culture

Bucket List – Alaska

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anaktuvuk pass, alaska, bucket list, michael deyoung, natural beauty, mt. mckinley,

Juneau Sunset, mark kelley, alaska, sunsetThis week’s bucket list destination is Alaska.  Everyone I know who has ever gone — whether by land, sea or air — comes back and raves about what a wonderful trip it has been.  It definitely seems to be more than just a vacation trip and more like an experience, but then Alaska is America’s final frontier.

I’ve been doing some research and from what I’ve found here are some of the places you won’t want to miss when you visit Alaska:

Denali National Park

denali national park, dall sheep, sheep, alaska, bucket list, michael deyoung, Denali National Park is one of the most popular destinations and home to Mt. McKinley, the highest peak in North America.  Whether you’re going to visit the park by car, bus, air or raft it is one experience you won’t want to miss.  Denali is six million acres of untamed wilderness.  Wild animals, including bears, rams, bears and wolves wander through the park.  It is considered to be a place of peace and tranquility and from looking at the pictures I can understand why.

Mendenhall Glacier

mendenall glacier, matt hage, alaska, south east, tongass national park, bucket listMendenhall Glacier is located about twelve miles from Alaska’s capital, Juneau.  It is surrounded by ice and water and can be reached only by boat or plane. The glacier is twelve miles long and is visible from downtown Juneau.  It is located in the Tongass National Park and is one of southeastern Alaska’s most popular attractions.  The Visitor Center has been offering fireside chats since 1962, and they have children’s programs as well.

The Inside Passage

inside passage, orcas, whales, pods, alaska, bucket list, mark kelley, humpback whalesCruising to Alaska is one of the most popular vacations and you’ll travel the Inside Passage.  But if you don’t go by ship, you can still take a ferry ride along the biggest fjord in North America.  There are lots of options and the trip from Juneau to Skagway can take up to six hours.  If you’re visiting during the summer you’ll experience hundreds of waterfalls from the snow and glacial melt, and maybe even pods of whales and dolphins.

Alaska Art, Culture and History

totem, matt hage, culture, alaskan culture, history, art, native artisansNo trip to Alaska would be complete without learning about the state’s unique Native culture.  There are lots of opportunities to immerse yourself in the culture including  totem carving, Native dancing, the blanket toss, traditional music, crafts and festivals as well as cultural and historical museums,  and heritage centers. There are lots of options to explore the Alaskan Native culture including local artisans and some Russian iconography and museum exhibits.  With all the options you can experience as much or as little  history as you like.

Trips and Tours

anaktuvuk pass, alaska, bucket list, michael deyoung, natural beauty, mt. mckinley, If you’re not sure what to do for your trip to Alaska there are lots of options through cruise lines or even Alaska State websites offering different sites and tour information.  A few I’ve found helpful are listed below.

Travel Alaska – http://www.travelalaska.com/

Denali National Park – http://www.nps.gov/dena/index.htm

Mendenhall Glacier – Targass National Park – https://www.alaskageographic.org/static/847/mendenhall-glacier-visitor-center-juneau

Fodor’s Travel – http://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/alaska/feature_30001.html

Whenever and however I finally get to make my trip to Alaska I’m sure I’ll have memories to last a life time.  How knows, maybe I’ll even be brave enough to go in the winter time so I can see the Aurora Borealis!    Please join me for next week’s trip to India.

  ♥ ♥ ♥