A recent visit to Juneau reminded me how fortunate Alaskan’s are to have such an abundance of fresh, local seafood available to us.  In Juneau for meetings, I had the opportunity to splurge on Alaskan king crab, Alaska salmon kabobs, and salmon cakes.   One of my favorite restaurants in Juneau is The Twisted Fish – it specializes in Alaska seafood and is popular with both locals and visitors.  As a result of my trip to Juneau, I have fresh enthusiasm for including Alaska seafood in meal plans this winter. 

Returning to Anchorage, I took a poll around the office asking what they think the best seafood restaurants are around the State, so if you are visiting Alaska be sure to check out some of these restaurants our staff themselves seek out when they want fresh Alaskan seafood:

Anchorage:      Simon & Seafort’s
Juneau:              Twisted Fish
Fairbanks:        Pikes Landing
Skagway:           The Fish Company
Seward:             Resurrection Roadhouse
Talkeetna:        Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge (more…)

Comments(0) |  Email This Post |  Print This Post

Congratulations to Doug Croft whose photo Yearling Cub was selected as this year’s Alaska Travel Photo Contest winner. Doug is from San Jose, California.  Doug and his wife visited Alaska for a week in the summer of 2010 after many years of dreaming about coming to Alaska, and in particular traveling to Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park. Doug describes the opportunity to take the photograph as “The picture was one of the last that I took before we had to depart Brooks and has been our favorite of the trip.  We were ready to leave the viewing platform and go back through the woods to the lodge when we stopped to watch this little guy “fishing” with his mom…he was actually getting in her way.  He suddenly got quite agitated and bolted from the water and up a tree right next to the platform where we were standing, providing the perfect photo op.” 

While in Alaska, the Croft’s also traveled via the Alaska Railroad to Seward, kayaked in Resurrection Bay then took a day cruise into the Northwestern Fjord area.  They hiked Exit Glacier and visited the Iditarod championship Seavey Kennels. Doug was constantly amazed at opportunities to view Alaska wildlife and scenery during their trip to and ran out of superlatives to describe it. (more…)

Comments(0) |  Email This Post |  Print This Post

Some of the most common questions that we receive at Alaska Tour & Travel are about the Alaska Railroad.  It is amazing how many people believe that the Alaska Railroad runs through Canada all the way to the lower 48 States. 

The history of the Alaska Railroad  involves many ownership changes. The Alaska Railroad was started in Seward in 1903 under the name of Alaska Central Railroad.  They completed 51 miles of track before going bankrupt in 1907.  In 1909, the Alaska Northern Railroad Company purchased the railroad and completed 21 more miles of track.  In 1914, the federal government purchased the line with the intent of creating a direct route between Seward and the town of Fairbanks in the interior of Alaska.  President Harding drove the final spike that completed the railroad in 1923.  In 1985, the State of Alaska purchased the railroad from the Federal Government. 

The railroad is a valuable link between the interior of Alaska and the ice free ports of Seward and Whittier.  The railroad continues to operate both freight and passenger services.  The passenger service offers not only transportation from point A to point B but has the benefit of incredible Alaskan scenery along the way. Alaska Tour & Travel offers many rail vacation packages that feature travel on the Alaska Railroad. (more…)

Comments(0) |  Email This Post |  Print This Post

Another beautiful day to drive along the Cook Inlet; the tide was out so no chance to see the Beluga Whales, but the mud flats were interesting with many waterfalls and glaciers in the distance; had to slow down for the Dall Sheep near the roadside. Denise, my friend Carol’s sister from California, was excited. Leaving from Anchorage, our drive took about thirty minutes to get to the tunnel entrance, the only way to get to Whittier by car. Denise was a bit apprehensive driving through a two and half mile tunnel on railroad tracks. Me too; hadn’t done it for a long time. It was cool; we were in and out in five minutes but it seemed like fifteen. The tunnel had lights and nice restrooms at both ends. We arrived early so waited and watched the train have its turn. Another five minutes out of the tunnel and we were parked.

