Guidebook for Alaska Adventure Travel
Nothing says "adventure" like Alaska! An Alaska Adventure Vacation can either be extremely active or just an easy-going exploration. For the outdoor enthusiast - there's lots of great activities, including such things as :
- Alaska Whitewater Rafting
- Alaska Trekking and Hiking
- Alaska Wildlife Viewing
- Alaska Glaciering
- Alaska Sea Kayaking
- Alaska Camping
- Alaska Fishing
- Alaska Gold Panning
- Alaska Helicopter
- Alaska Hunting
- Alaska Northern Lights
- Alaska Snowsports
Every region of Alaska, from the Far North to the Southwest, offers a wide variety of things to see and do.
Alaska's Coastlines
And if your ideal adventure is exploring the unspoiled coastlines of Alaska's inside passage, it's rugged coastal mountains and spectacular fjords are sure to impress!
Both Fairbanks and Anchorage are great starting points to begin exploring the scenic wonders of Alaska. Denali National Park, home to North America's tallest peak, Mt Mckinley is only a two-hour drive south of Fairbanks.
Hiking, camping, along with wildlife viewing are popular activities within the Park. Denali State Park, southeast of the National Park is where you'll want to go for panoramic views of the Alaska range and Mt. Mckinley. There's plenty of tundra to explore in Alaska's Interior as well.
North of Alaska
Heading to The Far North really becomes adventuresome. The small town of Nome with a population of 4000 is only accessible by air from Anchorage and Fairbanks.
There's lots to see - try renting a car and driving the 300 plus miles of road around the southern coast of the Seaward Peninsula. Tundra, Eskimos, and incredible untouched wilderness! Cross over the Arctic Circle to Kotzebue Sound via air from Nome. For something out of the ordinary, a drive up the 415 mile-long unpaved Dalton Highway enables you to cross the Arctic Circle by vehicle. For 240 miles (390 kms), there are no services - no gas, no restaurants, no hotels! But the scenery is Awesome!
Southcentral of Alaska
In Southcentral Alaska, you can enjoy vast areas of remote wilderness, with everything from hiking to wildlife viewing, but with the convenience of a linked road system.
South of Anchorage is the beautiful Kenai Peninsula. For the best wildlife viewing - take a cruise from Seaward into the Kenai Fjords National Park. Glaciers, whalewatching, and spectacular coastal scenery!
The Prince William Sound region also has thousands of glaciers, with flightseeing tours and day cruises from Valdez and Whittier.
Southwest of Alaska
Moving to the Southwest, nature lovers will enjoy discovering the Aleutian Islands, and the region's terain, with plenty of brown bears and outstanding fishing.
Lake Clark National Park has over 4 million acres of rugged beauty to explore. This is the place to discover untamed wilderness on an incredible Alaska adventure vacation! All access to this area of Alaska is by air service and state ferry.
Alaska's Inside Passage
Alaska's Inside Passage is home to spectacular Glacier Bay. Fjords filled with wildlife and striking island scenery!
From Juneau, you can organize a variety of excursions, including an overnight cruise, a sea kayaking expedition, or a flightseeing tour.
Best Time to Visit Alaska
Alaska adventure travel can be enjoyed year round! The peak season for travel is from May to Mid-September. The daylight hours are long and the temperature is warm. The "shoulder" season is Early May, and Late September and October. This is the best time to go as temperatures are still relatively mild, and discounts for travel and activities can be found. If you're after a winter adventure, there's nothing wrong with traveling from November to April. Prices for accomodation are at their lowest during these months.
