Heading to Alaska this summer? Here are the FAST FACTS you'll want to know before heading to the Last Frontier.

5 FAST FACTS

1. Denali National Park is the most popular place to visit in Alaska.

2. Alaska is home to 17 of North America’s tallest mountains.

3. Alaska means “The Great Land.”

4. Alaska is approximately 50 miles from Russia.

5. The aurora borealis (northern lights) can be seen an average of 243 days a year in Fairbanks.

TOP 5 ITEMS TO PACK

1. Raincoat/jacket

2. Hat and gloves for the winter months or cool summer days

3. Camera (with plenty of storage for those beautiful wildlife and landscape scenes)

4. Binoculars

5. Hiking boots/comfortable walking shoes

TOP 5 TOURS/EXCURSION IDEAS

1. Luxury Scenic Dome Rail from Anchorage to Denali

2. Glacier Tours from Seward

3. Iditarod Training Camp

4. Flightseeing Tours

5. The northern lights from Fairbanks

GETTING THERE: When visiting Alaska, the primary airports most travelers will want to use are in Anchorage (ANC), Fairbanks (FAI), and Juneau (JNU).

Another popular way to experience Alaska is via cruise. Most major mass-market cruise lines have itineraries and ships dedicated to this area from around May to September/October. You’ll typically have the option to visit via a roundtrip itinerary from Seatle or one-way itineraries that start in Whittier or Seward and end in Vancouver or the reverse.

LANGUAGE: The primary language spoken throughout the state of Alaska is English.

CLIMATE: Alaska is an extremely large state. However, the overall climate includes a long and very cold winter with short, cool summers. You will find that the sun will not rise during some weeks in the winter and will be out for nearly 24 hours during some weeks in the summer.

Summer (June to August): Temperatures usually range from lows around 50°F to highs in the mid-60s to mid-70s F.

Spring and Fall (April/May and September/October): Temperatures change quickly and while the weather can be mild, it’ll mostly range from lows around freezing (32°F) to highs in the upper 40s. May is our favorite month to visit. It's not to cold, you won't have the summer crowds and late summer rains haven't started yet.

Winter (November to March): You should expect below-freezing temperatures during the short, cold days and subzero temperatures at night. So if your travel plans take you to Alaska during the winter, be sure to bundle up

On average:

Coldest Month: January (average of 9°F)

Driest Month: May

Wettest Month: August

MONEY/CURRENCY (CREDIT CARDS, DEBIT CARDS, TIPPING,

ATMS): Since Alaska is one of the 50 United States, the American Dollar is the currency used. All major credit cards are accepted throughout the state.

You'll find access to ATMs in the major cities. Please check with your bank to see if there are any fees associated when using your AMT card at another bank’s ATM.

Tipping is normal within the state of Alaska. For guided adventures, the standard for tipping begins at 20%. For restaurant waitstaff, 15 to 20% is the norm. For taxi service, depending on whether the driver handles your luggage as well as the length of your drive, the standard will be 10 to 15% of the fare.

ELECTRICITY: Alaska operates like the rest of the United States on the 120v power system with type A and type B sockets. Americans will not need any kind of power converters.

Are you reading this and feeling FOMO? Don't worry, with a quick call we can start the process of planning your Bucket List trip to Alaska. Schedule a call today. www.calendly.com/StaySaltyTravel