11 days in Alaska Itinerary

The narrow city of Ketchikan clings to the bluffs that form Revillagigedo Island's southwestern shore.

Start off your visit on the 17th (Sat): kick your exploration up a notch at some of the top local zipline courses and adventure parks and then get to know the fascinating history of Creek Street. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 18th (Sun): cast your line with a fishing tour.

To see photos, reviews, maps, and other tourist information, refer to the Ketchikan visit planner.

Chicago to Ketchikan is an approximately 10-hour combination of flight and ferry. You can also do a combination of train and ferry. The time zone difference moving from Central Standard Time to Alaska Standard Time is minus 3 hours. Plan for little chillier temperatures traveling from Chicago in June, with highs in Ketchikan at 62°F and lows at 50°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 18th (Sun) to allow enough time to travel to Juneau.

Juneau is an unusual state capital in many respects.

Spend the 20th (Tue) exploring at Tracy Arm Fjord. There's lots more to do: see majestic marine mammals with a dolphin and whale watching tour, get all the information you need at Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, admire the sheer force of Nugget Falls, and stop by Glacier Smoothie Soaps LLC.

For more things to do, other places to visit, maps, and other tourist information, refer to the Juneau day trip planning site.

Getting from Ketchikan to Juneau by combination of ferry and flight takes about 3 hours. Other options: ride a ferry. In June, plan for daily highs up to 63°F, and evening lows to 48°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 21st (Wed) so you can travel to Seward.

For most visitors to this part of the world, the wild part of Alaska starts at Seward, a small port city that takes advantage of the region's natural beauty.

Kick off your visit on the 22nd (Thu): explore the wealth of natural beauty at Kenai Fjords National Park Visitor Center. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: take an unforgettable tour with a helicopter tour, get engrossed in the history at Seward Community Library & Museum, then admire nature's wide array of creatures at Alaska SeaLife Center, and finally add some adventure to your tour with a kayaking and canoeing tour.

To find reviews, maps, photos, and more tourist information, use the Seward vacation website.

You can do a combination of flight and bus from Juneau to Seward in 6.5 hours. Another option is to do a combination of ferry and bus. June in Seward sees daily highs of 61°F and lows of 47°F at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 23rd (Fri) to allow enough time to drive to Anchorage.

Home to nearly half of Alaska's population, the port city of Anchorage covers a staggering area of over 4,900 sq km (1,900 sq mi) surrounded by mountains.

Anchorage is known for wildlife, historic sites, and nature. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: appreciate the extensive heritage of Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, contemplate the long history of Oscar Anderson House Museum, meet the residents at Alaska Zoo, and see the world from above with a helicopter tour.

To find where to stay, ratings, maps, and more tourist information, go to the Anchorage trip planner.

Traveling by car from Seward to Anchorage takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. In June, daily temperatures in Anchorage can reach 66°F, while at night they dip to 51°F. You'll have a few hours on the 27th (Tue) to wrap things up before traveling home.