Lonely Planet Cruise Ports Alaska

Bears larger than bison, national parks the size of nations, and glaciers bigger than other US states. The word epic barely does Alaska justice.

Pure, raw, unforgiving and humongous in scale, Alaska is a place that arouses basic instincts and ignites what Jack London termed the call of the wild. Yet, unlike London and his gutsy, gold-rush companions, visitors today will have a far easier time penetrating the regions vast, feral wilderness. Indeed, one of the beauties of the 49th state is its accessibility. Few other places in the US allow you to scale an unclimbed mountain, walk where quite possibly no human foot has trodden before, or sally forth into a national park that gets fewer annual visitors than the International Space Station.

One of the best gateways to this vast wilderness is the sea. Alaska has 6640 miles of coastline, five times more than any other US state, much of it rugged, unexplored, roadless and patrolled by large, majestic fauna. In recent decades, cruising has opened up Alaskas once-impenetrable wilderness to millions and you dont need to remortgage your house or undergo military-style fitness training to see it. Instead, simply book passage on one of three-dozen cruise ships that ply the Inside Passage, claim a comfortable cabin with an ever-changing view, and hop from port to port letting the misty, frosty, timeless landscapes work their magic.

Cutting-edge tech city with impeccable taste

A way-station for Alaska-bound travelers for over a century, is the perfect place to acclimatize, both physically and mentally. The city shares a national historical park with Skagway, plus there are cultural similarities between the two regions from their coastal indigenous culture to their penchant for coffee and craft beer. Welcome to the Emerald City, a tantalizing taste of whats to come.