Alaska Travel Questions Answered | ALASKA.ORG - Ask Bob

Alaska midnight sun: Sleeping tips?

Q: I’m a light sleeper, and I worry that midnight sun during summer nights will keep me awake. How do you locals deal with this?

A: Trust us, this is a bigger concern for visitors before they arrive then once they’re here. Granted, during the summer there can be up to 22 hours of sunlight a day, depending on how north you are. Sunset here in Anchorage happens around 11:40 p.m. during late June. The good news is that the late-night sun is more like perpetual dusk than a blazing brightness—but it’s still something to get used to. Here’s how you can adjust:

Denali Travel: Is it for you?

Q: I’m not sure I want to go to Denali during my Alaska trip. Will I regret it?

A: Denali is a national park for a reason: it’s amazing. Home to the highest mountain the United States, Mt. McKinley stands 20,320 feet above the park’s six million acres. You have a near-guarantee of seeing some wildlife—bear, sheep or moose—during a visit here. When you reach the higher levels, the tundra offers vast views of caribou herds running free.

But experiencing Denali is not always easy—or for everyone, either. I have explored this topic in

What should I pack for my Alaskan cruise?

Q: We will be cruising the Inside Passage, and I am looking for any advice on shoes and jackets that will keep us dry and warm, and at the same time not take up a tremendous amount of packing space. --Mike

A: Mike, thanks for your question. People in Alaska are pretty casual when it comes to fashion, but that doesn’t mean that clothes aren’t important.

Indeed, it’s essential to stay warm and dry here, especially in the Inside Passage, which is well known for its diverse weather, even in the summer. In Ketchikan, for instance, there’s at least some rain 15 to 20 days a month during the summer. Your best defense is to pack the right variety of options—but keep them all lightweight. Some tips:

What's the best way to get downtown from the Anchorage airport?

Q: How do I get from the Anchorage Airport to my hotel downtown? I’ll be staying at the Sheraton and notice they don’t have a shuttle.

A: That’s a pretty common situation—the major hotels in downtown Anchorage don’t offer shuttle service, and those same hotels are about six to seven miles from the airport. Public buses exist, but the schedules are usually too inconvenient for airport transfers. Here are your most reliable options:

• Rent a car. You can get them onsite at the airport, but you should only rent a car if you intend to make serious use of it—after all, if you’re renting it for less than a week, rates typically start at about $70 a day, and that’s before parking ($5 to $12 a night at hotels) and gas (these days, about $3 a gallon).
  


• Hail a cab. Taxis are readily available and will cost $17 to $22 one way.
  

For more arrival information » check out Getting to My Cruise Port.