Visit Alaska: Free Travel Guide to the Last Frontier Explore the Land of the Midnight Sun, from the Inside Passage to Prudhoe Bay

Alaska is unique among the fifty United States. It is by far the largest state. More than just the the largest in area, it also has the tallest mountains, the longest coastline, and the most land protected in national parks. Alaska has spectacular scenery, rich native culture, diverse wildlife, and incredible fishing.

Visiting Alaska takes some planning. The in-state distances are so large that you can’t just show up and drive around unless you have a lot of time for sightseeing.

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Alaska has a wide variety of locally produced products, and two symbols that indicate a product was made in the state. An official Made in Alaska logo appears on all items made by an Alaska resident or in-state company. Native handicrafts bear a silver hand seal labeled Authentic Native Handicraft From Alaska. Look for these marks when shopping for a real Alaskan souvenir.

Alaska is easily reached by airplane, boat or motor vehicle.

Arrival by Air

Alaska has four major airports located in Ancorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and Ketchikan.

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Speak Like an Alaska Local

Pepper your speech with these words to sound like a real Alaska native.

ALCAN The Alaska-Canadian Highway, or simply the Alaska Highway. Built during World War II to connect the lower 48 to Alaska through Canada. It stretches 1,387 miles (2,232 kilometers) along British Columbia Highway 97, Yukon Highway 1 and Alaska Route 2.

Blizzaks The ultimate snow tire, made by Bridgestone. [Learn More]

Breakup Refers to that moment in spring when the ice melts and rivers flow free.

Bunny Boots  Bulbous white cold weather foot gear. Also called Mickey Mouse Boots because of their uncanny resemblance to the cartoon character footwear. Refers to US military issue Extreme Cold Vapor Barrier Boots (Type II), which will keep your feet warm in temperatures down to -60 degrees F. [Learn more]

Bush Anyplace without roads. This takes in a large portion of Alaska.

Bush Pilot Anyone who flies planes into the bush areas. Common for lodge access, fishing and hunting excursions.

Cabin Any shelter with a roof and four walls offering shelter from the elements. This could mean anything from a luxury vacation home to a plywood and corrugated aluminum shack. A Wet Cabin has indoor plumbing. In a Dry Cabin, the only running water can be found in the nearby trout stream.

Chum Salmon, also called Dog Salmon Lower quality salmon that natives apparently feed to their dogs. Used to disparage taste or quality.

Ice Fog Fog made of ice particles suspended in the air.

Lower 48 The 48 contiguous United States. Includes any American state that isn’t Alaska or Hawaii.

Mukluks, also Kamik Soft caribou or sealskin boots worn by Alaskan native people. Often used for any soft boot made for cold weather.

Ulu A traditional hand knife used by Alaska native peoples for all sorts of things, including skinning and cleaning animals, cutting a child’s hair, cutting food, and trimming blocks of snow and ice used to build an igloo.

Xtratufs, also called Alaskan Sneakers 100% waterproof footwear favored by Alaska fishermen. [Learn more]

In Alaska you are never far from the wilderness, and help in times of trouble is often hours or even days away. Visitors should plan ahead for potential dangers they may face, and always err on the side of caution when vacationing in the outdoors.

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation has an excellent set of webpages chock full of useful safety tips for travelers:

• Avalanches
• Bears and You
• Boating Safety
• Common Sense Survival
• Hypothermia
• River Crossings
• Winter Cold

The best time to visit Alaska is during the summer months, from June to September. Days are long, the sun shines bright, and the weather is relatively warm and clear. May and June are the driest months of the year, but the temperatures are not at their warmest. Rain increases in August and September.

Most tours operate from mid-May to mid-September, although those going to Denali have a slightly shorter season, operating from mid-June to mid-August.

Alaska Temperatures

Generalizations are impossible with an area the size of Alaska. Summer temperatures are surprisingly comfortable, with highs regularly in the 70s and sometimes reaching the 90s. The most extreme temperatures occur in the interior region of the state.

