What to Pack

CruiseWear

Alaska is surrounded by more coastline than the entire rest of the contiguous United States. This makes for great scenery and wildlife viewing, if you are traveling by small or large cruise boat during your trip. It is helpful to prepare for both indoor and outdoor time. You'll want to be comfortable and warm on those not so sunny days out on the deck when pods of whales are breaching or you want a better view of the calving glacier. While inside your traveling vessel, think about comfortable clothes to lounge around in the different spaces on the ship or relaxing in your room. Suggested cruisewear:

• Comfortable shoes (tennis shoes, or sandals for indoors)
• Comfortable pants like jeans, hiking pants - tip: cotton clothes are not good for wet rainy weather. Try wool, fleece, Lycra and other materials that dry easily when wet.
• A couple of pairs of shorts (for those hot and sunny days)
• Windbreaker that can handle rainy weather too
• One warm, heavy jacket
• Many pairs of socks - tip: a true Alaskan knows how important warm, dry feet are!
• Gloves and hat for deck time n Binoculars n Sunglasses
• Water bottle(s)
• Camera - tip: wrap your camera in plastic baggies and cut out hole for your camera lens. This helps in rainy weather!
• Film, and extra film!
• Sea sick pills, just in case - tip: dried ginger helps settle your stomach
• Writing journal - tip: Write-in-Rain makes waterproof paper.
• Small backpack to carry water bottle, camera, film, etc.
• A couple of good books to read (just in case!) n Layers, layers, layers. Tip: the weather in Alaska can change frequently and be quite different across areas of the State.

LodgeWear

Alaska hosts amazing and varied accommodations from luxurious lodges to small and cozy B & B's. Your overnight stay could be just off the road system or surrounded by wilderness in a remote setting. A place to stay can be your "base camp" as well as an experience in itself. Prepare to wear comfortable clothes for hanging around your hotel, lodge, or cabin of choice. And, bring along that hiking and traveling gear for that time when you are having day adventures. Suggested lodgewear:

• Comfortable shoes (tennis shoes, or sandals for indoors and nearby)
• Hiking boots for those day activities n Comfortable pants like jeans, hiking pants - tip: cotton clothes are not good for wet rainy weather. Try wool, fleece, Lycra and other materials that dry easily when wet.
• Semi-casual dinner clothes - tip: Alaskans never truly dress more formally than Carharts & Jeans!
• A couple of pairs of shorts (for those hot and sunny days)
• Windbreaker that can handle rainy weather too
• Water resistant jacket if you do plan to be outdoors for any length of time n One warm, heavy jacket
• Many pairs of socks - tip: a true Alaskan knows how important warm, dry feet are!
• Gloves and hat for day trips
• Binoculars
• Sunglasses n Water bottle(s)
• Camera - tip: wrap your camera in plastic baggies and cut out hole for your camera lens. This helps in rainy weather!
• Film and extra film!
• Writing journal - tip: Write-in-Rain makes waterproof paper.
• Small backpack to carry water bottle, camera, film, etc.
• A couple of good books to read (just in case!) tip: Birding, wildlife flower, and other natural history books about Alaska area available at the Alaska Public Lands Information Centers in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau.
• Layers, layers, layers. Tip: the weather in Alaska can change frequently and be quite different across areas of the State.

Outdoor Wear

Outdoors in Alaska is really what your trip is all about. The scenery, whether your viewing the blue ice of a calving glacier thundering down to the waters of Prince William Sound; or, watching the clouds swirl among one of the many mountain peaks that traverse the state; or, getting that perfect shot of a moose and her twin calves - Alaska's got it! The weather in Alaska can change frequently and varies across the largest state in the union. You might travel from northern tundra areas of Denali National Park to the coastal waters of south central Alaska in a single day. If you are outdoors during the summer enjoying the 12 or more hours of sunlight, you will want to be prepared. Suggested outdoorwear:

• Comfortable and sturdy shoes or hiking boots.
• Pants or shorts that are comfortable to hike and walk around in - tip: cotton clothes are not good for wet rainy weather. Try wool, fleece, Lycra and other materials that dry easily when wet.
• Water and wind resistant jacket if you do plan to be outdoors for any length of time
• One warm, heavy jacket or layer for underneath your rain wear
• Many pairs of socks - tip: a true Alaskan knows how important warm, dry feet are!
• Gloves/mittens and hat
• Long underwear (or layers) if you think you'll be cold
• Band aids or mole skin (just in case of blisters and sore feet)
• Matches or lighter (keep in baggy to stay dry)
• Binoculars n Sunglasses n Water bottle(s) w/water!
• Camera - tip: wrap your camera in plastic baggies and cut out hole for your camera lens. This helps in rainy weather!
• Film and extra film!
• Bug dope
• Small first aid kit (optional)
• Writing journal - tip: Write-in-Rain makes waterproof paper.
• Small backpack to carry snacks, water bottle, camera, film, etc.
• Field guides - tip: Birding, wildlife/flower, and other natural history books about Alaska area available at the Alaska Public Lands Information Centers in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau.
• Layers, layers, layers. Tip: the weather in Alaska can change frequently and be quite different across areas of the State.