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Discoveries...America, Alaska |
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At Denali National Park visitors come to see Mt. McKinley, the spectacular scenery and wildlife on the 60 mile drive into the Denali Backcountry Lodge. A journey to Denali by rail on the Alaska Railroad gives travelers the opportunity to relax and enjoy the passing scenery of the rugged Alaskan wilderness.Ferries on the Alaska Marine Highway System bring visitors north from Bellingham, WA to a variety of ports along the Inside Passage. Sitka is in the middle of the Tongass National Forest. Ketchikan is the Salmon Capital of the World. Whether it’s for salmon, halibut or many other varieties of fish, sport fishing in Alaska is “huge”! Visitors can experience Saxman Village to learn about Native culture, dancing & totems or take a dune buggy ride into the wilderness. Also gain insight into the Alaska Native Claims Settlement with Cape Fox CEO Bruce Borrup. Bear watching & fishing guide/pilot Butch Laughlin brings travelers to the Pack Creek Bear Preserve. The Glacier Bay Express, brings guests up close to calving glaciers and wildlife in Glacier Bay National Park. A special tour highlights breaching, rolling, and frolicking whales near Adolphus Point. In Haines, journey upriver into the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. Further north in Fairbanks, learn about the workings of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and passionate entrepreneur Bernie Karl of Chena Hot Springs explains the connection between hot springs, greenhouses, ice sculptures and energy. World-Record vegetables are the stars of the Alaska State Fair in Palmer and a glass harmonica player charms the crowd at Anchorage’s Farmers Market.
DVDDA
AK REVIEW: Discoveries…America, Alaska
"Seward's folly" indeed: in 1867, Secretary of State William Seward bought nearly 600,000 square miles of Alaskan wilderness from Russia at a cost of about 1.9 cents per acre, and the public thought Seward had been fleeced. Alaska, the latest addition to the popular Discoveries…America series, reminds us that Seward made quite a deal as filmmakers Jim & Kelly Watt focus their high-def cameras on America's 49th state to capture breathtaking mountain ranges (highlighting Mt. McKinley - the highest peak in North America at over 20,000 ft.) marine highways (including the farmed Inside Passage, home to port cities such as Sitka, Ketchikan & Juneau), the rail belt (with spectacular train routes throughout Alaska's interior), and several points of interest in between, ranging from an overview of the Trans-Alaska pipeline to a look at both Mendenhall Glacier & Glacier Bay. Viewers meet artistic-carvers of totem poles & ice sculptures, a water goblet player who performs a mean rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," a State Fair produce judge who talks about Alaska's upbringing rights to nine world records for giant vegetables, and tour-guides galore who point out highlights for travelers. Watching the lovely shots of frolicking whales, bears fishing for salmon, and soaring eagles, one can't help but feel a sense of the bittersweet that this spectacular wilderness landscape may be endangered by the threat of extensive oil drilling. Recommended.
DVDDAAK REVIEW: Discoveries…America, Alaska
Discoveries…America, Alaska is a DVD exploration of Alaska's wonders, both natural and man-made. From Native Alaskan culture, to watching whales frolic near Adolphus Point, to the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, the workings of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, bear-watching, sport fishing and much more, Discoveries…America, Alaska is sure to enthrall viewers with its multifaceted presentation of Alaska's rugged beauty. An ideal selection for both armchair travelers and anyone planning a trip to see Alaska for themselves.
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