Alaska

Seafood caught from local waters—fresh salmon, halibut, king crab and more can be found at numerous venues around the state. Visit the historic Taku Glacier Lodge for a feast of fresh Alaska king salmon cooked over an outdoor grill using alder wood chips.

Excellent shopping opportunities abound, especially in the communities of Ketchikan, Juneau and Fairbanks.

• The colossal Mount McKinley inside Denali National Park and Preserve
• The changing autumn leaves as they turn shades of gold, red, brown and orange
• The pristine waters of Cook Inlet
• The kaleidoscope of colours of the northern lights
• The postcard-worthy scenery throughout the Inside Passage region.

The Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center highlights culture, art and science, with a permanent collection depicting 10,000 years of Alaska history. An 80,000-square-foot expansion features an array of new exhibits, including the Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center, with over 600 Alaska Native artefacts.

Chena Hot Springs Resort, outside Fairbanks, is renowned for being one of the best places to view the northern lights from September to May. It even offers special wake-up calls when the aurora appears late at night or early in the morning.

• The Alaska Highway provides the ultimate road trip from Alberta or British Columbia, Canada, through the Yukon to Alaska. The historic road was constructed during World War II.
• The Seward Highway south from Anchorage to the port communities of Seward or Homer offers some of the most breathtaking scenery in the state and ample opportunities to view wildlife.

There are no roads to or within Halibut Cove, a quaint village nestled on the east side of Kachemak Bay, but the community is an interesting side trip for anyone visiting Homer, across the bay.

• The Musk Ox Farm in Palmer is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the development and domestication of musk oxen in order to provide additional subsistence income for Alaska Natives. Visitors have the opportunity to photograph and interact with the Ice Age animals and visit educational exhibits. Qiviut, the soft under-wool of the musk ox, is harvested once a year at the Musk Ox Farm and delivered to an Alaska Native knitter’s co-operative, where it is used to make clothing and other items available for purchase around the state.
• You can also tour the ULU Factory in Anchorage to observe how the company’s knives are made and packaged. In summer months, a free tram service operates from downtown Anchorage.

In the summer season, long daylight hours provide plenty of time for recreational activities such as hiking, biking, rafting, flightseeing and fishing. Many communities throughout the state celebrate the summer solstice (or longest day of the year), which occurs on June 21, with festivals. Winter months bring events such as the Fur Rendezvous and the World Ice Art Championships, as well as opportunities for skiing, heli-skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ice climbing, dog mushing and more.

Glaciers! Get an up close and personal experience by walking, hiking or dog mushing on a glacier, or take in the glacier-calving action from the comforts of a large or small cruise ship. Also, don’t miss out on bear viewing. The magnificent creatures can be observed in their natural habitats through various air, land, sea or rail tours.