If you’ve secured one of this year’s many exciting summer jobs in Alaska, your packing list is probably the last thing on your mind.  Fear not, we’ve got you covered.  Here are 7 items every person should pack to ensure incredible Alaskan outdoor experiences.

Alaska Packing List

Camera with Wide-Angle Lens

If a good picture is worth a thousand words, your blurry camera phone snapshot of a soaring bald eagle is worth about twelve. To get the most out of your photos, use a wide-angle lens on your camera. It allows you to take beautiful panoramic photos of Alaska’s stunning landscapes.

Expert tip: Wide-angle lenses can distort straight lines, so they’re not recommended for urban photography. For nature, however, they’re perfect for making gorgeous panoramic images.

Bivy Sack

If you’re new to camping, you might not know how valuable a good bivy sack can be. Put simply, a bivy sack is like a wind/waterproof sock you slip over your sleeping bag, providing you with an extremely portable tent and a surefire defense against Alaska’s unpredictable weather.

Expert tip: As long as you’ve got a good sleeping bag and pad to go with your bivy sack, you’ll be ready to camp out in any situation.

Insect Repellent Clothing

Alaska is known for its legendary mosquito population. In fact, Alaska is home to an astonishing 35 different mosquito species, and those suckers are big. Thus, buying insect repelling clothing can be one of the best investments for an itch-free stay in Alaska. Make sure to get some good long-sleeved shirts to cover vulnerable skin!

Expert Tip: Spring for the shirts that have insect repellent and UPF sun protection built-in. It’s like wearing a pocketknife of protection.

Fishing Rod

Hands down, the best state for fishing in America is Alaska. From mouthwatering King Salmon to legendary rainbow trout, your next fishing tall tale is always just a few casts away. Bring a quality fishing rod with you and get ready to hook bigger fish than you’ve ever imagined.

Expert tip: Spring for a four or five-piece rod so you can pack your rod in a backpack and bring it along easily while hiking.

Sunglasses

In Alaska, wearing sunglasses at night isn’t just for celebrities. That’s because the definition of “night” is difficult to pin down in some parts of Alaska, where 24 hour sunlight is a fact of life during the height of summer. Get yourself a good pair- you’ll get a lot of use out of them!

Expert tip: Make sure the lenses are polarized; they will help you see through the water when you go fishing.

Life Jacket

Between river rafting, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing, you’re gonna be around a lot of water. With rushing rapids around every corner, make sure you’ve got a life jacket on to prepare you an unexpected dip!

Expert tip: Children 13 and under are required to wear a life jacket at all times while on any boat in Alaska. If you’re out rafting with young relatives, make sure the wee ones have vests, or face major fines.

Hiking Boots

Only true hiking rookies would ever hit an Alaskan trail without sturdy hiking boots. A majority of the state’s most stunning vistas are only accessible by foot, so if you plan on making the most of your summer experience, bring up a trusty pair.

Expert tip: Make certain your boots have high support to protect you from rolling your ankles. It’s wise to have a waterproof pair, too!
Get out and get active. It’s simply impossible to be a homebody in Alaska, so stock up on outdoor essentials and explore all that this incredible state has to offer.

Now, for any other state, four national parks would be good and plenty.  But you’re forgetting this is Alaska we’re talking about.  Alaska simply has the most natural beauty of any place in America.  Indeed, Alaska’s national parks are so numerous that we had to split our profile of them into 2 blog posts!

If you’re lucky enough to experience one of the many summer jobs in Alaska, make sure you visit all of these breathtaking national parks.

Kenai Fjords National Park

Get in touch with your inner Fjord enthusiast by visiting the breathtaking Kenai Fjords National Park.   Named for the narrow glacier-carved inlets that gouge their way into Alaska’s southern coastline, Kenai Fjords is home to some of the largest ice fields in the United States.

The Harding Icefield covers over 300 square miles of rugged Alaska terrain.

It's always nice to wake up in the morning and say to yourself, "I'd like to go kayaking next to a calving glacier today."

Mountain goats cling to sheer mountainsides towering above Harding Ice field.

Kobuk Valley National Park

When you think of Alaskan terrain, desolate sand dunes are probably some of the last things that come to mind. But in Kobuk Valley National park, this is exactly what you’ll find. While Kobuk Valley is home to over 400,000 Caribou and scores of other wildlife, it is also the least visited national park in all of America due to its remote location.

Despite its extreme northern latitude, temperatures on the Kobuk Sand Dunes can reach up to 100 degrees in the summer.

