The Journal
Stories, field notes and guidance for seeing Alaska more clearly.
ALASKA EXPLAINED
It’s one of the first questions most visitors ask. The answer begins with mountains, oceans and a frontier that shaped the way Southeast Alaska Connects.
Why Is There No Road to Juneau?
Explore by Destination
Explore Alaska by destination through thoughtful guides, local insight, and stories shaped by time spent here. Start with the place calling you north.
Juneau | Ketchikan | Skagway | Denali | General Alaska
Explore by Planning Stage
Latest Stories
Best Alaska Experiences: What to Book and What to Explore Independently
Some Alaska experiences are worth booking because they take you somewhere you simply cannot reach on your own. Others are better explored slowly, independently, and without a schedule. This guide helps you decide where to spend, where to save, and how to build an Alaska trip with both access and breathing room.
The Town That Still Faces the Water
Petersburg is often described as quaint, but quaintness is only what the work looks like from a distance. In this small Southeast Alaska town, commercial fishing, the cannery and the harbor still shape the rhythm of daily life.
Best Skagway Excursions for First-Time Visitors: What Is Actually Worth Booking?
Compare the Skagway excursions most worth booking, including the White Pass Railroad, Yukon road tours and sled-dog experiences.
The City With No Road Out
Juneau’s roads end at forest, shoreline, neighborhoods and mountains but the city is far from closed in. This story explores how Alaska’s capital moves beyond the pavement, through trails, ferries and an expansive marine highway.
Field Note: The Week Alaska Tipped Into Summer
A summer field note from Juneau to Kodiak, where lupine, bears and lingering evening light marked the moment Alaska tipped fully into summer.
Field Notes from Juneau: Early June, Blue Breaks, Wet Trails, and Quiet Water
Early June in Juneau is lush, wet, reflective, and still holding snow in the mountains. This field note shares what I noticed this week, from moody trails and quiet water to sudden blue breaks, plus practical advice for visitors arriving in Southeast Alaska now.
Two Days in Sitka, Alaska: A Thoughtful First-Time Itinerary
A thoughtful two-day Sitka itinerary for first-time visitors, with coastal walks, totem poles, fly fishing, wildlife, local history, and a slower way to experience one of Southeast Alaska’s most beautiful towns.
Best Alaska Cruise Ports for First-Time Visitors
Planning your first Alaska cruise? This guide compares the best Alaska cruise ports for first-time visitors, including Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway, Sitka, Icy Strait Point, and more, with practical insight on what each port is known for, who it’s best for, and how to choose the itinerary that fits the Alaska experience you want most.
Tracy Arm vs. Endicott Arm: What Alaska Cruise Travelers Should Know in 2026
If your Alaska cruise itinerary changed from Tracy Arm to Endicott Arm, here’s what to know about the difference, Dawes Glacier, Sawyer Glacier, and whether the experience is still worth it.
Field Note: The Kind of Alaska You Can’t Schedule
A quiet spring field note from the water near Juneau, Alaska, passing Boy Scout Beach, watching the ferry head toward Skagway, seeing sea lions and a distant humpback, and remembering why some of the best Alaska moments cannot be scheduled.
Southeast Alaska Fishing Lodges: How to Choose the Right Trip
If you are trying to decide between a fishing lodge, a guided package, or a day charter in Southeast Alaska, start here. This guide breaks down how these trips differ, which destinations to look at, and how to choose the version of Alaska fishing that fits the experience you actually want.
How Many Nights in Denali Do You Need? A Guide to 3 or More Nights
If you’re planning to spend 3 or more nights in Denali, you have options. This guide helps you decide whether 3, 4, or 5 nights makes the most sense for your trip style, priorities, and pace.
1 Day in Denali: What to Do If You’re Short on Time
If you only have 1 day in Denali, the key is not trying to do everything. This first-timer’s itinerary will help you choose what to prioritize, pace the day realistically, and make the most of a short but worthwhile stop.
2 Days in Denali: The Itinerary I’d Recommend for First-Time Visitors
This 2-day Denali itinerary for first-time visitors covers how to spend 2 days in Denali, what to prioritize, and how to build a trip that balances scenery, flexibility, and practical planning.