All Things Travel Podcast
Listen in each week with Wonder and Beyond Travel Co-Owners and destination experts Ryan and Julie.
He is your travel professor, teaching you everything you need to know to have a magical vacation. She is a Disney-loving, Maryland mom of 3 and a specialist in family travel.
Whether they're discussing incredible destinations, top vacation tips, or sharing personal stories…it’s always All Things Travel.
All Things Travel Podcast
Alaska Adventures Await - Land, Sea & Everything In Between
Join travel experts Ryan and Julie as they explore America's Last Frontier in this comprehensive guide to Alaska travel. Whether you're considering an Alaska cruise, land-based adventure, or combination trip, this episode covers everything you need to know to plan your dream Alaska vacation.
- Land-Based Alaska Vacations
- Starting points: Anchorage and Fairbanks
- Transportation options: Alaska Railroad, rental cars, guided tours
- Deeper immersion into wilderness and local culture
- Access to interior Alaska destinations like Denali National Park
- Custom itineraries for specific interests (fishing, photography, wildlife)
- Best for: Active travelers, photographers, wildlife enthusiasts
- Alaska Cruises
- Inside Passage routes from Seattle or Vancouver
- Hassle-free travel with scenic coastal views
- Popular ports: Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Seward
- Limited time in each destination
- Best for: Cruise lovers, multi-generational travelers, comfort seekers
- Alaska Cruise Tours (Land + Sea Combination)
- Pre or post-cruise land extensions (3-7 days)
- Most popular add-on: Denali National Park
- Best of both experiences: coastal views and interior exploration
- Convenient planning through cruise lines
- Best for: Travelers wanting comprehensive Alaska experience
Best Time to Visit
- Late May through early September
- Optimal weather conditions
- Peak whale watching season
- Most ports and attractions open
Packing Essentials
- Layer for all weather types
- Waterproof clothing
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Prepare for temperature variations in single day
Physical Considerations
- Assess mobility and activity levels
- Some excursions require physical fitness
- Age restrictions on certain activities
- Wide variety of adventure levels available
Booking Strategy
- Book early due to limited travel season
- Reserve excursions after booking main trip
- Consider cruise and tour package deals
- Plan around port schedules and timing
Connect with All Things Travel
- Website: WonderAndBeyondTravel.com
- Email the hosts for personalized travel planning
- Specializing in family travel, cruises, and destination expertise
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Hello and welcome to All Things Travel. Today we're heading up north to the land of glaciers, grizzlies, and breathtaking landscapes. Alaska, Whether you're dreaming of a cozy cruise through the inside passage or exploring rugged terrain on land, Alaska is a dream destination that can be experienced in so many different ways.
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:man. in with travel advisors and destination experts, Ryan and Julie. He is your travel professor teaching you everything you need to know to have a magical vacation, and I'm a Disney loving Maryland mom of three and a specialist in family travel. we're discussing incredible destinations, top vacation tips, or sharing personal stories, it's always, all things travel.
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:All right, Julie, how are you doing today?
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:I'm doing good. I'm coming off of a kid free weekend.
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:Whoa.
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:a person. Yeah.
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:So this is Julie's kid Free weekend. I'm gonna work, I've gotta paint a bedroom. I think I made a reservation for Steven and I to go out for dinner. we'll see
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:garden.
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:we play. That's right. You planted a card. obviously, you know, parents need that time to do that stuff. I'm glad you got to.
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:How much can.
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:We can sleep in, 45 minutes later than we normally do.
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:Well, I told Steven, I said, I feel like I might like, my timeframe is so off, from being with the kids because going into the weekend we'd be like, oh my gosh, I hope we have time to at least paint the room because we're so used to doing things, being
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:Yes,
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:by three little
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:yep.
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:who need a thousand things from us. when we got everything done, I was like, what? did that happen?
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:Yeah.
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:at
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:based on the day that we're recording this, especially for your husband who I know is a Star Wars fanatic, for those of you that observed Julie May the fourth be with you.
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:Yeah, seriously. Right. We went to a baseball game today, locally. We were supposed to go to the Orioles game today and their May the fourth celebration was a Star Wars themed bobblehead. Our plans changed. We ended up going to the local minor league team instead. it's a little closer. We had some bad weather and it was funny'cause they were not doing Star Wars, they were doing Mother's Day.
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:there you go.
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:It was nice. I got to run the bases with the children.
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:You mean run and the children were chasing you around? Around the basis.
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:I did tell Steven, I feel like whoever planned this didn't really think of the mothers
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:Yes.
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:meant all the moms were stuck waiting in line with their children.
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:yeah. That was pr.
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:margaritas as we walked onto the field.
