One of the things National Geographic is most known for is its stunning images, as its photographers repeatedly display the ability to present the world in its most beautiful and intriguing form.

Naturally, National Geographic photographers have spent a great deal of time capturing breathtaking vistas in the great state of Alaska. And while some may deem it impossible to take an uninspiring photo of the Alaskan landscape, one glance at these photos will show just how amazing both this state and these photographers truly are.

See for yourself why National Geographic photographers have always been in love with The Last Frontier.

(Photo credit: Michael Melford)

The old growth forests like the one shown here on Kodiak Island in southern Alaska create an other-worldly feel.  Moss covers the branches of spruce trees the entire way up.

(Photo credit: Michael Melford)

Due to its remoteness, Gates of the Arctic National Park is one of the least visited national parks in the country.  Here the Tinayguk River winds through the Endicott Mountains.

(Photo credit: George F. Mobley)

The moon hovers above the ghostly winter scenes of Icy Bay in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.

(Photo credit: Flip Nicklin)

Whales put on a spectacular show from spring to fall in the waters around Alaska, which they use as a feeding ground before heading south in the winter.

(Photo credit: George F. Mobley)

This may look like a setting out of a fairy tale, but it’s simply home to the residents of Old Harbor, a tiny fishing village on Kodiak Island.

(Photo credit: George F. Mobley)

Summer warmth causes melt water to carve through the Tana Glacier, part of the Bagley icefield in eastern Alaska.

(Photo credit: Michael Melford)

The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes in Katmai National Park produces geological colors more reminiscent of the Grand Canyon than the Alaskan tundra.  The reddish hues are the result of volcanic activity the park is famous for.

(Photo credit: Fritz Hoffman)

Ever wonder how some rocks get to where they are? A massive boulder is slowly transported by the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, Alaska.

(Photo credit: Joel Sartore)

What looks like an abstract painting is actually a naturally-occurring sand bar off the Alaskan coastline.

Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge

The Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge opens on May 24. To prepare the lodge for summer operations we:

• Made 138 beds in 15 separate buildings
• Cleaned 87 wood stoves, ash boxes & glass windows
• Cut, split, delivered and stacked 12 cords of wood
• 116 inches of snow was plowed during the winter, and then spread out this spring to encourage melting
• Replaced the deck on five separate buildings
• Hired 107 employees
• Polished 205 wooden chairs, 500 glasses and 3000 pieces of silverware

This time of year we also plan out our menus and orders for the summer season. We plan to order:

• 2,670 pounds of bacon
• 1,860 pounds of burgers
• 1,190 pounds of sausage
• 500 pounds of scallops
• 6,150 pounds of french fries

Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge

The Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge is slated to open on May 18. To prepare the lodge we:

• Made 735 guest room beds
• Cleaned more than 475 guest rooms
• Stuffed about 1,775 pillows into pillow cases
• Processed more than 1,310 applications and hired over 315 seasonal team members

In our Food & Beverage operations we prepare for the season by cleaning and organizing our warehouse and kitchens in preparation for the following quantities of food to be delivered throughout the season:

• 9,645 lbs of bacon
• 6,975 of hamburgers
• 20,400 lbs of French fries
• 2,680 lbs of fresh cut fruit
• 54,720 fresh eggs

Summer is quickly approaching. To get more information on an Alaska lodge or to book a stay, visit www.PrincessLodges.com.

Harvest and Alaska – two thoughts that don’t always go together, but those of us who know better are perfectly aware that the land of the midnight sun is a perfect place to gather a bountiful harvest.

This month as we prepare to open the Princess Lodges across the state and prepare for increased visitors at our Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge, we take this time to reconnect with the local farmers, brewers and tree sap harvesters (yes, you read right) who provide us with produce and other Alaska grown goods.

The Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge began offering locally harvested Alaska produce as part of the Alaska Grown movement three years ago. This will be the first year the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge is offering the locally grown salad greens, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, bok choy, potatoes and herbs and more. At just the Fairbanks location alone, we will go through 16,000 heads of Romaine lettuce this summer. So you can imagine the forethought that has to go into placing these orders – a process that began this winter when we were planning our summer menus with these farmers in mind. Beyond the local produce, this year’s menus will also feature a totally separate gluten-free menu and a variety of options to make regular menu items gluten free as well.

