AK on the GO

Last July, while lounging in the sun near the cruise ship launch dock in Sitka, I overheard two friends talking about their fortunate score of splendid weather during their cruise to Alaska.

“I can’t believe it,” First Guy said. “Somebody told me it rains every day in Alaska, so I brought all my best gear, and an umbrella, and look, it’s gorgeous out!” Guess they missed the previous day’s drizzle and fog.

I’m asked all the time by visitors if they picked the “right time” to visit Alaska. Sunny days, rainy days, windy days; everyone wants to know if they were given accurate information. Perhaps you are ready to book your family’s 2012 Alaska cruise, but, like so many potential visitors, aren’t quite sure about the timing. With so many ports of call from which to choose, and an ever-increasing list of tours, it can be quite challenging to finally hit that “select” button on the cruise line’s website, despite your exhaustive research into things like weather, wildlife sightings, daylight, and such. Maddening, that’s what it is.

Sun? Rain? Yes, all that and more on a cruise to Alaska

Let’s break the summer cruise season down a bit, shall we? AK Fam has indeed been to the major and minor ports around southeast and southcentral Alaska, and the cruise tour destinations, so we hope our little bit of insight helps you select the best cruise option for your family vacation.

In a nutshell, Alaska’s cruising season begins in May and ends in October. Our scenery speaks for itself, whether shrouded in mist or illuminated by sunlight, and anyone thinking otherwise just better stop right now and take a hard look at their mission to the 49th state. Repeat after me: “One does not come to Alaska for the weather.” (there, better? Okay, let’s continue).

Springtime in Alaska means water, lots and lots of water...

May: Welcome to spring! At least, what Alaskans consider to be spring. Hey, the snow is gone, and that’s usually enough for us. But while grass might be growing along your favorite Inside Passage ports, southcentral and Interior Alaska are still a bit brown, although you will be the first to see buds on trees, flowing water, and slightly nutty Alaskans doing the dance of daylight. May in Alaska is fresh, it’s new, and it’s also when everybody and everything, from salmon to moose to human, begin our first tentative steps (or swims) into a lush, green, and crystal-clear world we have not seen for the past seven or eight months.

Weather will be chilly and likely wet, so pack your rain gear, hiking boots, and warm hat/gloves, along with your best outdoor attitude. In return, you’ll be rewarded with few crowds, early-season deals at many hotels or attractions, and happy vendors who are as thrilled as you about the change in seasons. This is where our favorite coupon book, the Alaska TourSaver, really earns its worth. Two-for-One, everything, and early visitors get the pick of the pack for stuff like lodging, train rides, and wildlife cruises.

Sunny day for cruising the Chena River in Fairbanks aboard the Riverboat Discovery

June-August: Hey, it’s officially summer! Alaskans go all out during these three months, with festivals, activities, and, in port cities of the Inside Passage, crowds of thousands. This is prime time for most visitors, especially those who hope to maximize time through shore excursions and tours through other parts of Alaska. Weather can be decidedly better between the months of June and August, although there are certainly no guarantees, especially in rainy southeast. But all in all, visitors will more than likely have a few days of sun (and long daylight) by which to induldge themselves in all the outdoor recreation their hearts could possibly desire. If you like heat, do head up to Fairbanks in the summer; temperatures range from 60-80F or higher, and activities abound in the Golden Heart City. We love a Riverboat Discovery trip on a bright, sunny Fairbanks afternoon; the narration is absolutely fabulous, the boat, positively historic, and the scenery, dramatic.

The summer months are prime for glacier and wildlife-viewing, too, so if these activities are on your family’s list, make sure you plan ahead and make reservations far in advance. One of our favorites, Allen Marine Tours, offers a huge variety of cruises and tours in Sitka, Juneau, and Ketchikan, including their  incredible new “Alaska Wilderness Survival” cruise, a three-hour, hands-on experience for the whole family that is destined to be a hit.

