Huskies And Whales And Bears, Oh My!
Alaska. America’s 49th state. 54,720 km of tidal shoreline. Active volcanoes. Temperatures that drop to -60 degrees Fahrenheit in winter and rise to well above 90 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. Grizzly bears and wild wolves. This enormous state has everything, including some of the world’s most fantastic cruises.
In the summertime
Given its climate and well-below-freezing winter temperatures, the best time to visit Alaska is in the summer, when everything is out in bloom and passengers can really enjoy the stunning views. One of the greatest attractions of these cruises is the incredible wildlife that thrives in the state; inland you can find grizzly bears hunting salmon in the rivers, wild wolves and eagles soaring overhead, and out at sea you may even catch a glimpse of a pod of humpback whales. But if it’s not the wildlife you came for, it’s certainly not all that Alaska has to offer. There is enough history to keep the cultural tourist more than happy, and activities galore for those who don’t like to stop moving on their vacations.
As there is so much to see and do on an Alaskan cruise, be sure to choose your cruise carefully to ensure that it is the best one for your interests.
Sit back, relax and enjoy the views…
One trip to Alaska could never be enough to see all that there is to see in such a vast and varied state, but if the views from the cruise are so wonderful that you want more, visitors to Skagway can hop aboard a train to take them up to the White Pass. According to Iglu Cruise, passengers can “relax in a vintage-style carriage while enjoying panoramic sights of mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, tunnels and historic sights.” The scenery on the climb up to the pass really is breathtaking, and there is an onboard tour guide to enrich your visit with details about the history of Skagway. Skagway was the location of the Klondike Gold Rush, in which the population expanded from a mere two thousand to 20,000 in just ten years. Prospectors and miners came from far and wide in their attempts to increase their wealth and cash in on the gold that was discovered there.
…Or expend a little more energy
For those who find it hard to sit still on their time off from work, there is an abundance of activities that combine the incredible nature and wildlife of Alaska with more rigorous exercise. These activities range from rock climbing and glacier hiking to snorkelling and even a zipwire through the forest. Snorkelling at Mountain Point is one of the highlights of many a cruiser’s trip. The cold waters of Alaska might not seem like the ideal place to take a dip, but with so much to see below the surface of the crystal-clear waters, it is absolutely worth a go. The shallow tide pools at Mountain Point have allowed for lots of beautiful and interesting marine life to flourish. Alternatively, you can enjoy the water-dwelling wildlife from an entirely different perspective with an exhilarating series of zipwires through the forests and over the salmon spawning streams. The zipwires are high up in the trees, and present a very exciting way to explore the mountainous forests of Alaska, as do the rock climbing opportunities at Skagway. Rock climbing tours combine hiking and climbing to ensure that climbers can enjoy the scenery as well as the challenge of making their way up the cliff face.
Wildlife spotting
With its interesting terrain and climate, Alaska is also home to some beautiful animals such as huskies, bears and whales. Tours have been set up to allow visitors the chance to walk through the mountains in the chance of seeing a bear, or take a cruise on the water to spot pods of humpback whales saluting with their tail fins. Visitors can even take a sled ride pulled along by a pack of gorgeous huskies through the practically untouched Alaskan wild. There really is no better way to experience the fresh air of Alaska.
It’s easy to see why Alaska is such a popular cruise destination, as it really has got something for everyone. Many visitors find themselves coming back again and again either to explore areas they haven’t had time to before, or to revisit favourite excursions and sites at least one more time.
Article written for CruiseMagic by Annie Reynolds
