Many tourists are on a once-in-a-lifetime trip, and tourism companies set their prices accordingly.
So indulge yourself with that fishing charter, pan for gold in an Interior gold camp or raft down the Nenana River at Denali, but keep in mind that there are a million less expensive ways into Alaska.
Travelers should look for coupons, such as those found in the Great Alaskan TourSaver book and newspapers, and for discounts on the Internet. There are often shoulder-season markdowns.
Hike
Alaska has state parks and much federally owned recreation, wildlife and forest land. For a nominal fee and sometimes none at all, hikers can explore it, whether they make an expedition of it or just stroll down to the river.
Some cities, such as Anchorage and Fairbanks, have a number of trails in town and nearby.
Fairbanks has the trails along Chena Hot Springs Road. Anchorage, for example, has the 11-mile coastal trail, plus hike-and-bike paths that run throughout the city. There are both casual and strenuous trails in the adjacent and magnificent Chugach State Park on the east side of Anchorage.
The Denali Highway, a mostly gravel road that runs east-west between the Parks and Richardson highways on the southern edge of the Alaska Range, is a 130-mile corridor into no-fee hiking country.
Even Denali National Park has completely free areas, such as the Horseshoe Lake, Taiga, Mount Healy Overlook and Rock Creek trails near the park headquarters. Some hikers park at the Savage River bridge, at Mile 15, and hike up into the hills or go downstream with the river on either side. The more intrepid walk three miles up the park road and climb the Primrose Ridge trail.
Denali also has free ranger talks and even a sled-dog demonstration.
The Kenai Peninsula and the Talkeetna Mountains are criss-crossed by public trails. Many of these are rugged paths in bear country, so be in good condition and understand bear safety.
Go fishing
Alaska's fishing myths are built around halibut and salmon. Catching them is part of the fun; eating them in part of the fun; and bragging about them is fun, too.
The gear needed to catch salmon can be expensive, but discount stores sell perfectly serviceable gear.
Charter boats with guides on rivers can cost $100, $150 or more per person. The best fishing along the road system is on the Kenai Peninsula and along the Parks Highway between Anchorage and the Susitna River crossing.
In Interior Alaska, anglers often go grayling and pike from shore or riverbanks. Flyfishing and light spinning gear work well. The Chena, Chatanika and many other smaller rivers have abundant grayling.
In Anchorage, Ship Creek has runs of king and silver salmon, and lakes in the city's parks are stocked with trout and afflicted with aggressive pike.
Along the Seward Highway, Bird Creek has two salmon runs and there are fishing lakes on the Kenai Peninsula.
In Seward, many people fish from the jetty for salmon. In Homer, the king salmon run ends at the Spit within reach of all. Along the Kenai River, there are public fishing spots for salmon and trout; just follow the crowd of Alaskans.
In the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, try fishing for salmon at the Little Susitna River's Burma Landing and along Willow and Montana creeks.
In Valdez, silver and pink salmon can be caught from the shore between the hatchery and the pipeline terminal.
Go birding
Bring your binoculars. Permanent residents such as bald and golden eagles, ravens, black-billed magpies and ptarmigan are easy to find, as are such migratory species as snow and Canada geese, arctic terns and ducks.
Creamer's Field in Fairbanks offers a close look at bird banding and is an important stop during the migration of sandhill cranes. Delta has barley fields, which attract hundreds of thousands of cranes in the fall.
Coastal areas in Southcentral Alaska such as the Copper River delta and Kachemak Bay at Homer are stopovers for birds. Early May festivals celebrate the return of the birds and spring, too.
Museums
Alaska has more than 50 museums, with one in almost every town on the road or ferry routes.
Some are traditional museums, but don't overlook such "living" museums as cultural centers, old gold mines and roadhouses.
Pan for gold
If you have a car, the Steese Highway has a number of places where panning is open to anyone with a gold pan, an inexpensive purchase.
In Southcentral Alaska, free panning is permitted at quite a few locations along the Glenn and Seward highways, as well as along the Little Susitna River near Hatcher Pass.
Watch future major leaguers
Attend an Alaska Baseball League game in Anchorage, Kenai, Palmer or Fairbanks. The admission price is low, the teams are made up of good college players from the Lower 48 and the fans are knowledgeable.
