The word vacation is not typically associated with the cold climate of Alaska. Whether exploring America’s 49th state by land or sea, Alaska lives up to it’s affectionate title as The Last Frontier. From mountains surrounded by glaciers, big game roaming wild and free, and storybook natural beauty, visiting Alaska is guaranteed to leave a lasting impression. For more motivation, discover some epic reasons to vacation in Alaska.
Natural wonders — The northern lights and the midnight sun
When it comes to natural wonders, Alaska will not disappoint. The stunning spectacle that is the northern lights is visible during the fall, winter and spring months. The aurora borealis can be viewed from late evening to mid-afternoon in the winter, and from around midnight to 4:30 a.m. in the spring and fall. Some lucky viewers may even be able to hear the crackling sound emitted from the blue, green, and red lights.
Another light spectacle unique to Alaska is the midnight sun. Opposite of the northern lights, the midnight sun occurs during the summer months when the sun stays above the horizon for extended periods of time. It can be found in places above the Arctic Circle, which means a third of Alaska experiences midnight sun. In some places, once the sun sets it will remain twilight; some cities have 18 hours of sunlight, while the northernmost city of Barrow experiences a full 24 hours of sunlight.
Scenery — Glaciers and mountains
Alaska is abundant in untouched natural beauty, covered in mountains and crystal clear lakes. The tallest mountain in North America, Denali, stands at over 20,000 ft. above sea level. For keen hiking, discover Brooks Range, Saint Elias Mountains, or Aleutian Range, to name a few.
The Last Frontier is a playground for winter sport enthusiasts. Alaska has plenty of snow, mountains, and forests for ideal for snowmobiling, skiing, and snowboarding. There are still some snowy conditions in the warmer months making skiing possible in June.
Take a road-trip along Seward Highway or Denali Park Road, known as some of the most scenic highways in the world, and soak in the stunning landscapes. Unforgettable sights can also be taken in via train.
It is estimated that Alaska is home to around 100,000 glaciers. A large number of these moving bodies of snow and ice can be accessed by car, train, or trail, such as Byron Glacier, Mendenhall Glacier, and Exit Glacier. Venture out to Glacier Bay National Park by boat or kayak for up close views of any one of the 1,000 glaciers there.
Wilderness — Wildlife and world class fishing
There is plenty of wildlife roaming free throughout Alaska, making it a perfect destination for rare sightings. Many state parks provide tours and viewings of specific animals. Denali National Park is a popular place to spot moose, wolves, caribou, and bears. It’s even possible to see golden eagles and bald eagles. Tours are not required to find wildlife, more than likely on any given day, one can spot an animal wandering around.
Alaska boasts world-class fishing and is teeming with exclusive, remote fishing lodges. In the right location, it is easy to catch halibut, salmon, and rainbow trout. Experience Alaska fishing trips all inclusive and learn the true craft of fishing. With Fish Lodges all-inclusive fishing resorts, accommodation, fishing gear, boats, guiding, meals, and fish processing are all taken care of. Find the ideal fishing vacation with fishlodges.com; search the largest collection of all-inclusive lodges and resorts the Northwest has to offer. Simply detail the location, price, species, trip length, and lodge size and book the best fit.