The Alaskan journey is one that we must all take one day. Somewhere deep inside us, there is an urge to traverse the most remote parts of the globe and endure the most extreme conditions, to see things for ourselves that we had only previously encountered on the National Geographic Channel, and to delve into the most exotic places on the planet in hopes of coming home all the wiser.

The Alaska you choose to see can be a wild, untamed, unconquered Alaska, full of glaciers, grizzlies, pristine tundra and soaring bald eagles. Or the Alaska you choose can be a rich cultural epicenter, with Inuit artwork and totem poles, gold mining remnants, historic railroad routes and dog sled teams of Malamutes and Huskies ready and raring to go. Choose wisely, but keep in mind that you will probably be back here again one day. When you want it, things have a way of working out.

If it's your first visit, then travel veterans will tell you an Alaskan Cruise is the ultimate way to see and experience the state of Alaska. Do you dream of seven-night cruises in pleasant sixty-to-seventy degree weather, while feasting on fresh-caught salmon, caribou steaks or reindeer sausages, and sipping on local micro-brews?

Wouldn't it be great if all your tours were pre-arranged and you could pan for gold, visit a glacial park, whale watch, take a jeep and canoe safari, watch a 1900s Lumberjack Show and see towering native Inuit totem poles? Or, if you'd like, you can still view the majestic glaciers along the Inside Passage, yet stay on the ship for all your entertainment, including casinos, movies, fitness centers, internet centers, spas, libraries, swimming pools, Broadway-style shows, game centers and educational native Alaskan presentations.

A cruising Alaskan adventure is the perfect option for people who despise the organizing, arranging and "now what should we do" aspects of a vacation but love experiencing new things, all for one inclusive price. During the summer months, you can even find a seven-night cruise for as low as $799!

The Saxman Native Village and The Alaskan Native Heritage Center are great places to learn about the first people of Alaska, some of whom still reside in the state to this day. Kids and adults alike will love the White Pass railroad, as you will see remnants of the great 1898 Yukon gold rush, where over 20,000 people traversed from all around the world to make their fortune.

The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park and the town of Skagway have a lot of cultural artifacts and activities related to the gold rush time period. You can even try panning for gold yourself or following the same route the prospectors took from British Colombia! You'll notice the Russian and Scandinavian influence in a place like Petersburg, Alaska, where you'll be treated to ethnic dances and cathedral tours, if you so desire.

If you're all geared up about The Alaskan hunting and fishing experience, which could add a notch to every serious hunter's belt, then you had better come prepared! Big game hunting licenses and fishing permits are required by law for all excursions and big game hunters who don't live in-state need to be accompanied by a guide for a wild Alaskan excursion.

Moose, caribou, grizzly bears, brown bears and black bears are the most common animals to hunt here, although bison, sheep, wolves, geese, duck, elk, mountain goats, wolverines and musk oxen can also be hunted. You can check with the Alaskan Department of Hunting and Game for more information.

For fishing, you'll have your choice of five different salmon varieties, in addition to halibut, arctic grayling, enormous rainbow trout and 21 other species of sport fish. Anchorage, the Kenai Peninsula, the Matanuska-Susitna valleys and Prince William Sound are all good places to begin. You may also want to consider a fly-in trip to a remote area or participating in an Alaskan prize-awarding derby in Ketchikan, Juneau, Valdez, Anchorage, Homer, Seward, Unalaska/Dutch Harbor and Kodiak.