Caribou crossing the Kobuk River, a common site in one of their most prized natural habitats.

Kobuk Valley is a stunning reminder that there are still massive expanses of land on our planet that are utterly untouched by humanity.

Lake Clark National Park

Located at the convergence of three separate mountain ranges, Lake Clark National Park is home to an extremely diverse array of natural habitats. From rainforests to volcanoes, each corner of the park has a different feel to it.

Lake Clark National Park contains parts of the Alaska and Aleutian Ranges, as well as the Chigmit Mountains

Lake Clark features a spectacular wildflower population that blooms throughout the summer.

Standing 18,008 ft. tall, Mt. Saint Elias is only surpassed by Mt. McKinley as the tallest mountain in America

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

Last (but certainly not least) we have Wrangell-St. Elias, the largest national park in all of America. It is so big, in fact, that the state of Maryland could easily fit inside the park’s confines—twice. Indeed, if immense scale is something you’re into, Wrangell-St. Elias won’t disappoint; it’s also home to the second largest mountain in America!

The Wrangell-St. Elias backcountry is a favorite destination for experienced hikers in Alaska.

A Great Horned Owl watches over his habitat in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.

A Great Horned Owl watches over his habitat in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.

Alaska’s national parks are scattered all across the state, so no matter which lodge or tour location you’re working at, you’ll never be more than a stone’s throw away from one of our nation’s most cherished natural settings.  Of course, many employees make it a goal to visit all of Alaska’s national parks in their tenure here; a move we certainly recommend.

Here’s the first iteration of a two part photo tour of just some of the amazing sights to see in Alaska’s stunning national parks.  But be warned: despite the beauty of these pictures, they only portray just a fraction of the splendor you can expect to see in person!

Glacier Bay National Park

With no roads accessing it, Glacier Bay National Park can be a bit tricky to get to.  Once you’re there, however, you’ll realize it’s well worth the difficult journey. Don’t miss this amazing park on Alaska’s Southeastern panhandle.

Experience once-in-a-lifetime glimpses of immense glaciers slowly creeping through mountain valleys

Mountains and glaciers! That's how Alaska does!

You haven't lived until you've seen an enormous glacier chunk calve into the ocean

Katmai National Park

This cherished national park in Southern Alaska is home to some incredible volcanoes that have had a profound effect on the terrain of their surrounding areas.

Mt. Katmai features a stunningly beautiful crater lake inside it. When was the last time you swam in a volcano?

The colorful ash-laden valley known as the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes.

Katmai National Park is renowned for its plentiful Brown Bear population

Denali National Park

As the home of North America’s tallest mountain, Denali certainly is the most famous of Alaska’s national parks.  But there’s much more to this park than its enormous mountain.

At 20,320 feet above sea level, Mt. McKinley dwarfs any other mountain on the continent.

Take one of the most scenic canoe trips of your life on Wonder Lake.

Denali National Park is an excellent place to view Grizzly Bears in their natural habitat.

Gates of the Arctic National Park

Gates of the Arctic National Park is the northernmost national park in Alaska (and, thus, the United States).  Getting there is essentially only possible by plane, but once you’re there you’ll experience the most unexplored national park in America.

The flight into Gates of the Arctic provides sweeping views of vast mountain ranges.

Beautiful photo of the Arrigetch Peaks, which means "fingers of the outstretched hand" in native Inupiat language.

Caribou roam freely within Gates of the Arctic National Park

Still waiting to answer the call of the wild? You should consider an Alaska summer job. While there are millions of reasons why Alaska’s the coolest place to work in the world, we’ve narrowed them down to the top 20. From whale watching to gold panning, there’s something for everyone in the Last Frontier. Be warned though: after reading this list, you won’t be able to get up to Alaska fast enough!

1. Midnight Sun

Ever lament the fact that you don’t have enough daylight when you get off work? You’ll never have that worry in Alaska, where during the summer some places have sunlight 24 hours a day due to the northern latitudes.

2. A Fisherman’s Paradise

Alaska offers the best fishing, bar none, in the United States. There are enough angling opportunities to make your head, and your reel, spin.

3. Moose Gazing

You know you’re in Alaska when you have to stop your car for a moose crossing on your morning commute. These majestic creatures can be seen all over the Alaskan wilderness.

4. Float Planing

Got a weekend off? Explore the most remote reaches of the Last Frontier with an exhilarating float plane experience.

5. Pipeline=low taxes

Due to the revenue the state government gets every year from the oil pipeline, Alaska has the least taxes of any state in America.

