Travel & Tours
Alaska
The Last Frontier
A land of magnificent glaciers, pristine waters, and incredible wildlife. Home of the highest mountain in North America, 3 million lakes, and twice as much shoreline as the rest of the U.S. Rich in native culture and arts. A place that you may have only dreamed of visiting.
Well, now is your chance to make your dream come true!
Join
us in Anchorage for the Alaska Hamfest, then take that dream
vacation around the wildlands of Alaska. Or take this great opportunity
to market
your business and maybe even get a tax right off for attending
the Hamfest. There's no sales tax in Anchorage.
While you're in Alaska, take some extra time to explore the many wonders of this great state. If you only have a few days, that's fine. But of course, the more time you have to explore the largest state in the Union the better! Here's some tour suggestions to help you get the most out of your trip to Alaska:
MAPS
Downtown Anchorage
Greater Anchorage
South Central
Alaska
SUGGESTED ITINERARIES
If you have a couple extra days before or after the Hamfest, explore around Anchorage or join us on a tour:
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On Friday, August 1, tour an Earth Moon Earth station in Anchorage.
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On Monday, August 4, tour the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP), a world class ionospheric research facility.
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Visit the Anchorage Museum of History and Art, the Alaska Native Heritage Center, the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum, or the Alaska Public Lands Information Center.
If you have a few extra days, some great experiences include:
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Travel by train or car along scenic Turnagain Arm to the harbor town of Seward or Whittier. Cruise the magnificent waters of the Kenai Fjords National Park or Prince William Sound, view glaciers, bald eagles, sea otters, harbor seals, and whales.
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Enjoy world-class fishing for salmon, halibut or rainbow trout on the pristine waters of the Kenai Peninsula or take a float plane to a remote destination.
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Take a scenic float or whitewater raft trip to Spencer Glacier, Six Mile Creek or the Matanuska Valley.
If you have an extra week to experience Alaska:
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Travel north by train or car to Denali National Park. Take a wildlife tour into the park to view grizzlies, caribou, moose, Dall sheep, and maybe even wolves. Take a flightseeing tour among the incredible peaks of 20,320 foot Mt. McKinley.
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Fly to Katmai National Park or Lake Clark to experience world-class viewing of brown bears fishing for salmon in the stream.
If you have a couple extra weeks to explore more of Alaska:
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Journey by ferry or cruise ship through Alaska's magnificent Inside Passage. Follow the gold rush heritage, visit fishing villages, see calving glaciers in Glacier Bay National Park, watch humpback and orca whales.
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Take your time and drive to the northernmost state on the infamous Alcan Highway.
TOURS SPONSORED BY THE ALASKA HAMFEST:
EME/Astronomy Antenna Tour - August 1st
On Friday afternoon, August 1, tour an Earth-Moon-Earth communication station in Anchorage. This Technique represents to most Radio Amateurs a very special branch of Weak Signal Communication, due to the Limitations in Antenna Size and Transmitter Power Output. In Moonbounce, the Moon Surface is used as a Reflector for Radio Signals and the echoed signals that return to Earth are often just barely above the Noise Background. Because the technique is often marginal, all components of the system have to operate near to or at peak performance levels. This tour includes transportation and an opportunity to view an active EME, ham shack and antenna installation.
Tour cost $30. Sign up for this tour on the Registration page.
High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) Tour - August 4th
On Monday, August 4, travel 125 miles through the Matanuska Valley and along scenic views of the Chugach Mountains to the town of Gakona. Then tour the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP), a world class ionospheric research facility. Tour includes round trip transportation, facility tour and a box lunch. Due to Air Force regulations, all visitors must be U.S. citizens. Tour cost $100. Sign up for this tour on the Registration
page.
Make your Travel Plans Now!
Tours, Hotels and Transportation book up fast during Alaska's busy summer season.
Don't delay, make your reservations ASAP!
For help in planning your trip to Alaska, contact one of our trip planning partners:
Explore Tours: Explore Alaska your way! Whether you're looking for a day trip to view glaciers or a weeklong cruise up to Alaska, a halibut fishing charter or a rafting trip on a glacial river, a flightseeing trip around Mt. McKinley or a wilderness bear viewing excursion, Explore Tours can help plan your customized tour to the Last Frontier. Check out their suggested tour activities, but don't hesitate to contact Explore Tours for more help or suggestions for creating your Alaska dream vacation. They can also assist with booking your flights up to Alaska.
