|
|
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Get exclusive travel deals, trip reviews, and unique adventure travel ideas monthly.
|
|
AnchorageAlaska's largest city is the hub of the state, and its central position, mild temperatures and outstanding transport system to and from the rest of the country has made it an important destination for travelers. Perched on the edge of a vast, keenly beautiful wilderness, Anchorage is encompassed in scenic splendor, surrounded by mountains, forest, rivers and tundra. Just a short drive away in any direction offers an abundant variety of wilderness experiences.
The city started out in 1915 as a tent camp for the workers on the Alaska Railroad, and with the later discovery
of oil at Prudhoe Bay and the construction of the trans-Alaska pipeline, Anchorage's development was fast and furious. Today the sprawling city is full of life but lacking in charm. Alaskans living outside the city complain that Anchorage isn't really Alaska, it is a city on the outskirts of Alaska, and the common joke often heard is 'Anchorage isn't Alaska, but you can see it from there'.
As a cosmopolitan urban sprawl it has similarities with other small American cities, yet it is uniquely Alaskan. Its conservative, transient character is due in part to the fact that many of its residents are from other parts of America, working for a few years and then moving on. The rest of the population is a muddle of Alaskan Native people, oil workers, gold seekers, loggers and fishermen, together with the moose and occasional bear that wander into town. There are some excellent restaurants, museums, a Native cultural center and shops that, together with its setting, make it a pleasant stopover.
The Inside PassageShaped by the carving of massive glaciers millions of years ago, Southeast Alaska is an astounding region of deep fjords, glaciers, majestic mountains and forests. Known as the 'panhandle', it epitomizes classic Alaskan scenery. Thousands of islands form a pristine protected waterway called the Inside Passage that is lined with many charming towns and small villages rich in history. About half of the tourists who travel to Alaska arrive on cruise ships that make their way through the islands of the Inside Passage to ports of call such as Ketchikan, Juneau, Sitka and Skagway.
The area is home to the native cultures of Tlingit, Haida and Tshimshian Indians and the art of totem pole carving, traditional music and dance has been preserved especially in Ketchikan. Russian settlers have also left their legacy of icons and onion-domed churches, having been drawn to the region in search of fur; the region's promise of gold, salmon fishing and forests of timber attracted many profiteers. Today the business of tourism is an additional income-earner for many of the picturesque coastal communities.
The history of the Gold Rush days is especially evident in the town of Skagway at the northern tip of the Inside Passage, once a lawless trading post serving the Klondike Gold Rush pioneers. Juneau is Alaska's attractive capital, with a bustling waterfront and a scenic mountain backdrop, and is the gateway to one of the country's more stunning regions, Glacier Bay National Park.
With no roads connecting the towns the best way to travel is by the Alaska Marine Highway ferry that hops from town to town, or on one of the numerous and very popular cruises that ply the channels. The Alaska Marine Highway is a designated National Scenic Byway and is one of the most beautiful ways to explore Alaska. The deep waters and mild climate provide a prime habitat for whales, sea lions and porpoises, which can often be spotted from the deck. Between the picturesque fishing town of Petersburg and Russian-founded Wrangell is the spectacular Wrangell Narrows that is only 300ft (91m) wide and so shallow in places that the boat is forced into a slalom course of 46 turns to avoid grounding on the channel bottom. Frederick Sound is a prime whale sighting area.
Next Page »
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
Related Alaska Content
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
