The new tours include transfers, some meals, hotel accommodations and taxes. Winter Extravaganza Tour (seven days, six nights) features Alaska’s Iditarod Sled Dog Race and Mushers’ Banquet. Alaska Explorer Tour (seven days, six nights) includes Fairbanks, Denali National Park and Anchorage. The Alaska National Parks Tour (eight days, seven nights) includes Anchorage, Denali National Park, Seward and Girdwood. The Denali Express Tour (four days, three nights) focuses on Anchorage and Denali (well suited for pre- or post cruisers). The Grand Alaska Land Tour (10 days, nine nights) features Anchorage, Valdez, Fairbanks and Denali National Park.

Highlights include visits to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and Alaska SeaLife Center; city tours and visits to the Alaska Zoo with a behind-the-scenes experience; Iditarod festivities and dinner at the Mushers’ Banquet; a visit to the Iditarod Headquarters and to see first-hand a replica Iditarod Trail station; Iditarod festivities in Anchorage; a visit to the Alaska Native Heritage Center; a sightseeing tour with a visit to the Fairbanks Museum; a tundra wilderness tour; an Anchorage city tour; Alaskan-style dinners; a visit to Kenai Fjords National Park; a tram to the top of Mount Alyeska for beautiful views of Turnagain Arm; a visit to Valdez, known as “Alaska’s Little Switzerland”; a glacier and wildlife cruise through the Prince William Sound; an encounter with the Columbia Glacier; and a riverboat cruise on the Chena River.

Travel Impressions prepared an Alaska Dimension Series presentation, with product knowledge and training through animated presentations including videos, voice-over narration, background music and attachments, as well as interactive quizzes.

Founded in 1974, Travel Impressions is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Express that offers FIT vacations to more than 200 destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America, Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean, Dubai, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, the Islands of Tahiti, Canada, Hawaii, Alaska and the Continental U.S. For more information, call 800-284-0044.

Emirates Skywards members can also accrue miles across the Alaska Airlines network in the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii), Canada and Mexico. Under the new partnership, travelers connecting between any point on Alaska Airlines and Emirates’ networks will be able to check in for their flights at either carrier’s counter, receive their boarding passes and check their bags to their final destination.

The carrier will begin flying between Portland and Bozeman, Mont., and is resuming seasonal service from Portland International Airport to Missoula and Billings, Mont. Alaska is also launching new seasonal service from Portland to Santa Barbara and will resume its summer flights to Bellingham. All service will begin June 4 or 5 and operate through Aug. 25.

Alaska Airlines is offering special introductory one-way fares of $89 between Portland and Bellingham; $99 between Portland and Santa Barbara; and $149 between Portland and Bozeman. Tickets must be purchased by Jan. 25 and can be used for travel between June 5 and July 18.

Alaskan Longliner: Crew Aboard an Authentic Alaskan Commercial Halibut Fishing Boat
Spend a day as a crew member aboard an authentic Alaskan longliner commercial halibut fishing vessel. Cut bait, bait hooks, land a halibut, measure for legal length, and more.

Bear Creek Outfitters Flyfishing Excursion
Travel by float plane to a remote Alaska mountain wilderness stream to catch wild Alaska salmon or trout. Enjoy the beauty, wildlife, and solitude of the Tongass National Forest.

Gastineau Guiding Company Portrait of the Mendenhall Glacier Day Hike
Take in the panoramic, encompassing expanses of glacier-carved wilderness, complete with cascading waterfalls, serene alpine meadows, and quiet forest glens while hiking up the West Glacier Trail at the Mendenhall Glacier, a day destined to become a favorite.

Ziplining Through the Alaskan Rainforest
Experience the thrill of zipping through the old growth spruce and hemlock rainforest (and America’s largest national forest). Adventurous and unique, ziplining in Juneau is a heart-pounding, breathtakingly scenic opportunity. Two excursions to choose from: http://www.alaskazip.com  or http://www.alaskacanopy.com.

For more information and a free Juneau vacation guide online at www.traveljuneau.com  or 888-581-2201.

to six days are four packages, each of them escorted by a local Alaskan guide. Each features two nights in Denali National Park, as well as a ride on the Alaska Railroad.

