Completely updated every year (unlike most of the competition), Frommer's Alaska features gorgeous color photos of the spectacular scenery and amazing wildlife that await you in America's last frontier. This extraordinary and detailed guide is personally researched by a lifelong resident, who offers insights into how to discover the real Alaska. You'll find complete details on whale watching, sea kayaking, hiking, salmon fishing, funky small towns, Gold Rush saloons, glaciers, scenic drives, and more. You'll even get an up-to-date cruise planner and a free color fold-out map!


reviewed:"Great Resource for Planning Your Own Alaskan Getaway This book is a great resource for planning an Alaskan adventure. Area by area recommendations and descriptions are given to help the reader determine how best to meet his/her vacation goals.

Especially helpful are the web addresses for individual services and locations, as well as the recommendations for the slightly-lesser known and (in the author's opinion) less crowded activities and the corresponding suggestions for how to beat crowds and how to plan ahead to have the experience you want.

List price $19.00 ; Buy it for under $14.00

Best Places Alaska offers adventure-seekers newly updated recommendations on the finest sights and attractions of the Last Frontier. Written by a lifelong eighth-generation Alaskan and former award-winning newspaper reporter along with a crew of top-notch Alaskan writers, the third edition contains 50 percent new material, including a newly expanded section on cruise ships, new three-day planners, new details on Prince of Wales Island, and new sidebars. Readers will find detailed information on park outfitters, milepost stops, and festivals -- from salmon derbies and dog mushing races to exciting Native cultural events. They'll learn the top spots for halibut and salmon fishing, safe bear-viewing, kayaking Prince William Sound, and hiking in Denali National Park. The book also features star-rated restaurants and lodging, and helps travelers negotiate cities from Ketchikan to Barrow. Special sections detail wilderness lodges, driving the Alaska Highway, and viewing the northern lights.

reviewed:"Fantastic Guidebook with great stories    A fantastic guidebook describing some of the off beat places in Alaska. If you want the true Alaskan experience, get this book. It contains over 200 restaurant and lodging reviews and stories of the 'best' places in Alaska. One of the three must travel books (Milepost, Discovering Denali, and Best Places Alaska) if you are going to the Last Frontier.

List price $21.95 ; Buy it for under $15.00

Soak up the midnight sun in the northernmost town in the United States, thread your kayak among the seals as glaciers calve in the distance, watch brown bears snack on live fish, or pitch a tent in Denali's back-country —Fodor's Alaska 2005 offers all these experiences and more! From Fairbanks to Juneau, our local writers have traveled throughout this picturesque state to find the best hotels, restaurants, attractions and activities to prepare you for a journey of stunning variety. Before you leave for your trip be sure to pack your Fodor's guide to ensure you don't miss a thing.
List price $21.95 Buy it for under $15.00

Preparing for a trip where the forecast is chance of sunshine, partly cloudy, rain, and possibly an earthquake is a daunting task. Discovering Denali is an all-inclusive tour guide to Denali National Park and Mount McKinley.

reviewed:"Finally a complete guide to Denali National Park   Alaska Rainbows: Fly-Fishing for Trout, Salmon, & Discovering Denali includes information on how to get to the park, what to see on the way, where to stay (including campsites, bed and breakfasts, hotels, motels), side trips and excursions, and tips for fishing, hiking, flightseeing and even climbing Mt. McKinley (also know as Denali, "the High One"). There are also bits of interesting history and folklore, extensive maps, and some personal insights by the author. It is the first and only source of information that provides detailed descriptions about the 43 individual sections of the park, including backpacking and camping information that heretofore has only been available upon arrival.
List price $16.95 ; Buy it for under $12.00

