Bucket List: Alaska

Alaska makes an appearance on a lot of people's bucket list. It's an incredible adventure to experience the wilderness, animals, and the glaciers. I recommended heading to Alaska sooner rather than later because the Glaciers are melting. I went for the first time in 2005 and I was shocked when I returned in 2015 to see how much some of the glaciers had receded.  

Let’s explore Alaska!

First, the way a lot of people experience Alaska is from a cruise ship.

You have the choice of sailing one-way between Alaska and Seattle or Vancouver or round trip from Seattle or Vancouver. I call the roundtrip sailings “Alaska Lite”.  This is a great way to get a taste of Alaska if you have limited time or don’t want the long flight up to Anchorage.

If you really want to see Alaska, you’ll want to spend some time on land. Booking a one way cruise creates the opportunity to add on a land tour. Princess Cruise Lines is my recommendation for an Alaska cruise if everyone coming is an adult. They have an incredible Alaska program. Naturalists come on board to help you spot animals, give the history, and point out all the amazing scenery as you cruise through the Inside Passage. Princess also brings on lecturers in each port. We heard from a man who built his own homestead and a woman who raced in the Iditarod.  

If big cruise ships aren’t your jam, a small expedition ship like those used by un-cruise could be for you. This is a fleet of small ships: 22 to 84 guests.  These cruises have unique itineraries. They provide round trip itineraries completely in Alaska. You can sail round trip from Juneau or one way between Juneau to Sitka. This gives you more time to explore the islands and sounds. One cool thing about the cruise is that the bridge is open. See if this means you can go up and talk to the captain whenever you want.

For those of you who aren’t interested in a multiple day cruise, I can customize a land-based itinerary focused on your interested. You could join a motor coach bus tour or explore via the Alaska railroad. In 2015, we rented a car for 9 nights to explore from Denali National Park to Seward. We jokingly called it the bears, brews, and whales tours.  

I would love to plan an amazing Alaska vacation for you and your family. Please email Angie@TripswithAngie.com to get started.