In addition, there are two five-day options. The “Denali/Alyeska Explorer” tour includes choices like hiking on Winner Creek Trail, a visit to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to see animals in their natural setting, and a helicopter ride that lands atop a glacier. The “Denali/Fairbanks Explorer” tour offers an up-close look at the Gold Rush that swept the nation, the Alaskan Pipeline, a visit to an Athabascan Indian Village, and the chance to experience the midnight sun.

In addition, the six-day “Authentic Alaska” program offers activities including a trip to an Iditarod sled dog musher’s house; a trip to Homer, where guests can learn about the state’s fishing history and see Katchermark Bay’s glaciers and mountains; and a visit to Anchorage, where guests can hike, dine at local restaurants and visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center.

For guests with more limited time, the four-day “Denali Express” package features two days in Denali, where guests can view wildlife or go rafting, fly fishing, golfing and hiking before taking a ride on the Alaska Railroad.

The land packages can be purchased as part of Norwegian Sun’s 2013 cruises from Whittier, Alaska. To book a cruisetour, call 866-234-7350.

Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Kenny G has chartered Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Millennium for a weeklong Alaska cruise, set for May 17 to 24, 2013.

The artist will perform several times during the sailing and also will mingle with guests. Other recognized yet-to-be-announced artists also will perform.

Reservations can be held with a $100-per-person deposit until Jan. 15, when the full deposit will be due. Early booking benefits include guaranteed orchestra seating to the opening performance if full deposits are made by or before that date. Montrose Travel is the exclusive booking agent for this charter cruise, however, agents from other firms also have the opportunity to book their clients on the sailing.

“Unlike many charters, travel agencies wishing to book their clients on the Kenny G Cruise can do so and still receive commission,” said Andrea Sieger, Celebrity’s North American charter sales manager. “When calling Montrose Travel, travel professionals calling from a travel agency to book a client must register their agency with Montrose Travel to receive a 10 percent commission.”

For more information, call 800-952-2991

The 42-passenger Alaskan Dream will sail on three new itineraries in 2012 — an eight-day trip that focuses on less-explored destinations, including Hobart Bay and Kasaan, and two 11- and 13-day trips through the Inside Passage.

The three itineraries include new ports of call for the cruise line — Ketchikan, Skagway, Haines, Thorne Bay, Kasaan, Wrangell and Gustavus.

The new eight-day “Alaska’s Inside Passage Sojourn” itinerary travels between Sitka and Ketchikan, visiting the village of Kake, Petersburg, Kasaan, Thorne Bay and Misty Fjords. In addition, Hobart Bay is an adventure base camp visited exclusively by Alaskan Dream Cruises, offering sea kayaking, all-terrain vehicle tours and small Zego sport boat excursions.

Rates for the cruises begin at $2,269.

The “Alaska’s Southeast Explorer” 11-day itinerary also sails between Ketchikan and Sitka, but expands the route to include Juneau, Glacier Bay National Park, Gustavus, Skagway, Haines and Wrangell. Travelers also spend an evening on Colt Island at Orca Point Lodge, which is available only to guests of Alaskan Dream Cruises and its sister company, Allen Marine Tours, for an Alaska salmon and king crab dinner. Rates for the cruises begin at $3,399.

The 13-day “Alaska’s Glacier Bay and Inside Passage Voyage” follows a similar route to the 11-day cruise, but visits Windham Bay from a private wilderness retreat that offers fishing, sea kayaking and two-person outboard motor boats.

A full day is spent whale watching among the Inian Islands and near Point Adolphus, a famous feeding area for endangered humpback whales. Guests will also visit Lake Eva near Sitka for a hike on a newly rebuilt trail in Tongass National Forest, the nation’s largest. Rates for the cruises begin at $3,989.

Complimentary shore excursions are included. In addition, local naturalists and Alaska Native guides conduct onboard presentations.

Alaskan Dream Cruises also renovated both of its ships for the new season. Its 42-passenger Alaskan Dream, formerly the Executive Explorer, was redone with new carpet and paint, new closets in passenger cabins and a revamped forward lounge. The Admiralty Dream, formerly the Spirit of Columbia, was give a lighter color scheme in the cabins and public areas, as well as new carpet. The forward lounge was also redesigned.