Wending through breathtaking mountain vistas, along sparkling streams and lakes, over the Canadian Rockies and into the Last Frontier, the Alaska Highway is a portal to some of the most beautiful places in all of North America. Once a WWII supply line known as ALCAN, this historic byway has become a destination unto itself. The guide also includes information on Alaska's state highways that connect far-flung communities. With details on routes, driving conditions, unique people, and all that awaits the adventurous traveler along the way, this book includes: roadway information for routes through Canada, historical sites, recreation hot-spots, festivals, parades and more!--

reviewed:"Handy, Practical, and Refreshing,    Handy, practical, and refreshing describe this guide to the Alcan Highway and other roads of the North. Tricia Brown's friendly voice and personal insights bring the adventure to life for me. Although I've driven the Alcan many times over the years, there's much to see and much to learn. I plan to pack this Guide along with my gear for my next trip."
List price $14.95 ; Buy it for under $10.50

reviewed:"A Great Guide to The Alcan and Beyond   While the Milepost will give you every pullout and scenic view on the highway, this book is great reading about what to do, and what to see on your way. The information is very accurate and interesting. In this book, when you look up a certain place you end up reading on and on. "

reviewed:"outstanding guidebook   I used the "Rough Guide" on a recent visit to Southeastern Alaska. I found the recommendations regarding hotels and restaurants in Juneau, Ketchikan, and other cities to be accurate, useful, and up to date. The guide is well-illustrated and mapped and provides brief detail on places of interest and things to do."

List price $21.99 ; Buy it for under $15.00

Detailed routes and advice for heading into the wilds of Alaska and northwestern Canada are provided in this guide for RV and tent campers. This grand tour of Alaska covers in detail the Alaskan Highway, routes throughout the Yukon and Alaskan outback, and the ferry system in southeast Alaska. Campgrounds throughout the region are listed with pictures, descriptions of amenities and recreational opportunities, maps, and contact information for each. Important details are discussed, including border crossings, budget planning, vehicle preparation or renting an RV, appropriate clothing, road conditions, and possible wildlife encounters. Recreational information on hiking, mountain biking, boating, rafting, kayaking, and viewing wildlife is also included.

reviewed:"Best book on Camping Alaska   If I had bought this book first, I could have saved money on three others. Outstanding-- the only book you need to camp Alaska.

List price $21.95; Buy it for under $15.00

From the rain forests and glaciers of Southeast Alaska to the rugged mountains and tundra of the state's vast interior, this practical guide by Alaska specialist Jim DuFresne makes Alaska's pristine wilderness accessible to the novice and experienced hiker alike.

• expanded 2nd edition, thoroughly revised and updated on the trail
• a wide range of hikes, from day trips to backcountry pack and adventures
• detailed trail descriptions and two-color contour maps for every hike
• practical advice on transportation, accommodations, equipment and safety
• special illustrated section on Alaska's flora and fauna

List price $19.99 ; Buy it for under $14.00

With a century of national parks experience, National Geographic helps you make the most of your visits in this authoritative guide. Includes major sights, wildlife viewing opportunities, and lodgings, plus excursions to national forests, state parks, refuges, and other natural areas nearby.

List price $20.00;Buy it for under $14.00

From Anchorage and the Arctic to Denali National Park and the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska is an unspoiled paradise with glaciers, wildlife, fishing, kayaking, and more. Where do you begin? Relax! This easy-to-understand guide is all you need for a fun-filled trip.

Buy it for about $5.00

Moon Handbooks Alaska makes the great American wilderness accessible, with details on witnessing the Northern Lights, hiking the rugged mountains of the Interior, and fly-fishing on the Kenai Peninsula. Author and long-time Alaskan Don Pitcher provides insight into Alaska's unique culture, as well as tips on key attractions that make the most of the region's breathtaking qualities. Moon Handbooks Alaska includes a full range of accommodation options, useful maps, photographs, and detailed advice on getting around by car, plane, boat, foot, bike, or even dogsled. From the parks and museums of Anchorage to the forests of the Southeast and the rugged mountains of the Interior, this guide provides practical and reliable information for both first-time adventurers and veteran travelers.
List price $19.95 ; Buy it for under $14.00

Considered Anchorage's "backyard playground" and mecca for fishing fanatics, the Kenai Peninsula is a magnificent place, a microcosm of the best of what Alaska has to offer. Mountain peaks and blue glaciers, rushing rivers and aquamarine lakes, coastal islands and seaside towns-yes, all these.

