ALASKA HOLIDAY REVIEWS
Alaska
The largest state of the USA, Alaska is separated from the rest of the country by a slice of Canada, its situation in the extreme north-west of the American continent giving it a wilderness landscape of fjords, forests, glaciers and mountains, beset by freezing winters and brief, glorious summers. A holiday in Alaska cruisingmore
The largest state of the USA, Alaska is separated from the rest of the country by a slice of Canada, its situation in the extreme north-west of the American continent giving it a wilderness landscape of fjords, forests, glaciers and mountains, beset by freezing winters and brief, glorious summers. A holiday in Alaska cruisingmore
sublime - Shellii Goldingay. Date of travel: Aug 2004
Sublime: awe inspired by natural landscapes. I just made that up, but sitting on the ferries traversing the Marine Highway in Alaska, it is the word that comes to mind. It is late August and the weather is sunny and warm. The ferries are the largest navicable vessels that can truly get into the Inside passage proper. The cruise ships are too large and have to skirt the outside, open sea in many areas. It leaves the small towns in between comparitavely quite and un-touristy, and the ferry full of amazing locals using one of the only ways to get around this roadless area. Where we expect a driveway of a house to have a car in it, here it's usually a small water plane. Its amazing. I travelled from Bellingham, Washington to Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka and on to Juneau. The days were slow and typically filled with slow lunches, chatting quietly with fellow travellers, reading and napping, and staring out at the beautiful scenery passing by - craggy mountains, waterfalls, glaciers and icebergs, white lighthouses starkly set against the passing of a dark grey rain storm and wildlife abounding. I felt like I had been on safari to see the big five - humpback whales, killer whales, bear, bald eagles and porpoise. I saw them all. The ferries have cabin accommodation or you can stake a camping spot either indoors or outside under the solarium roof, where you can claim a sun lounge for the journey or even literally pitch your tent. Its not cheap but is the most affordable way to travel in the area and, I think the most rewarding. The ferries have restaurants and a shop, show movies in the evening and have, during the summer season, rangers on board who give talks during the day about the local wildlife - animal and human. I loved Ranger Bob who turned up with a flotilla of stuffed animals to show us the inhabitants of the land we travelled. Allow plenty of time for stopping along the way - there are not many places in the world that are like this and it is worth the stilling of your heart and mind in this mad world we live in. Enjoy!
Sublime: awe inspired by natural landscapes. I just made that up, but sitting on the ferries traversing the Marine Highway in Alaska, it is the word that comes to mind. It is late August and the weather is sunny and warm. The ferries are the largest navicable vessels that can truly get into the Inside passage proper. The cruise ships are too large and have to skirt the outside, open sea in many areas. It leaves the small towns in between comparitavely quite and un-touristy, and the ferry full of amazing locals using one of the only ways to get around this roadless area. Where we expect a driveway of a house to have a car in it, here it's usually a small water plane. Its amazing. I travelled from Bellingham, Washington to Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka and on to Juneau. The days were slow and typically filled with slow lunches, chatting quietly with fellow travellers, reading and napping, and staring out at the beautiful scenery passing by - craggy mountains, waterfalls, glaciers and icebergs, white lighthouses starkly set against the passing of a dark grey rain storm and wildlife abounding. I felt like I had been on safari to see the big five - humpback whales, killer whales, bear, bald eagles and porpoise. I saw them all. The ferries have cabin accommodation or you can stake a camping spot either indoors or outside under the solarium roof, where you can claim a sun lounge for the journey or even literally pitch your tent. Its not cheap but is the most affordable way to travel in the area and, I think the most rewarding. The ferries have restaurants and a shop, show movies in the evening and have, during the summer season, rangers on board who give talks during the day about the local wildlife - animal and human. I loved Ranger Bob who turned up with a flotilla of stuffed animals to show us the inhabitants of the land we travelled. Allow plenty of time for stopping along the way - there are not many places in the world that are like this and it is worth the stilling of your heart and mind in this mad world we live in. Enjoy!
The last frontier - Sue and James Mather. Date of travel: Jun 2003
Alaska is definitely the last frontier, large untouched-by-human-hand land, the back and beyond. We loved the openness, the space, natural beauty, people, wildlife and history. Wildlife is evident everywhere and the whole country feels like one big national park. We had numerous interesting conversations and heard many an anecdote from the locals - everyone is friendly and most seem to have led unusual lives, a world apart from our own - we met former gold prospectors, fishermen and trail guides with names like Chuck, Art or Tye.
Alaska is definitely the last frontier, large untouched-by-human-hand land, the back and beyond. We loved the openness, the space, natural beauty, people, wildlife and history. Wildlife is evident everywhere and the whole country feels like one big national park. We had numerous interesting conversations and heard many an anecdote from the locals - everyone is friendly and most seem to have led unusual lives, a world apart from our own - we met former gold prospectors, fishermen and trail guides with names like Chuck, Art or Tye.
Dropping the average age in Alaska - Tom, Jackson, Elana. Date of travel: May 2003
Alaska seemed to be full of elderly package tourists or oldies travelling in hired recreational vehicles, self-sufficient homes complete with pet dogs at the window. We felt like we had lowered the average age by a lot! Flew into Anchorage over snow-capped mountain peaks which was absolutely amazing and then straight to Denali National Park for some back country camping and hiking. A cool experience to take the bus into the park with the rest of the oohing and ahhing tourists, and then step out with our backpacks into the middle of the wilderness and just walk away from them all - wicked!
Alaska seemed to be full of elderly package tourists or oldies travelling in hired recreational vehicles, self-sufficient homes complete with pet dogs at the window. We felt like we had lowered the average age by a lot! Flew into Anchorage over snow-capped mountain peaks which was absolutely amazing and then straight to Denali National Park for some back country camping and hiking. A cool experience to take the bus into the park with the rest of the oohing and ahhing tourists, and then step out with our backpacks into the middle of the wilderness and just walk away from them all - wicked!
CHOOSE A DESTINATION IN ALASKA
| Hotels in Alaska | User Rating |
| 4-Star Hotels |
| Ridgewood Wilderness Lodge | | * * * * * | |