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:Yeah. Well, hey, today I am super excited to talk about Alaska. Alaska is a hot. Vacation spot for anybody, whether they want to do it on land, whether they wanna do a cruise or a combination. we're gonna talk about all three today. This,
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:laughing because you said Alaska is a hot destination.
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:it is a hottest. It's a, it's a, a popular and, and we get a lot of people talking about it. Yes. I understand now. It can be hot depending on when you go, But before we get into that, if you did not listen to last week's show, go back and take a listen because we have a laundry list of what not to do when planning your next or hundredth crews. I. Alright, so first and foremost, why Alaska? Why is this a dream destination for folks? close your eyes and think about Alaska for a second. you're probably thinking of natural beauty, wildlife National Parks, the Northern Lights, depending on what time you go. It just, there's so many things that we associate with Alaska. There's also obviously unique cultural and historical experiences, whether that's with, the indigenous folks, whether that's with the history of the United States, whether that's with the mining and gold rush history. There's so much to discover about our country by going to someplace that very few of us get to see. and that's Alaska. It's America's last frontier. It's remote, it's untouched, it's epic. There's places in Alaska that are unlike anywhere else in the United States, and it's great for so many different types of travelers, adventure seekers, family, multi-generational groups. The first time I ever went to Alaska on a true vacation was with three generations of my family and also couples. You know, there can be romantic things about, Camping and glamping in Alaska, or taking a trip on a glass dome train and seeing the glaciers. absolutely a wonderful location regardless of how you wanna travel.
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:Absolutely. I was at a wedding expo last week and I had a couple brides who wanted to do Alaska for their honeymoon. I thought that was really
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:Yeah, absolutely. So we're gonna talk about three ways to visit Alaska today, and Julie's gonna start us off by talking about why we may want to think about a land-based vacation in Alaska.
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:there's quite a few things to think about. I know a lot of people think about the Alaska cruises, but we're gonna start on land because there's a lot of different things to see with a land-based Alaska trip. So something that you definitely wanna consider is the logistics of it. You're. Typically going to start in Anchorage or Fairbanks and build your trip from there. It's easy to fly into Anchorage and then decide, do you wanna go north? Do you wanna go south? what's the focus of your trip? you need to know the focus of your trip before you decide if you're doing land or
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:Yeah.'cause there's so much in Alaska, you really have to know what are the must dos. Otherwise you won't know where to go and how to go.
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:Right, and you'll try to do too much.
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:Yeah.
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:another thing to consider is how are you gonna get around there is the Alaska Railroad. That gives you quite a few options. You can also think about renting a car or doing guided tours or even a combination of these things. maybe you rent a car for a little bit do a tour for a little bit and then get on the train. The great thing about a land vacation to Alaska is you can really get immersed in your destination way more than you can with a cruise When you think about a cruise, you're gonna get off at a port. You are gonna have a couple hours in port and you're gonna get back on the ship when you're doing that land vacation, you can do so many more excursions. You can really get into the heart of Alaska. You can go up to Denali. you can't do Denali on a cruise. You can only do it by land. and taking the train through there through the national Park, it's just a really beautiful, Way to experience that state. You can also see a lot more of the interior towns of Alaska, like the lesser known areas. Maybe there's better fishing there, different wildlife to see, things like that. You're also gonna have a much more flexible and customizable itinerary. I remember I had some clients go to Alaska last year and their big focus was fishing
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:That's right. I remember you planning that trip.
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:had a seven day itinerary of just fishing. they were at a fishing lodge, and they did everything on site. It was an amazing trip, but that was a completely custom trip for Alaska, which you're not going to find on a cruise. You can only really do that on land. and this kind of goes with the immersion factor. You can explore so much deeper into the wilderness. You can stay at these historic lodges, these small towns that are owned by, families from that area. And that just makes your experience really special and intimate. Doing a land vacation will require a lot more planning and coordination. It's up to you and us as your travel advisor to coordinate everything where you're gonna stay, what you're gonna do, how are you getting here and there. So there is a lot more to think about, but I do think it's worth it. The weather can be a little unpredictable. So conditions of roads or, what's going on with the environment might affect timing or access to specific areas of Alaska. So if you are someone thinking about doing a land trip to Alaska, it's really best for people who are active travelers, someone who's a photographer, or if you really love wildlife, this is definitely the way to go.
