Alaska Holidays
Alaska is one of two U.S. states not bordered by another state, Hawaii being the other. It has more coastline than all the other U.S. states combined. Alaska is technically part of the continental U.S., but not part of the contiguous U.S., often called "the Lower 48.”
Every adjective you can think of applies! Beautiful, quirky, majestic, original, peaceful, dramatic….the list truly does go on and on. Alaska is one holiday destination that everyone should see at least once in their lifetime. You’ll never forget the image of a moose walking across a highway, or Kodiak bears catching salmon as they fly out of the river.
The U.S. Senate approved the purchase of Alaska from the Russian Empire on March 30, 1867 for $7.2 million at 2 cents per acre
- approximately $111 million in today's money - and Alaska became the 49th state of
the U.S. on January 3, 1959.
Alaska can seem daunting, but it is completely do-able as a holiday destination. It is probably best to cut the state up into bite-sized chunks.
There are a wide variety of activities to do on an Alaska Holiday:
The vast state of Alaska has so many glaciers that hundreds don't even have names. See the truly ancient, enormous rivers of ice that sculpted the mountains of Alaska. Or...why not take a flightseeing tour by plane or helicopter? It is an ideal way to
really feel the magnitude of Alaska.
If you would prefer to see the local wildlife, Alaska won't disappoint - bald eagles gather by
the hundreds, Moose cause traffic jams. and Wild Dall sheep skip along roadside
cliffs.
To experience true Alaska wilderness there are many guided trips and tours that can take you to a variety of remote (and not-so-remote) places, where you can enjoy almost any outdoor interest, from kayaking and river rafting, to fly fishing and bear watching.
If your Alaska Holidays is during the summer months, you will enjoy extended daylight hours throughout the state. In Anchorage, for example, the sun rises at 4:30 a.m. and sets as late as 11:42 p.m on the longest day. And in Barrow, the northernmost town in Alaska, the sun doesn't set for 84 days! This phenomenon is aptly called the "Midnight Sun."
However during the winter, the Alaskan sun moves lower across the horizon, which gives the light a rich quality. It is true that during the winter in Alaska, Barrow has no daylight for 64 days, however Anchorage, on the shortest day in December, has 6 hours of daylight. From there, daylight begins to increase (up to 5 minutes a day) until it reaches 19 hours on summer solstice.
Bon Voyage has the luxury of a member of staff who lived in Fairbanks for several years and 2 reservations staff who have visited the state. We can guide you through and help plan an Alaska Holiday adventure you’ll never forget.
Small-Ship Alaska Cruises with CruiseWest
Bon Voyage is pleased to offer a very different small-ship cruising experience with our partner CruiseWest. This is a unique way to see and absorb the wonders of Alaska.
Anchorage Holidays
Located in South Central Alaska, Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska and lies slightly farther north than Oslo, Stockholm, Helsinki and St. Petersburg.
Fairbanks Holidays
Located in the heart of Alaska's Interior, on both shores of the Chena River, Fairbanks is the second largest city in Alaska. In 1902, Felix Pedro found gold
Juneau Holidays
Few cities in the U.S. are as beautiful as Juneau. Not only is Juneau the capital of Alaska, but residents claim it is the most scenic capital in the country.
Kodiak Holidays
The City of Kodiak sits on the north eastern tip of Kodiak Island in the Gulf of Alaska at the crossroads of the most productive fishing grounds in the world. The Port of Kodiak
Mount McKinley - Denali National Park Holidays
Mount McKinley or Denali ("The Great One") is the highest mountain peak in North America, at a height of approximately 20,320 feet. It is the centrepiece of Denali National
Valdez Holidays
In the heart of Prince William Sound and less than 25 miles east of the Columbia Glacier you will find the city of Valdez nestled beneath the Chugach Mountains. The crashing glaciers and towering mountains that rise from the sea provide a “catch your breath” kind of picturesque beauty.
Wasilla Holidays
Wasilla is located forty-five miles north of Anchorage, nestled between Lake Lucille and Lake Wasilla and surrounded by the Chugach and Talkeetna Mountains.
Barrow Holidays
Barrow is the northernmost settlement on the North American mainland and in the United States with nearby Point Barrow being the northernmost point of the U.S.
Nome Holidays
Nome is located on the southern Seward Peninsula coast on Norton Sound of the Bering Sea and only accessible by air or sea. Once the most populous city in Alaska due to the discovery of gold,
Skagway Holidays
A place exists in Alaska where the past lives on, where the cries of "gold in the Yukon" still echo from steep canyon walls; the sounds of bar room pianos
Sitka Holidays
Nestled on the mountainous Baranof Island on the outer waters of the Inside Passage, Sitka is considered by most Alaskans to be the most beautiful sea-side town in Alaska.
Things to see and do
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Yukon Quest
The Yukon Quest 1,000-mile international sled dog race is held every February. It runs from Whitehorse, Yukon to Fairbanks in odd-numbered years and from Fairbanks to Whitehorse in even-numbered years.
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The Iditarod
From Anchorage to Nome each team of dogs and their musher cover 1,049 miles over an 8 to 15 day period.
