Looking for Adventure? Traveling Alone?
Consider “The Last Frontier State”, Alaska
Edited by Jennifer L. Price
 Known as “The Last Frontier State” and one of the newest
members of the United States, Alaska is no stranger to welcoming solo travelers.
Nearly 20 percent of visitors to Alaska travel alone for either business or
pleasure. Those who love to vacation alone know that going solo offers unique
opportunities for spontaneous discovery unburdened by the demands of others.
Travelers looking for a big adventure in the great outdoors or the intimate
experience of a immersing themselves in a place steeped in beauty and rich with
culture find Anchorage makes it easy to vacation on their own. Here's why solo
travelers want to make Anchorage their base camp to adventure:
Adventure on a shoestring – Alaska may be large, but
the best the state has to offer is easy to experience on a solo budget,
especially from Anchorage. Embraced by six mountain ranges and warmed by a
maritime climate, Anchorage is alive year round with recreation, seasonal
festivities, wildlife and sightseeing opportunities. In the Anchorage area solo
travelers can go bear viewing, bird watching, whale watching and watch for other
Alaska wildlife, including moose, Dall sheep, black bear, brown bear, grizzlies,
orca whales and more. Unarguably the state's most scenic highway, the Seward
Highway, leads from Anchorage to the bedroom community of Girdwood and the
Alyeska Ski Resort. Glaciers surround the Girdwood valley, which features
numerous scenic hiking and biking trails, parasailing and horseback riding
activities, dog mushing in winter and a visual arts center.
 Culture without a cab ride – One of the most
compelling joys of going it alone on vacation is the chance to immerse oneself
in the culture of a place without the distractions of traveling in a large
group. Anchorage's many museums and cultural heritage
centers are designed to encourage one-on-one interaction with Alaska Native
artists and craftspeople. Numerous free shuttles between cultural attractions
provide remarkable access to Alaska's cultural heritage. It is entirely possible
to visit Alaska's largest museum, it's Native heritage center and numerous
attractions offering films and educational programs on the state's history
within one or two days and without ever having to take a taxi or rent a car.
Self-guided made simple – In downtown Anchorage
alone there are dozens of self-guided walking tours of the city's surrounding
wilderness and recreation areas, culture and heritage venues. Anchorage's
extensive trail system is one of the best in the United States, according to a
past issue of "Bicycling Magazine." The American Hiking Society agrees, naming
Anchorage second on a recent list of Top Trail Towns. Anchorage's well-kept
trail system offers 120 miles (193 km) of paved and 300 miles (482 km) unpaved
and wilderness trails. Every trail is accessible via public transportation. The
Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau offers free walking maps of the city and
trail system at
www.anchorage.net .
Clean, safe and friendly – Anchorage has a
reputation for the congeniality of its residents as well as its walk-able and
tourist-friendly downtown center. Committed to the philosophy that a clean,
attractive and vital city enhances its public safety and enjoyment, this
self-proclaimed City of Lights and Flowers is filled with thousands of twinkling
lights in winter and colorful blooms in summer – in fact, city gardeners plant
461 flowerbeds and hanging baskets at 81 sights—to the delight of visitors. The
presence of the city's team of friendly security ambassadors clad in bright
yellow jackets enhance safety and security downtown, patrolling streets,
welcoming and assisting thousands of visitors and helping keep the city clean.
Base camp to adventure - Anchorage is the perfect
base camp for solo travelers who want to venture farther into the great
outdoors. Denali National Park, Kenai Fjords National Park and the Chugach
National Forest are all within a few hours drive from the city's downtown area.
Alaska has the nation's greatest concentration of glaciers, covering almost
30,000 square miles, and Alaska's top visitor attraction featuring Alaska
glaciers is just a short, spectacular drive away from Anchorage - Portage
Glacier and the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center are located just 50 miles south of
Anchorage. Dependable operations offer year-round charters from Anchorage via
floatplane, fixed wing and helicopter. Flights depart from the Anchorage
International Airport, Merrill Field, and Lake Hood Air Harbor – the world's
busiest floatplane base.
Planning Tools - The Anchorage Convention & Visitors
Bureau's award-winning Web site
www.anchorage.net is the perfect tool for travelers to plan
itineraries step-by-step and learn about travel packages, local events and
activities. The city's cartoon moose mascot, Seymour of Anchorage, leads online
visitors through a seven-day Anchorage adventure with recommendations for
morning, afternoon and evening activities based on seasons and interests.
Explore the virtual visitors guide or order the Official Anchorage Visitors
Guide. |
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