When planning a summer vacation that will be memorable for years to come, why not take the family off the beaten path. No more beaches or amusement parks. Forget the annual family reunions and mandatory visits to relatives. Take your family on an adventure. . .visit Alaska.
Only noticed for the coldest months of the year, life in Alaska is filled with flourishing rejuvenation during the spring and summer months. With some of the most fertile land in all the United States, you will not find a prettier or more memorable place to spend a spring or summer vacation.
The spring time in Alaska is known as the “breakup” because this is a relatively accurate description of what is happening. For many months the lands are filled with snow and the skies grey and distant when suddenly the weather “breaks” and life emerges again. The skies clear and the snows melt leaving only beauty. But, you must hurry to catch this wonderful season because it does not last long. Like fall, spring is one of Alaska’s shorter seasons. The length, of course, will depend on where you are. In Anchorage, for instance, spring starts in late April when the first crocuses appear and ends in early June when the lilac blooms.
Spring in Alaska offers many events such as the Extreme Skiing Championships, Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival and the Whale Festival all of which happen between late April and early May.
The Extreme Skiing Championship is held near Valdez, Alaska which gets a tremendous amount of snowfall. The event is held every year and the skiers are judged on freestyle skiing.
In Homer, Alaska, the Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival celebrates migrating birds that are returning in droves to the area thanks to spring temperatures giving a much needed relief from the winter cold.
One of the most fantastic events held every year is the Whale Festival in Kodiak, Alaska. The event tries to coordinate the migration of the great grey whale past Kodiak Island for visitors as well as locals to enjoy.
Springtime is not the only season to visit the wonderful state of Alaska. Summertime is as enjoyable with many celebrations and adventures of its own.
Your summertime trip to Alaska will probably begin in Anchorage, Seward, Juneau, or Fairbanks. Most major airlines fly into Anchorage, Juneau, and Fairbanks, while cruise ships makes stops in Juneau and Seward. With most of the rural cities only accessible by air or water, a mainland road trip is the perfect pick for a fantastic family vacation.
When visitors arrive in Anchorage or Fairbanks they usually rent a car or a motor home to embark on their Alaskan vacation. Road conditions are generally good and recent upgrades to highway systems make traveling on the three lane highways easier than ever. The highway between Anchorage and Seward is one of the most spectacular drives in all of North America. The trip is 126 miles, one way and can be accomplished in 3 hours, though frequent stops to admire views may make the trip lasts a lot longer.
If adventure is what you are looking for there are many places to visit that can not be reached by road alone. Nome, the Goldrush mining town and home of the Iditarod, is one of the most famous. The less well known towns of Barrow, Ketchikan and Sitka also have no road ties.
So this year for a spring or summer vacation with family, try to stretch beyond the boundaries of normalcy. Visit a place untouched by man and forgotten by tourists. Visit Alaska.
When visiting Alaska keep in mind there are active volcanos and occasional earthquakes. Most of the volcanos are located far off the beaten path and no major earthquakes have been many years.