Autumn sunlight filters through the trees at Pike's Lodge in Fairbanks

September-October: Quite possibly my family’s favorite season in Alaska, fall brings golden leaves, shaggy-haired animals, and maybe even a bit of “termination dust” on top of our highest mountains. While many southcentral vendors shutter up tight after Labor Day, those who serve the cruise industry make every effort to show, and show off, our state. Visitors to Alaska in the fall might spy a moose, enormous antlers atop his head, ambling his way across the road in search of a mate. Bears, fat and happy after a summer of gorging on salmon, will be racing to fuel up on their final food groups before denning up, and flocks of  birds, including Sandhill Cranes, geese, and swans, will rest in fields like Creamer’s Field in Fairbanks or Potter Marsh in Anchorage before the long journey south. The air takes on a different feel, as if nature is holding its breath, waiting for winter. Hikes can be fantastic ways to see the colors shift from green to red, brown, and yellow; try Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center in Juneau, or simply walk the pathways of towns like Sitka, where a paved trail system leads to all sorts of beautiful sights at its terminus near the Totem National Historical Park. Ketchikan’s stunning Totem Bight State Park takes one away from the busy downtown area, and teaches not only the culture and history of Alaska’s coastal native population, but the crucial connection between art and culture, as well. Autumn provides a quiet, reflective opportunity to teach kids the value of both.

So, cruise on, friends! No matter the month you choose to visit Alaska, it is sure to be unforgettable. Questions? Email us at togoak@gmail.com, or throw in your two cents in our comment section below.

Unique from the day it was discovered by Irish fortune-seeker Mike Martin in the late 1800’s, Ketchikan is a perfect example of Alaska’s love affair with fish, water, and opportunity. Located on a hunk of granite named Revillagigedo Island (or, Revilla, as per locals), Ketchikan is often referred to as “Alaska’s First City” due to its location at the southernmost end of the famed Inside Passage. Cruise ships and Alaska Marine Highway ferries coming from Washington state or Vancouver, British Columbia make Ketchikan their first port of all, causing this city of about 13,000 to swell to twice that many on busy docking days. Alaskans, too, will find Ketchikan a nice change from Interior or southcentral (Anchorage) landscape, arriving by Alaska Airlines to the funky airport on Gravina Island (use those miles, people!). Ketchikan has it all; from salmon fishing to hiking to ziplining through the trees, not to mention fabulous examples of Native Alaskan history scattered throughout the city. Here are five adventures your family might enjoy, should you set your soggy feet upon Ketchikan’s scenic and entertaining streets. Make it a day, or several, as you wander among the rainforest, spot an eagle or two, and take in what it means to be immersed in the history of southeast Alaska.

AK Kid explores animal habitat at the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center.

Southeast Alaska Discovery Center: Right smack in the middle of downtown, the Discovery Center is part of the Alaska Public Lands Information Center quartet (others can be found in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Tok), and is the perfect place to introduce kids to the climate, critters, and fascinating history of southeast AK. Built in 1995, the center houses interactive exhibits, beautiful examples of native and local artwork, and a stunning series of ecosystems made to look as they would in the dripping rain forests outside. Kids of all ages can take a scavenger hunt, learn about Alaska’s five salmon species, and talk with education staff about animals who call this area of Alaska home. Do not miss an opportunity to watch a video or their promotional slide show in the huge theater, where a state-of-the-art sound system nearly brought me to tears while watching photographs of wildflowers, sunsets, and little bear cubs. Admission is $5 adults/kids 15 and under are free, and the center is open M-F 8 am.-5 p.m.; Sa/Su 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Some cross-cuttin' action at the Great Alaska Lumberjack Show. Yo-Ho!

Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show: Yeah, they’re silly, but in a good way, and who could resist a bunch of young, suspender-clad bucks showing off their muscle and skill as they set chokers, climb poles, and spin logs over a pool of water? Not me, and obviously not many other people, as the Lumberjack Show packs ‘em in each and every day during the summer season. These fellas are no ordinary bulls of the woods, however; each is a collegiate competitor in the sport of lumberjacking, and these guys know their trees. Chainsaws roared, axes slapped into logs, and crowds cheered on their favorite team. Kids adore the activity and goofy jokes, especially when they win a “cookie” of log sawed off during the competition; adults admire the genuine skill required to pull off such difficult job, especially in the wet climate of southeast Alaska. Each show is about an hour (perfect for youngsters with short attention spans), and runs rain or shine, thanks to a heated and covered grandstand. Tickets are $35/adults, $17.50/kids 3-12.

