Monthly Archives: August 2010

Plan your 2011 Alaska Travel Packages

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The 2010 season is winding down. There are still 15 days of active fall season ahead of us. Personally speaking, of all the seasons we experience in Alaska, fall is my favorite. All along the parks highway traveling from Anchorage north to Denali National Park and further north to Fairbanks, one can experience the gradual change in color of the leaves, as the leaves green color fades away to yellow. Along the highway, crossing over Alaska range towards north before getting to Denali National Park and inside the park itself, the large expanse of tundra, which just a couple of weeks ago were green, now burst into the shades of red and orange. Mt. McKinley, shrouded in clouds most of the season, tends to emerge more often these fall days. So do not hesitate, just come on and visit the park and enjoy!

While not everybody can make it to Alaska in such short notice, it is not too early to plan for your trip to Alaska for the next year. In fact, we encourage you to book your trips at least a year in advance, to secure the best available seats or rooms. For instance, if you are traveling aboard Alaska Railroad‘s GoldStar service, or if you are interested in booking Deluxe cabins by the side of Moose Creek that flows through our exclusive Denali Backcountry Lodge, deep inside Denali National Park, it is always best to book early because of limited availability. Last year, we started booking Alaska cruises in the middle of our booking season. The response we got from prospective Alaska travelers is very encouraging, so we are continuing with that spirit, and are booking full-fledged Alaska cruise packages. Our Alaska cruises ties perfectly with our customized pre or post cruise Alaska travel packages, making us, one stop solution for your complete Alaska vacation experience.

While planning your 2011 Alaska vacation, here are few tips that we would like you to consider:

    • If you are planning to come to Alaska by flight, always consider flying in to Anchorage first. Among the two airports in Anchorage and Fairbanks, more flights come to Anchorage, so the fare tends to be cheaper. Do not forget to visit our Alaska airlines page for more information on this and other valuable tips.
    • Alaska is a big state, so one must plan in advance when it comes to traveling from one place to another. Explore various Alaska transportation options between each destination.
    • Denali National Park is one of the top destinations in Alaska. There are multiple ways of getting to the park ranging from air charters, vehicle rentals, motor coach, or railroad. For comfort and efficiency, we recommend traveling one way between Anchorage and Denali by train and the other by express motor coach.
    • Please keep in mind that during the month of May and September, you can get shoulder season discounted rates at various accommodations and on some transportation options.
    • Last but not the least, we are always running web specials, so do not forget to visit our Alaska Travel Specials page, and follow us regularly on Twitter and Facebook for updates and other musings.

      Take a hike in Wasilla Alaska!

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      Toninght we sit at the kitchen table mapping out the route we are going to take tomorrow. We want to end up at the top to watch the sunset; this late in the season, sunset is around 10pm and lasts a long time. We want to do some berry and mushroom gathering. This wasn’t going to be a hike to see ‘if we could’; this was a hike for sustenance. We need to collect for the winter! The area we went to last year happened to be in the news lately for bear sightings; we need a different location now.

      Hatchers Pass looks like the location for this year. It will be a drive for us, but it’s worth it.

      We will stay in Wasilla at the Best Western; “we will need the Jacuzzi after”, my wife claimed! Our backs do get a little sore, I’ll admit it.

      With the record rain we had this year, we expect a bumper crop of wild berries and the mushrooms should be pretty meaty.

      We have packed our bags with small containers so the berries and fungi don’t crush from their own weight while we hike. The raincoats will also be going to this year. We packed a picnic basket for lunch and a bottle of wine for the sunset (she loves that). We’ll fill up on berries along the way so we only need a couple of sandwiches and plenty of water. We’ll take bino’s to scan the landscape; we won’t be the only ones out hunting berries!

      We also like to enter photo contests, as well as entering photos into the Alaska State Fair, so we will certainly be taking our camera. Mosquitoes don’t bother us anymore so no worries there and I think that should do it for our plan. That is what we do for our hike and how we do it!

      Jake Kimber

      Spotting the difference in Alaska Birds

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      Alaska is home to a wide variety of birds and with 471 species positively identified, Alaska is a popular destination for birders the world over.

      Let’s start with the Gulls. Quick differences in Arctic Terns (the longest flight migratory bird) and Bonaparte’s Gulls – The Gulls have black heads and bills, whereas Arctic Terns have black heads and orange bills. The distinguishing plumage between the Herring Gull is black primary feathers (the wing tips), whereas the Glaucous-winged Gull has gray to white primaries. It is important to keep in mind that these two species interbreed and hybridize in Alaska
      Mew Gulls are common on the Kenai Peninsula and in Denali National Park. They can be easily distinguished from other gulls by their small size and their yellow to yellow – green legs.