We also sat down this month to get our first taste of the Glacier Brewhouse Denali Red, a beer that was brewed exclusively for Princess Lodges. We can assure you this will be a go–to brew for all the beer lovers visiting our lodges.

Finally, we touched based with the very busy people at Kahiltna Birchworks to place our orders. Dulce (yes, as in Spanish for sweet) and her husband Michael are hard at work as we write this, collecting coveted birch sap from their forest of birches just outside Talkeetna. The sap is turned into syrup used as a glaze for our salmon and as breakfast syrup. We are also setting aside a few bottles for you to buy in the lodge gift shops.

We’re in full swing at the five Princess Lodges around the state and it is quickly starting to look, feel and taste a whole lot like summer.

If you’re part of the active set, don’t leave Alaska without going on a stirring hike. Here are three hikes that stand out amongst the thousands to choose from in Alaska.

Mount Healy Overlook Trail

Length: 4.5 miles round trip
Location: Denali National Park
Difficulty: Low
Mount Healy Overlook Trail is an excellent hike for those looking to do a little self-exploration on their visit to Denali National Park. With spectacular views of Mt. Healy in the shadow of Mt. Denali, it’s a perfect day excursion if you’re staying at the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge.

Harding Icefield Trail

(Photo: National Geographic)

Length: 8.2 miles roundtrip
Location: Kenai Fjords National Park
Difficulty: Medium
The Harding Icefield Trail is a breathtaking hike that overlooks one of the world’s most spectacular icefields. The upper portions of the trail are covered with snow for most of the year, so plan an excursion for late July-August.

Chilkoot Pass Trail

(Photo: wildernessclasroom.com)

Length: 33 Miles
Location: Klondike Goldrush National Historic Park
Difficulty: High
If you’re looking for a multi-day hike that’s steeped in natural and human history, the Chilkoot Pass Trail is perfect for you. This is the same pass that thousands of prospectors traversed on their way to trying their luck in the Klondike Gold Rush. Relics from those exciting days are scattered all along the trail, along with gorgeous vistas of the surrounding mountains.

Sunglasses

Sunglasses are very important for a variety of reasons. If you’re venturing north of the Arctic Circle in the summer, you may have to wear your sunglasses at midnight because the sun doesn’t set. Sunglasses are also great eye protection for a number of Alaskan activities like fishing and hunting.

Raincoat

In Alaska, we have a saying: if you don’t like the weather, just wait 15 minutes!
…Actually we’re pretty sure a lot of other places have that motto. But it certainly rings true up here! With mountain regions causing unpredictable weather patterns, you never know what kind of clouds are headed your way. But hey, at least it’s not boring!

Bug Spray

Ahhh there’s nothing like the smell of bug spray on a warm summer evening… or any other time of day for that matter. While Alaska isn’t the buggiest place you can go, this is the great outdoors we’re talking about so it’s always best to be prepared.

Camera

You’ll be absolutely devastated if you forget to bring a camera. Alaska’s natural beauty is unlike anywhere else in the world, and you’ll be dying to show off some of the sights you saw to your friends when you get back home.

Hiking shoes

Leave the high heels and penny loafers behind! Adorn your feet with shoes built for the rugged terrain of Alaska trails. There’s nothing like a pleasant hike through Alaska’s wilderness, but without the proper footwear you’ll be risking a twisted ankle or two.

Hat

Round-the-clock sun means unending opportunities to show off your old favorite hat. Don’t let anyone tell you it looks funny.

Sunscreen

Just because you’re not spending your vacation on a tropical beach doesn’t mean you won’t need sunscreen. Make sure to have it on you when you’re out and about— as we said before, the weather can change from cloudy to sunny at a moment’s notice!