Totem Bight State Historical Park and Potlatch Park: A few miles north of Ketchikan are two fine examples of Native Alaskan culture and history. Totem Bight is a part of the Alaska State Parks system, and features a replica of a typical Native Alaskan village, complete with totem poles salvaged from a wide range of southeast area communities in the 1930’s. Towering above the already-tall trees, these totems are a reminder of who lived here first and what dedication it must have taken to carve such mammoth story-poles. The Totem Bight site is actually an old Native fish camp, and one could see why, with protected coves available for families to catch and prepare their most precious food staple. Don’t miss a walk through the Clan House, a replica dwelling that could house up to 40 people at a time and featuring beautiful artwork painted and carved into the walls. Take a cruise along the easy trails, too, allowing kids to truly feel a part of the twisted, gnarled trees along the way to the site. If the tide is out, stop by the pools and see what creatures have appeared under the barnacle-covered rocks and take a moment to gaze out upon the calm water and wonder, if you can, how things looked a few hundred years ago.

Clan House at Totem Bight State Historical Park. Note the beautiful fireweed!

Potlatch Park, right next door, continues the theme of Native culture with even more dwellings to explore, plus a great little antique automobile display and some vintage weaponry to impress even me (like it or not, guns play an important role in Alaska). Kids can pop into and around the dwellings, catching a glimpse of life as a Native Alaskan child at home, and walk down to the shoreline to see where canoes might have landed so long ago.  No car? Catch The Bus from downtown for a mere $1 and get off right at the parks.

Aboard the Duck Boat. Purchase a set of duck lips from the narrator and quack your way through Ketchikan.

Ketchikan Duck Tour: Quack. This tour is a fast and interesting way to capture an overview of the city proper, using these amphibious vehicles that are automobile one minute, boat the next. While they advertise themselves as offering “high-speed” touring boats (um, not so high-speed, but that’s okay), the tour takes about 90 minutes from start to finish, and offers glimpses of every nook and cranny of Ketchikan, including the fish hatchery, infamous Creek Street, the docks, and in harbor from water-side. A good narrator is required on such a tour, and ours was so, keeping the jokes rolling and showing off interesting photos of days gone by in Ketchikan. Tickets for the adventure are $38/adults, $24/kids 3-12, under 2 is free. AK Kid really enjoyed this tour more than any other we’ve done, and I suspect it is due to the unique opportunity to ride/float for an hour and a half. That alone made it worth the cost.

Can you spot AK Mom through the raindrops?

Alaska Canopy Adventures: Not for the faint of heart (or those under 70 lbs and 4.5 feet tall, either), ziplining is the hottest tour adventure in Alaska right now, and now I know why. With over 6,000 feet of cable stretched among the canopies of spruce and hemlock trees some 50 feet in the air, these folks teach visitors how to fly. With two separate sets of lines, one suitable for the ‘tweens and/or teens in your party, one for we crazy people, Alaska Canopy provides a safe yet absolutely exhilarating 3.5 hours. Even though the weather was frightful, our guides did an admirable job of pumping up our group of seven, leading us across creeks, over bridges, and into the lush canopy of the rainforest. Simply amazing. Expect to spend around $175 for each zipper, and know you will work for those heart-stopping zips, but the overall experience was amazing and incredibly bonding among my group of strangers. Younger family members, or those who don’t want to zip can take a guided tour along the boardwalks, where feeding bears and eagles make for a pretty nice experience as well. Visit the company’s website (above) for full tour and zip package information.

A town of character(s), Ketchikan. We love it for that.

It may be wet in Ketchikan, but your spirits will be warm and fuzzy after a day or two spent exploring this historic little spot in southeast Alaska. For the latest in Ketchikan adventuring, contact the Ketchikan Visitors Bureau. There’s a host of activities to suit every interest or ability, year-round.