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to Alaska The journey to Alaska could prove to be one of the main highlights of your Alaska vacation. Whether you fly, drive or sail, be sure to pause, explore, and experience the following unforgettable gateways along the journey to Alaska. Seattle Adventure begins in Seattle. This gateway to Alaska continues to be a favorite destination among travelers. An easy few hours by air with Alaska Airlines, and before you know it you’re in Ketchikan, Juneau, or Anchorage.In Seattle art is lifestyle! Seattle’s cultural scene continues to flourish with respected museums, Opera, ballet, art galleries, festivals, theater and an amazing venue for shopping marathons.
Take a stroll through Pike Place Market. The result is a jubilant, open-air celebration of beautifully displayed fresh regional fruits, vegetables, season flowers, herbs, seafood, spices, cheeses, crafts, fine restaurants, eateries and the highlight, Pike Place fish, where world famous fish mongers toss salmon to new heights! 
Near Pike’s Market, visitors find the Port of Seattle. This area provides more additional festivities to explore and is known for their excellent fresh seafood, tours, departures and accommodations.Consider an overnight or two at the Edgewater Hotel located at the Seattle Harbor, resting over Elliott Bay. Other spectacular adventures in Seattle include scenic golf, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, clamming, and hiking urban parks – Discovery Park (magnolia neighborhood), Seward Park (Lake Washington), Woodland Park Zoo and Rose Gardens. The Alaska Highway Earn a true appreciation of what Alaska is all about; drive there! Climb in an RV, or any vehicle, and begin the ultimate road trip. Amble through northern Canada along the epic Alaska Hwy – formerly the ALCAN and still often referred by that name. You’ll acquire the vaguest sense of what early prospectors and trappers were up against, but you’ll at least realize and appreciate just how far Alaska is from everywhere else.One of the top-three list of road adventures, the Alaska Highway winds through the Yukon’s northern wilderness on into Alaska. Driving the highway from beginning to end will take four or five days, but provide a lifetime of memories. 
Tips for Driving the Alaska Highway (ALCAN) • Canada uses the metric system, so keep in mind kilometers when mapping daily destinations. • Allow 7 to 10 days for the trip from Seattle area to Anchorage or Fairbanks. Double the time if your plan to fish, hike, or camp along the way. • The best time to travel the highway is June thru August, it’s a good time to see wildlife and wildflowers, although it is the peak season. Consider early September, when mosquitoes are gone, leaves are gold, and traffic is lighter. • Weather can be unpredictable, even in the summer. Carry clothing for cold, wet days–and for hot, sunny days. • Gasoline is available around every 50 miles, a great improvement from the old days when motorists needed to bring along extra fuel for between stations. The longest distance without service is about 100 miles in northern British Columbia. The more remote the service station, the higher the price. Don’t count on gas stations being open in the early morning or late at night. Fill your tank before checking in every night. • If you are driving in the mid-summer, don’t drive too late. The long hours of daylight can fool you, there really is a midnight sun! Plan ahead and stick to a schedule so you don’t end up falling asleep at the wheel. • Meals can be expensive along the highway, plan to buy groceries from time to time for a light breakfast or picnic lunch. It is definitely more effective when you are trying to get an early start in the morning, but be sure to stop and enjoy some of the excellent roadhouses along the way for a hearty meal. • Don’t overload your pickup or trailer, frost heaves along the way can break axles and springs. Another good tip for those hauling trailers is to place a piece of plywood over the front of your trailer to shield against rocks. Also, consider a wire mesh screen to place across the front of your vehicle, to help prevent damage to radiators and paint. The modern Alaska Highway is a far cry from the pioneer road that was cut through the bush during World War II. It was a muddy, wiggling, single lane trail fit only for trucks and bulldozers. Today’s Highway is mostly smooth; in Canada it is paved or has a packed gravel with a tar base, and in Alaska it is entirely paved. It is a beautiful drive that may last only 7 to 10 days, but the memories will last a lifetime. As you travel through the Yukon, you will find yourself wondering “is there gold in that there creek?’ Go ahead, try your hand at gold panning. Other fascinating highlights are available; Hike the Chilkoot Trail, experience Kluane National Park and spend time in historic Dawson City. Edgewater Hotel – Seattle www.edgewaterhotel.com • (800) 624-0670 Hotel | The Edgewater Hotel is located 16 miles from the busy SEA-TAC International Airport, and is the only waterfront hotel in Seattle. With the sound of slow, rolling waves, a scenic background of beautiful, snow-capped mountains. The Edgewater rests over the blue waters of Elliott Bay creating an experience that captures the essence of the Seattle area. All guest rooms are furnished with hand-crafted pine furniture, river rock fireplaces, overstuffed chairs, and many great amenities such as in-room coffee service with complimentary Starbuck’s coffee. The Edgewater also offers a wonderful onsite restaurant called Six Seven, which provides outdoor, waterfront dining and an exquisite bar/lounge where guests can relax over a quiet drink at the end of each day’s adventure. 
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