Alaska Travel Tips

Expect Mother Nature assailing you from every angle with her incredible beauty!

You would think that after living in Alaska for over 30 years one might get a little jaded about the beauty of Mother Nature.  It has never happened to us, or any other long time Alaskans we know.

First, we feel it's important for you to understand that we'll be trying to describe the physical aspect of your trip.  There is another aspect to consider; At this point, less that 25% of planet Earth is still classified as wilderness.  In Alaska (and the Yukon Territory) more than 85% is still classified as wilderness.  This probably is interesting, and yet doesn't have a whole bunch of meaning to you now.  We promise that when you get there and start to travel through this incredible wilderness, it WILL mean something! 

There is something about traveling through the wilderness that quiets your mind.  It takes your thoughts and just puts them away somewhere so you can enjoy the quiet.  People tell us all the time that it is a very spiritual experience traveling through the wilderness.  They get off the plane in Anchorage and say, "What is that wonderful smell?"  We tell them, it's clean air! 

Sometimes it is so quiet it is disconcerting.  We become so used to noise pollution that we don't even hear it any more.  When you get out into some areas in Alaska and take a second to stop and listen, it is so different!  There are no trucks on the freeway 5 miles away, no electricity humming through the wires (that are not there).  There are birds, wind, and maybe the sound of running water.  That's it.  It is a very special experience.

So, let's look at some of the physical aspects of what to expect on a month-to-month basis.  We'll go from mid May to mid September, as that is the visitor season.

First though let's set your mind at ease over the questions we get asked most. 

Wild flowers start to bloom in late April and never stop until the snow flies.  There is not a "best month for the flowers".  Each of the summer months adds something different to the mix and I would hate to try to say which is the best.

We have resident whales in Alaska.  The migratory whales start arriving in April and don't leave again until October.  There is not a "best month" for the whales.

The glaciers calve (that's what it's called when the front edge of the glacier breaks off and fall into the sea) all summer long.  There is not a "best month" for this either. 

Each of the months of Alaska's visitor season has it's own special feeling and offerings. 

The VERY BEST time for you to go is WHEN YOU CAN SPEND THE MOST TIME!  Alaska is so big and most folks have to travel a long way just to get there.  Do yourself a favor and take your time.

Select a month to read more:

May
June
July
August
September