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:So another way to explore Alaska is through a cruise. oftentimes we're thinking of the inside passage, from either Seattle or Vancouver heading northbound or southbound. Depending on where you start the cruise, sometimes you can start that in Seward and Anchorage. depending on which way you want to go. So what are some pros of an Alaskan cruise? It's very hassle-free as far as you unpack. Once you have your hotel for the entire stay and your hotel takes you to the locations, you have snic coastal views. Think of glaciers. Think of fjords, think of whales. I remember when I was on my Alaskan cruise, other than the pier sea days, Julie, you're seeing land almost the entire time you're cruising. we talk about having that balcony for Alaska, and it's because. You are seeing the land almost all the time, and there's just amazing shore excursions like Juno, Skagway, Ketchikan. I'll talk more about these places in a bit, but there are some considerations when it comes to Alaskan Cruising Limited time in each location. like Julie talked about, a few minutes ago, you've got part of a day to see the highlights, and then it's time to get back on the ship. You're going to miss some of that interior Alaska, unless you do a combo land sea journey. I will have a lot of people ask me about Alaskan cruises, but when they start talking about where they want to see a cruise really isn't the best fit, Alaskan cruises are best for obviously cruise lovers. If you start cruising and you love cruising, eventually you're gonna get to Alaska. multi-generational travelers because the mode of travel is much more accessible for a lot of different people and folks that want to see the destinations, but want their travel taken care of in comfort and some ease.
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:Yeah, I remember booking an Alaska cruise for clients for next year, and they were very surprised about, oh, like, so we stop in Vancouver for four hours and
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:Yeah. Yep.
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:So really
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:I,
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:attention to those port times is important if you're just doing the cruise.
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:yes, absolutely.
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:So that's why this last option, I think is the best option. The land and sea combination, and this is typically called a cruise tour, a multiple, multiple cruise lines. Do this in Alaska, and it's really a great idea. how it works is you pick your cruise and then you can choose to add on a pre a post-trip land extension. It's usually about three to seven days for that add-on. one of the most popular ones is adding on Denali
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:absolutely.
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:But the biggest benefit is that you get that interior and. Immersive experience of being on the land, but then you also get all those great coastal views and being able to see a lot more towns in Alaska, you get to see Denali and cruise through the glaciers all in one trip.
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:Yeah. Yeah.
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:make it a much longer trip, but it's worth it. This is also pretty easy to do through the cruise lines. You just add on that package and they take care of everything else. They've got your transfers set up for your cruise tour. They are with you on the cruise tour. You're probably with other people also on your cruise. It's very easy and convenient. So this is really for people who want a deeper experience, but they don't wanna plan everything on their own. and they want the convenience of the cruise planning.
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:I've, planned several of these for clients, and I think there's a big upside to the combination. A couple things I will say is not every cruise. Offers this, and not every cruise offers both a pre and post. So make sure that you're either flexible with your dates or you have enough time to really figure out what date and what cruise makes the most sense. think about how you want to position yourself. do you want that more active? Time after the cruise or before the cruise. Some people want to you know, get acclimated to Alaska through the cruise and then enjoy the interior. Other peoples want to do more of the hiking, national park stuff and then relax for the second half of their cruise. All right, so Julie, before we talk about some places to visit in Alaska and some tips for planning this type of trip, I wanna talk about where in the world is all things travel. So often an Alaskan cruise will go to British Columbia, and this week's where in the world is Langley British Columbia. this is a town outside of Vancouver in the Frazier Valley. what I love about the Frazier Valley, as I started to do some research. Is it's known for wine, I want to take a wine tour with our listener and really soak up the beautiful scenery that is British Columbia. I've been there several times. It is absolutely jaw dropping. I want to drink some wine. enjoy the sights and hang out with our listener, and talk travel.
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:Yes, sounds great.
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:Well, hey, British Columbia, reach out to us because I am so excited that Langley is listening to all Things Travel. You can do that by reaching out via email to either Julie or myself, or going to Wonder and beyond travel.com and clicking Contact Us. I would love to send you a little thank you gift for being featured on the show. All right, so let's talk about some of the places that we're gonna visit in Alaska, whether it's a land or a cruise type of vacation. Obviously most people think of Denali. so the national park there, you've got wildlife, you've got Mount Denali views, you have tundra landscapes. This is a nature lover's dream to see Alaska in this way. Juno, which is the capital of Alaska, only accessible by boat and plane. So most of the time you're gonna see this via, a cruise. This is where you're gonna see Mende Hall Glacier. You're gonna do whale watching. when I was on my Alaskan cruise, that's exactly what we did. we did a Menden Mendenhall Glacier excursion, absolutely breathtaking We really wish that we had done whale watching here. That was the one thing we did not do on our Alaskan crews. and Juneau would've been the perfect place. Probably the most unique port stop is Skagway, and this is a gold rush town and the entire town almost has that western feel to it. And it also has the number one tourist excursion in the state of Alaska, and that is the Scenic railway. If you go to Skagway for the first time and you don't do the railway, you are missing out. I come from a trained family. My dad was on the train with us. he's like, I don't care what else we do on this cruise. We are going on this train. And it was worth every moment and penny that we spent on it. Kechika is a unique, port. This was our first port when we stopped on our cruise. It is the salmon capital of the United States. a beautiful rainforest, that Pacific rainforest. we did a nature hike with a naturalist sit down, have some salmon for lunch and just enjoy your time there. Seward Alaska is known for the gateway to the Kana fjords, sea Life Center. You're thinking puffins here, which is not something you would think normally in Alaska, but that sounds amazing. Anchorage I've been to once and it's really urban meets wild and it's a great base for short trips. this was really interesting. My first trip to Alaska was when I was a college professor and a colleague and I went up there for a conference the good thing was I was in Alaska for the first time. The bad thing was I was only in Anchorage, Alaska. it was really kinda weird to be in Alaska but not be in Alaska. Then lastly, Fairbanks. So Northern Lights in the shoulder season, hot Springs. There's just so much diversity when it comes to Alaska and the landscapes you can see.
