Alaska cruises are once in a lifetime opportunity and hence very popular. Massive icebergs and whales are the images that conjure up when one think of Alaska cruise. Who would not want to dine, relax and admire the surroundings with the astonishing sights as your background? To top it all off, you are leaving behind the stress of regular hotel check in / checkout and coordinating transportation, it is like crucial components of a vacation all packaged in one. Continue reading
Category Archives: Anchorage Alaska
Spencer Glacier Float Tour, A Great Day Tour out of Anchorage
If a given day is your last day in Anchorage, and your flight does not leave until late in the evening, which happens most of the time when it comes to flight out of Anchorage, Spencer Glacier Float tour is a great way to end your Alaska vacation. I did this tour last weekend with my wife, we had a wonderful experience; and to top it off, it was just the perfect fall weather to do this trip. Continue reading
Spotting the difference in Alaska Birds
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
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
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
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
You’re planning your Alaska Vacation and want to see the magnificent sights in Alaska, as well as the vast array of wildlife the Last Frontier has to offer. But how can you fit Moose, Lynx, Caribou, Bears and many other popular animals without trekking all over the state? The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is your place to go. They host all kinds of Alaskan animals ranging from Black Bears to Eagles to Musk Ox.
Located in near the scenic Portage Glacier, just outside of Anchorage this little animal haven puts you up close and personal with animals. The center takes in orphaned or otherwise ‘at-risk’ animals and raises them to health and releases them back, or in some cases, allow them to live in the habitat provided to them by the AWCC staff and supporters.
Upon entrance into the center you are able to see Moose wandering around the gated areas. The center is open year round, and a schedule is available here. Don’t hesitate to ask the staff questions about the animal’s histories, names, and circumstances! You may be surprised at what you hear! Continue reading