6. World Class Kayaking

Ever kayaked in the shadow of a glacier? We didn’t think so. Alaska offers kayaking opportunities that bring out the adventurer in all of us.

7. Behemoth Whales

Trust us, watching an 80,000 pound mammal jump out of the water as if it’s weightless gets old.

8. Delicious Reindeer?

Expand your palate by sampling some of Alaska’s delicious local cuisine. Remember: you can’t say you’ve experienced the Last Frontier until you’ve tasted Reindeer steak!

9. National Parks Galore!

If you love National Parks, Alaska is for you. Alaska has eight National Parks; three more than the entire East Coast of the United States!

10. Road Trippin’

There’s no place on earth more apt for a road trip. Load up the RV and take a ride amongst the stunning scenery along Alaska’s famous highways.

11. Northern Lights

Photos don’t do justice to the visual splendor provided by the Northern Lights. Spend one evening under Aurora and you’ll never think a fireworks show is cool again.

12. Gold Rush!

“There’s gold in them hills.” Start the next great Alaskan gold rush by panning for the gold in one of the beautiful stream beds.

13. Anchorage Nightlife

The biggest city in Alaska offers all the allures of an urban lifestyle while sacrificing nothing in terms of natural beauty.

14. Alaskan Breweries

Alaska is known for some amazing breweries. Take a tour of the Alaskan Brewing Co. and taste delicious Alaskan Ales.

15. Take a Hike!

Alaska’s plethora of hiking opportunities are too numerous to count. Find your own trail and discover a favorite vantage point!

16. White Water Rafting

Thrill seekers will be pleased to know of the amazing white water rafting experiences available in Alaska. Plenty of Class V rapids await the seasoned rafting veterans.

17. World Class Hunting

In Alaska, big-game enthusiasts love spending their days off searching for that elusive ten-point buck.

18. Eat Crab Like a King

Find out why those fishermen go to such lengths on The Deadliest Catch. Alaska has the freshest King Crab anywhere in the world.

19. Rich Cultural History

Alaska is the homeland of many Native American cultures. From the totem weilding Haidas to the frigid Eskimos, the influence of these native cultures is still present to this day.

20. Take it all in

In Alaska, you never know what amazing natural scene lies just around the corner. Get out there and observe- you never know what you’ll catch!

Alaska – Land of the Incredible, the Wild, and the Fearless Adventurer. Start your next great journey in the Last Frontier, but be warned- once you get here, you won’t want to leave!

Sunset over Dawson City

It was after 6 long years of a drowning career in healthcare, that I sought out a place that could provide me the chance for adventure, and a time to use my marketing background. I came across the Holland America a Holland America guest service jobs posting on cruise job finder search engine. I applied online and accepted the job in mid-January. I started my Dawson/HAP adventure with a drive across Canada, to my now year round home in Dawson. This is my first year working for HAP and I excitedly await for next season, as it is my Dawson management team and co workers that have made this experience that adventure I was looking for.

Gorgeous view above Dawson City

Dawson City 2004, I had just driven across Canada from Ontario to Whistler BC and heard from a friend that Dawson City was a quiet place for me to enjoy a summer. We drove up from Whistler the next few days and arrived into Dawson in my ‘Green Machine’ (VW Van). I applied at Holland America and was hired on full time halfway through the season. I returned home that winter and in the new year travelled back to Whistler to repeat my western adventure back to Dawson City. I stayed the winter of 2005, and after the season and acquired two dogs from a dog musher in Eagle Alaska. I have since been living in Dawson ever since, year round. I experience different extremes and would not change it for anything. The company gave me a reason to return my second summer. I have worked fulltime for Holland America since 2004 and continue to return.

Historic Skagway is a quintessential Alaskan town.

It was summer of 2005 and my sister said that I would love it in Alaska and the Yukon. She had been working in Skagway, Alaska for a season and had a great experience with the company. The following season I applied to be a Tour Director, was hired on and had the best experience travelling throughout Alaska and the Yukon. The following year I worked in Denali (2006), Skagway (2007), and Dawson City (2009/2010). The summer season that I remained away from the North was long, and I missed it incredibly and brought myself to visit twice that summer. I came north for an adventure and an adventure is what I was met with, met some new and amazing people and have been friends ever since. I will currently be spending my first winter in Dawson City and change from a Cheechako to a Sourdough and don’t think that I will be returning to the city anytime soon.