The company was launched in 2011 by the Allen family, members of the Tlingit Kaagwaantaan Clan. The Allen family also founded Allen Marine Inc., a boat-building company, in 1967, and operates Allen Marine Tours, which offers day cruise tours to travelers in Alaska’s Inside Passage.

Designed to offer an extensive menu of options from which clients can custom build their perfect itinerary, the brochure features everything from flexible multi-centre and self-drive itineraries to wildlife-watching, cultural experiences, journeys by rail and even cruises though Alaska’s famed Inside Passage. Particular highlights include the introduction of “motorhome” self-drive itineraries through the wilds of Western Canada, plus the chance to share in the excitement of the Calgary Stampede (which celebrates its centenary in 2012 and is widely considered to be the ‘greatest outdoor show on Earth’) or spot beluga whales, grizzly bears and their ethereal cousins, the spirit bears, all in their natural environment.

This new brochure follows their recent ‘CTC Explorer Award’ at the British Annual Canada Travel Awards in recognition of the work that Tailor Made Travel has done to promote innovative holiday itineraries to Canada.

Being such a scenic, vast and sparsely-populated country, Canada is ideal for exploring by rail. The new brochure leads with a selection of truly remarkable journeys by train (including an epic coast-to-coast odyssey from Toronto to Vancouver) as well as some suggested rail/coach and rail/self-drive combinations. New for 2012 is the nine-day Western Explorer itinerary (from £2,899 per person), a fully inclusive tour that includes two days aboard the legendary Rocky Mountaineer train service. The journey begins in Vancouver and continues via beautiful Lake Louise and the Jasper and Banff National Parks and on to the cowboy city of Calgary. Other highlights along the way include a sightseeing trip in a helicopter and of course the spectacular scenery of the Rocky Mountains themselves.

Also new is the 12-day Eastern Explorer, which tours from Toronto to Halifax, travelling by train for the entire journey. The itinerary benefits from guided tours in Toronto and Montreal, plus a chance to climb aboard the famous Maid of the Mist to witness the mighty forces at Niagara Falls. This package costs from £2,039 per person, with both prices including flights, accommodation, sightseeing as detailed in the itinerary, and the exclusive VIP Home Departure service (which collects clients from – and returns them to – their own front door, no matter where they live in the United Kingdom).

For customers who prefer to travel under their own steam, the brochure’s selection of flexible, self-driving itineraries offers a phenomenal choice of experiences. These multi-centre tour suggestions incorporate all ground arrangements including accommodation, car rental and recommended excursions, with each offering complete flexibility so that customers can mould the trip to their own specifications. New for 2012 is the Classic Yukon and Alaska itinerary, which delves deep into the lakes, glaciers and untouched wilderness of these far northern territories. With wildlife outnumbering people in much of this region, the opportunities for spotting such landmark species as grizzly bears, caribou and bald eagles are endless. Accommodation along the way is provided in deluxe lodges and B&Bs. This 17-day trip costs from £2,839 per person. Also new is the 16-day Wildlife, Flora and Fauna of the West itinerary, which takes in the staggering natural beauty of the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. Highlights here include hiking, whale-watching, wine-tasting and bear-viewing excursions, plus visits to key sites including Vancouver, Lake Louise and three national parks. This exciting tour costs from £2,399 per person. Flights are not included.

Those looking to really blaze their own trail can opt for one of the new motorhome itineraries in Western Canada. The brochure suggests three sample itineraries that take in some of the region’s most amazing natural landscapes, with overnight stays in campsites along the way. The 9-day Fabulous Vancouver Island itinerary, for example, offers an enticing mix of coastal scenery, First Nations culture and vibrant cityscapes (from £589 per person). The more extensive, 15-day City and Views of the Canadian Rockies takes in some of the most incredible mountain scenery alongside the turquoise waters of Lake Louise and the lively cities of Vancouver and Calgary. This holiday costs from £949 per person, with both prices including motorhome rental and full driving directions. Campsite recommendations are suggested along each route but are not included in the price.

