Alaska Vacation - Adventure in the Land of the Midnight Sun

Adventure beckons in the "Land of the Midnight Sun." Here, animals outnumber people, and every square mile of Alaska's wild, pristine landscape is blessed with magnificent scenery. So an Alaska vacation is your passport to an exciting adventure.



Alaska's National Parks



Alaska is home to 8 national parks. These parks occupy one-half of the land area in the U.S. national park system. So, an Alaska vacation would not be complete without a visit to at least one of these parks.



Each park has is own unique characteristics. The centerpiece of Denali National Park is Mount McKinley, the highest mountain in North America. Denali's more than 6,000,000 acres is home to grizzly bears, Dall sheep, moose and wolves.



The Wrangell St. Elias National Park contains the largest number of glaciers. Remote mountains, deep valleys, wild rivers and an abundance of wildlife are dominant features of this park. This is a great park of the avid photographer.



The Kenai Fjords National Park is located in southeastern Alaska. It is dominated by great fjords and the Harding Icefield. Fjords are deep valleys carved by ancient glaciers. These fjords are now filled with sea water. The Harding Icefield sits on a mountain platform above the coastline. Only rarely does a mountain peak penetrate the flat ice surface of the field. The Exit Glacier is extremely popular with vacationers, and it is easily accessible.



These parks are representative of all Alaska's national parks. A visit to any one of them on your Alaska vacation will offer rich dividends.



Adventure to Alaska's Glaciers



For good reason, Alaska has been called "Glacier Heaven." Approximately 100,000 of these ancient rivers of ice cover about 5 percent of Alaska' land area.



A visit to the glaciers on your Alaska vacation is truly a "sensual" experience. With your eyes you can see their transparent blue faces as they "calve" icebergs into a shimmering sea. You can feel the crisp bite of the chilly breezes as they flow off the ice caps. You can smell the rich minerals unearthed on their ponderous journey to the sea as well as the sea's saltiness. You can hear these colossal giants as they speak in the language of creaks and groans and thundering splashes as they drop their calves into the sea.



Your best vantage point for glacier viewing is from the deck of a cruise ship. They will take you close enough to "experience" the glacier with placing you in danger. To view glaciers from land, you can easily access them from Juneau, Valdez, Whittier, Seward, Anchorage or the Matanuska Valley.



Cruising Alaska's Inside Passage



Cruising the Inside Passage is one of the most popular Alaska vacation adventures. Ancient glaciers carved the passage. Now blanketed with majestic hemlock and spruce, it is a region of pristine water, snow capped mountains, deep fjords and forested islands. The area, with its mild, maritime climate, is a prime habitat for bald eagles, sea lions, porpoise and whales.



The picturesque communities along the coast continue to reveal the area's rich history. Quaint churches and other historical buildings preserve the Russian influence. You will relive the Gold Rush era as you make your way through the Passage.



Ancient totem poles are constant reminders of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian Indian cultures. You can watch as this generation of Native Americans preserve the art of totem carving. You can also see demonstrations of their traditional dance and music.



With an adventure for each of Alaska's 586,000 square miles, it would take more than a lifetime to experience all of them. Even though your Alaska vacation will give you limited exposure to Alaska's vast landscape, that small encounter will reward you with lasting memories of grandeur and beauty.



Copyright by Earl Calvert, 2006 - All Rights Reserved