Alaska Tour & Travel can help you experience the beautiful glaciers and abundant wildlife of Kenai Fjords National Park, as well as the remote wilderness and incredible wildlife of Denali National Park. Travel by coach or on the Alaska Railroad. Choose one of their Alaska vacation packages or customize your own tour. Alaska Tour & Travel is dedicated to creating the perfect Alaska vacation adventure that matches your interests, schedule and budget.
To plan your own independent tour around Alaska:
Visit the state of Alaska's tourism website and also order the Alaska Vacation Guide.
Check out the list of
exclusive Alaska Hamfest TRAVEL DISCOUNTS.
The following AIRLINES
connect Anchorage with the 48 contiguous states:
Alaska Airlines (see discount offer)
Delta Air Lines, Inc.
America West Frontier Airlines
American Airlines Northwest Airlines
Continental Airlines United Airlines
If you're DRIVING to Alaska or throughout the state, a great resource for mile-by-mile details of the road system can be found in the book: The Milepost. To order by phone: 1-800-726-4707.
Alaska's FERRY system, the Alaska Marine Highway is a great way to travel up to the Hamfest, through the Inside Passage. Take some time to visit the quaint fishing communities along the way. Bring your car or motorhome with you and explore more of Alaska, or drive back home on the infamous Alcan Highway.
Many CRUISE SHIPS travel throughout Alaska's coastal waterways. Large, luxury cruise ships journey through the Inside Passage and Prince William Sound, visiting several ports-of-call on the way. Small, nature-based cruise ships explore the intimate passageways and off-the-beaten-path destinations throughout Alaska. Cruises travel to Alaska from Seattle and Vancouver or solely within Alaskan waters. Trips vary in length from three days to two weeks, and many cruise lines offer add-on land packages to round out your Alaskan experience.
The Alaska RAILROAD is a fun and exciting way to travel around Alaska and to view the spectacular scenery. The Alaska Railroad travels daily between Fairbanks, Denali and Anchorage. Many of the cruise lines also have their own private train cars attached to the back of the Alaska Railroad. A separate train travels from Anchorage to the coastal community of Seward, where many visitors take part in wildlife and glacier cruises.
Alaska is very large and diverse. We have urban cities like Anchorage, but also remote villages of the north. Magnificent mountain ranges around Denali National Park and the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, as well as coastal glaciers in Southeast and Southcentral Alaska. The information below will give you an overview of the different areas in our great state and include links to local Visitors Bureaus and other helpful agencies:
Anchorage
Kenai Peninsula
Prince William Sound
Matanuska-Susitna Valley
Denali National Park
Interior Alaska
North Slope
Western Alaska
Southeast Alaska
ANCHORAGE
Anchorage has come a long way from its 1915 beginnings as an Alaska Railroad construction tent city with only 2000 inhabitants. Today, Anchorage has grown to nearly 280,000 residents. Downtown Anchorage offers all the amenities of an urban city. Numerous shops, restaurants, hotels and museums are available for visitors. Vibrant flower baskets line the streets and add color to the many parks around town. Only a few steps away from downtown, the Coastal Trail offers breathtaking landscapes - mountain vistas and cityscapes, miles of water and an array of wildlife, see more trails of Anchorage. Shorebirds, waterfowl and beluga whales can be seen, and it's not uncommon to spot a moose munching on flowers in someone's yard! With scenic Chugach State Park for a big back yard, Anchorage provides unlimited adventure and incredible opportunities for wildlife viewing in one of the most spectacular settings in the world.
To find out more about Anchorage, or to order your Anchorage Visitors Guide, contact the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Municipality of
Anchorage 
Hotel: The Alaska Hamfest is being held at the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel, in the heart of downtown Anchorage. For convenience and luxury, book your stay at the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel.
Campgrounds:
For those of you who wish to drive your motorhomes to Alaska for our event, there are several campgrounds in and around the Anchorage Bowl that can offer great rates and convenient services.
