My wife and I honeymooned in Alaska and had the most breathtaking experience on the Prince William Sound cruise. The water was incredibly calm, and the glaciers magnificent. Dinner was also fantastic. Stephen Z. from Montreal, QB - March, 2009
They provided a wonderful experience for our family. The day tours were AWESOME. We will try to do this every year!! Levi G. from Bloomington, IN - May, 2009
What a lovely experience we had! I will recommend this place to anyone who is coming to Alaska. You have a wonderful staff, very friendly and welcoming. THANKS! Steve Y. from Kenwood, PA - August, 2008
The natural world has always been
central to the Alaskan way of life. Native people harvested the land and seas
for animals and plants used for food, clothing, and materials. Early non-native
explorers came to collect animal pelts. Settlers near the turn of the 19th
century extracted riches in the form of gold, minerals like copper and zinc,
and, more recently, fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. Most recently,
another of Alaska's natural resources, perhaps it's very finest, has become
increasingly important for residents and visitors alike: wild, unspoiled beauty.
Alaska is unique among the 50 states. Some of its traits can be summarized with
exemplary titles: America's largest national parks, highest mountain, most
public land, lowest population density, largest area. Many people still live off
the land. Most of the state is not connected by roads. Bears, wolves, moose, and
caribou still freely roam.
For these reasons and many more, Alaska's tourism industry is quickly becoming a
key part of the state economy. During the summer of 2007, Alaska saw 1.7 million
visitors bring in over $1.8 billion.
Visitors can be divided into roughly two groups: cruise guests and independent
travelers.
The majority of Alaskan travelers arrive by cruise. Most cruises tour the inside
passage with possible stops in Ketchikan, Sitka, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay
National Park, Valdez, Seward, Anchorage, and more. These cruises are a great
way to see Southeast Alaska and the wide variety of marine animals and beautiful
scenery it has to offer.
The other large segment of guests are "independent travelers." Traveling outside
of guided groups, these guests tour the mainland as well as marine areas that
can't accommodate large cruise ships. Popular destinations for this segment
include Anchorage, Denali National Park, Fairbanks, and other large state
recreational areas. Transportation is via rental car, motorcoach, train, or air.
Often, these independent trips are taken before or after a cruise.
With pristine wilderness becoming increasingly rare in the lower 48 and
throughout other parts of the world, Alaska's unique, preserved, beautiful
places are becoming increasingly precious. The Alaska tourism industry is here
to help the world appreciate the state's unique beauty while keeping its people
and economy healthy and secure.
