Page 275 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Alaska

PR A C TIC AL INFORM A TION  273

options. As in the rest of illegal to bring alcohol into DIRECTORY
the country, Alaska has regu- some areas and it is always
lations requiring government wise to ask before taking Traveling with
offices, businesses, public photographs, especially of Children
transport, and taxis to be ceremonies, homes, or dances.
designed to accommodate Dress-wise, Alaska is one of the Junior Ranger Program
wheelchairs, while road most relaxed states in the US. ∑ nps.gov/kids/jrRangers.cfm
crossings in cities have Attire tends to be infor mal,
dropped curbs to enable climate-dependent, and prac ti- Travel With Kids
easier access. In addi tion, cal. Casual clothes such as ∑ travelwithkids.tv
most car parks, public toilets, jeans, T-shirts, flip-flops, and
hotels, and supermarkets offer light woolens can be worn Senior Travelers
special arrangements for the even for public performances
wheelchair-bound. Service or in upscale restau rants. Many American Association of
animals, such as guide dogs, Alaskans do not allow smoking Retired Persons (AARP)
are allowed on public trans- in their homes or cars and it is 601 E St NW, Washington, DC
port and in public buildings. consid ered courteous to check
Frontcountry areas of most with your hosts if you may 20049. Tel (888) 687-2277.
national and state parks often smoke (see p271). ∑ aarp.org
have paved or graded trails National Park Service
and viewing platforms that
are wheelchair accessible. Electricity Tel (888) 275-8747.
The National Park Service also Across the US, the electrical ∑ nps.gov/fees_passes.htm
offers an America the Beautiful current is 110 volts at 60 hertz.
Access Pass, which grants Visitors from abroad need an Road Scholar
disabled individuals free entry adaptor plug for the two- 11 Avenue de Lafayette,
to all national parks. prong sockets and a volt age Boston, MA 02111-1746.
Cruise ships, tour buses, converter to operate 220-volt Tel (800) 454-5768.
and railway cars all cater to appliances, such as hair dryers ∑ roadscholar.org
disabled travelers, and many and rechargers for cell phones
adventure tour companies do and laptop computers (unless
their best to accommodate they have a built-in adaptor). Student Travelers
cli ents with disabilities. Access However, bear in mind that International Student
Alaska can assist in finding most hotel rooms have
accommodations and services hairdryers and dedicated Identification Card
for disabled travelers. sockets for electric shavers. ∑ isic.org
In the winter, the challenges
can be greater, as snow renders Conversion Chart Student Travel
streets and sidewalks difficult Association
for wheelchair users and One US pint (0.5 liter) is smaller ∑ statravel.com
absorbs many of the acoustics than one UK pint (0.6 liter). One
that assist navigation for the Imperial gallon is the equivalent Travelers with
blind. More infor mation, from of five US quarts. To convert Disabilities
how to rent a specially adapt ed from degrees Celsius to degrees
car to quali fying for park ing Fahrenheit, multiply by 1.8 Access-Able Travel Source
permits, is offered by the and then add 32. From degrees PO Box 1796, Wheat Ridge,
Access-Able Travel Source and Fahrenheit to degrees Celsius,
the Society for Accessible subtract 32 and divide by 1.8. CO 80034.
Travel and Hospitality, who US Standard to Metric Tel (303) 232-2979.
promote awareness and 1 inch = 2.54 centimeters ∑ access-able.com
accessibility for travelers with 1 foot = 30 centimeters
special needs. 1 yard = 0.91 meters Access Alaska
1 mile = 1.6 kilometers 1217 East 10th Ave, Anchorage.
1 ounce = 28 grams
Etiquette 1 pound = 454 grams Tel 248-4777.
In general, Alaskans are polite, 1 US quart = 0.947 liters ∑ accessalaska.org
friendly, and helpful, although 1 US gallon = 3.79 liters Society for Accessible
they may appear to be a bit Metric to US Standard Travel and Hospitality
more outspoken than other 1 centimeter = 0.4 inches
Americans. Visitors from across 1 meter = 3 feet 3 inches (SATH)
the world are wel comed, but 1 kilometer = 0.6 miles 347 5th Ave, Suite 610, New York,
are also expected to respect 1 gram = 0.04 ounces NY 10016. Tel (212) 447-7284.
local ways, espe cially when 1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds ∑ sath.org
visiting Native villages. It is 1 liter = 1.1 US quarts

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