Fodor's Alaska 2009

Table of Contents

About this Book ............ 7

Chapter 1: Experience Alaska ............ 8
What’s Where ............ 10
Alaska Planner ............ 12
Alaska Today ............ 14
Top Alaska Attractions ............ 16
Top Experiences ............ 18
Quintessential Alaska ............ 20
If You Like ............ 22
Great Itineraries ............ 24
Alaska’s History ............ 26
Flora & Fauna of Alaska ............ 28

Chapter 2: Sports & Wilderness Adventures ............ 43
Planning Your Adventure ............ 45
Sports, Top Regions & Tours ............ 56
Enjoying Alaska’s Wildlife ............ 79
Whale-Watching Cruises ............ 85

Chapter 3: Cruising in Alaska ............ 91
Choosing Your Cruise ............ 92
Before You Go ............ 96
Arriving & Departing ............ 99
On Board ............ 102
Going Ashore ............ 104
The Cruise Fleet ............ 106

Chapter 4: Southeast Alaska ............ 123
Welcome to Southeast Alaska ............ 124
Southeast Alaska Planner ............ 126
Ketchikan ............ 129
Around Ketchikan ............ 144
Wrangell ............ 151
Petersburg ............ 158
Sitka ............ 164
Juneau ............ 181
Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve ............ 203
Haines ............ 210
Skagway ............ 217

Chapter 5: Anchorage ............ 229
Welcome to Anchorage ............ 230
Anchorage Planner ............ 232
Exploring Anchorage ............ 234
Outdoor Activities & Guided Tours ............ 242
Where to Eat ............ 247
Where to Stay ............ 258
Nightlife & the Arts ............ 267
Shopping ............ 273
Sports ............ 277

Chapter 6: South Central Alaska ............ 279
Welcome to South Central Alaska ............ 280
South Central Alaska Planner ............ 282
Prince William Sound ............ 285
Kenai Peninsula ............ 305
Homer ............ 327
Mat-Su Valley & Beyond ............ 341

Chapter 7: The Interior and Denali National
Park & Preserve ............ 355
Welcome to the Interior ............ 356
The Interior and Denali National Park &
Preserve Planner ............ 358
Fairbanks ............ 361
North of Fairbanks ............ 384
Denali National Park & Preserve ............ 394
Fortymile Country ............ 419
Yukon Territory ............ 425

Chapter 8: The Bush ............ 437
Welcome to The Bush ............ 438
The Bush Planner ............ 440
Southwest ............ 446
Northwest & the Arctic ............ 471

Understanding Alaska ............ 491
Fishing the Last Frontier:
In Search of Holy Water ............ 492
At a Glance ............ 494
Native Alaskans ............ 496
Alaska: A Geologic Story ............ 499
Books & Movies ............ 503

Travel Smart Alaska ............ 505

Index ............ 525

About Our Writers ............ 536


ALASKA IN FOCUS

1: Experience Alaska
Let the Journey Begin ............ 36
2: Sports & Wilderness Adventures
Keepers of the Deep: A Look at Alaska’s Whales ............ 87
4: Southeast Alaska
Made in Alaska ............ 167
Gold! Gold! Gold! ............ 219
5: Anchorage
The Glorious & Relentless Midnight Sun ............ 270
6: South Central Alaska
Alaska’s Glaciers: Notorious Landscape Architects ............ 316
7: The Interior and Denali National Park & Preserve
The High One: Mount McKinley ............ 401
8: The Bush
Welcome to Bear Country ............ 457


MAPS
Alaska ............ 10—11
Parks & Wildlife Refuges ............ 46—47
Ketchikan ............ 130
Around Ketchikan ............ 144
Wrangell ............ 152
Petersburg ............ 160
Sitka ............ 172
Juneau ............ 183
Side Trips from Juneau ............ 197
Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve ............ 204
Haines ............ 212
Skagway ............ 218
Anchorage ............ 236—237
Where to Stay & Eat in Anchorage ............ 248—249
Prince William Sound ............ 286
Kenai Peninsula ............ 306
Mat-Su Valley & Beyond ............ 342
Fairbanks ............ 362
North of Fairbanks ............ 385
Denali National Park & Preserve ............ 396—397
Forty Mile Country & the Yukon ............ 427
Dawson City ............ 429
The Southwest ............ 447
Northwest & the Arctic ............ 472