Thanks to popular demand, the 2012 Canada & Alaska brochure carries a greatly expanded selection of wildlife and adventure experiences. This section of the brochure offers some truly inspiring ideas for lovers of the great outdoors, covering everything from heli-hiking and ranch holidays to wildlife-spotting and even a search for the Aurora Borealis in the winter skies of the Canadian far north. One of the most exciting new additions is the unique opportunity to visit Spirit Bear Lodge in the Great Bear Rainforest to search for the incredibly rare spirit bears (a pale-phase subspecies of the more common black bear). The lodge is only open for two months of the year (from early August until early October), which makes the chance to visit this beautiful region even more special. In addition to the hauntingly pale spirit bears, other wildlife in the area includes wolves and cougars in the forest and orcas and humpback whales in the waters just offshore. A five-day excursion (including flights from Vancouver, transfers, three nights at Spirit Bear Lodge, one night’s additional accommodation and most meals) costs from £2,099 per person.

Also new is the 7-day Lake Louise & Heli-Hiking package, which costs from £2,699 per person and includes accommodation, transfers, most meals, equipment hire and 2½ days of heli-hiking amidst the breathtaking beauty of the Rocky Mountains. Another new addition is a 9-day cruise through Alaska’s Inside Passage aboard the Innersea Discovery. This small expedition ship is the perfect vessel on which to discover these pristine waters. Activities such as rainforest hikes and sea kayaking are included in the price (from £1,435 per person), which also covers one night’s pre-cruise accommodation, all onboard meals the services of an expert guide.

The brochure also features a large variety of hotels and other accommodation options that have been added to the programme for the first time. Options range from the upmarket luxury of the Ritz Carlton in Toronto to a selection of charming and very individual lodges and B&Bs.

Commenting on the launch of the 2012 brochure, General Manager, Rachel Cooper said, “This is our first brochure since the merger between Tailor Made Travel and sister brand Connections, which means that Tailor Made Travel will now be sold both via the travel trade and direct to consumers for the first time. With our wide range of adventure and wildlife experiences, epic rail journeys, magical self-drives and some excellent accommodation options spanning high-end hotels to unique lodges and B&Bs, the 2012 Canada & Alaska brochure is effectively an A-Z directory of the very best travel experiences and truly reflects our knowledge, passion and commitment to the region. What’s more, with lots of added-value offers including free nights, free breakfasts and both car and room upgrades – plus hotel savings of up to £60 per room per night – this is surely one of our most definitive Canada & Alaska programmes yet.”

For details or to book call Tailor Made Travel on 0845 456 8050 or visit the website
www.tailor-made.co.uk

Heli-skiing is all about experiencing the rush of snow beneath skis flying down the mountainside in the natural environment at its finest, no groomed trails here.

In Alaska heli-ski opportunities are truly unique- stretching across many miles of mountainous terrain in very remote areas; the opportunities are endless for huge terrain and first descents into powder.

This immense area creates vastly different micro climates which offer many different weather conditions to test a wide range of skiing ability.

Many reputable heli-skiing operations outside of Juneau offer day trips with guides and pilots who are trained and experienced in evaluating snow conditions, snow stability, and risk management to make this adrenaline pumping activity as safe and enjoyable as possible. Come experience it for yourself.

For more information on all that Juneau has to offer

visit www.traveljuneau.com

Make Tracks

It’s easier than ever to explore Anchorage by dogsled. Alaska Sled Dog Tours will offer sled dog tours of the Anchorage hillside and Bicentennial Park, both on the fringes of Chugach State Park. The Seavey family runs the new company, and they know mushing inside and out; three generations of Seaveys have competed in the Iditarod. www.aksleddogtours.com
Add snowshoes to the mix with an all new trip with Salmonberry Tours. Their Anchorage Dog Sledding Tour includes mushing with the Seaveys around Anchorage, as well as a snowshoe stroll and s’mores. www.salmonberrytours.com

Food Finds

If nibbling warm marshmallow treats has sharpened your appetite, Anchorage also has a handful of new restaurants worth sampling.

