Sightseeing in Alaska, No Cruise Ship Required

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Dear Deal Detective:

Dear Eunice

,

You can easily visit Alaska independently—no cruise ship required!

While summer (June, July, and August) is Alaska's high season, the

best

time to visit is during the spring and fall shoulder seasons. In particular, May and September are good times for cheaper travel costs and smaller crowds but generally pleasant, sunny weather. Also, the aurora borealis (the northern lights) first becomes visible in fall.

Plenty of travelers explore Alaska each year without a cruise ship. It's easy to rent a car in Anchorage, Fairbanks, or wherever you arrive, and design your own itinerary. Free guides to the

Anchorage area

and

Denali National Park

are available on SmarterTravel.com, and popular guidebook series such as

Frommer's

,

Fodor's

, and

Lonely Planet

offer Alaska editions that can help you choose which sites you'd like to see on your trip.

As you begin to plan your independent Alaska adventure, I recommend purchasing

The Great Alaskan Toursaver

. At $99.95, the coupon book may seem pricey, but it's packed with valuable savings. Escapes Under $500 columnist Anne Banas

saved more than $500

on her Alaska vacation several years ago by taking advantage of coupons available in the book, which includes two-for-one sightseeing adventures, accommodations discounts, and more. There are also discounts on day-trip boat excursions, ATV tours, guided kayak trips, deep-sea fishing, "flightseeing" tours, and more.

Although you are planning to travel independently, you might want to consider booking a multi-day tour led by a knowledgeable guide. Small group tours tailored to your specific interests can help enhance your vacation, and local tour providers

Alaska Outdoors

and

Alaska Discovery

both have been recommended in our Adventure Travel

Special Reports

.

For instance, Alaska Discovery offers nine- to 12-day

river float/hiking/camping trips

in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Tatshenshini/Alsek World Heritage Site, while Alaska Outdoors offers seven- to 21-day trips, many of which include wildlife and glacier cruises, river fishing, canoeing, or sea kayaking.



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