Map of Campgrounds in Anchorage
Alaska Campground Owner's Association
KENAI PENINSULA
Just a short drive south of Anchorage, along the Seward Highway Scenic Byway, will bring you to the picturesque communities and wilderness playground of the Kenai Peninsula. Covering almost the entire peninsula, the Chugach National Forestand the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge provide homes to bears, moose, mountain goats, and salmon. You can view salmon spawning in the stream or experience world-class fishing on the Kenai River. Cooper Landing, Soldotna and Kenai are renowned for this incredible fishing experience. Ocean fishing charters for halibut and salmon can be found in Seward and Homer.
Seward was the historic start of the legendary Iditarod Trail gold rush transportation route. It is surrounded by glacier-covered mountains and is the jumping off point for cruises into Kenai Fjords National Park. Sea otters, harbor seals, Steller sea lions, puffins, orca and humpback whales can be viewed, as well as calving tidewater glaciers.
The Kenai Peninsula is also rich in history, art and culture. World-class art galleries and artist studios abound in the community of Homer. In the charming communities of Hope and Sunrise, you can relive the history of the gold rush years. Alaska's Russian heritage can be explored in Old Town Kenai and at the Kenai Visitors & Cultural Center.Dena'ina
Athabascans share their traditions and culture with visitors through interpretative
walks featuring archaeological sites and traditional plant use.
The Kenai Peninsula has so much to offer, you'll want to make sure to include it in your Alaska vacation.
PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND
Travel an hour south of Anchorage along scenic Turnagain Arm, then pass through the 2.5 mile vehicle/railroad tunnel, and you will arrive at majestic Prince William Sound. Millions of years of glaciation gradually carved away the coastal plateau creating the sound with its many tributary fjords and passageways, islands and rocky shores. Prince William Sound's 3,000 miles of shoreline are surrounded by the Chugach Mountains and Chugach National Forest. Prince William Sound has been the home of many native cultures for thousands of years. Abundant marine life and shoreline foods provided for the early inhabitants, and the sound still continues to provide for today's local residents.
The active fishing towns of Valdez and Whittier are along the road system, but the town of Cordova has no roads leading to it and must be visited by boat, ferry or air. Popular day excursions out of Anchorage cruise the waters of Prince William Sound and view the numerous glaciers in College Fjord. Rafts of sea otters are often seen in this area and orca and humpback whales visit the rich waters of the sound looking for food.
Prince William Sound's recent history began with early Spanish and English explorers, and the sound was named in 1778 for then-Prince William, who later became King William IV. Next, gold and copper seekers traveled through the area in search of mineral riches. In 1964, the largest earthquake in North America had its epicenter in the Prince William Sound area. The 9.2 magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunamis destroyed many villages and towns along the coast. In 1989, the oil tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground spilling over 11 million gallons of crude oil that devastated the wildlife of the area. Clean up efforts and time have helped to heal the sound, and the people and wildlife are recovering.
MATANUSKA-SUSITNA VALLEY
For years, the Athabascan Indians used trails along the Matanuska River to carry goods between the Cook Inlet region and the Copper River area. Gold and coal miners later settled in the area. Then in 1935, during the Great Depression, President Roosevelt sanctioned a relocation program that brought 202 farming families to Palmer. They were given parcels of land to clear and cultivate, and thus began the agricultural history of the “Mat-Su” region . Long daylight hours and rich glacial soil help to grow the record-breaking vegetables of the Mat-Su Valley, including the infamous 100-pound cabbages.
The beautiful Chugach and Talkeetna mountains surround the valleys, and cold glacial rivers scour their way out to sea. Hiking, rafting and fishing are just some of the many adventures to be experienced in the Mat-Su region. The gold rush history can be explored at the Independence Mine State Historical Park, located in the midst of very scenic mountains.
Talkeetna began as a trading station for trappers and miners, and the townsite was established when the railroad was built in the early 1900's. Nowadays, Talkeetna is known as the staging area for climbers attempting 20,320-ft Mt. McKinley. The quant town keeps its mining history alive with renovated miners' cabins used as lodging, shops and restaurants. Sport fishing, rafting and flightseeing are popular activities based in Talkeetna.
