Karen Hessert, has worked for Alaska Tour & Travel for over 10 years, and has lived in Alaska for over 20 years.  Last summer Karen decided it was time to fulfill her dream of becoming an Alaskan pilot and late in the year she received her private pilot license.  Karen recently said “as I reached another milestone in my journey I looked back and am amazed at all the skills I have acquired as well as the spectacular adventures I have experienced.  Whether I am at Merrill Air Field doing touch and go’s around Anchorage, going out to the practice fields near Big Lake or going on another cross country trip to Fairbanks, Seward, Soldotna, Gulkana or other areas within South central and Interior parts of Alaska I am reminded each time of the precious scenery Alaska has to offer.  Absolutely stunning views and I have the best seat to witness it all.” (more…)

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Alaska is a great place to visit anytime of the year.  The “best” time really depends on what you want to do in Alaska.  For instance – the driest, warmest months don’t offer views of the Aurora Borealis due to extended hours of daylight, so if the Northern Lights are what you are coming to see June is not the best time for you to visit. Most visitors come to Alaska from mid-May to mid-September, with the peak season from June 15th to August 15th.   The peak period offers the most tour options, the best weather and the best wildlife viewing opportunities.  Below is a breakdown of what is great and not so great about different travel time periods.

MAY is a great value time to visit Alaska – the weather is warming up, the trees are blooming and the grass gets greener every day.  Usually, May is a drier month than later in the summer.  Alaska tends to get more rain as the summer goes on.   Temperatures are cool at the start of May and warm up as the month progresses.  The days are long and Alaska begins to bloom.  The trees in Anchorage usually leaf out around May 10th and a bit later than that further north. Keep in mind that the further north you go during early May, the more chance you have of encountering ice and snow that have yet to melt.  Summer is slow to come in Interior Alaska! (more…)

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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…)

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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…)

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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…)

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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…)

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Over 550 photos were submitted for our 2010 Alaska Travel Photo Contest.  Our staff and several other Alaska travel industry managers have spent the last month judging which photo would be selected from among many amazing photos depicting Alaska’s wildlife, scenery, people, and adventure.   This year the photograph Denali Cow and Calf in Amber by Edward Krumanaker has been selected as the Contest’s grand prize winner.    (more…)

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Alaska Tour & Travel has received over 550 photos for its 2010 Photo Contest, a record!  We may not have had our best weather this past summer season, but you would never have known it based on the beautiful photos sent to us over the summer.  We were especially glad to have received many photos and stories from visitors who we helped plan their trip to Alaska. Over the next several weeks we will be selecting the top photos received and will ultimately select the photo who’s owner will receive the Alaskan Gold Medallion. In doing so, we are involving all of our staff and have asked several top Alaskan tourism industry managers to assist us.  We hope to announce the winner of the gold medallion on or before November 24th so that one lucky photographer will have something extra to be thankful for on Thanksgiving!

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