
Currency & Tipping
Alaska uses the USD. Credit cards are accepted nearly everywhere in larger towns, but having a small amount of cash on you is a good idea. Tipping is always appreciated for servers and hotel staff.
Climate
The name of the game in Alaska is LAYERS! Weather can run the gamut from cold and snowy, to rainy and chilly, to hot & muggy. A good rain jacket with a removable inner lining is a great asset in Alaska - here’s my favorite. It’s expensive, but a great investment and it will work in any climate. It will last forever if you take care of it. Depending on your plans, you may want to bring some waterproof clothing as well.
When to go
High season (the peak for crowds and prices) for Alaska is between June - August. This is the time when there are more sunny days and warmer temperatures, but you’ll also find tons of visitors in every town. In May & September, the temperatures are a bit cooler than the summer months, but are still generally very mild. The “shoulder seasons”, as May & September are called, are less busy, less expensive, and you don’t have to worry as much about mosquitos, which can be awful in the summer!
Outlets
Alaska uses the standard US plug.
Safety
Alaska is a very safe place to visit in towns, but the wilderness is where you’ll need to be extra careful. Bears and other wildlife will be your biggest concern. Trails and areas that have abundant wildlife may be better visited with a local guide if you’re not used to hiking and camping in the wilderness. Be prepared for weather changes, watch for wildlife, and share travel plans before exploring. Caution and nature respect are key for a safe Alaska experience.
Useful Links
Save these helpful links for easy access!
Alaska Travel Industry Association
Transportation
Alaska is a place where you might use every type of transport you can imagine - airplane, helicopter, cruise ship, canoe, car, bus, train, toboggan & even dog sled! Much of Alaska is unreachable by car. Even Juneau, the state’s capital, is only reachable via air or sea.
Phones & Technology
US residents will have no issues traveling with their cell phones in larger towns in Alaska. However, remote areas may have limited or no cellular service. It is essential to have a backup communication plan, such as a satellite phone or two-way radio, when venturing into the wilderness alone. It is best for most travelers to travel into the wilderness only with an experienced guide. Familiarizing oneself with local emergency numbers and offline maps can be crucial in case of emergencies where cell phone service is unavailable.
Language
English is spoken all over in Alaska, in addition to over 20 native languages.
Tyler’s Fun Facts - Alaska
Alaska has the highest concentration of brown bears and bald eagles on earth!
alaska is the largest state in the us, covering over 665,000 square miles - that’s twice the size of texas! But, it has fewer people per square mile than nearly anywhere on earth.
alaska is home to America’s highest mountain - Denali - at over 20,000 feet tall.
alaska Joined the us 6 months before Hawaii, in 1959. the us bought it from russia for $7.2 million, only about $120 million in today’s money.
1/3 of Alaska is above the Arctic line and it can as cold as -80 below!
Alaska is the westernmost state in the United States AND the easternmost! The Aleutian Islands cross the international date line, making it both!
Packing List & Travel Products
Alaska Packing List
Download a free, printable Alaska packing list.
Explore some of Tyler’s “must haves” for Alaska in the Travel Store.
Tyler’s Alaska Travel Essentials
Alaska Video Script
Get the full script from Tyler’s Alaska Videos
Check out my travel essentials for heading to Alaska!