ericabisho
the husband and I want to move to Alaska, when the kids are grown, to get away from the lower 48, and to start over, so to speak. We have always wanted to live there, but I don't like the cold, so much, but want to be away from those who may try to do us harm. basically we just want to start over, no kids, no troubles, no BS. What do we need? How to prepare? what to take with us? What not to take? ( obviously, no swimsuits or suntan oil!!) We want to go because we would love to see wildlife, ( I love wolves!) and we want to get away from it all. Any suggestions?? Serious answers please, and preferreably those who have lived there, ok??
Answer
"...but I don't like the cold..." Be prepared for 7-8 mos. of winter!
Anchorage is the largest city by far (270,000), and thus the easiest to get started anew. A milder climate than say Fairbanks, and yet still a major metroplex, and still retaining the "bush" feel.
Fairbanks is the central interior city, and our second largest city (83,000). Fairbanks is a modern community despite the efforts of some to say otherwise, but it does get COLD in winter (-40F and colder).
Valdez, as someone else mentioned is a rather closed community of about 4000. The climate is quite a bit milder, and it does snow a ton.
As far as what to bring??? Plan on any winter in the mid-west and your set. Oh and by the way... bring your swim trunks... Hot tubs at 20 below are fabulous! As for sunscreen??? We are known as the "land of the midnight sun".
Your questions are the type which could take a book to answer, there's an idea... or better yet... check out the links below for the "Readers Digest" version (and make sure you follow the additional links they provide).
There is really far to much information on your question for this forum, but it is readily available on-line to "let your fingers do the walking".
Camai!
"...but I don't like the cold..." Be prepared for 7-8 mos. of winter!
Anchorage is the largest city by far (270,000), and thus the easiest to get started anew. A milder climate than say Fairbanks, and yet still a major metroplex, and still retaining the "bush" feel.
Fairbanks is the central interior city, and our second largest city (83,000). Fairbanks is a modern community despite the efforts of some to say otherwise, but it does get COLD in winter (-40F and colder).
Valdez, as someone else mentioned is a rather closed community of about 4000. The climate is quite a bit milder, and it does snow a ton.
As far as what to bring??? Plan on any winter in the mid-west and your set. Oh and by the way... bring your swim trunks... Hot tubs at 20 below are fabulous! As for sunscreen??? We are known as the "land of the midnight sun".
Your questions are the type which could take a book to answer, there's an idea... or better yet... check out the links below for the "Readers Digest" version (and make sure you follow the additional links they provide).
There is really far to much information on your question for this forum, but it is readily available on-line to "let your fingers do the walking".
Camai!
When is the best time of year for an Alaskan cruise? ?
Savga
Answer
The Alaska cruise season for all of the major cruise lines in mid-May through mid-September ONLY. The best prices will be in May and Sept, generally the first two cruises of the season and also the last two. However, you will see the same things as other times. Some cruise lines do have specials and do consider them as they can save you hundreds over the exact same itinerary on a different date. You will do well to book your cruise now for next year because all of the cruise lines give the best prices for very early bookings.
The weather is generally warmer in June, July and Aug, but it can also be pleasant in May and Sept. When we went several years ago in May it was shirt sleeve weather (70's) in Anchorage and Fairbanks. The ships that do the Alaska cruises have a covered pool and hot tub area in addition to the open pool deck. So you can still enjoy these when the weather is cool and/or rainy.
There are several ways to have a cruise to Alaska. You can cruise north from San Francisco, Seattle, or Vancouver Canada or cruise south from Anchorage (Whittier or Seward). Cruises typically cruise the "inside passage" which is a waterway much like a river where you can in most places see land on both sides of the ship. It provides a very smooth ride on that part of the cruise. Cruises typically go to Juneau (the capitol), and Ketchikan, Skagway, and stop at one or more glaciers like Glacier Bay National Park and College Fjord. Some cruises do other port stops. So you need to pay attention to which itinerary (port stops) the cruises will have.
The 4 cruise lines which offer the cruise-tours and all would be good; Princess Cruise line, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Holland America.
All four of the cruise lines that I have mentioned use the train for the land tour. But Royal Caribbean, Princess, and Celebrity have special domed train cars that provide great visibility. Not all tour segments are the same so you really have to pay close attention to how the land tour is organized and whether it uses the train or buses.
So my advice is look now for next year, consider the May and Sept dates, look for specials and consider doing the cruise tour. And of the 4 cruise lines that I have mentioned would be great; I have cruised on all of them.
The Alaska cruise season for all of the major cruise lines in mid-May through mid-September ONLY. The best prices will be in May and Sept, generally the first two cruises of the season and also the last two. However, you will see the same things as other times. Some cruise lines do have specials and do consider them as they can save you hundreds over the exact same itinerary on a different date. You will do well to book your cruise now for next year because all of the cruise lines give the best prices for very early bookings.
The weather is generally warmer in June, July and Aug, but it can also be pleasant in May and Sept. When we went several years ago in May it was shirt sleeve weather (70's) in Anchorage and Fairbanks. The ships that do the Alaska cruises have a covered pool and hot tub area in addition to the open pool deck. So you can still enjoy these when the weather is cool and/or rainy.
There are several ways to have a cruise to Alaska. You can cruise north from San Francisco, Seattle, or Vancouver Canada or cruise south from Anchorage (Whittier or Seward). Cruises typically cruise the "inside passage" which is a waterway much like a river where you can in most places see land on both sides of the ship. It provides a very smooth ride on that part of the cruise. Cruises typically go to Juneau (the capitol), and Ketchikan, Skagway, and stop at one or more glaciers like Glacier Bay National Park and College Fjord. Some cruises do other port stops. So you need to pay attention to which itinerary (port stops) the cruises will have.
The 4 cruise lines which offer the cruise-tours and all would be good; Princess Cruise line, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Holland America.
All four of the cruise lines that I have mentioned use the train for the land tour. But Royal Caribbean, Princess, and Celebrity have special domed train cars that provide great visibility. Not all tour segments are the same so you really have to pay close attention to how the land tour is organized and whether it uses the train or buses.
So my advice is look now for next year, consider the May and Sept dates, look for specials and consider doing the cruise tour. And of the 4 cruise lines that I have mentioned would be great; I have cruised on all of them.
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