With fifty states and a gigantic landmass, the United States encompasses a variety of terrains and landmasses.
Alaska is one of the most unique, and it seems that cruise lines have recently realized this too, as some of the largest lines including Holland America and Celebrity Cruises now have lots of cruises to Alaska.
But with all the other places to go on a cruise - the Caribbean islands, Hawaii, Asia, the Aegean, Mediterranean, Europe and others, why choose Alaska? Does it really have anything unique, anything that sets it apart? It absolutely does.
One of the best things about Alaska is its wildlife.
Anchorage, Alaska may seem like any other North American city at first, but it's probably not a common thing in other cities to have moose running around the city, and Anchorage has plenty.
It's not difficult to spot grizzly and black bears either.
Bear watching is something that many cruisers like to do, and they're not often disappointed, as, at times, bears can be seen "fishing" or simply taking a quick bath.
The famous Denali National Park are places that are common excursions, and have lots of bears.
The Macneil River Sanctuary is where visitors can actually see bears fishing for salmon! A few cruises also pass by the Kenai Fjords, where bears can be seen on the mountain slopes.
Bald eagles also abound in Alaska, and Haines is where a gigantic population can be found.
Apart from these animals, caribou are not difficult to sight, and sometimes not even to approach.
They can also be found at Denali National Park.
In the water, beluga whales, killer whales and humpback whales make cruising go from good fun to simply breathtaking, but they aren't alone in the water.
You'll see seals , puffins, sea otters, sea lions and several other critters too.
Alaska offers some beautiful scenery as well.
With jagged, rocky shores lining what is called the Inside Pass, waves crash into unique rock formations that eventually rise into snow-capped mountain peaks.
These continue up, to a point where glaciers can be found.
Glaciers are the remnants of the last ice age, and shaped a lot of North America - even created the Great Lakes, the world's largest supply of fresh water.
Personally, I think one of the best reasons to visit Alaska, apart from the wildlife and scenery, is the history.
Alaska is only one of two states not contiguous to the rest of the mainland United States, and is essentially nestled within Canada, and once belonged to Russia.
There are towns of people of Norwegian descent, where the culture has remained remarkably intact, similar to other towns where Russian culture is still intact.
Indigenous peoples are also found in Alaska, making it an incredibly diverse place.
While this may seem unrelated, to me it is the icing on the cake...
Alaska is of the very few places in the world where the Northern Lights can be experienced.
Thinking of Alaska, for many conjures up images of snow and mountains, and that is somewhat accurate...
in winter.
Summer is a beautiful time, in fact, the ideal time to visit Alaska.
Unique flora and fauna are in bloom, days are incredibly long (up to 22 hours long in some places) and temperatures are very comfortable.
That is probably why the peak season to cruise to Alaska is between May and September, with July and August being the busiest months.
Off-season cruises are available, and in some cases, people like to see Alaska at its coldest and snowiest.
An Alaska cruise can be a great experience, but don't sell your vacation short.
Prepare yourself as best as you can by going to AlaskaCruisesCentral.
com where you'll find information on Alaska cruises, cruise line reviews and other information that will help you to have the best possible experience.
Alaska is one of the most unique, and it seems that cruise lines have recently realized this too, as some of the largest lines including Holland America and Celebrity Cruises now have lots of cruises to Alaska.
But with all the other places to go on a cruise - the Caribbean islands, Hawaii, Asia, the Aegean, Mediterranean, Europe and others, why choose Alaska? Does it really have anything unique, anything that sets it apart? It absolutely does.
One of the best things about Alaska is its wildlife.
Anchorage, Alaska may seem like any other North American city at first, but it's probably not a common thing in other cities to have moose running around the city, and Anchorage has plenty.
It's not difficult to spot grizzly and black bears either.
Bear watching is something that many cruisers like to do, and they're not often disappointed, as, at times, bears can be seen "fishing" or simply taking a quick bath.
The famous Denali National Park are places that are common excursions, and have lots of bears.
The Macneil River Sanctuary is where visitors can actually see bears fishing for salmon! A few cruises also pass by the Kenai Fjords, where bears can be seen on the mountain slopes.
Bald eagles also abound in Alaska, and Haines is where a gigantic population can be found.
Apart from these animals, caribou are not difficult to sight, and sometimes not even to approach.
They can also be found at Denali National Park.
In the water, beluga whales, killer whales and humpback whales make cruising go from good fun to simply breathtaking, but they aren't alone in the water.
You'll see seals , puffins, sea otters, sea lions and several other critters too.
Alaska offers some beautiful scenery as well.
With jagged, rocky shores lining what is called the Inside Pass, waves crash into unique rock formations that eventually rise into snow-capped mountain peaks.
These continue up, to a point where glaciers can be found.
Glaciers are the remnants of the last ice age, and shaped a lot of North America - even created the Great Lakes, the world's largest supply of fresh water.
Personally, I think one of the best reasons to visit Alaska, apart from the wildlife and scenery, is the history.
Alaska is only one of two states not contiguous to the rest of the mainland United States, and is essentially nestled within Canada, and once belonged to Russia.
There are towns of people of Norwegian descent, where the culture has remained remarkably intact, similar to other towns where Russian culture is still intact.
Indigenous peoples are also found in Alaska, making it an incredibly diverse place.
While this may seem unrelated, to me it is the icing on the cake...
Alaska is of the very few places in the world where the Northern Lights can be experienced.
Thinking of Alaska, for many conjures up images of snow and mountains, and that is somewhat accurate...
in winter.
Summer is a beautiful time, in fact, the ideal time to visit Alaska.
Unique flora and fauna are in bloom, days are incredibly long (up to 22 hours long in some places) and temperatures are very comfortable.
That is probably why the peak season to cruise to Alaska is between May and September, with July and August being the busiest months.
Off-season cruises are available, and in some cases, people like to see Alaska at its coldest and snowiest.
An Alaska cruise can be a great experience, but don't sell your vacation short.
Prepare yourself as best as you can by going to AlaskaCruisesCentral.
com where you'll find information on Alaska cruises, cruise line reviews and other information that will help you to have the best possible experience.
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