Binoculars

Binoculars are the top items travelers forget to bring but always wish they had. While it’s always tempting to get an up-close look at those grizzly cubs, binoculars give you both visual proximity and the knowledge you won’t get mauled by a 500 pound mama bear.

Alaska Aviation Museum

When your capital city isn’t accessible by road, you know that your state relies heavily on air travel.  Such is the case in Alaska, where airplanes are the only way to reach countless towns and villages across the vast state.

Alaska has a rich tradition of air travel that is unlike any other state in America. Check out the Alaska Aviation Museum in Anchorage (accessible by road, thankfully) to get a fascinating look at the history of flight in the Last Frontier.

Cost: $10 adults, $8 seniors, $6 children

Dog sled tour

Get a view of Alaska from a perspective you won’t get anywhere else— from the helm of a dog sled.  Before the advent of flight, dog sleds were one of the only ways to travel across vast distances of the Alaskan tundra.  Isolated towns scattered across the state relied on dog sled couriers to deliver essential supplies to help them make it through the winter.  Today, though, the stakes have been lowered and dog sleds can now be enjoyed by tourists looking for a leisurely spin through the snow.

Cost: Prices vary, but tour options usually start around $75/person

Northern Lights viewing

Viewing the natural phenomenon of the Aurora Borealis, or “the Northern Lights,” is an essential Alaskan experience.  This spectacular display of lights in the night sky, caused by energetically charged particles colliding in the upper atmosphere, typically occurs in a region 10 to 20 degrees from the magnetic north pole. 

Luckily, this region incorporates a large area of central Alaska.  Try booking a winter stay in the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge, and you’ll have an excellent chance of crossing this item off your bucket list!

Cost: Free, as long as you have a pair of eyes!

Alaska whale watching

Alaska is home to a myriad of whale species, including Blue, Grey, Humpback, Sperm, and Beluga whales.  This creates unprecedented opportunities to see whales with your own eyes in their natural habitats.  So if the only whales you’ve ever seen are the Orca whales at SeaWorld, you’ll be blown away with a whale watching cruise in Alaska.

Cost: Depends on the tour, but usually around $100/person

Flightseeing

Alaska’s national parks are so vast; the only way to truly experience their entire splendor is through a flightseeing tour.  This distinctly Alaskan pastime will take you over some of the most remote stretches of Alaska’s most stunning wilderness areas. 

Cost: Depends on the tour, but flights usually start around $150-$200/person

Alaska zoo

What’s the one place in Alaska where you’d be happy to come face-to-face with a Polar bear?  Unless you have a death wish, the only answer is the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage.  With exhibits featuring Polar and Grizzly bears, arctic wolves and snow leopards, there’s a wide assortment of animals both native and foreign to Alaska’s territory.

Cost: Adults: $12, Seniors: $9, Kids: $6

UAF's Nicole Bozek had 28 points in a loss to West Liberty. Photo courtesy UAF.

Congratulations to all the teams that competed in the Mt. McKinley Bank North Star Invitational last weekend, especially tournament champions, the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears from North Carolina.

Many of the visiting teams chose to stay at the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge for its comfort and proximity to the University of Alaska’s Fairbanks campus. The same reasons make it a great place to stay on your next trip, whether it’s to check out a university sporting event or just enjoy the Golden Heart City.

For the past 10 years, the UAF women’s basketball team has hosted a four team, three-day tournament over the Thanksgiving weekend. This year, the UAF Nanooks faced the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears, the West Liberty Hilltoppers and the Western Colorado State Mountaineers at the UAF Patty Center.

Throughout the weekend, the Nanooks furiously battled it out on their home court. Despite their efforts and home court advantage, they ended the tournament with a second place win for the second year in a row. Head coach Cody Burgess commented in an article on the UAF athletics website that there were some easily avoidable errors, but that she was satisfied overall with her team’s performance in the tournament.

“I don’t think anything in this tournament was easy but we don’t expect it to be easy,” Burgess said in the interview. “Our kids have a lot of passion and a lot of fire. They really want to play hard and win in front of their home crowd and I’m proud of them for that.”

The UAF Nanooks women’s basketball team will be back at it at the Patty Center, Saturday night Dec. 3, going up against in-state rival, the University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves.

