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Things to do / Travel Guide
Alaska Getaways
Alaskan outdoor activities are well-developed here—this area is as mainstream as Alaska gets, yet is certainly an experience unlike any from another state. Before exploring this area, you need to affirm this commitment: When your cruise reaches Seward, you will not join many of your cruise-mates and head right back to Seattle; instead you will explore mainland Alaska. You will spend at least a night on Alaskan soil, if not a week, or a month, or longer.
The wilderness is mostly accessible by road and the railways. The Alaska Railroad may have originally been built to haul freight, local passengers and mail but now it seems as though it were 100% set up for tourism. The main tourist destinations of Seward, the Kenai Peninsula, Anchorage, Denali and Fairbanks are all conveniently linked by this one-route wonder. Schedules are set for visitors to spend as much or as little time as they want in the various stops. The train, with its glass-domed cars and 360-degree views, is as much a part of the experience as the sites along the route.
An "early Alaska" flavor can be felt in some towns along the way. Fishing, rafting, hiking, and backcountry treks are some of the ways to enjoy this part of Alaska.
Anchorage Tourist Attractions
Your cruise will likely dock at Seward, the gateway to the Kenai Fjords National Park—here you'll find fantastic water activities and tourist attractions and experience a topographical feature (the fjords) that are a rare find in the rest of the country. It's also home to the Alaska Sealife Center, where you can witness octopus eggs hatching—a truly one-of-a-kind experience.
As you work your way north to Anchorage, you'll drive (or take the train) through Chugach National Forest and then to Chugach State Park. Here you'll encounter half a million acres of Alaskan wilderness where you'll get first hand exposure to all things Alaskan—moose, mountainous vistas, wild terrain, and some of the friendliest people around—that is, if you're lucky enough to encounter people at all!
Anchorage itself (don't spell it Ankorage) is a treat for those looking for a little urban life in Alaska. Anchorage tourist attractions include popular family destinations such as zoos as well as museums that highlight the native people and the land. The city boasts large areas of parkland and waterfront areas popular for hiking, biking and just getting away from the hustle and bustle of the big city (we are joking).
Anchorage is a popular ski spot, hosting a number of popular ski resorts. Alpenglow at Arctic Valley Ski Resort is one popular resort; Alyeska Ski Resort is another one you won't want to miss if you're in the area.
Golf resorts, rock climbing walls, spas, and other indoor and outdoor activities are also available to the area's tourists. There's even the H2Oasis indoor water park—great for families adventuring through the area, even in the winter.
Denali Tourist Attractions
Coming to this region and missing a visit to Denali National Park or Denali State Park (two adjoining parks) would be like visiting New York City and avoiding the Empire State Building—in other words, it would just be wrong. Denali (or, "The Great One") is the tallest mountain in North America, and it is great not just in size, but in majesty, beauty, and mystique.
While serious hikers and climbers can take the trails of Denali, less experienced nature enthusiasts can also enjoy Denali. Two trails that are on the easier side are the Horseshoe Lake Hike and the Savage River Bar Trail. Other non-hiking activities include dog sledding (or dog sled viewing), snowmobiling, snowshoeing, or skiing.
To the north of Denali National Park you'll find world-class white water rafting on the Nenana River, and to the south of the park you can continue your whitewater adventure on the Talkeetna River and then the Matanuska River. Thrill seekers need not look far in this region—all three rivers offer class III-IV rapids and since most of the water in the region comes from melted glaciers, the water is cold. Very cold. Wetsuits are provided.
Speaking of glaciers, while you're rafting down the Matanuska (which by the way also hosts class II rapids, for the rafting newbies) you'll be awarded with fantastic views of the 27-mile long Matanuska Glacier—not to be missed!
Fairbanks, Alaska Tourist Attractions
Fairbanks, located north of Denali, home to the University of Alaska, is the second largest city in Alaska (second to Anchorage). Here, in the middle of Alaskan wilderness, you'll find all the conveniences of big city life—shopping malls, museums, theme parks, ski slopes, indoor rock climbing walls, spas, gardens, parks, cultural events and other city attractions and activities. Unlike Anchorage, though, which preserves the feel of a "normal" American city, Fairbanks offers more of an "Alaskan" feel.
If you head 60 miles east of Fairbanks you're reach the luxurious Chena Hot Springs. The resort offers tourists access to nearby attractions, scenery, and more moose than you can possibly imagine. Spend at least a day enjoying the countryside outside Fairbanks, sitting by your fire in a log cabin or heading out for a dip in one of the springs. Resort activities include mountain biking, panning for gold, canoe and rafting trips, fishing, snowmobiling, and dog sled rides—all your classis Alaskan activities! The ideal time to visit is in the summer, but those who brave the winter travel will be awarded with sights of the Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights, which are on display most of the winter.
Anchorage, Alaska Rail and Road Trip Getaway Planner
The entire Fairbanks-Kenai route is worth seeing and should take about 10 days to complete. Give yourself longer for serious backcountry trekking. It's best to connect to the route via a combination of flight, cruise from the Panhandle, or the Alcan highway.
If you choose the Alaska Railroad, just sit back and enjoy the view (best to reserve the dome car) of one of the most scenic train routes in the US. If you are heading out on an Anchorage to Fairbanks and Denali road trip, take a map of Alaska with you. Not because there are really so many roads, but more for the understanding of how huge Alaska is and to start planning your next trip – west to the Aleutian's, east to the Yukon or north to the North Pole (almost!).
Tourist Attractions and Highlights in Anchorage, Denali, Fairbanks and Kenai, Alaska
Tourist-Attractions-Highlights
Alaska Botanical Garden - Anchorage, Alaska
Portage Glacier Recreation Area
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