Mt. Mckinley in Denali National Park (Source: Nic McPhee)

Alaska?  Sure, that sounds interesting!   One spring morning, many moons ago a friend called and was driving across the US on her way from New York to Alaska.  She asked if I wanted to tag along and work in Alaska for the summer.  I was currently working in St. Louis and thought, sure why not it will be a great adventure, I’ll be back in the fall.  Ha… little did I know.

So off I went with only a back pack and the hopes of a grand adventure.  I ended up getting a job in Denali National Park, working at the front desk of the hotel and the tour desk.  It was great, I met so many fun and interesting people, both visiting and working there.  What an exciting and energetic environment.  I packed my summer with hikes, river trips, car trips, flight seeing, midnight volleyball, horseback riding ….. anything.  Summer solstice meant the sun never set, so I decided to make the most of that and did everything I could.   The northern lights were amazing in August in Denali… took my breath away.   Alaska was so much more than I had expected.  People can try to describe the natural beauty, but it seems so much more vibrant in person.  And staying for the summer gave me so many more opportunities to experience the unusual things, seeing a brand new moose calf taking its first steps, seeing grizzly bears catch and eat salmon, spending the night on the Ruth Glacier.  Talk about priceless!

When summer was coming to a close, several people were talking about “wintering” over in Anchorage.  It sounded so mysterious, I thought, why not.  Let’s give it a try.   I was persistent in my task of securing full time employment and was able to start working full time in tourism that winter.   Ever since I’ve been an “Alaskan”.   Front Desk, Tour Desk, Transportation, Reservations, Yield Management, Sales, Guest Service and Operations – I’ve done them all.  My Alaskan journey has afforded me many wonderful opportunities.  I’ve met some great people, experienced amazing things and have parlayed my summer adventure into a 20 year tourism career.

I first came to Alaska in 1995 for a summer vacation with my brother Charlie. My first couple of years in Alaska I was an independent gold miner with a serious case of gold fever.  I never seemed to strike it rich and I was hurting for cash. My brother Charlie had been hired as a catering server at the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge and suggested that it might be time for me to get a real job that paid. So I cut my dread locks off and went to the job interview which back then was “when can you start”. The first day on the job was a 21^st birthday party and the guests grabbed the servers and made them dance a couple of songs. I really enjoyed throwing parties for a living and it also gave me extra time to work on my Michael Jackson dance moves. I knew early on that Princess was the company I wanted to work for. Customer service is their number one priority and making people happy makes me happy. In my second month on the job I met the woman that would become my wife (Princess truly is the love boat!) We have had many exciting events here at the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge, hundreds of weddings, thousands of business meeting, scores of proms , and even a World Clown Convention. Over the years my job has changed from throwing the parties to booking and supervising the events. I don’t have as much dance floor time, but still make sure the staff can do “Thriller” in a moments notice.

Scenic Alaskan Highway (Source: Alaska-in-Pictures)

I was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. Growing up, I was well aware of the high volume of tourists that ventured to The Last Frontier in the summers, and I couldn’t blame them. Not only does Alaska have a breathtaking landscape, but the people that live here share an adventurous spirit. Alaska attracts those that want to explore and those that crave adventure.

When I was sixteen years old, a sophomore in high school, I started working for Princess Tours as a Guest Service Host. I wanted to work in the tourism industry because I was excited to share Alaska with others. For five seasons straight, I worked at the hotels in downtown Anchorage assisting guests as they traveled Alaska. I loved to see the thrill of excitement guests wore on their faces as they arrived at the hotel after an excursion to see brown bears, or after catching their first salmon, or simply after admiring the view from a ride on the train. Something that Holland America-Princess does very well is to offer our guests countless opportunities to customize their adventure to fit their unique dreams. Part of my job as a Guest Service Host was to steer visitors in the right direction in order for their Alaskan dream to be realized. I met many interesting and remarkable people from all over the world in that position, and I gained invaluable customer service experience during those seasons. The skills you take with you after working in a position like that are applicable to any job you may have in the future.

For the past two seasons, I have been working in the Anchorage Transportation Division office as an Administrative Assistant doing Payroll. I have really enjoyed my role here as I get to work more closely with the managers and other administrative staff. I have learned a lot more about the Human Resources side of the business as well as other behind the scenes preparations that form the basis of a smooth running operation. I really appreciate my experiences with Holland America-Princess and I know my co-workers do as well. The high return rate that we witness each season at this company is a testament to how much people enjoy working here as well as the overwhelming desire our employees have to give visitors to Alaska the unbelievable experience they have only dreamed of.