Alaska Cruise & Stay

Chugach State Park, located in southcentral Alaska near Anchorage, is one of the largest state parks in the United States, covering over 495,000 acres of rugged wilderness, mountainous terrain, and pristine landscapes. Established in 1970, Chugach State Park is a beloved outdoor destination that offers visitors a wide range of recreational opportunities and breathtaking scenery.

One of the main attractions of Chugach State Park is its stunning natural beauty and diverse ecosystems. The park is home to towering mountains, including the Chugach and Talkeetna mountain ranges, as well as deep river valleys, alpine lakes, and extensive forests. Visitors can explore scenic hiking trails that wind through old-growth forests, meadows, and alpine tundra, providing access to panoramic views, wildlife sightings, and opportunities for outdoor adventure.

The park is a day-trekker’s paradise, with more than 280 miles of maintained trails for hiking and biking embarking from more than a dozen major trailheads spread from one side of Anchorage to the other. Another 110 miles of routes open in winter to skiing, snow machining, and fat tire biking when there’s sufficient snowfall

In addition to hiking and biking, the park offers opportunities for fishing, wildlife viewing, and boating². The tallest point in the park, Bashful Peak, towers over the lake at a height of 8,005 feet³.

Chugach State Park is not just a park but a gateway to adventure and tranquility⁴. It delivers full-bore Alaskan adventure only minutes from the amenities of Anchorage². Enjoy your visit to this magnificent park! 

Denali National Park and Preserve is a vast, unspoiled wilderness located in the heart of Alaska. Centered around Denali, the highest mountain in North America, the park and contiguous preserve cover over 6 million acres, making it larger than the state of New Hampshire.

The park’s landscape is a mix of forest at the lowest elevations, including deciduous taiga, with tundra at middle elevations, and glaciers, snow, and bare rock at the highest elevations. The longest glacier is the Kahiltna Glacier. The park’s dynamic glaciated landscape supports a diversity of wildlife with grizzly bears, caribou, wolves, Dall sheep, and moose. Summer slopes are graced with birds and wildflowers.

Visitors to Denali are often rewarded with sights that will stay with them the rest of their lives. A golden eagle may be seen soaring off the colorful cliffs at Polychrome Pass, or a herd of Dall’s sheep could be spotted resting along the green shoulder of Primrose Ridge. A massive grizzly bear might ramble over the tundra at Sable Pass. Maybe a caribou will pause on a ridgetop, silhouetted by the warm light of day’s end, or a loon will call across Wonder Lake.

Denali National Park and Preserve offers a range of activities for visitors, from sightseeing and backpacking to mountaineering and research opportunities. Wintertime activities include dog sledding, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling. The park is also a day-trekker’s paradise, with more than 280 miles of maintained trails for hiking and biking.

Whether you’re climbing or admiring, the crowning jewel of the park is the awe-inspiring 20,320-foot Mount McKinley, the roof of North America. This vast region, larger than the state of New Jersey, is mostly untouched by human hands, save for the one park road and a few scattered services. It is known for legendary wildlife and big adventures, from backcountry camping to mountaineering.

Denali National Park and Preserve is not just a park but a gateway to adventure and tranquility. It delivers full-bore Alaskan adventure only minutes from the amenities of Anchorage. Enjoy your visit to this magnificent park! 

The Alaska Native Heritage Center is a renowned cultural institution located in Anchorage, Alaska. It’s a place where visitors can immerse themselves in the rich history and vibrant present of Alaska’s 11 major cultural groups.

The center is divided into two main sections: The Hall of Cultures and outdoor traditional village sites. The Hall of Cultures is filled with exhibits and artifacts that showcase the art, history, and culture of each group. Here, you can find everything from intricate beadwork and carvings to traditional clothing and tools.

The outdoor traditional village sites, on the other hand, offer a unique opportunity to step back in time. Each site is a replica of a traditional dwelling, allowing visitors to get a sense of how these cultures lived in harmony with the harsh Alaskan environment.

Throughout the year, the center hosts a variety of events and workshops, including storytelling sessions, dance performances, and craft demonstrations, providing an interactive and engaging way to learn about Alaska’s indigenous cultures.

In essence, the Alaska Native Heritage Center is more than just a museum; it’s a living, breathing testament to the resilience, diversity, and enduring spirit of Alaska’s Native peoples. Whether you’re a history buff, a culture enthusiast, or simply curious, a visit to the Alaska Native Heritage Center promises to be an enlightening and unforgettable experience.

Alaska’s colossal glaciers are a sight to behold, a testament to nature’s raw power and majesty. These massive rivers of ice, some stretching for miles, dominate the Alaskan landscape, creating a world of blue and white where time seems to stand still.

The glaciers are born high in the mountains, where snowfall accumulates over centuries, compressing into dense, crystalline ice. They inch their way down valleys, sculpting the landscape as they go, carving out fjords and valleys, and leaving behind a trail of moraines.

The blue hue of the glaciers is a mesmerizing phenomenon. When light hits the dense ice, it absorbs all colors of the spectrum except blue, which it reflects back, giving the glaciers their distinctive sapphire glow. This ethereal light show is most pronounced in the deep crevasses that crisscross the glacier’s surface.

