Much of North America is accessible by train, but Alaska-bound travelers need to choose another mode of transportation from the end of the railway line in the Pacific northwest to the state that calls itself "the last frontier." The gap is substantial -- the distance between Seattle and Alaska's largest city, Anchorage, is about 2,300 miles -- but after you arrive, Alaska Railroad can help you get to almost everywhere you'll want to go.

By Train from the Lower 48 and Canada

Depending upon how you choose to bridge the gap between the region of the Pacific northwest not served by rail and Alaska, your train trip will end in one of three places: Seattle or Bellingham, Wash., or farther north in Vancouver, British Columbia. Amtrak goes to all of these cities, but dedicated train aficionados should also consider "The Canadian," VIA Rail's legendary four-day, 2,775-mile Toronto-Vancouver jaunt across the country. The trip is scenic all the way, but the high point is widely considered to be the stretch through the Rocky Mountains.

Train Plus Sea Options

When traveling to Alaska by sea, you've got two choices. Many major cruise lines offer all-inclusive round-trip passage, departing from either Seattle or Vancouver, B.C. Prices vary widely depending upon the duration of the voyage, the luxuriousness of your accommodations, on-board amenities and the tour options you prefer. A cheaper yet still comfortable way to sail is aboard an Alaska Marine Highway System ferry, which dishes up the same scenic banquets as the cruise ships, sailing along the Inside Passage and across the Gulf of Alaska as far as the Aleutian Islands. You can board in Bellingham or Prince Rupert, B.C., disembark at your choice of Alaskan port communities along the way, then resume your onward journey aboard a different ferry. On-board sleeping accommodations range from private cabins to public areas where you can spread out your sleeping bag or even pitch a tent.

Train Plus Road Trip

If you end your train journey at Vancouver and rent a car, you can drive all the way to Alaska. The Alaska Highway begins at Dawson Creek, B.C., known as "Mile 0," 740 miles north of Vancouver along the Cassiar Highway, and extends about 1,500 miles. All of the several driving routes offer numerous possibilities for side trips, restaurants and overnight accommodation. Count on breathtaking scenic vistas all the way.

Train Plus Air Travel

The fastest way to close the distance between the end of the railway line and the Alaska border is by ending your train journey in Seattle or Vancouver and flying from there. According to Travel Alaska, the state's official travel and tourism information bureau, direct flights from Seattle to Juneau, the capital, typically take about two and a half hours, and three and a half to four hours to reach Anchorage and Fairbanks. Many flights originating in Seattle also pick up passengers in Vancouver.

Seeing Alaska by Train

Within Alaska, you can feast your eyes on many of the state's most spectacular sights by train, and use train stations as jumping-off points to travel elsewhere by car, bus or air. Between mid-May and mid-September, Alaska Railroad, which extends 470 miles from Seward to Fairbanks, offers three themed routes daily: Coastal Classic between Anchorage and Seward; Denali Star, from either Anchorage or Fairbanks, through Denali National Park and Preserve; and Glacier Discovery between Anchorage and Whittier. But for sheer audacity of design, few railroads in the world come close to the White Pass & Yukon Route, which travels between Skagway and Whitehorse, Yukon. Built in 1898 during the Klondike gold rush, this narrow-gauge route is renowned for hairpin turns and steep ascents affording panoramic views of glaciers, gorges and mountains. "The railway built of gold" shares a designation as an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark with the Statue of Liberty, Eiffel Tower and Panama Canal.

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