DENALI NATIONAL PARK
In 1917, Mount McKinley
National Park was established as a wildlife refuge. The park
and massif including North America's highest peak were named for
a former senator - later President - William McKinley. The park
was originally established to protect its large mammals, not
because of majestic
Mount
McKinley. The changes in names and boundaries that have occurred
over the years can be confusing, as they indicate the way various
parts of
the park and preserve may be used today. In 1980, the Alaska
National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) enlarged the
boundary by 4 million
acres and redesigned it as Denali
National Park and Preserve. At 6 million acres or 7,370 square miles,
the park is larger than Massachusetts. It exemplifies interior
Alaska's
character as one of the world's last great frontiers for wilderness
adventure. It remains largely wild and unspoiled, as the Athabascans
knew it.
**Note: Road access is restricted in Denali National Park. Most visitors join a wildlife tour or ride a park service shuttle to view the scenery and wildlife of the park. It is highly recommended that you make reservations for your wildlife tour or park shuttle well in advance of your visit to the park. Reservations can be made through Denali National Park or through the park concessioner.
INTERIOR ALASKA
Before the construction of the Alaska Highway, the establishment
of military bases and Alaska joining the Union as the 49th state, Fairbanks was
a bustling mining town in the middle of the largest territories
in the United States. Felix Pedro, an Italian immigrant, is credited
with the initial
discovery of gold in 1902. As luck would have it, Captain E.T.
Barnette's goal of building a trading post on the banks of the
Chena River coincided
with key gold strikes north of town. Subsequently, Fairbanks was
incorporated by a 75% majority vote in 1903. One hundred years
later, the small boomtown
has a diversified economy, with oil, gas, gold and coal mining,
military, tourism and the University of Alaska as key components.
Fairbanks continues
in its role as the services hub and gateway to Alaska's
Interior and Arctic.
NORTH SLOPE
Venture north to the North Slope through Atigun Pass, across the continental divide, up the 'haul' road on the Dalton Highway. The Dalton Highway stretches 414 miles across northern Alaska from Livengood (84 miles north of Fairbanks) to Deadhorse and the oilfields of Prudhoe Bay. Built during construction of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline in the 1970s, this mostly gravel highway travels through rolling, forested hills, across the Yukon River and Arctic Circle, through the rugged Brooks Range, and over the North Slope to the Arctic Ocean. Along most of its length, you'll see no restaurants, no gift shops, no service stations - just forest, tundra, and mountains from horizon to horizon, crossed by a double ribbon of road and pipe. This will take you north to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) through gold rush communities such as Wiseman and to the last truck stop in North America, Coldfoot Camp, which holds the record for the coldest ever recorded temperature in North America at -80°.
WESTERN ALASKA
Venturing to Alaska's western coast will bring you to the city of Nome for the finish line of the last great race, the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, or to visit the city and native village of Kotzebue, located on Norton Sound above the Arctic Circle. Many communities offer fishing, flying and sightseeing opportunities.
SOUTHEAST ALASKA
Juneau is a marvel - an unexpected blend of fishermen and
teachers, legislators and artists, homemakers and lawyers, union
workers and frontier entrepreneurs, students and Native elders,
all sharing an active
port city within an inspiring wilderness setting. Called America's
most scenic state capital, Juneau is
surrounded by inter-coastal waterways, lush rainforests, rugged
mountainsides and awe-inspiring, accessible glaciers. The Mendenhall
Glacier, an arm of
the 1,500 square mile Juneau Ice field, is one of the few glaciers
in Alaska you can reach by car.
.
Other southeast communities such as Skagway, Sitka, Petersburg and Ketchikan offer mild climates, beautiful scenery and rich native culture and history. With rainforests, fjords, glaciers and numerous waterfalls, these communities offer great salmon fishing and have more totem poles than anywhere else in the world. Temperatures are never very cold or very hot: in January, the average temperature is 35° and in July, it is 58°. One thing before you begin, get your umbrella. The rainfall measures approximately15 feet per year!
In addition to seeing native villages, you can experience the nation's
largest national forest, the Tongass National Forest, surrounding the Inside Passage as you journey through this southeast corner of Alaska.
Take a luxury cruise through southeast Alaska's Inside Passage,
visit ports of call and travel deep into Glacier Bay National Park. Alaska's ferry system, the Alaska Marine Highway is a great way to experience the Inside Passage at your own pace, while visiting the quaint fishing communities along the way.
