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Regions of Alaska | Seasons | Native Culture | Clothing to Wear Wildflowers | National Parks & Preserves | Wildlife |
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| Introduction
to Alaska Crowning America’s northwest; Alaska is awe inspiring. To capture one highlight or a single aspect to describe this 365 million acre frontier is near impossible. From lush rain forests to grand glaciers and icebergs, Alaska is laced with open seas, holds some of the highest mountains in the world, displays vast scenic lands, striking national parks and an abundance of wildlife. Alaska consists of five distinct regions: Southeast, shaped by glaciers millions of years ago, is full of quiet fjords and peaceful islands forested with hemlock and spruce. It is the traditional home of Haida, Tlingit, and Tsimshian Indians, shared by Russians, prospectors, lumberjacks, and fisherman.  
Southcentral Alaska is home to more than half of Alaska’s residents. This area offers spectacular glaciers, fjords, roadside lakes, beaches, and salmon streams.  Interior Located in the Heart of Alaska, features some of the state’s natural wonders and a wealth of culture and history. Athabascans, farmers, gold prospectors and fur trappers have all found home in the shadow of Mt McKinley. 
Southwest Alaska ranges from the volcanic terrain of Katmai National Park to the windy grasslands of the Aleutian Islands. For the naturalist, few places can compare.  Far North Alaska is a land where legends are passed from generation to generation, modern times combine with traditional subsistence lifestyles. For many visitors, crossing the Arctic Circle can be the most memorable moment of the journey. 
Seasons Summer A common misconception of those living outside of Alaska is that Alaska is cold and covered with snow and ice year-round. Nothing can be further from the truth when recognizing Alaska’s four distinct seasons and Alaska’s warm welcome to visitors. The gradual increase in daylight, over the first few months of the year, eventually presents 22 hours of sunlight on summer solstice (June 21st). Summers are green, rich with flowers and full of life. The midnight sun gives long hours, so long, even Mother Nature forgets to fall asleep. 
Photo Courtesy of Dan Reeder Spring/Fall Spring offers endless opportunities to view new life. In the fall, forests become golden, green and orange with patches of fireweed burning bright red colors into the scenery. Both spring and fall bring wonderful discount prices for travelers. 
Photo Courtesy of Dan Reeder Winter Alaska is swarming with winter activity in the local communities. Alaskans find ways to catch the few hours of daylight in the peak of winter - the secret to avoiding “Cabin Fever”. Alaskans and their visitors stay active with outdoor activities from sledding to snowmobiling, skiing, cross country skiing, dog sledding, ice fishing, ice skating, bon fires, running, walking, snow shoe softball, even golfing and frisby! 
Native Culture To truly understand the diversity of Alaska, the extremes of its terrain and climates, it’s important to get to know Alaska’s first people. Alaska’s native people were encountered in 1741, roughly 100,000 lived in well-defined regions across the state. Their struggle to survive and celebrations are vividly portrayed in art, stories, dances, and song. 
Wildflowers Wildflowers found throughout the land of the midnight sun include: The Alaska Poppy, the Alpine forget-me-not, the Arctic Forget-me –not, Wild Iris, Fireweed, Dwarf Fireweed, the Prickly wild Rose, the Tundra Rose, Rose Hip, Dwarf Dogwood, Arctic Lupine, Nootka Lupine, Cotton Grass, Chocolate Lily, the shooting star, Northern Anemone, Siberian Phlox, Northern Jacob’s Ladder and much more. The majority of these plants bloom from late May through August, when the tundra thaws. Flowers range in color from deep chocolate browns to vivid blues, yellow and magentas. The state flower is the Forget-me-not. 
Photo Courtesy of Dan Reeder Travel Tips 
Business Hours Most Retail stores are open from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Shopping malls usually stay open until 9:00 pm Monday thru Friday. On weekends, many retailers close at 6:00 on Saturday and Sunday. Sometimes not opening at all on Sunday depending on the nature of the business. In Anchorage, Several of the larger grocery stores are open 24 hours a day. Photography Think of a reasonable amount of film to bring for your camera, then double it! Stay armed with large quantities of film, video tape and batteries. Telephone Telephone service is available in all but a few of the very tiniest and most remote villages. Public phones are widely available for local, long distance, and international calls. All of Alaska is covered by the 907 area code. In case of emergency, dial 911 from any pay phone. Tipping 15% of the total bill for good service, in restaurants is a normal tip, 20 percent for very good service. Skycaps helping with luggage at airports expect $1 or $2 per bag. A $5 tip for an especially attentive and cheerful tour guide is generous, but not required. Taxi drivers usually receive 15% of the fare. If you go on a fishing charter, a five or ten dollar tip for the skipper is appropriate, if he does not own the boat. Crew members appreciate $5 or $10 after a full day. Especially if they clean your catch as part of the charge for your trip.
Alaska’s National Parks There are more than 50 million acres of Alaska under the National Park Service, including national parks, preserves, and monuments. Among the most popular are; Denali National Park & Preserve, Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, Kenai Fjords National Park & Preserve, Katmai National Park & Preserve and Wrangell St. Elias National Park & Preserve. The largest national park is Wrangell St. Elias measuring over 13 million acres.
