About the Greatland

THE GREAT LAND

Are you planning a visit to America’s Last Frontier? Its size is 1/5 that of the contiguous United States with five unique areas: Inside Passage, Southcen-tral, Interior, Far North and Southwest. Alaska became the 49th state in 1959 with Juneau as its capital. Originally called “Alyeska--The Great Land” by its native dwellers, it was bought from Russia in 1867 for $7,200,000. Alaska is the home of Mt McKinley, known to the natives as “Denali--The Great One.” At 20,320 feet, it is the highest mountain on the North American continent.

Start the new millennium with a trip back in history. Visit the gold rush towns of Skagway, Fairbanks, Juneau or Nome. Contrast the present and the past with a tour over the Arctic Circle, visiting an Inupiat or Athabascan village and learning of their subsistence lifestyle. En route you may see the Trans-Alaska Pipeline that carries Alaska’s “liquid gold” from Prudhoe Bay to the Port of Valdez.

Nowhere else can you view so many active glaciers and find such a rich abundance of wildlife. Many areas in Alaska can only be reached by air or water as the mountains, rough coastlines and tundra prohibit road building.

WEATHER: Varies throughout the state. Tempera-ture highs reach 80° in Fairbanks in July, but are generally in the lower 70°s and 60°s. Lows in the 50°s for most of the season. The Inside Passage area is the wettest part of the state, but you can experience sun, rain or fog anywhere--sometimes all on the same day!

DINING: Meal prices vary throughout Alaska so allow approximately $35 to $50 per day per person. Most of the hotels we book have a dining room for the purchase of meals or are within walking distance of restaurants.

CLOTHING: Alaska’s dress code is informal and casual. Dress in layers for the most comfort. A waterproof jacket and comfortable shoes are essential. Gloves, a warm hat and sunglasses are good accessories. Only on large cruise ships is dressier attire expected for formal occasions.

MOSQUITOES: Mosquitoes and other pesty insects can be a problem in any part of the state, but are especially plentiful in wilderness areas. Their numbers vary depending on seasons, weather and geography so it’s hard to predict whether or not they will be a problem. Bring a good insect repellent with you so you are prepared if necessary.

DAYLIGHT: June is the “lightest” month with 24 hours of daylight north of the Arctic Circle and 18 hours in the southernmost parts of the state. May and July have 17-24 hours of daylight and August has 15-19 hours. Even September averages more than 12 hours of daylight per day.

Alaska is waiting for you. Knightly Tours is ready to turn your ideas for a visit to America's Last Frontier into reality.