It's like a giant chunk of chalk tumbled out of the sky, shattering on to a sparkling, turquoise glass floor.

Most Alaskans and Canadians have a bear story - tales of fearsome grizzlies, even polar bears. But a mix of the two?

Winter temperatures hovering near zero make Alaska feel almost tropical, writes Stacia Glenn.

In a restaurant in Alaska, Paul Rush has a tussle with the King of Crabs - and wins.

More than 20 years after hearing a song, Nigel Richardson sees the frontier city that inspired it.

Brett Atkinson experiences the Alaskan wilderness in style at a private lake retreat.

The Alaska Zoo temporarily gained a new animal yesterday after a wild bear strayed into the grounds and made himself at home.

Getting up close and personal to a glacier is an unforgettable experience, writes Brett Atkinson.

Despite Alaska having made history last week as the third US state to legalise recreational weed, I can confidently report that I'm yet to catch a whiff there, writes Jack Tame.

Enjoy snow-capped ranges, striking glaciers and exotic wildlife from the comfort of a carriage, writes Pamela Wade.

New cruise line's winning formula puts creatures before home comforts, write Anne Z Cooke and Steve Haggerty.

Sometimes there's nothing like a chilly holiday to leave you feeling invigorated.

Looking for an unusual place to lay your head on your next holiday? From a trailer park to a school, something on this list should take your fancy.

It's a tough life being an Alaskan sockeye salmon.

Wolf, fox, beaver, otter, mink, lynx: take your pick. Alaskans stuff 'em and keep snug in 'em too, finds Pamela Wade.

Pamela Wade - and her nightie - enjoy her cruise so much she'll be back.

If the annual cheese roll in England or wife carrying competition in Finland is too boring for you, here are five very strange ones that might be worth visiting, even if it's just to tweet a pic from.

The northern lights can be seen on dark, clear nights when charged solar particles strike the upper atmosphere near the North Pole.

Strange things are seen and done in the 'Land of the Midnight Sun', writes Paul Rush.

A cruise ship is the perfect way to see Alaska, much of which is inaccessible by land - but keep an eye out for falling ice from glaciers, writes Jared Savage.

Every December the North Pole Post Office in Alaska, receives a two-metre-high stack of mail daily.

Teaching youngsters to endure pain was once a necessary part of an upbringing designed to help them survive the harsh Arctic elements, writes Roger Hall.