Whittier is totally Alaskan. I don’t think it’ll ever grow up. I love to watch the diversity of humanity enjoying their independence; doing what they like to do best near the most beautiful stretch of water in all America. Boats everywhere-such a sight. I’ve never seen so many boats, all kinds: little dinghies, huge beautiful private cruise-like boats, floating in the water or parked on lots near where we parked our car. A few more steps and we were on the ramp shaking hands with the smiling crew as we boarded our own beautiful boat, Major Marine Tour’s Emerald Sea. (more…)

Comments(0) |  Email This Post |  Print This Post

We’re excited to be able to award Two “Dancers” by Alaska Inupiat Native artist Tony Weyiouanna Jr. as the grand prize for this year’s winning photo in our annual Alaska Tour & Travel Photo Contest.  Valued at $650, the beautiful carvings are made of antler, walrus, ivory, baleen, and polar bear fur and can be viewed all summer in our display at the Anchorage Museum Shop at 625 “C” Street in downtown Anchorage. (more…)

Comments(2) |  Email This Post |  Print This Post

My friend Elaine and I had the opportunity to visit the Kantishna Roadhouse this past week, a true journey into the wilderness, yet with the comforts of home:  home spun, healthy meals, up-to-date firm mattresses on the beds, good shower heads, fresh coffee early in the mornings, and best of all the sweetest and most pleasant service personnel and guides one could ever ask for.

I loved the peace and quiet of the surrounding woods around the cabins and sounds of the rambling brook in front of the roadhouse. Sitting in a rocking chair, soaking in the warm sun, and listening to the birds chirping was just what I wanted to do as I left behind the hectic city of Anchorage, the usual phone calls, and my busy fingers at the computer.  Elaine enjoyed the hiking more than I did. We did get a van ride up to Wonder Lake to see the mountain. It’s the closest either of us had been. The sun was shining with just a touch of cloud at the tip. Wow! What a sight. (more…)

Comments(1) |  Email This Post |  Print This Post

We’re always on the look out for adventures which get visitor’s off the beaten path and that can reasonably be experienced in a day or less while in Denali National Park or in the South Denali – Denali State Park region.  So working with two of our local Alaska guide services, we’re excited to be able to showcase two new adventures which we’re sure will be among the highlights for visitors this summer.

The Denali State Park Raft & Kayak adventure starts with a visit to Byer’s Lake in Denali State Park, one of my own favorite places to visit.  Byer’s Lake is located in a pristine setting at the foot of the Kesugi Ridge and offers spectacular views of Mt. McKinley.  Along with your guide, you’ll use sit-on-top kayaks to paddle through the tranquil waters while on the watch for resident trumpeter swans, loons, and beavers. If you haven’t ever tried a sit-on-top kayak before you shouldn’t worry as they are easy to use even for new kayakers. One of the highlights for me while at Byer’s Lake is kayaking over pools of spawning salmon – I’ve also seen signs of bears along the far shore of the lake and the local guides say they occasionally see them from a safe distance away while kayaking. 

From Byer’s Lake you’ll head to a unique, Alaskan lodge & café called Mary Cary’s where you’ll have lunch while enjoying views of Denali and the Alaska Range. Then its onward to your launching ground on the Chulitna River to embark on a peaceful, scenic raft trip that takes you through the stunning Chulitna Canyon and ends 19 miles downstream in the town of Talkeetna.  Transportation is provided from both Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge and McKinley Princess Lodge, or if you have your own car you can meet the guides at Byer’s Lake and they’ll bring you back to your car at the end of the day.

(more…)

Comments(0) |  Email This Post |  Print This Post

Passport Day in the United States is April 9th and in recognition of that day we thought we’d take the time to answer a few questions we get regularly about what travel documents are needed to travel to Alaska. Alaska became the 49th state of the United States on January 3rd, 1959 however Alaska is separated from the rest of the contiguous United States by Canada.  Check out our map if you want to see how Alaska borders Canada, not the Northwest United States! This international border creates a unique passport situation.   All foreign travelers  need a passport from their country to enter the United States.  As a U.S. citizen, whether you need a passport for your Alaska vacation depends on how you are getting to and from Alaska. (more…)

Comments(0) |  Email This Post |  Print This Post