Alaska is an American territory of incredible beauty that possesses a veritable wealth of wildlife. Most people who come to visit Alaska tend to be interested in nature-related trips and experiences more often than not as one would expect. Simply put, there are an incredible number of things to do for the person who’s interested in outdoor activities, but don’t get the wrong idea, there’s also plenty of shopping, shows and fine dining as well.
Here are some of the things that Alaska has to offer:
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Ecotours
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River rafting
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Glacier tours
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Dog-sled rides
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Cruises
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Kayaking
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Hiking
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Gold panning
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Fishing (world class)
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Day tours
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Wildlife viewing
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Sightseeing
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Shopping
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Dining
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Art shows / museums
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Shows
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And much, much more…
For all intents and purposes, it’s best to plan your activities ahead of time by establishing some type of itinerary. If you’re traveling to Alaska through a travel agency they might have taken the time to prepare one for you already. If not, you should really take a moment to examine your options and interests so that you can put together a basic schedule that will cater to your interests and won’t bog you down.
If you’re really into nature and wildlife, you absolutely must get out there and delve into the wild. Perhaps the best way to kick things off is to begin with an ecotour. In essence, these ecotours are little planned “adventures” that take a small group of people across miles of terrain (usually via hiking or rafting, for instance). Most of these tours will be of a fairly light nature, but there are more intense options available if you’re a thrill seeker. Most people choose ecotours because they allow you to experience a wide swath of nature but in a more predictable and controlled context (and with the aid of an experienced professional guide no less). You might start off with some white water rafting and end up fishing for salmon later on in the day only to arrive at your (finely appointed) hotel so that your fish can be prepared fresh for you by a chef. Once you arrive in Alaska you’ll find plenty of brochures offering a variety of different types of ecotours, choose accordingly (or, go online and book one in advance, the choice is yours). For those that have very specific interests, such as fishing or perhaps panning for gold, it’s probably best to simply jump straight into those activities.
The bottom line is that there is an incredible amount of wildlife and nature-related activities for you to entertain yourself with while visiting Alaska, do take advantage of them. For those who really want the “inside track” on what to do, consider speaking with and making friends with some of the locals if possible, they’re going to know where all the best locations are (when it comes to something like fishing, for example).