But the Kenai Peninsula is also blessed with an abundance of wildlife from moose to brown bear, Dall sheep to sea otters, seabirds to record-breaking king salmon. Just over an hour from Anchorage, the Kenai is still steeped in early history, with Russian Orthodox families next door to '60s hippies. ALASKA'S KENAI PENINSULA is the perfect take-along volume, pocket-sized and priced right, filled with color photos and easy-to-read sidebars on natural and human history.
List price $12.95 ; Buy it for under $10.50

Alaska is a dream destination for many fishermen, but with this book those dreams can now come true. Don Crane takes a complicated topic and breaks it down so that anyone can plan a self-guided float trip for an extremely reasonable price. Crane covers; preparation; gear; camping; food; fishing; wildlife; resources and services; and so much more. If you and your buddies have always fantasized about an Alaskan fishing adventure, Floating Alaska! will tell you everything you need to know for a productive, inexpensive, and organized trip.

List price $15.95 ; Buy it for under $11.00

The most up-to-date, authoritative information for planning every kind of river trip in Alaska, from a mellow float to a month-long expedition.

reviewed:"The bible of river travel for Alaska    I love this book, and wish the author would write a sequel, describing more rivers. I have used the Alaska River Guide for several years to plan trips all over Alaska. The maps are great, the trip descriptions fascinating, and the pre-trip preparation information essential, especially for people new to Alaska."
List price $16.95 ; Buy it for under $12.00

Pound for pound and inch for inch, The Milepost is the most valuable piece of luggage you could include on a trip to Alaska and northwestern Canada, whether you're going by plane, car, bus, or bicycle. No wonder they're celebrating their fiftieth anniversary as the "Bible of North Country Travel." This is not a fluff and nonsense production, because there's serious driving to cover when you're heading to Anchorage or Denali Park, and you need to know things, like what the major highways and roads contain, mile-by-mile, where there are gas stations, campgrounds, fishing, lodging, and food, what the geography is like and what road conditions to expect. There's even some information on the history of the lands and communities, and what attractions are nearby. The maps are exceptional and the abundance of information remarkable, making this the most irreplaceable of guides for a trip up north.

reviewed:"INVALUABLE   This is one of the most concise books you could wish to have with you on ANY road traveled in Alaska. If it says to beware of moose...BEWARE OF MOOSE!! LOL. It was extremely helpful when trying to figure out exactly where we were at at any given time. If you forget and leave home without it-never fear you can pick them up anywhere at the local convenience stores!! Don't forget to show them your Milepost to get your free ice cream at The Knotty Shop between Salcha and the North Pole on the Richardson Highway!!!"
List price $25.95 ; Buy it for under $17.50

The Mobil Travel Guide star ratings are a 45-year-old consumer advocacy concept originally developed following the introduction of the interstate highway system. The goal of the Guide is not to identify and rate every property in the country, but to recommend only the best in each category, ones that we would send our customers to. We look at the stars from a consumer's point of view, rating lodgings and restaurants across North America from the perspective of the "average traveler."The Guides feature new enhanced descriptions for 2004. Listings include lodgings, restaurants, attractions, and events in established travel destinations, as well as cities and towns on the way to established travel destinations. Our new easy-to-use format makes the Guides even more indispensable to travelers. Each regional guide is organized alphabetically by state, with introductory information about the state followed by city listings in alphabetical order. For each city, the guide lists sites and attractions, lodgings, and then restaurants. One of the features that sets the Mobil Travel Guide apart from its competitors is its proprietary Mobil star rating system. Forty-five plus years of publishing experience and the oldest non-biased rating system in North America make the Mobil Travel Guide series a must-have for travelers wanting up-to-date ratings of hotels and restaurants.

List price $18.95 ; Buy it for under $13.00