A child plays with an ice sculpture in Fairbanks. Photo courtesy of State of Alaska Tourism / Robin Hood.

What better way to celebrate the magic of the holiday season than to visit the home of Santa Claus himself. Every year the city of North Pole, a 15-minute drive south from Fairbanks, hosts two festivals to celebrate the holiday season. Christmas In Ice and Winter Fest both kick off Saturday Dec. 3 and staying in modern comfort at the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge is the best way to experience the events.

Christmas in Ice begins with an ice art competition at the ice park, next to the Santa Claus house. The park displays dozens of Christmas-themed ice sculptures by local and international carvers. Stroll through a wonderland of glistening wreaths and larger-than-life gingerbread men and other themed sculptures. The kids’ park features four large ice slides, a life size ice maze – and for the littlest of the bunch – a couple small ice slides.  Throughout the month of December, the Christmas in Ice festival hosts several family friendly events and culminates with the New Year’s Eve Snowflake Drop.

Winterfest, a two-day celebration, begins with a holiday bazaar at the North Pole Plaza. Shoppers browse more than 35 holiday craft booths. In the evening enjoy a fireworks display at the North Plaza Mall, described as “one of the best fireworks show in town.”

The second day of events begins at 2 p.m. with a candle lighting at the North Pole High School auditorium. The celebration includes community awards and the crowning of the new North Pole king and queen. Festival attendees enjoy live entertainment, music and refreshments. The festivities wrap up in the evening with a Christmas tree lighting at 6 p.m. in the Santa Land RV Park.

From the Princess family to yours, we wish you a happy holiday season.

Would you like your visit to include informative visitor centers, guided tours, and paved hiking trails? Then going to one of the more heavily visited parks is your best option. Or perhaps you’d prefer a trek into pure wilderness, just you and the amazing surroundings with no other humans for miles around.

Whichever you prefer, there’s a national park in Alaska that’s perfect for you.   Check out this list of the most popular Alaska national parks in descending order:

Glacier Bay National Park

2010 visitorship: 444,530
Size: 3,283,246 acres
Closest lodge: Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge

Glacier Bay National Park hosts the most visitors of any park in Alaska.  Located on the Alaskan panhandle in the southeastern corner of the state, Glacier Bay is home to some of the most beautiful vistas of active glaciers the state has to offer.  Sign up for a boat tour and you might get a glimpse of a mammoth section of glacier spectacularly calving into the ocean.

Denali National Park

2010 visitorship: 378,855
Size: 6,075,107 acres
Closest lodge: Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge

When your park is home to the tallest mountain on the entire continent, you know you’re going to attract a lot of visitors.  Nearly 400,000 people every year visit Denali National Park to get an up close and personal look at the majestic Mt. McKinley.  If you’d like a quick hike the whole family will enjoy, try the Horseshoe Lake trail near the visitor’s center.

Kenai Fjords National Park

2010 visitorship: 297,596
Size: 699,983 acres
Nearest lodge: Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge

The word “fjord” is a Norwegian term for a glacier-carved inlet.  And while you may not hear it invoked often in the lower 48, Alaska has an abundance of beautiful fjords that enchant visitors every year.  Kenai Fjords is an easy trip over from the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge.

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

2010 Visitorhip: 73,170
Size:  13,175,901 acres 
Nearest Lodge: Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge

Now we’re getting into the parks that are off the beaten path of the Alaskan tourist industry.  Wrangell-St. Elias is on the Alaska-Canada border and is the largest national park in the US.  It’s also home to the second largest mountain in America, the breathtaking Mt. St. Elias.

Katmai National Park

2010 visitorship: 55,172
Size: 4,725,188 acres
Closest lodge: Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge

Katmai National Park is home to Mt. Katmai, an active volcano which blew its top in 1912 in what was the largest volcanic eruption in Alaska’s recorded history.  Mt. Katmai now features a beautiful crater lake where its peak once stood.  The park is also famous for its abundant brown bear population, with an estimated 2000 making their home within Katmai’s boundaries.

