Best of Alaska: Skiing Alyeska

Skiing in Alaska combines the accolades of skiing throughout North America—room to roam, great snow, stellar facilities—only magnified on an Alaskan scale. Alyeska is the state's premier resort, an easy hour's drive from Anchorage. Two adjectives apply here: big (1,400 acres, 73 runs, and 3,200 feet of vertical) and snowy (as much as 640 inches of annual snowfall).

Photo credit: Chairlift at Alyeska, Alaska (courtesy, Ayeska Resort)

Alaska's "Little San Francisco"

Nicknamed "Little San Francisco," Juneau's hilly downtown area hugs the side of Mount Juneau and Mount Roberts and contains a mix of new and old architecture linked together by a network of staircases. The waterfront is active with cruise ships, tankers, fishing boats, kayaks, and floatplanes. The area offers a variety of sights such as historic gold mines and glaciers, and activities including hiking, biking, and paddling.

Photo credit: Juneau floatplanes, Alaska (Travel Alaska)