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:Ryan, so I have a question for you then. When you, since you did the cruise
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:Yeah.
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:we know there's so much to see in Alaska, did you feel like you got a good experience or were you wishing you had more time in the ports?
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:I feel okay, and I was gonna talk about this at the end, yes, I felt like we had enough time in the ports.
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:Okay.
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:However, the next time I do this, I'm definitely doing a combination land and
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:another cruise?
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:would definitely do another cruise'cause I think there's too much to see at all of these ports. I would definitely do another cruise, but it has to have a lane component, the next time I do it. So was there enough time? Yes, a hundred percent. Do I need to see more? Yes, a hundred percent.
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:Okay. Okay.
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:Julie, what are some tips when we're planning this, trip to Alaska?
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:the best time to go is late May through early September. if you are doing a cruise, you will see that these are really the only times offered land vacations could be year round. But keep in mind, these are the best times to go, the best time to do whale watching, the best time for the weather. more places are going to be open within the ports. You also want to make sure you're packing for all types of weather. The ports are so different from each other. Some of them it's going to be cold, some of them it's going to be hot. Make sure you've got layers and add-ons. If you're doing a really involved excursion, they might provide, some clothing for you, like an extra jacket but know that in advance.
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:Yeah, if you're going on an Alaskan cruise, in the same day you could be wearing a t-shirt and shorts. You could be wearing jeans and a sweater. You could be wearing a heavy coat and hat. It just really depends where you are and what you're doing, and it will be wet.
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:Mm-hmm.
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:and so yeah, and that makes packing for these types of trips really challenging. but I really love that variety all in one trip
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:Yeah, that's super unique. the next big thing is to consider your mobility and activity level. Some excursions are really rugged, you know, if you wanna go and see a glacier. You need to be able to handle getting to it, walking to it, You might have some sort of physical restrictions or what I see most of my clients is I say, you need to wait till your kids are a little older because they're not gonna be allowed on those excursions. A lot of clients will come and say, let's do Alaska now and let's do it as a cruise because the kids are gonna do well on a cruise. You're not gonna be able to do excursions though, because they're too young.
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:You're not gonna be able to do the excursions you want I will say there is a wide variety of excursions. There's definitely ones that are family friendly. There's definitely ones that are more adventurous and rugged. keep that in mind with your excursions. I think the same is true when you go to Europe, right, more than the Caribbean. I think Alaska, you really have to think about what excursions fit you the most.
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:Absolutely. I was working with clients once and they were like, well, I'm just not very adventurous. And it was kinda like, well, is Alaska the right destination
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:Right now you could go to Alaska and not be adventurous. You can go to Alaska and see beautiful sites and go for a nature walk and see beautiful ports, I wore tennis shoes the entire time. You don't have to be rugged and you can still enjoy the landscapes.
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:That's a good point. That's a good point.
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:what's the last tip that we want to share with people?
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:the last big and very important tip, and we always say this, is to book early these trips because the, especially the cruises, they're such that short timeframe for travel. They book up so quickly and then once you book your crews, start working on those excursions.
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:So Juli, as we wrap up here, you have not been to Alaska. What excites you the most when we talk about either taking a land or cruise vacation to Alaska?
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:I really want, to go whale watching That's what I would do.
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:Yeah, I love it and I think, Like I said earlier, for me what I'm most excited about is getting back on a cruise to Alaska, enjoying that relaxation and that immersion, but also spending some time in the national parks and, really appreciating the diverse landscapes of the state.
j_1_05-04-2025_194845:The world is full of wonder and your next great adventure is waiting at Wonder and Beyond Travel. We work with you to create a one of a kind journey and take the stress off your plate so you can focus on the joy of exploring and the memories that will stay with you forever. If you're ready to start planning or just want to dream a little bigger, head over to Wonder and beyond travel.com. We'd love to help you get started.
ryan_2_05-04-2025_194845:We look forward to talking to you next week on All Things Travel, when we discuss a new trend in travel, a retirement moon.
