Alaska, the largest state, has 350 million acres and a long craggy coastline where its international visitors or travelers from the lower 48 states can find adventures. While ecotourists connect with the wilderness, glacier watchers in elegant cruise ships traverse along the Inside Passage near Juneau, the capital city. Photo-vacationers and other visitors to Alaska observe a variety of wild life like moose, elk, mountain goats, caribou, and various types of bears and deer. Bird watchers like to observe varieties of owls, eagles, ospreys, cranes, puffins, and swans, to name a few. Hunters love the challenge of Alaska's big and small game while sport fishermen enjoy the excitement of fishing on open sea or in the inland waters where they fish for arctic grayling, brook trout, Chinook salmon, lake trout, northern pike, or sockeye salmon at fly-in fishing camps. Whale, polar bear, sea lion, walrus, sea otter, and seal watching can become an entire vacation. However, there is nothing like quietly sea kayaking along the rocky coastline and watch flocks of birds, see massive glaciers dip down to the sea, or bears meandering on the beach looking for food.

Alaska offers four-season destination vacations. In the winter with its six to 13 hours of daylight and average temperature of 20oF, adventurers can drive teams of sled dogs, snowshoe, ski (Nordic or Alpine), ride in horse drawn sleds, observe the wildlife, race snowmobiles, and take advantage of the solitude and challenge of winter backpacking. The other seasons offer the natural beauty of wild flowers, colorful foliage, and sparkling lakes and streams. Local museums boast Native Alaskan culture, Russian iconography, and Asian artifacts that are unique. In communities like Nome where half of the population is Native Alaskan, visitors can learn about the historic gold rush days or traditional crafts, activities, and dancing while waiting for the Iditarod Sled Dog Race to end. Getting around Alaska is not difficult because many of the towns and villages have air service. Nome, for example, has daily jet service from Anchorage.

Alaska has four distinct regions for vacation destinations: South West (Aleutian Islands), South Central, Inside Passage, Far North, and Interior. The Arctic Circle cuts through the Far North and Interior Regions. Anchorage, which is in the South Central Region, is on the Cook Inlet and surrounded by mountains. Hikers, climbers, and backpackers find the trails in this region challenging. Healy is in the Interior Region and open-year round because it is 12 miles north of the spectacular Denali National Park with North America's largest mountain. Not only hikers and backpackers flock to Denali, but it is perfect for mountain bikers. Mountaineers find the challenge of a month-long expedition to the summit of Mt. McKinley very exciting--a once in a lifetime experience!

The Matanuska-Sustina Valley and Kenai Peninsula offer a variety of exciting outdoor adventures, including rafting, fishing, river kayaking, climbing, hiking, backpacking, camping, birding, fishing, and canoeing. Kayakers also go to the Aleutian Islands for sea kayaking adventures.

Driving to Alaska in an adventure for the hardy traveler who enjoys breathtaking scenery and camping along the way through Canada. Major Alaskan airports have regular flights from the lower 48 states for visitors in a hurry to get there. Other visitors enjoy the luxury of arriving by cruise ship. While grand hotels are in the cities, travelers can find all types of lodging, especially, quaint bed and breakfasts, and restaurants with authentic cuisine available throughout Alaska.