If you are tired of the heat at home why not try an exotic
trip to Alaska. My suggestion is to take one of the many land tour/ cruise
combinations that are available from May to Sept. I have been to Alaska
two times before and I'm going again this year. I never tire of this trip.
Your experience begins at home where you wonder, what
clothes to take with you. There are some musts: gloves, hat, scarf, warm
jacket, slacks, sweaters, and sturdy but comfortable walking/hiking shoes.
The key to keeping warm is to wear your clothes in layer after layer. Also,
it's a good idea to bring along rain gear. While in the ports at which your
ship is docked you can wear slacks and top with a sweater or light jacket.
But, when you are closer to the glaciers or hiking in the woods you will
need to dress warmly. If you take side excursions such as the helicopter
ride which lands on the Mendenhall glacier for you to walk on or the Scenic
Railway train ride up to White Mountain Pass it can, and often does get
quite cold, even in summer.
Do not forget your binoculars and your cameras because
you will be seeing many animals, if you are lucky, as well as beautiful
scenery.
An example of the land portion, which is traveled by
train and or bus is going to and staying at Denali. Denali is surrounded
by ]one of the world's most spectacular wildlife sanctuaries. The Denali
National Park is home to much wildlife including bear, moose, caribou, wolves
and bald eagles.
You can enjoy horseback riding, float down the Nenana
River or take a tundra wilderness tour. These tours will allow you to enjoy
and view geological formations and learn about the culture and history of
the region. All this, and guess what, we have not yet gotten to our cruise.
After our train and bus tours we head for our ship for
the next exciting seven days. This cruise will give you breathtaking views
of both mountains and water. Take a trip to a Salmon hatchery and learn
about the Pacific Salmon's unique and fascinating reproductive cycles. Try
your hand at panning for gold, guaranteed gold in every pan. Enjoy a tour
through the glacier gardens that are part of the Alaska rain forest. Take
a tram ride to the 1800 foot level of Mount Roberts where you will have
a stunning panorama of Juneau and the inside passage. Go Salmon fishing
and have your catch flash frozen or smoked and sent home. Now, that's what
I call a great souvenir!
One of the things I find very interesting is to go to
the Old Indian Campsite that has many totem poles, each telling us a story
of the past. Tlingit tribe members who will perform traditional dances and
tell stories in their Clan House will welcome you. Another exciting trip
is the White Pass Scenic Railway. Here you will climb nearly 3000 feet and
go 21 miles of as you retrace the original route of the White Pass. See
the original Klondike trail worn into the rocks by thousands of miners who
passed this way searching for gold.
There is much more for me to tell you about Alaska but
I must leave something for you to see and experience for yourself.
Written by Ramblin' Rose Mascarenhas of Gadabout Travel
