Top Tips to Travel Like a Local in Alaska this Summer

Dress the Part:  If you disembark your cruise ship wearing high heels and a designer handbag, then you will stand out in Alaska.  Comfortable layering is key and waterproof is a plus – especially for glacier hiking tours!  In summer, there are actually warm days where you can dress in T-shirts, rainy days where you will need a raincoat, chillier days when you will need to bundle up, so layers will help you enjoy no matter the weather.  Alaskans dress practically with fleeces, rubber boots, jeans, and other layering options.  Dressing like a local will make you not only fit in, but you’ll have the gear you need to stay warm and dry.

Know What to Order:  If you’re looking for a fancy meal, save your appetite for back aboard the cruise ship.  Alaska is known for its deep sea fishing of King Salmon, halibut, and cod and crabbing – you’ll never get fresher seafood than in Alaska.  But don’t order “blue crab,” as that’s an east coast thing – it’s all about the Dungeness crab (Dungee’s) or the Alaskan king crab.  For a light meal, try a halibut sliders or prawns!  Some other local specialties are reindeer sausage.

Immerse Yourself in the Outdoors:  There are few places with such natural beauty as in the state of Alaska.  While there are miles of uninhabited land, you may also want to glimpse an amazing view of Denali, the tallest mountain in North America, visit a glacier and watch whales and dolphins play in the ocean.  You may also want to experience some of the many national parks in Alaska including Denali National Park and be on the lookout for Alaska’s big five – moose, caribou, wolves, Dall sheep and bears.

Remember the Gold Rush:  Certain mining cities in Alaska saw their heyday during the Gold Rush, which you can still see today in souvenir shops, time period reenactments, and the railroad.  Hop aboard the Alaska Railroad in a windowed rail car where you will be able to view wildlife in their natural habitat. You can even sit and sip local brews made in Alaska and enjoy pints of Gold Rush Golden Ale among other local favorites.

Embrace the Culture:  There is a rich Native American culture in Alaska, and many traditions and values are still very much a part of the lives of Alaskans.  Whether it’s tribal rituals or the amazing art, the rich and historic culture of Alaska is unique and impressive.  Check out the totem poles around the state when you visit ports of call.

Know When to Go:  The travel window in Alaska is condensed, and the travel months are from May through September. This is usually when kids are out of school, so Alaska is a great family destination. Also, during the summer months, the sun is up in Alaska for most of the day and night, only setting for a few hours, which adds to the mystique.

See Alaska by Land and Sea:  Many travelers visit Alaska for a cruise, but I recommend adding a few days for a land tour to visit the interior of Alaska.  Check out Denali National Park – to get there, many travelers fly or sail into Seward and take a glass-domed rail car with huge landscape views to Anchorage.  It’s a beautiful ride and a great way to see the countryside, spot animals and travel through the terrain quickly.  If you’ve been to Alaska before, or have the time to add land to both ends of your cruise, don’t miss the Kenai Fjords.  The breathtaking views are worth the time.

Decide How to Get There:  Cruising is a great way to see the Land of the Midnight Sun, allowing you to see multiple ports day after day to see as much of this beautiful land as possible.  Every traveler’s needs are unique, and there are different cruise lines to satisfy those travel needs.  You can visit Alaska in the absolute lap of luxury, enjoy being spoiled on any cruise line, choose a line that is more kid-centric, or take and Alaskan cruise that is all about the nature, secret spots and with an itinerary that can be manipulated to follow a whale pod or have you kayaking up to glaciers.  No matter how you want to see the Last Frontier, I can help you with a cruise line that will suit your travel desires.

Understand the Geography:  There are a few major cruise ports that sail to Alaska:  San Francisco, Seattle, Seward (near Anchorage) and Vancouver. Also, some cruises are roundtrip, while others take you through the entire Inside Passage and you disembark and fly home from a different city than you started.  

Join in on the fun this travel season and head up to the Great White North.  A trip to Alaska is a one of a kind experience and there is a cruise option for all types of travelers.  But hurry, those ships are filling up faster than you think.