What you need to pack for Alaska depends heavily on the season and the specific trip, but a few basics apply whether you’re on a summer cruise or a winter aurora trip. Layers Are the Foundation Alaska weather changes quickly, and temperatures can swing 20 degrees or more between morning and afternoon even in summer. […]
Alaska is home to both brown (grizzly) bears and black bears, and seeing one, even from a distance, is a real possibility on many hikes and in several popular parks. A few basic precautions make these encounters far less risky for both visitors and the bears themselves. Know What You’re Dealing With Alaska has an
Alaska has a reputation for being expensive, and for good reason: distances are long, most goods travel a long way to get there, and much of the state is only reachable by plane, ferry, or boat. Costs vary enormously depending on how you travel, though, so a rough budget trip and a cruise-and-lodge trip can
Alaska’s size and extreme seasonal swings mean the “best” time to visit really depends on what you want to do. A trip built around wildlife and glaciers looks very different from one built around the Northern Lights. Summer (May to September): Peak Season Most visitors come during summer, when the days are longest and nearly
Alaska’s mountains and reliable winter snowpack make it a serious, if under-the-radar, ski destination — ranging from a major destination resort to small community-run hills. Here’s a rundown of the state’s main ski areas. Alyeska Resort (Girdwood) Alyeska is Alaska’s largest and best-known ski resort, about 40 miles south of Anchorage in Girdwood. It has