      Let’s move on to the Eagles. Golden Eagles are typically seen in mountainous areas, whereas, the Bald Eagle remain along coasts, rivers, and lakes. Rarely, if ever, are Bald Eagles spotted in Denali. The younglings of the two are a little more challenging. In Golden Eagles, look for two distinct, small white patches on the underside of the wing. An immature Bald Eagle has a mottled white and dark underside on its breast and wings.

      Ptarmigans are often spotted while visiting Alaska. The Willow (the Alaska state bird)  and the Rock Ptarmigan are found in lower elevations of tundra, especially in shrubby areas of Denali National Park. The male Rock Ptarmigan does not possess the reddish colors to its summer plumage like the male Willow Ptarmigan. The White-tailed ptarmigan is usually found in the tundra above tree line, and often on high, rocky slopes. It can be distinguished from other Ptarmigan species by its white tail, which remains white in all seasons.

      I hope I have stirred your curiosity to learn more and to visit Alaska’s birds….Only 461 to go!

      Alaska Weather

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      The weather changes so frequently and yet it’s like the same thing everyday. I have learned while living here for the past 11 years, that rain does not matter when you have a vacation to complete. Alaska Rain is not thunderous, no light shows hardly any wind will accompany it. Looking on the bright side-it does keep the mosquitoes away!  Did I mention the breathtaking clouds that will hug the mountains, if you get to an angle while your driving it’s something out of a drawing…sometimes wish I was an artist and could paint some of the formations I’ve seen decorating the mountains. 

      Soak it in

      Soak it in

      Sometimes the rain will circle around in the Anchorage Bowl up to the glaciers in the Mat-Su area which will kindly blow them back to Anchorage via the cook inlet. It is truly fascinating! A drive through the pass along Turnagain arm to the Kenai Peninsula could very well net you some amazing scenes, my hope is always that the clouds have dissipated through the Girdwood area, my favorite drive is to Seward. sometimes the pass is raining, I believe to fill the watering holes with fresh water as the landscape will soak in the water like a sponge. That, of course, has it’s own brightside…bigger-juicier berries. yummmy. The rain will also reward the mushroom hunter, another big “thing to-do” in Alaska.

      So for now..I’ll be grateful it’s not snow and enjoy my summer in Alaska despite the occasional rain.

      Joan Fargo

      Anchorage to Seward Trip by Car

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      Turn again and again!

      There are many ways of traveling from Anchorage to Seward. One can travel by motor coach or by Alaska railroad. I for one however, prefer to travel by rental car, that way I have the luxury of traveling on my own time. Besides, there are many things that can be seen, feel and witnesses when one travels by car rather than just passing by motor coach or aboard train.

      Anchorage to Seward is one of the most beautiful drives on the planet. You pass through some of the most spectacular sights Alaska has to offer. This ride will leave you with memories to be cherished for a lifetime.

      On your way from Anchorage you will pass Potter Marsh, a sight famed for its waterfowl and view of the Cook Inlet. I often stop my car and walk along the wooden board walk looking out for water fowls and other migratory birds. Driving further south, the road snake in and out of Turnagain Arm. There are many scenic pull out paces along the highway. I always stop by few and peer up the vertical cliffs to see mountain goats and their babies. And out on the other side in the Cook Inlet, you may see a pod of Orcas or Beluga whales if you are lucky!

      On the way out of the Turnagain Arm, you will come across the small town of Girdwood, and its iconic Gas Station. Past Girdwood, you can see the Whittier Tunnel, and you will pass the AWCC and Portage Glacier. All three are wonderful stops along the way. Once you make it past Portage, you will begin your trek onto the Kenai Peninsula. This is the land of forests and fauna, and is full of rich plants and animals. You will climb into the hills gradually in some areas, and more steeply in others. You will go through Moose Pass, and view the spectacular Kenai Lake.

      Upon passing Tern Lake you will begin your trip down into Seward. The Chugach forest will accompany you on the remainder of your trip back down to sea level. You will pass another small community near Exit Glacier, and then you will be in the port town of Seward! After such a beautiful journey, you are sure to want to relax. There are plenty of places for you to sit and eat, or explore more of Alaska’s more unexpected wildlife at the Alaska Sealife Center.