Tour the States: Alaska

Showing posts with label Alaska. Show all posts

Friday, May 27, 2016

Skagway Overlook - Skagway, Alaska

For stunning views over Skagway and its environs, take a scenic drive along the road to Dyea and follow the turnoff to the Overlook.

The viewing platform at the Skagway Overlook takes in the town of Skagway, waterways and surrounding peaks dusted with snow.

Bring your camera and set it to panoramic to capture wide-angle shots of the Skagway River, and inlets and waterways like neighboring Smugglers Cove.

Tours heading to the White Pass summit take time so visitors can appreciate the views over Skagway from the Overlook observation platform.

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Monday, May 2, 2016

Skagway Cruise Port, Alaska

Nowadays Skagway is a scenic Alaskan cruise port, but 100 years ago it was the rough and ready gateway to the gold fields of the Klondike.

The gold-era history is tangible in Skagway, where downtown’s restored buildings form part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, and give the town a Wild West flavor.

Stroll the frontier-style wooden boardwalks and the main street, Broadway, lined with clapboard buildings, overlooked by snowcapped peaks and trotted along by old-style horse-led carriages.

Souvenir shops sell gold nuggets, crafts, artwork and curios, and popular cruise passenger tours head off to the Jewell Gardens and Glassworks. For destinations further afield, tours follow the Skagway River to Lower Dewey Lake.

The White Pass & Yukon Railroad narrow-gauge railway line climbs to the White Pass summit, following the route that took the pioneering gold miners to Whitehorse and the Yukon at the turn of the 20th century.

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Seward Highway, Alaska

Extending 125 miles (201 kilometers) from Seward to Anchorage, the Seward Highway runs through scenic areas like the Kenai Peninsula, Chugach National Forest, Turnagain Arm and Kenai Mountains.

In fact, in 1989 the Seward Highway was declared a National Scenic Byway by the U.S. Forest Service, meaning it’s a destination all on its own.

What’s really fascinating about the drive is that as you continue along the road the landscape completely changes. While at one point you might be immersed in rugged peaks and alpine meadows at another you may find yourself enjoying views of majestic fjords, retreating glaciers and mirror lakes.

One could easily do the drive in a few hours; however, it’s recommended to spend at least three days exploring the route as there are a range of experiences to have along the way.

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Sunday, February 7, 2016

Resurrection Bay - Seward, Alaska

Located on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, Resurrection Bay is a perfect example of pristine Alaskan wilderness. Littered with glistening glaciers, majestic fjords, secluded coves and small islands set against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains, otherworldly rock formations and dramatic fog, this is a haven for those who enjoy striking landscapes.

Not only is Resurrection Bay beautiful, it’s also filled with opportunities for outdoors recreation.

Those interested in bird-watching and wildlife spotting should be on the lookout for puffins, bald eagles, Dall's Porpoises, Stellar Sea Lions, orca and Humpback Whales, harbor seals and sea otters.

Additionally, the waters are popular for kayaking, sailing and flightseeing. And because Resurrection Bay never freezes, the waters are easily navigable for tours.

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Glacier Bay National Park - Juneau, Alaska

The thunderous splash of calving glaciers is a common sound in Glacier Bay National Park. Located on the border between Alaska and Canada, the massive park contains a huge number of glaciers, which descend from high snow capped mountains into the bay to create spectacular displays of ice and iceberg formation.

And that’s only part of experiencing the scenic, natural, and historic wonders of Glacier Bay National Park. Outdoor enthusiasts will find a number of exciting activities in the park, including backpacking, birding, camping, fishing, hiking, photography, white-water rafting, and wildlife watching.

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Mendenhall Glacier - Juneau, Alaska

Alaska's famous drive-in glacier, Mendenhall Glacier, is Juneau's most popular attraction, flowing 12 miles (19 kilometers) from its source, the Juneau Ice Field. On a sunny day it's beautiful, with blue skies and snow-capped mountains in the background. On a cloudy and drizzly afternoon, it can be even more impressive, as the ice turns shades of deep blue.

Near the face of the glacier is the visitors center, which houses various glaciology exhibits, a large relief map of the ice field, an observatory with telescopes and a theater that shows the film, Magnificent Mendenhall. Outside you'll find a salmon-viewing platform overlooking Steep Creek, as well as 6 hiking trails, including a short photo-overlook trail to a longer trek up the glacier's west side.

Another trail, the East Glacier Loop trail leads through the forest for views of a waterfall near the glacier’s face. Though a little steep, it’s perfect for school-age children.

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Monday, October 19, 2015

Kenai Fjords National Park - Seward, Alaska

Encompassing 1,047 square miles (2,711 square kilometers), the Kenai Fjords National Park is named after the many glacial-carved fjords, or glacial valleys that sit below sea level. These fjords run down the mountains and into the iconic Harding Icefield, one of the largest ice fields in the United States with 40 glaciers flowing into it.

There are many ways to experience the park’s beauty, like taking an aerial tour, kayaking on the fjords, hiking to the top of the Harding Icefield Trail or exploring the trails around Exit Glacier. You can also fish for salmon and Dolly Varden within the park’s backcountry.

For those interested in wildlife spotting, the parks icy waters and dense woodland are home to a number of creatures like mountain goats, black bears, bald eagles, Steller sea lions, puffins, Dall's porpoises, and humpback and orca whales.

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Denali National Park, Alaska

At more than 6 million acres (2.5 million hectares), Denali National Park is a breathtaking wilderness area, which includes North America’s highest mountain. A single road curves 92 miles (148 kilometers) through the heart of the park, leading to off-trail hiking opportunities, abundant wildlife, and stunning tundra panoramas.

Wildlife in Denali National Park, including mammals such as marmot and moose, is easy to spot. Caribou, wolves, and brown bears are crowd favorites. The park is also well known for its bird population, especially during late spring and summer.

Birdwatchers may find waxwings, Arctic Warblers, and the majestic tundra swan. Predatory birds include a variety of hawks, owls, and the striking golden eagle. Ten species of fish, including trout, salmon, and arctic grayling share the waters of the park.

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Sunday, October 18, 2015

Exit Glacier - Seward, Alaska

Located in the Kenai Fjords National Park, Exit Glacier is the only section of the park accessible by road. The glacier itself is a striking cool blue sheet of ice that comes from the Harding Icefield, and is near to an array of landscapes like rainforest, barren rock, alpine meadows and cottonwood forest for a striking scene.

In this area you’ll be able to enjoy hiking trails and ranger-guided walks with the opportunity to get extremely close to an active glacier. It’s a place where people go to enjoy Alaska’s scenic beauty and learn more about how glaciers shape the landscape and contribute to the ecosystem.

Exit Glacier is a year-round attraction, with the warmer months being popular with hikers and winter being the perfect time for snowmobiling, dog sledding and cross-country skiing. To get to the glacier many people walk from the Nature Center, from which many trails begin.

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