Explore America’s wild frontier on an Alaska tour

North America is rich with natural beauty and a diversity of landscapes nearly unmatched around the world. Out of all the scenic places to visit within the United States, Alaska holds a special allure as one of the last truly wild places left to explore - a land of soaring bald eagles, calving glaciers and grizzly bears wading through cold streams to catch salmon.

Alaska is equally majestic seen by land, air or sea,- but to see the best that it has to offer, consider one of the many Alaska tours which will show you the land from many perspectives.

Alaska is a spellbinding destination, no matter how widely you've traveled. Alaska tours allow you to explore the rugged landscape which is alone a draw for sightseers and those who enjoy outdoor pursuits. Though, the state offers much more including a thriving wildlife population sure to thrill visitors of all ages. You will also experience a rich cultural heritage which provides food for thought, as well as remarkable artistic achievements.

The vastness of Alaska, combined with the truly untamed nature within its borders, makes it important to find a tour that will take good care of transportation, excursion planning and accommodation details. Not only will taking one of the Alaska tours simplify your vacation, allowing you to sit back and revel in the experience, but it can also provide a dramatic cost savings over independent travel. Tauck's Grand Alaska tour encompasses the best of Alaskan sights and experiences at a cost that would be difficult to match on your own.

Alaska is irresistible - whether you're eager to see mountains, glaciers, wildlife or the state's cultural heritage, you'll be richly rewarded. As you explore making the journey, keep these essentials in mind:

* Air, sea and land. One of the most important things you can do on an Alaskan tour is see the landscape from a variety of perspectives. From the decks of a cruise ship, you'll find unparalleled views of glaciers edging their way into the ocean and spectacular displays of glacial calving. Equally amazing are a bird's eye view of the vast scenery by plane; travel by narrow-gauge train along sheer mountainsides to see gorges and waterfalls otherwise unreachable; and of course, by road vehicle to get up close and personal with Alaska's natural beauty.

* Wildlife. With thousands of untamed miles of wilderness, Alaska makes the perfect home for a wide array of animals. One of the premier places for viewing native species like grizzly bears, moose, caribou and Dall sheep is Denali National Park. Top Alaska tours, like those from Tauck, offer guided wildlife tours with National Park Service guides.

* Scenery. In "America The Beautiful," the reference to "purple mountains' majesty" could have been written specifically about Alaska. From towering peaks to the uniquely adapted plant life of the tundra, Alaska's landscape is a series of superlatives. Visit spots like Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, home to more mountains and glaciers above 16,000 feet in height than anywhere else in North America, or the Worthington and Hubbard glaciers, to experience some of the most memorable views you'll ever encounter.

* Culture. While some tours might focus solely on nature, exploring man's connection with the landscape is equally important. Tauck's 15-day Alaskan tour includes visits to Ketchikan, the ancestral home of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian indigenous peoples, where you can explore totem pole carving traditions and see performances of traditional Tlingit and Haida dances.