Alaska Daylight Hours

Summer days have significantly longer daylight hours than in the lower 48 states. Use this handy daylight calculator to find out how many hours of daylight there will be where and when you visit.

Alaska Travel Websites

Travel Alaska State Official State of Alaska Vacation and Travel Information portal.

Alaska Wildlife Viewing State of Alaska Department of Fish and Game wildlife viewing portal.

Sport Fishing State of Alaska Department of Fish and Game sport fishing portal.

Hunting State of Alaska Department of Fish and Game hunting portal.

Alaska Travel Guidebooks

Some of our favorites:

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Alaska

Fodor’s Alaska

Lonely Planet Alaska

Moon Alaska Travel Guide

Alaska History Books

Alaska: A History (Naske and Slotnick) A comprehensive history of the state, including many things non-Alaskans never knew happened. Available as an audiobook.

Downloadable Maps

The National Map Get the most up-to-date maps available from the USGS.

Many Alaska communities have well organized information programs for visitors to the state. Here is a list of visitor information centers, chambers of commerce, and convention and visitors bureaus around the state. Contact them directly for the latest activities, attractions, and developments in their respective regions around the state.

Southwest

Aleutian Islands

Aleutian World War II Visitor Center
Unalaska Airport
Unalaska, AK 99685
Telephone: +1 (907) 581-WWII (9944)
Email: [email protected]

Unalaska / Port of Dutch Harbor Convention & Visitors Bureau
487 Salmon Way
Unalaska, AK 99685
Telephone: +1 (907) 581-2612
Toll Free: +1 (877) 581-2612
Fax: +1 (907) 581-2613
Email: [email protected]

Unalaska / Dutch Harbor Bureau
5 East Broadway Avenue
Unalaska, AK 99685
Telephone: +1 (907) 581-2612
Toll Free: +1 (877) 581-2612
Fax: +1 (907) 581-2613
Email: [email protected]

Kodiak Archipelago

Discover Kodiak
100 Marine Way, Suite 200
Kodiak, AK 99615
Telephone: +1 (907) 486-4782
Toll Free: +1 (800) 789-4782
Fax: +1 (907) 486-6545

Inside Passage

Glacier Bay

Gustavus Visitors Association
Faraway Road
Gustavus, AK 99826
Telephone: +1 (907) 697-2454

Northern Region

Haines Convention & Visitors Bureau
122 Second Avenue
Haines, AK 99827
Telephone: +1 (907) 766-2234
Fax: +1 (907) 766-3155
Email: [email protected]

Juneau Convention & Visitors Bureau
Visitor Information Center
800 Glacier Avenue, Suite 201
Juneau, AK 99801
Telephone: +1 (907) 586-2201
Fax: +1 (907) 586-6304
Email: [email protected]

Sitka Convention & Visitors Bureau
104 Lake Street
Sitka, AK 99835
Telephone: +1 (907) 747-5940
Fax: +1 (907) 747-3739
Email: [email protected]

Harrigan Centennial Hall Information Desk
330 Harbor Drive
Sitka, AK 99835
Telephone: +1 (907) 747-8604

Skagway Convention & Visitors Bureau
PO Box 1029
Skagway, AK 99840
Telephone: +1 ((907) 983-2854
Message Line: +1 (888) 762-1898
Fax: +1 (907) 983-3854
Email: [email protected]

Southern Region

City of Coffman Cove on Prince of Wales Island
PO Box 18047
Coffman Cove, AK 99918
Telephone: +1 (907) 329-2233
Fax: +1 (907) 329-2212
Email: [email protected]

Ketchikan Visitors Bureau
131 Front Street
Ketchikan, AK 99901
Telephone: +1 (907) 225-6166
Toll Free: +1 (800) 770-3300
Fax: +1 (907) 225-4250
Email: [email protected]