Browse through the menu in the most visual way possible. Revolving Sushi Bar opened in Anchorage’s Spenard neighborhood. The restaurant shares a shopping complex with local favorites Title Wave Books and Middle Way Café. Watch plates parade past with hundreds of available options, from the spicy salmon sushi to the Mount McKinley special roll. www.oecalaska.com

The Bridge Restaurant reopens as a special events and catering company this winter, and opened a family-style salmon bake in the summer of 2012. The building comes by its name honestly; it is on a bridge spanning Ship Creek, one of Alaska’s most popular sport fisheries. Diners will be able to dig into plate of fresh Alaska salmon and watch anglers casting for the very same species below. www.bridgeseafood.com

Grape Leaf owner Hugo Gimenez was born in San Luis, Argentina, to parents from Leon, Spain. Hugo has been in Alaska for more than 40 years, but his origins and influences shine in the new restaurant’s food and wine. Tracing flavors like grape vines through Argentina, Spain, Italy and Greece the menu incorporates polenta, pastas, prawns and a few surprises.
Owner Hugo Gimenez was born in San Luis, Argentina to parents from Leon, Spain. Hugo came to Alaska 42 years ago, his passion for food and culture of both his Spanish roots and place of birth are the inspiration for the food and wine.
Owner Hugo Gimenez was born in San Luis, Argentina to parents from Leon, Spain. Hugo came to Alaska 42 years ago, his passion for food and culture of both his Spanish roots and place of birth are the inspiration for the food and wine.

Table 6 has quickly become a lunchtime favorite in Midtown Anchorage. Serving up burgers and beers, but also mountainous sandwiches and tasty salads, Table 6 is owned by the husband and wife couple behind Haute Quarter Grill, one of the finest restaurants in nearby Eagle River, Alaska. www.table6.net

Looking out across Sixth Avenue into Anchorage’s park square, Town Square Grill has quickly become a pre-concert dinner destination, based on its fresh menu and proximity to the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts. After the curtain falls, the restaurant is often a stop for entertainers and musicians unwinding after a set.

Crystal Clear

The Anchorage Museum puts a well known Tlingit artist’s work on display this winter. “Preston Singletary: Echoes, Fire and Shadows” runs Feb. 3 through April 22, 2012. Singletary’s works in glass meld the symbols and legends of his Tlingit heritage with the dynamism of glass to create a distinctive, powerful body of work. The exhibit features nearly 50 works of art, including the exhibition’s signature piece Clan House, a 16-by-10-foot glass triptych reminiscent of a Tlingit longhouse.

Fine Art in Rough Terrain

Mount McKinley has inspired and awed artists, explorers, residents and visitors for centuries. And the Anchorage Museum takes visitors to the heights of Alaska mountain ranges with four mountaineering exhibits opening in February and April 2012. Timothy Remick’s solo exhibition will feature large-scale portraits that explore the intricacies of the human face, specifically those of climbers of Mount McKinley. Also opening in February, “George Browne: Art of Altitude” features paintings created as a result of Browne’s expeditions to Alaska including the time he spent mountaineering on Mount McKinley. Both the Remick and Browne exhibitions run February to April 2012.

The museum’s vast atrium will host a second pair of mountaineering exhibits for summer 2012. “The High One: Reaching the Top” looks at climbing Denali, through gear, the mountains routes, risks and rescues. While “Ascent: 20,320″ chronicles the history of man’s exploration of McKinley with photographs through the years from the National Park Service. www.anchoragemuseum.org.

Getting to Anchorage is a Snap

The Alaska Marine Highway System is bringing back the popular service between Bellingham, Wash., and Whittier, Alaska, just south of Anchorage. The m/v Kennicott departs Bellingham for Whittier on alternate Saturdays from May 2012 through September 2012. The trip between the two ports last five days, and return trips are also available aboard the Kennicott. 2011 was the first season the Bellingham-Whittier route was offered, and the sailings booked up quickly. www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs

Holland America Line’s ms Amsterdam returns to Anchorage for a third consecutive summer season. Amsterdam will call on Anchorage seven times in 2012 as part of a 14-day roundtrip itinerary from Seattle, Wash.

Jet Blue returns with seasonal nonstop flights from Long Beach, Calif. to Anchorage. US Airways connects Philadelphia to Alaska with a nonstop flight throughout the summer. Condor returns in summer 2012 with seasonal nonstop flights between Anchorage and Frankfurt, Germany. Service to Anchorage on Alaska Airlines and other longtime carriers is also expected to remain strong.

The Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau’s mission is to attract and serve visitors to the Municipality of Anchorage. With more than 135 miles of paved trails, the nation’s third largest state park, first-class amenities, and a blend of cultures found only in Alaska, Anchorage lives a Big Wild Life™. For more information on Anchorage’s wild adventures and urban delights, visit www.Anchorage.net