Frommer's Alaska 2005 (Frommer's Complete Guides) [Paperback]

Charles P. Wohlforth (Author)

Book Description

Series: Frommer's Complete Guides | Publication Date: November 26, 2004

You'll never fall into the tourist traps when you travel with Frommer's. It's like having a friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. Our expert authors have already gone everywhere you might go— they've done the legwork for you, and they're not afraid to tell it like it is, saving you time and money. No other series offers candid reviews of so many hotels and restaurants in all price ranges. Every Frommer's Travel Guide is up-to-date, with exact prices for everything, dozens of color maps, and exciting coverage of sports, shopping, and nightlife. You'd be lost without us!

Completely updated every year (unlike most of the competition), Frommer's Alaska features gorgeous color photos of the spectacular scenery and amazing wildlife that await you in America's last frontier. This extraordinary and detailed guide is personally researched by a lifelong resident, who offers insights into how to discover the real Alaska. You'll find complete details on whale watching, sea kayaking, hiking, salmon fishing, funky small towns, Gold Rush saloons, glaciers, scenic drives, and more. You'll even get an up-to-date cruise planner and a free color fold-out map!

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Experience a place the way the locals do. Enjoy the best it has to offer. Frommer's. The best trips start here.

• Savvy tips on enjoying the great Alaskan wilderness, from whale-watching to kayaking to fishing for Pacific salmon.
• Outspoken opinions on what's worth your time and what's not.
• Exact prices, so you can plan the perfect trip no matter what your budget.
• Off-the-beaten-path experiences and undiscovered gems, plus new takes on top attractions.

About the Author

Charles Wohlforth is a lifelong Alaskan who has been a writer and journalist since 1986. His Frommer’s Family Vacations in the National Parks covers parks all over the United States based on insights from the Wohlforth family’s own camping experiences. Wohlforth lives in Anchorage with his wife, Barbara, sons Robin and Joseph, and daughters Julia and Rebecca. Last year, Farrar, Straus and Giroux published his new book about Eskimos experiencing warming in the Arctic, titled The Whale and the Supercomputer: On the Northern Front of Climate Change. Wohlforth welcomes reader questions and comments through his website, www.wohlforth.net.

Product Details

• Paperback: 483 pages
• Publisher: Frommers; 1 edition (November 26, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076457146X
• ISBN-13: 978-0764571466
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,087,971 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

67 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best of the Alaska travel guides, January 4, 2004

By 

M. Schafle "kingratt82" (Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Frommer's Alaska 2004 (Paperback)

With honest, forthright, outspoken, and candid opinions, this is the best of the few Alaska travel guides there are.

I am a traveller/adventurer from the extreme parts of Northern California along the Pacific. I am not a tourist. That said, I am not writing this review from a tourist's point of view. I AM writing this review from the point of view of an ADVENTURER, and so my opinion of this book is based on the usefulness an adventurer can get from it.

Some things I like about this book are:

1) The author's honesty. If he thinks there is something you ought to see that other guides tell you isn't worth your time, he'll let you know. If he thinks something is a waste of time, or if something is overpriced or overhyped, he'll let you know that, too. He's not afraid to tell it like it is, which has saved me time and money.

2) He's lived in Alaska since day one, so he knows the subject. He's also an adventurer that has explored much of Alaska and knows where you can do or what you can do to get the most for your money. He is especially knowledgable about Southeast Alaska, and the kayaking and other types of adventuring you can do there.

3) The author lists URLs for everything/every place that has a URL. This is handy for updates, more information, and photos. A very nice touch.

All in all, I have found this guide to be superior to Fodor's when it comes to outdoors adventuring (hiking, kayaking, flightseeing, skiing, etc.); and while it is better also than Lonely Planet for the same reason, Lonely Planet does have some useful and valuable information for the traveller/adventurer as well. But unlike Fodor's, the lists of hotels and restaurants is not as comprehensive. However, for the adventurer/traveller, this book is the best one out there, hands down. It lists numerous outdoor equipment rental companies, large and small; it lists most of the companies that offer expeditions into the Alaskan wilderness; and it has exact prices at the time of publishing, with URLs to visit to get updates.

Again, I recommend this book over Fodor's if you are going to Alaska for adventure. If you are going as a tourist (cruise ship tourist or just short-on-available-time tourist), this book is also useful, but isn't as thorough when it comes to touristy stuff. I do recommend Lonely Planet for outdoor adventuring as well.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book., May 21, 2000

By 

DaveAZ "Dave" (USA, near Phoenix) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Frommer's Alaska (1998ed) (Hardcover)

Of all the travel books we have used, this one of Frommers is the best. Its appeal, however, is for people who like recommendations of the best items - like best places to visit, best B&B's, etc. We find it saves us a great deal of planning time to FIRST focus on the section at the start of the book when we start organizing a trip. Later, we add items which we want to do which may not be as popular with everyone.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best of Frommer's, February 12, 2007

By 

Beebee (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Frommer's Alaska 2007 (Frommer's Complete Guides) (Paperback)

I actually used the 2006 version for my travel to Alaska last year. It was absolutely invaluable. I also own Frommer's Caribbean, NYC Pocket guide, Florida and Walt Disney World and Orlando. This book is by far the best of all those guides. The author lives in and loves Alaska, and this shines through the writing. It's very helpful when trying to decide what to see and do in such a large state with so many natural wonders.

He also includes very practical information and does everything he can to ensure that those of little or high means can manage their dream trip to Alaska. He is very candid and meticulous throughout. We've found his recommendations to be right on the money. Might I also suggest picking up the "milepost" magazine from Alaska for more in depth (though dry) info on all your drives. It helped us to see a lot that we wouldn't have otherwise seen on the drive to Denali. We will definitely go back!!!!