Gates of the Arctic National Park

2010 visitorship: 10,840
Size: 8,472,506
Closest lodge: Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge

Gates of the Arctic National Park is located entirely within the Arctic Circle, meaning round-the-clock sunshine in the summer and perpetual nighttime in the winter. The park received its dramatic name from wilderness explorer John Marshall in 1929, who thought that Boreal Mountain and Frigid Crags which flanked the Koyukuk River resembled imposing “gates to the Arctic.”

Lake Clark National Park

2010 visitorship: 9,931
Size: 4,030,025 acres
Closest lodge: Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge

While Lake Clark National Park isn’t too far from the more populous areas of Alaska, it receives very low annual visitorship due to the fact that no roads exist leading into the park.  All visitors must book a float plane to experience its splendor first hand, but those who do are treated to awe-inspiring views of three converging mountain ranges, picturesque lakes, and lush rainforests.

Kobuk Valley National Park

2010 visitorship: 3,164
Size: 1,669,813
Closest lodge: Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge

If you really want to escape civilization and trek into the wilderness, then Kobuk Valley National Park is the place for you.  Also north of the Arctic Circle, Kobuk Valley receives under 5000 visitors annually.  And while you might not see any other humans during your trip there, you’ll have plenty of Caribou to keep you company.  Over 400,000 Caribou are believed to roam the park’s stunning environs.

Friends enjoy nordic skiing on the Jim Whisenhant Cross Country Ski Trail system at Birch Hill Recreation Area in Fairbanks. Photo courtesy State of Alaska Tourism / Matt Hage.

Fairbanks offers great wintertime fun and outdoor recreation. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite outdoor activities  for you to spend a day in the elements. Whether you go out to ski, snowboard or snowmobile, the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge is the perfect spot to relax with a hot drink and put your feet up at the end of the day.

Snowmobiling
Fairbanks has miles of maintained trails for you to pull out your sled and shred some serious powder. The Fairbanks Snow Travelers snowmobile club offers group rides throughout the winter season and their website provides information about riding in the area, snow and weather conditions, as well as riding tips. The White Mountains National Recreation Area has more than 200 miles of maintained trails and the Chena River Recreation Area provides snowmobile access to back country trails and cabins.

Alpine Skiing
Mount Aurora Skiland is a ski and snowboard park with terrain for all skill levels. In celebration of its 50^th season, the ski resort is offering the same ticket prices as the previous year. Ski and snowboard rentals are available as well as one and multiple day passes. Pack up the family and head to the hills for some downhill skiing and snowboard fun.

Moose Mountain is an intermediate and advanced alpine park for skiers and snowboarders looking for more technical terrain and1,300 feet of vertical drop. Fairbanks is known for being cold in winter, but Moose Mountain is an ideal place to spend the day on the slopes, with weather usually 20 to 30 degrees warmer than in town.

Nordic Skiing
The Nordic Ski club of Fairbanks supports and maintains more than 30 kilometers of skate, classical and lighted loop trails at the Birch Hill Recreation Area. The area is fee free and open to the public. The club offers race events, programs and classes during the winter season for beginner and advanced Nordic skiers.

Running and Snowshoeing
It seems that running and snowshoeing might not go hand in hand, but the Fairbanks Running Club North, offers competitive racing events year-round, some that require shoes and others snowshoes. If you’re looking to keep your racing edge in the winter months, check out upcoming races like the Heart of Darkness Snowshoe Race, Solstice Snowshoe Shuffle, Turkey Trot and the 25^th George Bloom Memorial Midday Sun Fun Run.

Hiking
Despite all the snow, there is great hiking in Fairbanks for those willing to brave the elements. The Chena River Recreation Area offers miles of maintained trails with panoramic views for leisurely walks or brisk winter runs. The White Mountains National Recreation Area, a one million acre park, has more than 200 miles of groomed trails and 10 public use cabins for winter adventures. Go for a couple hours or spend a couple of days, but be sure to pack warm gear, be prepared for changing weather conditions and let someone know your plan before leaving home.