10 Jun 2015
As summer arrives Alaska's grizzly and black bears wake up from their long winter hibernations, allowing visitors to spot mothers with their cubs scouring the shorelines in search of food. Whale watchers can also enjoy humpbacks, orcas or grey whales performing acrobatics or bubbling to the surface in a feeding frenzy. Add to this the jaw-dropping scenery of mountains and glaciers and long daylight hours of sunshine and Alaska's summer is like none other.
Below is a round-up of what's new in this big and bountiful state:
Alaska recognises 2016 centenary of the US National Park Service
Ahead of the 2016 centenary of the US National Park Service, America is inviting the world to discover the meaning of the great national parks and with more than half of the US parklands found in Alaska, the state is embracing the anniversary with a range of specially planned events and park developments.
- New Huna Tribal House for Glacier Bay National Park
Set to open in 2016 is a new traditional Huna Tribal House in Glacier Bay National Park. Designed to commemorate ancestral clan houses as a place where tribal members can reconnect with cultural practices and ancestral knowledge, the Tribal House will provide park visitors with opportunities to learn about Huna Tlingit history, culture, and ways of life through ceremonies, workshops, camps, tribal meetings and other events.http://www.nps.gov/glba/learn/news/glacier-bay-np-tribal-house-work-begins-in-august.htm - Programme of Artists in the Park
The Alaska National Park Service is also planning a programme of Artists in the Parks, including art displays and a classical concert series starting in Fairbanks in October 2016 and hopefully following suit in Anchorage. The Fairbanks concert (along with choreographed images of national parks) is scheduled for October 2, 2016, at the Davis Music Hall at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. In addition to the piece written by former Artist in the Park Stephen Lias for Gates, the Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra will perform an original piece written for Denali.
www.nps.gov/gaar
- New ranger led hikes at Denali National Park
2015 and 2016 welcome a new range of trails and ranger led hikes at Denali National Park. A new section of the Horseshoe Lake Trail, located just before the entrance area visitor centre, creates a loop around the small, scenic lake. Also recently finished is the Savage Alpine Trail, a four mile path connecting the Savage River area with the nearby Savage River Campground. By 2016, work is expected to be completed on the Gorge Creek Trail which heads out of the Eielson Visitor Center, at Mile 65 of the park road.
http://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/dayhiking.htm#deets.
Discover the World adds two new Alaska guided photo tours
Alaska specialist operator Discover the World has added two new guided photo tours The Anchorage Photo Walk and the Cook Inlet Sunset Photo Safari to their extensive Alaska portfolio. The two hour and four hour tours both take place in and around Anchorage allowing photo-lovers the ideal introduction to Anchorage before heading off to explore the great state.
Wildlife Worldwide offers new bubble-net tour
Bubble-net feeding is one of Alaska's most incredible spectacles when groups of humpback whales circle a shoal of fish with a net of bubbles, forcing the fish out of water and producing a feeding frenzy of fish. Wildlife Worldwide is now offering a nine day wildlife tour called 'Bubble-net Bonanza' encompassing seven nights on board Snow Goose, a 12 berth motor yacht. www.wildlifeworldwide.com
French luxury cruise operator Ponant expands to include Alaska
Beginning this summer, travellers booking a cruise with PONANT can now select Alaska as a destination. With several new types of cruises to choose from, guests have options ranging from seven to 15 night cruises featuring picturesque ports of call such as Haines, Skagway, Seward and Kodiak.
Featuring two types of cruises: “In the Wake of Pioneers” highlighting the history of the Last Frontier through exploration of historic landmarks, nature, wildlife and Alaska Native culture, and the “Five-Star Expedition” portfolio of cruises transporting guests from Alaska to Arctic Russia where they will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join naturalists on extensive off-ship explorations aboard dinghies and experience close-up encounters with polar bears, caribou, puffins and other wildlife. http://en.ponant.com/
Un-Cruise Adventures releases 2016 schedule of Alaska Adventure Cruises
Un-Cruise Adventures has unveiled its schedule of Alaska adventure cruises for 2016 with six small ships sailing 113 departures on seven itineraries. Two new cruise itineraries—Exploring Muir's Wilderness and Yachters' Alaskan Frontier—offer roundtrip sailing from Juneau.
Six boutique yachts and small ships carry 22-84 guests on adventure cruises lasting one week to 12 days from homeports of Seattle, WA; Ketchikan, Juneau and Sitka, Alaska. Itineraries may be combined to create longer voyages of 14 to 22 days. Every Alaska cruise includes adventure activities in remote wilderness - hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, skiff excursions and whale watching. With few or no port calls and flexible itineraries, travellers spend the week exploring remote wilderness and searching for wildlife.
Exploring Muir's Wilderness—New for 2016
The 84-guest Safari Endeavour sails 18 departures on a new Exploring Muir's Wilderness cruise roundtrip Juneau from May through September. Areas visited on the weeklong cruise include Icy Strait, Glacier Bay National Park, Chatham Strait, Kuiu Island, Thomas Bay, Port Houghton, Endicott Arm, Fords Terror and Dawes Glacier.
Yachters' Alaskan Frontier—New for 2016
The 22-guest Safari Quest sails 11 departures on a new weeklong Yachters' Alaskan Frontier cruise roundtrip Juneau from June through August. A flexible itinerary explores Dawes Glacier, Fords Terror, Endicott Arm, Port Houghton, Frederick Sound, Baranof Island, Chichagof Island and Icy Strait.
un-cruise.com.
Holland America launches Alaska Cruise and Land + Sea Journeys Tablet App
Holland America has made it easier and more convenient for travellers to tap and swipe their way through the line's Alaska cruises and Land + Sea Journeys with the launch of a new App for tablets.
Those using an Apple, Android or Windows tablet can search key words such as “Holland America Alaska' in their respective app store and download the application for free.
Users can explore both cruises and Land + Sea Journeys with a new level of detail, including an interactive map with destination details and excursion options, as well as sampling the line's Glacier Bay podcasts.
www.hollandamerica.com
What's on:
- 21 June - Midnight sun festival: Celebrate Alaska's longest day in Fairbanks from noon to midnight with live entertainment, great food and more. www.downtownfairbanks.com
- 4 July – Mount Marathon Race: This year, Seward celebrates the 100th edition of the gruelling Mount Marathon Race on fourth of July, which is a 3.5 mile run up Marathon peak which is 3,022 feet high. http://mmr.seward.com/
- 30 July – 2 August – Southeast Alaska State Fair: The State fair takes place in Haines and it's the biggest event in town with five days of live music and entertainment. http://www.seakfair.org/
-Ends-
For more information on Alaska as a travel destination, please visit www.alaskatravel.com
Editorial enquiries: Alaska is represented in the UK by Lotus UK, please direct all media enquiries to Kate McWilliams (kate@lotus-uk.co.uk)
