By Car -- Highways connect all the region's major towns, except Cordova, which is reached only by air or water. Like all of Alaska's main highways, these are paved two-lane roads. The Seward Highway runs south from Anchorage to the Kenai Peninsula. That route is described below. A road built in a railway tunnel connects Whittier, on Prince William Sound, to the Seward Highway. The Glenn and Richardson highways reach from Anchorage to Valdez through Alaska's Interior.
By Ferry -- The ferry system connects Whittier with Valdez and Cordova via the fast ferry Chenega. Driving from Anchorage to Whittier, taking the ferry to Valdez, and then driving back to Anchorage (or north to Fairbanks) makes a great loop. The ferry Tustumena (the "Tusty") connects Homer to Kodiak Island and the Aleutian Archipelago and also runs from Homer to Seldovia. The schedule is not convenient for Seldovia, however; for that trip, it's easier to take one of the private passenger ferries that serve the towns and remote sites around Kachemak Bay from Homer. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ranger offers programs on the Tusty. Call tel. 800/642-0066; or visit www.ferryalaska.com.
By Air -- Commuter aircraft connect Anchorage to Kenai, Homer, Valdez, and Cordova. You can also fly between Anchorage and Cordova on an Alaska Airlines jet daily in each direction (the northbound originates in Seattle). Scheduled and air-taxi services use these towns as bases for the villages, carrying passengers, mail, and cargo, and flying to remote lodges and cabins for fishing or other outdoor activities. Valdez, Cordova, and Anchorage operators serve Prince William Sound. Kenai and Anchorage companies cover Cook Inlet and remote public lands such as Lake Clark National Park. Homer is the base for villages around Kachemak Bay and lower Cook Inlet bear-viewing sites.
By Train -- The Alaska Railroad (tel. 800/544-0552 or 907/265-2494; www.alaskarailroad.com) runs from Anchorage south to Seward or Whittier and back daily in the summer.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
