My Favorite Travel

Alaska is the largest state in the American union and shares the western part of the North American Arctic with Canada.  Though it has all the technological benefits of the modern age, “The Land of the Midnight Sun” retains the frontier spirit of the pioneers who went there in search of gold and adventure.  Of course, Alaska adventure travel is much easier today than it was in the late nineteenth century.  Magnificent wilderness parks are just a few miles drive from the downtown areas of Alaska’s major cities.

One great type of Alaska adventure travel is cruising.  There are cruises in Prince William Sound and through the islands of Alaska’s panhandle, that strip of  coastal land between British Columbia and the ocean.  Cruise passengers see some of the most spectacular coastal scenery in the world, and can witness the “birth” of an iceberg when huge chunks of ice fall from glaciers into the sea.  This is called “calving”.  The waters off Alaska are also splendid for whale watching.

If you would like your Alaska adventure travel to be on water but in smaller craft, there are canoe trips that will take you up mighty rivers and across jewel-like lakes.  Some canoe tours include overnight camping on islands.  You can canoe for days on Alaska’s river and lakes, and not see another human being.

Of course, in this wilderness land backpacking is a very popular form of Alaska adventure travel.  There are well-marked, easy trails for those who do not want too strenuous an experience.  For hikers who are in good physical shape, are well experienced, and want something more challenging, there are trailless hikes.  This means that about three-quarters of Alaska’s boundless outdoors is there for you to explore.  However, this type of backpacking can be dangerous unless you really know what you are doing.  Before venturing on such a hike, contact an Alaska Public Lands Center.

Alaska’s Mount McKinley is the highest mountain in the United States, so it is not surprising that mountain climbing draws people to Alaska adventure travel.  For anglers, Alaska is a paradise for fly fishermen and bait fishermen alike.  In fact, almost everybody in Alaska fishes for recreation.  The principal game fish are salmon, halibut and trout.

Winter sports, of course, are popular in this most northern state.  There is only one actual ski resort for the simple reason that snow covered mountains are everywhere.  Cross-country skiing is much more popular among Alaskans than downhill skiing.  For something really different on your Alaskan adventure travel, there are dogsled outfitters who can guide you on a dog-mushing expedition into the back country.  Summer or winter, Alaska is a great place for an adventure vacation.

For more great information about Alaska Adventure Travel visit our “Alaska Adventure Travel” Guide.

Most people love the idea of family adventure travel.  The notion of mother, father and the kids doing something together that is fun and adventurous would initially seem fool proof.  But family adventure travel is the sort of vacation that must, perhaps more than any other adventure trip, be carefully thought out and well planned, if the vacation is to be a success.

Some families have the enviable situation in which all of the children are willing to go anywhere and do anything the parents suggest.  Camping, sailing, staying at a dude ranch – the kids are all game.  Not all families, however, have that luxury.  Perhaps one or more of the children don’t like the vacation the parents have suggested.  In that case, it could be a good idea to have a family discussion in which all can participate.  The parents could explain all the available options, and maybe a course of action satisfactory to all would develop.

In choosing a destination and activity for family adventure travel, parents must take a number of things into consideration.  Is this trip really suitable for small children?  If it involves long car rides, have the parents considered means of keeping the children from becoming bored?  Many vehicles now have video equipment of course, but if that isn’t available there are games and other diversions for children’s entertainment during long drives.

When parents are packing children’s clothing for the trip, they should anticipate bad weather.  It’s better to have those sweaters and not need them, than to need them and not have them.  What about medications?  If a child’s medicine should run out, will it be available where the family is going?  Maybe a spare bottle would be a good idea.  If a child should be hurt or become ill during family adventure travel, how readily available is good medical care, and what kind of insurance coverage do the parents have?

Imagine that you and your spouse and children are on a Caribbean cruise.  The ship stops at an island port for a day of shopping and sightseeing.  In the crowded marketplace one of the children becomes separated from the rest of the family.  Such things do happen.  Have you and your family talked about what to do in such and event?  Has a meeting place been pre-arranged?  Does the child have identification?  Does he or she know where to go for help?  Do the parents know where to go for help?

Many tour operators offer packages especially designed for family adventure travel.  Their tours are kid friendly, because they want families to be repeat clients.  But when it comes to family adventure travel that is both fun and safe for kids, the main responsibility lies with the parents.

For more great information visit our “Alaska Adventure Travel” Guide.