ALASKA
There remain few places on earth where you can truly breathe. Where space is measured not in feet or miles, but in endless horizons. A place where nature is so powerful, so dramatic, a personal encounter can change you forever. Thrill to white thunder in Glacier Bay, marvel at sunlight at midnight and close-ups of whales, eagles and caribou. Delight in Mt. McKinley's majesty and meadows carpeted with wildflowers. Amid unsurpassed grandeur and serenity, the true wilderness of Denali is calling.
ALASKA - Grandeur on an awe-inspiring scale
Witness nature's last great frontier. Alaska. It's name means "Great One" and it's call of the wild and nearly impossible adventures, is what makes this destination so irresistible. Breathtaking ocean coasts, extraordinary fjords, rushing rivers, temperate rainforests, majestic mountains, magnificent glaciers, abundant wildlife, and colorful people are some of the things you'll see throughout this state. An Alaskan cruise and cruisetour, is without a doubt, the best way to experience the pristine beauty of this place, guaranteeing you to come away with absolutely unforgettable images and memories, not soon to be forgotten.
Your cruise will depart either from Seattle or Vancouver. Your journey begins as you cruise the sheltered waterways and islands of the Inside Passage, known for it's beautiful, rugged terrain. This was the route of the old time Gold Rush. Your first stop is Ketchikan, Alaska's first city, also know as the "Salmon Capital of the world". Built on steep hillsides along the water, Ketchikan features a colorful and bustling port. This is the ancestral home of the Tlingit Indians and the Saxman Native Totem Village, which features a collection of the world's largest totem poles.
Juneau is where your next adventure awaits. Alaska's capital city is the home of the famous Mendenhall Glacier. This meandering river of compressed blue ice is 1.5 miles wide, many hundreds of feet thick, and is the largest ice formation accessible by road. Why not take a helicopter ride to view this magnificent wonder from above, to get a real perspective of her enormous size and beauty......then land on the glacier, go for a hike, or maybe take a sled-dog ride across this ice field!
Continuing on your journey, you might visit Tracy Arm Fjord, where you'll feel as though you've entered a dream world. All around you, smooth granite cliffs rise to the sky, while magnificent waterfalls drop thousands of feet into the shimmering tidewater. Sailing through this narrow 26-mile passageway-bound for the twin Sawyer Glaciers at the head of the fjord's-is one of Southeast Alaska's most memorable experiences.
A little further up, is charming Skagway. Once a Gold Rush boomtown, this place retains all of the rustic ambience from a period gone by. This was the Gateway to the Klondike, and is preserved as a National Historic Park, featuring one of the oldest narrow gauge railroads in existence, the White Pass & Yukon Railway. Enjoy the charming, turn-of-the-century houses, the colorful saloons, dance-hall revues and many charming shops.
If your cruise includes a visit to Glacier Bay, you'll stand in awe of the 5-mile wall of active glaciers, where ancient, massive mounds of ice crash "calve" into the ocean, making an incredible sound known to the locals as "white thunder". You'll see icebergs of all shapes and sizes, all around you, and you'll thrill to the site of harbor seals using the ice flows as birthing beds, or the magnificent Humpback whales as they breach and play in the cool waters. Amazing.
There is so much to see and experience in Alaska, and your vacation truly wouldn't be complete without a special land tour, within the Heart of Alaska. The interior region of Alaska is a spacious landscape of lush forests and fertile valleys, majestic snow-capped mountains and remote alpine tundra. Visit Denali National Park, which serves as the center of attraction for those visitors wanting to see Wildlife's Big 5: the Grizzly, Moose, Caribou, the Wolf and the Dall Sheep. Denali is a most popular destination for explorers. Home of Mt. McKinley, the largest mountain on the continent, every turn brings a new wonder as you journey miles into this astounding wilderness preserve. See the soaring eagles, the grizzlies crossing a winding stream, the Dall sheep traversing the rugged cliffs, along with so many more awesome sights that will forever be in your memory. Depending on the cruisetour you choose, you can explore some of Alaska's monumental national parks, like the Kenai Fjords National Park, Arctic National Park, Wrangell National Park and Tongass National Forest. You'll visit Anchorage and Fairbanks. You might explore the Arctic, visiting Prudhoe Bay, which is home to Alaska's fabled oil fields and herds of caribou. You might even want to stick your feet in the Arctic Ocean! There are so many cruisetour options in Alaska. Different length cruisetours, visiting different regions of this magnificent land, and so many exciting experiences. There's a cruisetour with your name on it!
Alaska is the vacation destination of a lifetime. Get a taste of what America used to be. It is the true Final Frontier and she is waiting for you to show her everchanging scenery.
Book now for 2011 season. Best cabin availabilities and rates for those that start booking early and get a head start!!