Denali
National Park & Preserve:
Katmai National Park & Preserve: The eruption of Novarupta dramatically transformed the Katmai area in 1912. Now known as the Valley of 10,000 smokes, visitors may observe bears, moose and wolves on their ride to the valley. More than a million red salmon migrate from Bristol Bay to the Naknek system of rivers and lakes to the Brooks area. Salmon is the favorite food of the brown bear. From a platform, bears can be observed nibbling on fish at the falls near Brooks Camp. Fisherman and bear are often viewed seemingly standing shoulder to shoulder fishing in streams. Tundra ponds, in this area, are home to beavers, water-fowl and river otters.
Kenai Fjords National Park & Preserve: 
This park is home to some of Alaska’s hardiest creatures: In addition to moose, mountain goats, black bears and wolverines, you can find sea otters feeding in the icy waters, June and July bring humpback whales and in July and August Orca whales can be spotted. Also viewed are Dall porpoises, minke, gray whales and Steller sea lions. Thousands of birds grace the sheer cliffs of the Chiswell Islands. Year-round boat tours cruise the coast observing wildlife and calving glaciers.
Wrangell St. Elias National Park & Preserve: Wrangell St. Elias is the largest national park in the country. Over 13 million acres, this park is an adventurers dream. Three mountain ranges with some of the highest peaks on the continent are featured along with plentiful glaciers, streams, rivers and lakes. The mountain ranges are habitat for mountain goats, Dall sheep, and herds of caribou. Moose, black and brown bears, even bison share the low-lying areas.
 Black Bear: Black bears out number all other types of bears found in Alaska. The overall black bear population in Alaska exceeds 50,000. Adult black bears range in weight from 200 to 500 pounds. Brown Bear or Grizzly: Brown Bears (commonly known as grizzlies) are generally found in open, treeless areas. Most frequently seen in the evening hours, they can be spotted feeding on vegetation in late spring and fishing for salmon in the summer and early fall. Look for them on beaches, in alpine tundra, and in flourishing subalpine meadows. Brown Bear are distinguished by a hump over its shoulders, long, straight front claws and sometimes concave face.
Caribou: Wildlife spectators can effortlessly find small numbers of caribou to watch, viewing a large herd generally requires the use of aircraft, since the large herds populate remote roadless areas of the state. Alaska is home to around a million caribou in approximately 32 herds, that travel greater distances each year than any other land mammal-up, to 3,000 miles. Their large, concave hooves spread wide for support in snow, soft tundra and function as paddles when they swim.
Photo Courtesy of Dan Reeder Dall Sheep: Dall sheep are found on open, alpine ridges, meadows, or step slopes with rugged cliffs, across some of the most spectacular scenery on the continent. They are poised high above in the rugged mountains of Alaska, where they nimbly run, jump, and gallop along shear rock cliffs. The best time to observe sheep is during May and June, when they come down to the snow-free lower elevations. Some can be seen up close at roadside viewpoints throughout the state. 
Photo Courtesy of Amanda Bauer Harbor Seal: To rest, give birth or nurse seal pups, harbor seals rely on remote, undisturbed reefs and icebergs. They dive to depths of 600 feet and can submerge for more than 20 minutes. Humpback Whale: Most Alaska humpback whale spend the winter near Hawaii. In Alaska, some of the largest concentrations of humpbacks are located in Southeast and Southcentral. Females average 35 tons, typically larger than the male. These large bodied creatures scoop up great numbers of fish with a single lunge to the surface after forming a ring underwater, blowing bubbles, then spiraling upward. Loons: The cry of Loons linger across calm quiet lake areas, this sound is one of the most thrilling in Alaska’s nature. 
Photo Courtesy of Linda Melchert Moose: Spotted most in Spruce forests, willow thickets and fresh water marshes, moose are very much at home anywhere in Alaska. Children are cautioned while walking through neighborhoods to and from school not to step between mother and calf, as the cow moose can be dangerously protective. Moose are commonly viewed strolling down a highway, main road in the city or an Alaskan neighborhood gingerly stepping over 4 foot fences going from yard to yard nibbling along the way. Moose can weigh up to 1,600 pounds. Musk Ox: Musk Ox are social animals that live in small herds. Weighing anywhere from 500 to 900 pounds, with fur 15 to 20 inches long, the musk ox can live comfortably in wind chill factors up to 80 below zero. Polar Bear: The Polar Bear is semi-aquatic, it lives on drifting oceanic ice floes, feeding on seals, whales, walruses, and other marine mammals. Standing 10 feet tall and weighing in excess of 1,200 pounds, polar bears are the largest species of bear in the world. Puffin: Imagine flat webbed feet slapping across the water, leaning forward and taking flight or using the same webbed feet to steer while swimming underwater. The Puffin is somewhat comical in their existence and in looks with their large colorful beaks. They are best viewed high in the grassy sea cliffs and on coastal islands of Alaska. 
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