The Perfect Honeymoon: Destination Alaska
Written by Emma McKnight Monday, 01 March 2010 12:26
The Perfect Honeymoon #9...Destination Alaska 
Alaska is "The Last Frontier." It's the largest state in our union offering a smorgasbord of incredible vistas, unbelievable hiking opportunities, amazing wildlife sightings and glaciers. This may not be a perfect honeymoon for everyone, but some of you may want the opportunity to set a diverse course from the tropics and snuggle together under a midnight sun!
Abundant in resorts, hotels, lodges, chalets and cabins, Alaska is vast in size and it does take several hours to go from one area to another. It is an 8 hour train ride from Anchorage to Denali; by bus, it still will take you 5 ½ hours. My suggestion: work with a travel agent who has visited and knows Alaska.
While Anchorage offers over 150 miles of wilderness hiking trails, in Alaska, why not hike a glacier? Exit Glacier--the only glacier that is road accessible--is about three miles long. It is a wonderful Alaskan hike, with shorter trails for day hiking near the face of the glacier. Famous for wildlife viewing, Denali National Park gives you a back-country hike sampling also.
Mt McKinley, the highest mountain in North America, is home in the 6 million acre Denali National Park. Grizzly bear, moose, wolves, Dall sheep and caribou call Denali home as well. If wild life is the major attraction for you, Denali is definitely the place to go. Your tour bus may have to stop while a mama bear nurses her cub on the road, but you'll see Alaska in all its majesty. Private vehicles are only allowed on the first 14 miles of the 90-mile Denali road.
One of the key ways to see the best of Alaska is on a cruise/tour. On a cruise/tour, you are introduced to several towns in 7 to 14 days, your choice--each different 
than the next. It also gives you the opportunity to witness incredible sights only available from a ship. Witnessing a glacier calf (that's what it's called when a piece shears off and becomes an iceberg) is am amazing experience. First you hear what sounds like thunder. Then you see a huge chunk of ice slide down the glacier face into the water. The spray from this new addition to the water sends a splash back up out of the water a hundred feet. Lasting memories are made.
You see, the glacier itself is several different colors. The very top is white--snow white. The middle of the glacier is a "Caribbean sky" blue because of compression. The bottom layer is made up of striations of earth from being pushed along the ground so it is several shades of brown, gray and black. All of those colors are floating around, becoming a mosaic in the water. Fantastic!
Alaska offers a rare opportunity to experience a remarkable journey as you two start your new life together. Sure, this is a totally different type of honeymoon, but some of you may just be up to the challenge.
Emma McKnight is travel agent specializing in cruise vacations. View her website at: Cruise With Emma or contact her.