The Gold Rush Towns and Glaciers of Alaska

Alaska means "great land" in the Aleut language of its native inhabitants. And what a great land it is, all 586,000 square miles of it-from the thunderous calving roar of some of the world's greatest glaciers to the quiet and quaint historic gold rush towns. There's probably something for everyone in Alaska.

Let's start with Wrangell, which has the largest concentration of petroglyphs in southeast Alaska. Petroglyphs (from the Greek word "petra" and "glyph," meaning rock carving) are expressions of native art carved into gray-colored rocks. Alaska's petroglyphs can be found at Petroglyph Beach State Historic Park. The designs are mysterious as no one knows their purpose. These designs could have represented a way for natives to communicate with each other or to commemorate important events in their lives. When you leave the beach, be sure to look upwards into the trees. Wrangell also boasts the highest concentration in spring of bald eagles.

Another fascinating place to visit is Juneau, Alaska's capital. Geographically, Juneau is land-locked; the only ways in or out are via air or boat. Inside the city you can travel via trolley car and tramway. The Juneau Trolley Car Company offers a 30-minute narrated, hop on/hop off tour of the city. For striking views above the city, you can board the Mount Roberts Tramway. The ride will take you through the rainforest up to the 1800 foot level of Mount Roberts where you can explore the mountain village and learn more about the native Tlingits. Another sightseeing option is a flightseeing tour of Mendenhall glacier via prop plane. Mendenhall glacier is one of the most famous glaciers in the world, located about thirteen miles from downtown Juneau. It's named for Thomas Corwin Mendenhall, who served on the boundary commission that surveyed the international boundary between Canada and Alaska. You might want to combine a flightseeing tour of the glacier with a stop at a lodge (like Taku Lodge) for a traditional salmon bake.