FAQ's about Anchorage and Alaska Vacations

When is the best time to visit Alaska?

• The best time to visit Alaska would depend on what you want to see or do. Many of our visitors are interested in visiting places like Anchorage, Denali National Park, Fairbanks, Valdez, Prince William Sound and Seward just to name a few. Most tourist activities are timed around the summer visitors but there is so much more to Alaska that is only available in the winter months. Snowmobile riding, extreme skiing, and ice climbing are very popular winter events here each year.
• Another consideration to take into account is the weather. The spring time and early summer months typically sport the best weather for touring in Alaska. Rainfall is typically at it's lowest and the days are getting warmer and longer.

When is the Summer Solstice and where are the Solstice Festivals in Alaska?

• Summer Solstice happens each June 21^th when the longest day of the year brings on some happy Alaskan festivals all across the state. As for where the festivals are, and there are many of them, we will look at just those most visited by the tourists here in Alaska. We have decided to add an entire page devoted to the Alaska Summer Solstice Festivals and another for the Alaska Winter Solstice Festivals. Be sure to check them out as there is lots of fun stuff in them.
  • There are many places on earth where people go to enjoy the summer sun. None, however, can quite compare to a trip to Alaska to experience the summer solstice festivals from the northern hemisphere most northern cities. Imagine it, nearly a full 24 hours of summer sun and endless festivals and crazy Alaskan events that mimic the festivities of the Klondike gold mining days.

How far is Anchorage from Denali, as well as Fairbanks from Denali?

• Anchorage is around 240 miles from Denali and Denali about 120 miles from Fairbanks, this is presuming that you are driving along the popular George Parks Highway.

What types of transportation are available to see Alaska in the summer, winter?

• Rental cars, SUVs and RV’s are popular and available in abundance in Anchorage and other major Alaskan cities. Other means of travel into these areas include the fleet of Alaska Bush Planes located at Lake Hood, scheduled tour busses, a couple shuttle services, a large armada of cruise options and the Alaska Railroad. The Alaska Railroad operates year-round service between Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali, and Fairbanks with trains from Anchorage to Seward and to Whittier that operate only in the summer months.

When is the best time to see whales?

• Whale watching is the best during the middle of May through the middle of September. Beluga whales are spotted from shore around Anchorage in the waters of Cook Inlet and Turnagain Arm. Beluga whales of Cook Inlet have been placed on the endangered species lists as their numbers have been greatly declining since the oil and gas production increased in the early 70's.

When are the insects the worst?

• Insects are a real pest during the summer months, most peak in June but there are plenty here until the first freeze arrives in the late fall.

What are the Top 10 major attractions people come to see or experience in Alaska?

• Glaciers
• Denali National Park
• Trans-Alaska Pipeline
• Alaska Salmon Fishing, Fly Out Wilderness Fishing Trips
• Alaska Whales, Sea Otters and Marine Life
• Wildlife Viewing - Bear Viewing
• Native Arts & Culture
• McCarthy & the Historic Kennecott Copper Mine
• Dawson City & The “Top of the World Highway”.
• Kenai Fjords National Park

Where can I view the most wildlife?

• This depends on the type of wildlife you would like to view. Moose, bear, sheep, caribou and Arctic Fox are among the most frequently seen mammals, along with the occasional coyote, lynx, wolf, beaver, otter, mink, wolverine, or hare. Brown bear viewing is best with one of the Alaska air charter services located at Lake Hood. Tours leave daily through-out the summer months.

What varieties of birds are there in Alaska?

• Birding has become very popular in recent years and birdwatchers that come to Alaska will enjoy the large numbers of bald eagles as well as the vast numbers of hawks, jays, loons, puffin, woodpeckers, and ptarmigan, as well as the migratory waterfowl like swans, geese, and ducks that nest here each summer.

Denali Bus Tours See bears, caribou and wolves in their natural habitat.	Exit Glacier, Seward AK. Take a drive or ride on a tour bus to the base of “Exit Glacier”.	Bear Viewing Tours Throughout Alaska, bears are one of the top attractions.	Anchorage Wildlife Viewing Be sure to visit the “Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center”, Girdwood.

How far is Denali from Anchorage?

How far is Mckinley from Anchorage?

We hope we have supplied adequate information on our website to answer any questions you may have about planning a trip to Anchorage Alaska. Naturally there is more to an Alaska vacation planning than just what is included here as we all are looking for something different from our vacation. Wilderness, wildlife viewing, the Northern Lights, are just some of the activities waiting to be experienced. Fly out for a day of brown bear viewing or fishing, you won't regret it. Golfing and souvenir shopping are available within driving distance of the Hotels in Anchorage.

Whittier to Anchorage Bus Services will travel through the Whittier train tunnel and then up along the scenic byway known as the Turnagain arm portion of the Seward Highway. This is a great area to see some Alaska wildlife including goats and sheep, moose and beluga whales.

Whittier to Anchorage Bus Service.

The Alaska Railroad, Alaska Limo Tours, Alaska Shuttle, and Anchorage and Whittier Bus service offers service to Whittier from Anchorage, and many other smaller companies also have transportation to and from Whittier for day tours or offer limited bus transportation from Anchorage as well.