Alaskan cruises are great options for travelers because they offer plenty to do off the ship. You can go hiking, shop in interesting stores, go salmon fishing or even pan for gold! One activity that’s often overlooked, though, is visiting Alaska’s many wonderful museums.
The Last Frontier has a rich cultural history that started long before the first European and American settlers arrived. If you want a more in-depth understanding of what makes Alaska such a great place, be sure to check out some of the following museums on your next cruise:
Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum (Anchorage)
Air planes are always interesting, and if you’re traveling with children, they’ll be happy that you brought them here. Artifacts, flight simulators and early planes line the exhibit halls of this institution. The museum will take you on a journey of how humans moved from the ground and into the air. You’ll also learn how important the aviation industry is to Alaska, especially when it comes to reaching residents in remote areas.
Photo courtesy of Alaska Aviation Museum
Alaska State Museum (Juneau)
How did Alaska go from being a land full of adventurers and gold prospectors to becoming the 49th state? You’ll find some answers at the Alaska State Museum. Highlights of the center include exhibits about the Eskimo way of life and Russia’s relationship with Alaska. The state museum is a must-visit destination for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of any historical information that they may have learned in the past.
Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center
In Alaska’s largest museum, you’ll learn about the state’s Native, non-Native and natural history through a series of informative and interactive exhibits. The second floor of the museum houses the Smithsonian Institution’s Arctic Studies Center, where you’ll find an extensive collection of Alaskan Native Art.
Photo courtesy of Anchorage Museum
To keep the kids interested, be sure to stop by the planetarium to look through the telescopes.
The Gyre sled dog exhibit is on display through the end of the summer.
Photo courtesy of Anchorage Museum
University of Alaska Museum of the North (Fairbanks)
The Museum of the North is a popular tourist attraction, but more importantly, a vital resource for the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The institution is Alaska’s only research and teaching museum and houses more than 1.4 million artifacts and specimens. Highlights of the museum includes an extensive collection of art that ranges from 2,000-year-old carvings to contemporary pieces from local artists. One of the most interesting parts of the museum, though, is the 36,000-year-old mummified Bison known as Blue Babe.
Photo courtesy of the University of Alaska Museum of the North
Alaskan cruises fill quickly, so now is the time to plan out your vacation. We have the best cruise specialists at CruiseExperts.com who can do all of the hard work of scheduling the perfect itinerary for your family.
Call us at 1-888-804-CRUISE (2784) or visit our website, www.CruiseExperts.com.
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