The Journal

Stories, field notes and guidance for seeing Alaska more clearly.

View of a snowy mountain and town from a moving vehicle, with traffic lights and cars on the road.

ALASKA EXPLAINED

Why Is There No Road to Juneau?

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.

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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

Snow-capped mountains reflected in Auke Lake Alaska with a small log in the foreground.
Inspiration
A marina with boats docked, a large cruise ship in the background, mountains partially covered with clouds, cloudy sky, calm water reflecting the boats and dock, trees along the shoreline.
Planning
A scenic view of a river flowing through a forested area outside of Denali National Park with a mountain in the background, pink wildflowers in the foreground, and a partly cloudy sky.
Booking
Mary Jacquel smiling in Sitka Alaska while holding a large fish she caught, standing in a river with a backdrop of green mountains and trees.
Field Notes

Latest Stories

How to Experience Alaska’s Glaciers: From Mendenhall to Glacier Bay and Beyond
Planning, Booking, Glaciers, Glacier Bay National Park Mary Jacquel Planning, Booking, Glaciers, Glacier Bay National Park Mary Jacquel

How to Experience Alaska’s Glaciers: From Mendenhall to Glacier Bay and Beyond

Alaska’s glaciers are not a single kind of experience. Some are reached by road, others appear slowly at the end of a fjord, and some only make sense when seen from the air. This guide explores the glaciers of Southeast Alaska and farther north through the different landscapes and journeys that reveal them.

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Six Days Including Glacier Bay: What It's Really Like to Explore Alaska's Wildest National Park by Private Boat
Glacier Bay National Park, Glaciers, Planning, Alaska Mary Jacquel Glacier Bay National Park, Glaciers, Planning, Alaska Mary Jacquel

Six Days Including Glacier Bay: What It's Really Like to Explore Alaska's Wildest National Park by Private Boat

On a six day journey, we traveled deep into Glacier Bay by private boat: sleeping in remote coves, watching glaciers rise beyond the water, and learning how much the experience depends on weather, timing, and life onboard. This is what exploring Glacier Bay actually felt like, beyond the postcard version.

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