Visitors to these icy giants can witness a variety of awe-inspiring sights. There are the calving events, where chunks of ice break off the glacier’s edge and crash into the sea below, sending up a spray of water. There are the ice caves, formed by meltwater, that offer a surreal journey into the heart of the glacier. And there are the icebergs, each one a unique sculpture, that float in the nearby waters.

In short, Alaska’s colossal glaciers are a natural wonder, a place where one can witness the grandeur of nature and the passage of geologic time. They are a reminder of our planet’s past and a barometer of its future, making them a must-see for any visitor to Alaska.

Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska, is a unique urban enclave situated in the heart of wilderness. It’s a place where modern amenities meet natural beauty, creating a lifestyle like nowhere else.

Located in the south-central part of the state, Anchorage is nestled between the snow-capped peaks of the Chugach Mountains and the waters of the Cook Inlet. The city offers stunning views and easy access to the great outdoors. From its doorstep, you can venture into the wild to hike, ski, fish, or spot wildlife.

Despite its remote location, Anchorage is a bustling city with all the conveniences of modern living. It boasts a vibrant downtown area with a variety of shops, restaurants, and cultural attractions, including the renowned Alaska Native Heritage Center and the Anchorage Museum.

The city is also known for its diverse population, which includes a mix of cultures from around the world, as well as a significant indigenous community. This diversity is reflected in the city’s food, art, and annual events.

Anchorage experiences long, warm summer days that are perfect for exploring the many parks and trails in and around the city. In contrast, the winter months offer the chance to witness the spectacular northern lights.

In essence, Anchorage is a city that offers the best of both worlds: the amenities and opportunities of a metropolitan city, combined with unparalleled access to spectacular wilderness. Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, a culture buff, or someone who enjoys the hustle and bustle of city life, Anchorage has something to offer.

Adak, located in the Andreanof Islands group of the Aleutian Islands in Alaska, is a place of rugged beauty and stark contrasts. Known as the westernmost city in the United States, it’s a remote outpost where the untamed wilderness of Alaska meets the vast expanse of the North Pacific.

The town itself bears the marks of its military past. Once a strategic location during World War II and the Cold War, many of its buildings are remnants from this era, lending a unique character to the landscape.

Despite its small size, Adak is surrounded by a wealth of natural beauty. The island is a haven for birdwatchers, with over 100 species of birds known to frequent the area. The surrounding waters are rich in marine life, including sea otters, seals, and whales.

Adak’s climate is subpolar oceanic, meaning it experiences cool temperatures and frequent fog. The landscape is a mix of tundra and volcanic hills, with Mount Moffett serving as a prominent backdrop to the town.

One of the unique features of Adak is its ‘national forest’ - a tongue-in-cheek reference to a small stand of trees that were planted by residents. It’s known as the smallest national forest in the U.S.

In essence, Adak is a place of solitude and natural beauty, offering a glimpse into Alaska’s wild heart and a unique chapter of American history. It’s a destination for those seeking adventure off the beaten path.

The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, are one of nature’s most breathtaking spectacles, and Alaska is one of the best places in the world to witness this phenomenon.

The lights appear when charged particles from the sun interact with the Earth’s magnetic field, creating a dazzling display of shifting light and color. They are typically seen in the polar regions, and Alaska’s high latitude makes it a prime viewing location.

In Alaska, the Northern Lights often appear as a glowing curtain of green light, dancing and rippling across the night sky. However, they can also display a range of other colors, including red, yellow, blue, and purple, depending on the type of gas particles that are colliding.

The best time to see the Northern Lights in Alaska is during the winter months, from September to April, when the nights are longest. The spectacle is most visible on clear, dark nights, away from the light pollution of cities.

Viewing the Northern Lights is more than just a visual experience; it’s a connection to the natural world and the cosmos. It’s a reminder of our planet’s place in the universe, and the unseen forces constantly at play. For many, seeing the Northern Lights is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, filled with awe and wonder. In Alaska, this extraordinary display is just another part of the state’s wild and beautiful landscape.

The Burial Spirit Houses in Alaska are a unique and poignant sight, reflecting the rich cultural traditions of the indigenous Alaskan Athabascan people. These small, colorful structures can be found in the native village of Eklutna, located near Anchorage.

Each spirit house is built over the grave of a departed loved one, serving as a final resting place that honors the individual’s spirit. The houses are traditionally painted in bright colors, often with intricate designs, making them stand out against the natural landscape.

The tradition of building spirit houses is a blend of Athabascan and Russian Orthodox beliefs. The Athabascans believe that the spirit of the deceased lingers on Earth for a period of time after death, and the spirit house provides a shelter for the spirit during this time.

Over the years, the spirit houses have become an important symbol of Alaska’s indigenous heritage. They offer a unique insight into the spiritual beliefs and practices of the Athabascan people, and their respect for the natural cycle of life and death.

Visiting the Burial Spirit Houses is a moving experience, offering a moment of quiet reflection amidst the vibrant colors and peaceful surroundings. It’s a reminder of the rich tapestry of cultures that make up Alaska’s history, and the enduring traditions that continue to shape its present.