Prince of Wales Chamber of Commerce
6488 Klawock-Hollis Hwy # 7
Klawock, AK 99925
Telephone: +1 (907) 755-2626
Fax: +1 (907) 755-2627
Email: [email protected]

Petersburg Chamber of Commerce
& Visitor Information Center
PO Box 649
Petersburg, AK 99833
Telephone: +1 (907) 772-4636 (Visitor Info)
Telephone: +1 (907) 772-3646 (Chamber)
Toll Free: +1 (866) 484-4700

Wrangell Convention & Visitors Bureau
1096 Campbell Drive
Wrangell, AK 99929
Telephone: +1 (907) 874-2829
Toll Free: +1 (800) 367-9745
Fax: +1 (907) 874-3785
Email: [email protected]

Southcentral

Anchorage Area

Visit Anchorage
524 West Fourth Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99501
Telephone: +1 (907) 276-4118
Message: +1 (800) 478-1255
Fax: +1 (907) 278-5559

Chugiak-Eagle River Chamber of Commerce
12001 Business Boulevard, Suite 108
Eagle River AK 99577
Telephone: +1 (907) 694-4702
Fax: +1 (907) 694-1205

Girdwood Chamber of Commerce
388 Crow Creek Road
Girdwood, AK 99587
Telephone: +1 (888) 999-9587

The Kenai

Alaska’s Keni Peninsula
35571 Kenai Spur Highway
Soldotna, AK 99669
Telephone: +1 (907) 262-5229
Toll Free: +1 (800) 535-3624
Fax: +1 (907) 262-5212
Email: [email protected]

Cooper Landing Chamber of Commerce
17946 Sterling Highway
Cooper Landing, AK 99572
Telephone: +1 (907) 595-8888
Email: [email protected]

Homer Chamber of Commerce
201 Sterling Highway
Homer, AK 99603
Telephone: +1 (907) 235-7740
Fax: +1 (907) 235-8766

Kenai Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center
11471 Kenai Spur Highway
Kenai, AK 99611
Telephone: +1 (970) 283-1991
Fax: +1 (907) 283-2230

Seward Chamber of Commerce, Conference & Visitors Bureau
2001 Seward Highway
Seward, AK 99664
Telephone: +1 (907) 224-8051
Fax: +1 (907) 224-5353

Soldotna Chamber of Commerce
44790 Sterling Highway
Soldotna, AK 99669
Telephone: +1 (907) 262-9814
Fax: +1 (907) 262-3566

Mat-Su Valley

Mat-Su Convention & Visitors Bureau
7744 East Visitors View Court
Palmer, AK 99645
Telephone: +1 (907) 746-5000
Fax: +1 (907) 746-2688

Prince William Sound

Cordova Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau
404 First Street
Cordova, AK 99574
Telephone: +1 (907) 424-7260
Fax: +1 (907) 424-7259

Valdez Convention & Visitors Bureau
309 Fairbanks Drive
Valdez AK 99686
Telephone: +1 (907) 835-2984
Fax: +1 (907) 835-4845
Email: [email protected]

Greater Whittier Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 607
Whittier, AK 99693

Interior

Alaska Highway

Tok Chamber of Commerce
Mainstreet Visitor Center
PO Box 389
Tok, AK 99780
Telephone: +1 (907) 883-5775
Fax: +1 (907) 883-5773

Fairbanks Area

Explore Fairbanks
101 Dunkel Street, Suite 111
Fairbanks, AK 99701
Telephone: +1 (907) 456-5774
Toll Free: +1 (800) 327-5774
Fax: +1 (907) 459-3757

Denali & Denali National Park and Preserve

Denali Chamber of Commerce
Mile .4 Healy Spur Road
Healy, AK 99743
Telephone: +1 (907) 683-4636

Arctic

Western Arctic

Nome Convention & Visitors Bureau
301 Front Street
Nome, AK 99762
Telephone: +1 (907) 443-6555
Fax: +1 (907) 443-5832