MainTour Alaska Vacation Network presents coverage of the best area destinations, attractions, resorts, recreational activities and special events. We greatly appreciate your support by making us your first choice for booking all of your vacation plans - lodging, travel, gift shopping, guided tours and more. More tourism profiles are being added regularly so be sure to check the What's New in Alaska for updates.

Free Alaska Vacation
Join the Coastal Vacation Club and get a free vacation to Alaska and many other locations worldwide. Includes special savings on Cruises, Golf, Camping, Amusement Parks, Ski, Airfares, Car Rental and more.

MainTour Southeast Alaska Vacation Adventure

Southeast Alaska is home to the largest temperate rain forest in the world and historic gold mining towns founded in 1898's gold rush. Many tours operate out of these towns to explore the adjacent forest lands and glaciers or support the local timber economy. Key Points of Interest:

• Tongass Rain Forest - 17 million acres of the densest biomass on earth.
• Admiralty Islands National Monument - Protected area of the most impressive tracts of the rain forest.
• Ketchikan - Historic Gold Mine Town.
• Wrangell - Historic Gold Mine Town.
• Petersburg - Historic Gold Mine Town.
• Juneau - Alaska State Capital.
• Mendenhall - Large Glacier
• Glacier Bay National Park
• Misty Fjords National Monument - more impressive tracts of the rain forest.
• Sitka - Historic Gold Mine Town.
• Haines - Historic Gold Mine Town.
• Skagway - Historic Gold Mine Town.
• Wrangell-St.Elias National Park

Calendar of Events
Many major events including upcoming fairs, sports, parades, festivals, tournaments and more.

Outdoor Recreation Guide
Biking, boating, birding, hiking, wildlife and scenic adventure tours.

Attractions Guide
amusement theme parks, zoos, museums, art galleries and more

Southeast Dining Guide
the best restaurants are listed right here!

Sports Page
major league, minor league, collegiate and amatuer sports venues including tennis classics, baseball spring training and more.

Entertainment and Nightlife
The action doesn't stop at night - find the best in afterdark activities.

Shopping Guide
local shopping malls and gift exchanges

Hotel and Resort Listings
MainTour's big listing of great area hotels, motels, vacation resorts, timeshare resorts and much more.

Maps.com - Travel maps and digital atlases for Alaska.

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TulipsWeather.com
The Complete Source for U.S., Canadian, and World Weather Forecasts and Current Conditions

One of the last unspoiled and largest temperate rain forests of the world, the Tongass Rain Forest hugs the North American Coastline from Kodiak Island in Alaska and stretches as far south as Northern California.

The Tongass National Forest covers nearly 17 million acres - almost all of SouthEast Alaska that is not densely populated or part of either the Admiralty Islands National Monument, Misty Fjords National Monument, or Wrangell-St. Elias National Park all of which include some of the most exciting features of this rain forest ecosystem. It is the largest designated national forest tract in the country covering a narrow tract between Pacific Ocean coastline and some of the tallest mountains in North America (topping out at 18,000 feet).

The Temperate Rain Forest is very different ecosystem than that of a Tropical Rain Forest and cover a much small percentage of the Earth's landmass, about 3%. While the Tongass is the largest, (with about 29% of the world's surviving uncut temperate rain forest) other similar forests can be found in Tasmania, New Zealand, Chile.

Fueled by upto 55 inches of annual precipatation and keeping a mean annual temperature of about 40-54 degrees, the Temperate Forest presents the densest biomass of life found on the earth. It is home to some of the world's most impressive wildlife - brown bears, bald eagles, foxes and huge salmon runs. It is also home to fascinating plantlife - spruce and cedar trees, and hemlock. The coastal waterways are the summer home and primary feeding grounds the humpback whales and other marine life.

Located in SouthEast Alaska, it protects some of the most impressive features of the Tongass Rain Forest ecosystem, one of the largest temperate rain forests in the world.

Located only 15 miles from Juneau, it is accessible by boat or floatplane. Canoeing, kayaking and bear watching are popular activities in this area.

MainTour Vacation Hotsheet
Our special listing of great vacation bargain packages for the region.

eJeweler.net - Internet's Leading Online Jewelry Store

BellWether Group - a full service Meeting and Incentive Travel Planning Firm. They feature their No Cost Hotel Site Selection and Contract Negotiation Service.

Legoland California Mini-Vacation Getaway
Stay 3 days / 2 nights at Grand Pacific Palisades Resort & Hotel directly across the street from Legoland California, one of America's newest theme parks. Certain restrictions apply.