Alaska
 
Introduction
 
The state of Alaska is practically an entire natural preserve that is a favored destination to travelers seeking a sense of culture, awe-inspiring scenery and, literally, a breath of fresh air. Known as the "Great Frontier", it conjures images of jagged islands, imposing glaciers and isolated towns. Alaska's natural beauty is trumped only by the exotic array of wildlife that inhabits its unspoiled wilderness, including sea lions, bald eagles, seals, otters, whales, caribou and wolves.
 
Getting Around
 
Because Alaska's terrain is so rugged and challenging, it is a destination that almost always calls for a tour guide. Navigating the state's maze of glaciers, waterways, forests and fjords is a daunting task, and the presence of a guide ensures that you won't miss out on the most heralded natural attractions.
 
If you're interested in scavenging local shops for antiques, handicrafts and other goods, you can venture out on the streets without a guide. Visits to local museums and cultural attractions don't necessarily require a guide either.
 
Examples of shore excursion opportunities in Alaska include:

Sports Excursions

• Snorkel the calm, clear waters of Mountain Point in Ketchikan.
• Enjoy a beautiful mountain bike trek along the Inside Passage.
• Fly-fish for cutthroat, rainbow trout, steelhead and salmon in Ketchikan's freshwater lakes and streams.

Adventure Expeditions

• White water raft along the Mendenhall River in Juneau and view hanging glaciers and towering peaks.
• Paddle a canoe through Tongass National Forest on Mountain Lake in Ketchikan.
• Sled dog across the gorgeous Godwin Glacier in Seward.

• Experience the Gold Creek Salmon Bake in Juneau.
• Visit The Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka and learn about bald eagles, owls and other raptors.
• Stop at important museums in Anchorage, including the Artic Studies Center, the Alaska Native Heritage Center and Wolf Song of Alaska.
• Tour the Totem Heritage Center, a repository of original totem poles in Ketchikan.

• Visit Juneau's downtown specialty shops and find Native Alaska designed jewelry, sculptured totem poles, local art and intricate handicrafts.
• Collect Native American and Russian antiques in Anchorage, such as icons, antique firearms, paintings, maps, jewelry, military memorabilia and more.

Nature Trips

• Immerse yourself in the world's largest temperate rainforest in Juneau via foot.
• Take the wheel of a Jeep Wrangler and navigate through lush rainforests and spectacular mountains of Revillagigedo Island in Ketchikan.
• Ride aboard an old-fashioned parlor train car to White Pass Summit in Skagway.

Historical Tours

• Walk Juneau's famed downtown district and view the St. Nicholas Orthodox Church and the Juneau-Douglas City Museum.
• Traverse Sitka and see Castle Hill, the Russian Blockhouse, the Russian Bishop's Orthodox Cathedral and Victorian-style homes.

Flightseeing Charters

• Fly over the massive Juneau ice field and the advancing Taku Glacier, the cascading Hole-in-the-Wall Glacier and the floating Dead Branch Glacier.
• View the 2,000,000 acres of the majestic Misty Fjords in Ketchikan via plane.
• Glimpse Skagway's tortuous Chilkoot Trail, the gateway to the Klondike Gold Fields, from a helicopter.

Enhance your travel to Alaska by reading about its culture, people and history in these novels: Into the Wild - Jon Krakauer Passage to Juneau, A Sea and Its Meanings - Jonathan Raban The Reader’s Companion to Alaska - Alan Ryan The Call of the Wild - Jack London As Far As You Can Go Without a Passport - Tom Bodett The Wolf and the Raven: Totem Poles of Southeastern Alaska - Viola E. Garfield The Inside Passage - Leftare P. Delis