Spotlight on Alaska
Beccy Miller
A trip to Alaska needs to be on everyone's bucket list. Here are some of the highlights.......
Denali National Park
It's easy to understand why Denali is known as a shining jewel among Alaska's rugged wilderness. The mountain itself, the centrepiece of Alaska's interior, stands at an impressive 20,310 feet above sea level. This vast wilderness area has remained mostly untouched by human hands, except for one park road and some scattered service spots.
Wildlife lovers can roam in search of Alaska’s big five: grizzly bears, caribou, moose, Dall sheep, and wolves. There are also countless bucket list activities to be experienced, such as river rafting, flightseeing (including the chance to land on Denali itself), and exhilarating dog sledge rides.
McKinley Explorer Train
The McKinley Explorer is a passenger train with a glass roof, perfect for discovering Alaska's rugged wilderness and exclusively used by Holland America & Princess Cruises. The rail cars seat 86 to 88 passengers in the upper-level dome. The large curved glass dome windows run the carriages full length, offering superb 360-degree views.
Each carriage has its host guide, who provides commentary on the route and will answer questions that passengers may have. There is also a bar service, and both levels of the McKinley Explorer are wheelchair accessible.
Skagway
This charming and fascinating little town is a top-rated cruise-ship stop. Skagway’s strong mining heritage is still very much a part of its character and one of its biggest attractions is the narrow gauge railroad train, which is still fully operational but runs purely for the benefit of tourists during the summer months. Some quaint old saloon buildings make for great photo opportunities.
The Inside Passage
Spanning more than 1,000 miles, the Inside Passage is the longest protected inland waterway in the world. It weaves through the islands of the Pacific Northwest and is a very popular route for cruise ships. If you are into canoeing or kayaking, the Inside Passage offers an outstanding opportunity to try this, surrounded by the most stunning scenery.
Wildlife
Many animals call Alaska home - did you know there are more caribou in Alaska than humans? 950,000, to be precise. 30,000 or so brown bears live in Alaska, which makes up around 98% of the US brown bear population. You can also find many other animals on your trips, including black bears, polar bears, moose, bison, bald eagles, falcons, owls and many fish species.
Juneau
The fantastic state capital offers a good mix of things to see and do. The surrounding area offers excellent outdoor activities, whilst the city provides alternative sightseeing options and the opportunity for a good old-fashioned shopping trip.
Glacier Bay
Just west of Juneau in the area known as the Alaskan Panhandle, is Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. There are no roads leading to it so it remains unspoilt. Most people who go to Glacier Bay arrive on cruise ships, and the ones who don’t reach by air travel. There are a great many outdoor activities headed by the park and preserve, including mountaineering, hiking, camping, fishing and kayaking.
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