Plan the Perfect Alaskan Vacation

Transportation: The best ways to get to and around Alaska

Plan to visit for at least a week, preferably three or four. There are all sorts of ways to get here, and all sorts of ways to get around once you’ve arrived. By sea, you can cruise the spectacular waterways of the Inside Passage, oohing and ahhing at breaching whales, icy fjords, and snow-capped mountains.

By water 

A host of big-name cruise lines offer all sorts of land/sea packages through this popular coastal route. For the truly adventurous, the Alaska State Ferry system transports independent travelers and their vehicles from point to point along the Inside Passage and into the Gulf of Alaska.

By air 

Dozens of airlines provide service to Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, from all over the United States and around the world. If you arrive by air, try to book a day trip on the surrounding water, especially if you want to see wildlife. Bear, moose and wolves often elude visitors because they have so much room to roam, but in the ocean you’ll likely spot sea otters bobbing in the waves, sea lions sunning themselves on the rocks and whales spouting in playful pods.

By road 

The Alaska, or Alcan, Highway gives you a chance to get up close and personal with the state, provided you have the time to drive and don’t mind the soaring cost of gas. You’ll see so many jagged peaks, rushing rivers, and plunging waterfalls that you’ll think you’ve tumbled into a postcard.

• A team of sled dogs participates in the Iditarod trail race.
• Robin Hood

The road improves every year, though you’ll still encounter long stretches of gravel and miles of dips and potholes where permafrost prevails over the best efforts of highway maintenance crews. Plan on five to seven days to make a comfortable trip from the northern or western United States, and keep in mind that services are few, far between and less than plush. If you are driving, be sure to bring along a copy of Milepost, an indispensable mile-by-mile travel guide updated yearly by Morris Communications.

When to visit

A lot of Alaskan destinations, whole towns even, more or less shut down from October through April. However, for the truly adventurous, there’s a lot of winter fun to be had here, from snowshoeing and skiing to taking in the excitement of the world-famous Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. But if you’re like most visitors, you’ll come in the summer, when you can escape the heat back home and enjoy almost endless daylight in Alaska. The shoulder seasons, May and September, offer cooler weather but fewer crowds and better deals. Whenever you come, dress in layers and don’t over-pack. Hats, gloves, fleece, polyester, and good rain gear come in handy whatever the season.

Whenever you visit Alaska’s wild paradise, be forewarned. One visit never seems to suffice. You’ll most likely be back one day, looking to explain the unexplainable and recharge your dreams.