Welcome!

Enrich Your Travels with Longitude

We've got the classic, new and hard-to-find books and maps to help you get the most out of your adventures.

SIGN UP FOR

Longitude News

Get our monthly e-mail update

GET A

Catalog

BEST OF 2011

Wild Coast

John Gimlette

SEE ALL >

FOR THE HOLIDAYS

To the Arctic

Florian Schultz

SEE ALL >

OUR FAVORITES

Arctic Dreams

Barry Lopez

SEE ALL >

GLOBES

The Pioneer

Replogle

SEE ALL >

WILDLAND ADVENTURES

Alaska

READING AND TRAVEL GUIDE

  • E-MAIL
  • PRINT

Kids

Books for

Enrich your travels with reading! Here's a hand-picked list prepared for your journey in conjunction with the book experts at Longitude.

Essential Reading

Item EXALA156. Buy these 5 items as a set for $95 including shipping, 15% off the retail price.
With free shipping on anything else you order.

ADD SET
TO BOOKBAG
Insight Guide Alaska

Insight Guide Alaska

by Insight Guides

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 384 PAGES

With hundreds of photos and maps, this guide features concise essays by well-regarded authors on nature, history, peoples and culture. (ALA42, $24.99)

Marine Mammals of Alaska

Marine Mammals of Alaska

by Kate Wynne

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 2007
  • FLEXI-BOUND
  • 75 PAGES

Designed for use in the field, this indispensable guide features large color photographs, key information and detailed range maps for all the whales, seals and other marine creatures of Alaska and the Bering Sea across to Russia. (ALA08, $25.00)

The Reader's Companion to Alaska

The Reader's Companion to Alaska

by Alan Ryan

  • ANTHOLOGY
  • 1997
  • PAPER
  • 395 PAGES

A volume of 28 eyewitness reports on the Alaskan wilderness over the last 100 years, including pieces by John Muir, Barry Lopez and Jon Krakauer. The long excerpts are presented geographically with separate sections on the Inside Passage, Anchorage, Fairbanks and Denali. (ALA53, $22.95)

Coming into the Country

Coming into the Country

by John McPhee

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1976
  • PAPER
  • 438 PAGES
  • FAVORITE

McPhee's lyrical portrait of frontier life and some unforgettable Alaskan characters captures the spirit of the place like no other. (ALA04, $18.00)

Alaska Explorer Map

Alaska Explorer Map

by Ocean Explorer Maps

  • 2002
  • MAP

An informative, well-illustrated map of all Alaska at a scale of 1:3,800,000, aimed at cruise and expedition travelers in the region. (ALA153, $11.95)

 
Alaska and Canada's Inside Passage

Alaska and Canada's Inside Passage


by Coastal Cruise Tour Guides

  • 1995
  • MAP

This accordion map-guide folds into a booklet, at a scale of 1:1,000,000. (ALA12, $15.95)

Alaska Map

Alaska Map


by ITMB

  • 2004
  • MAP

A detailed travel map of Alaska, including the Aleutians, the Bering Strait, and much of neighboring Siberia, at a scale of 1:2,500,000. (ALA31, $8.95)

Denali National Park and Preserve Map

Denali National Park and Preserve Map


by Trails Illustrated

  • 2011
  • MAP

A durable, fold-up topographic map of Denali and surroundings. (ALA88, $11.95)

Prince William Sound Map, East

Prince William Sound Map, East


by Trails Illustrated

  • MAP

A topographic map of Prince William Sound, the eastern half at a scale of 1:105,600. (ALA159, $11.95)

Prince William Sound, West Map

Prince William Sound, West Map


by Trails Illustrated

  • MAP

A topographic map of Prince William Sound (including Chugach National Park) at a scale of 1:105,600. (ALA85, $11.95)

Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park Map

Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park Map


by Trails Illustrated

  • MAP

A folded, full-color map of Alaska's Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park with good topographic relief at a scale of 1:375,000. (ALA110, $11.95)

Alaska Almanac

Alaska Almanac


by Alaska Northwest

  • REFERENCE
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 240 PAGES

Zany facts and figures on the geography, history and culture of Alaska. Peppered with only-in-Alaska jokes and goofy illustrations, it makes for leisurely, entertaining browsing for the whole family. (ALA21, $12.95)

Alaska By Cruise Ship

Alaska By Cruise Ship


by Anne Vipond

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 352 PAGES

A compact, illustrated guide to ports of call, excursions and sightseeing from Seattle to Anchorage. With a short overview of the culture, nature and history of Alaska, a full-color pull-out map and excellent town maps. (ALA125, $21.95)

Alaska's Southeast, Touring the Inside Passage

Alaska's Southeast, Touring the Inside Passage


by Mike Miller

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 295 PAGES

Our best-selling book on Alaska, this practical guide includes not just information on where to go and what to do in the region (with terrific town maps) but also a good overview of the area's natural history, culture and geography. (ALA23, $17.95)

The Milepost: Trip Planner for Alaska, Yukon Territory, British Columbia, Alberta & Northwest Territories

The Milepost: Trip Planner for Alaska, Yukon Territory, British Columbia, Alberta & Northwest Territories


by Kris Valencia Graef

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 800 PAGES

This comprehensive guide, published annually in March, is an essential reference and trip planner for an extended trip to Alaska. With detailed information on lodging, transportation, national parks and activities, as well as numerous helpful maps. (CND115, $29.95)

Alaska, Saga of a Bold Land

Alaska, Saga of a Bold Land


by Walter R. Borneman

  • HISTORY
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 608 PAGES

In this wide-ranging history, Borneman captures the personalities, bravura and challenges of Alaska, describing the days of the fur traders and explorers, the gold rush, the building of the railroads and current controversies. (ALA187, $16.99)

Alaska, Saga of a Bold Land

Alaska, Saga of a Bold Land


by Walter R. Borneman

  • HISTORY
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 608 PAGES

In this wide-ranging history, Borneman captures the personalities, bravura and challenges of Alaska, describing the days of the fur traders and explorers, the gold rush, the building of the railroads and current controversies. (ALA187, $16.99)

Going to Extremes


by Joe McGinnis

  • HISTORY
  • 1989
  • PAPER
  • 285 PAGES
  • OUT OF PRINT

This hard-hitting account of life in today's Alaska takes in whites, Eskimos, and Native Indians, cities, towns, and wilderness, industry and trapping, and the idiosyncracies, dangers, vastness, and wonders of America's last frontier. (ALA54, $14.00)

The Klondike Fever, The Life and Death of the Last Great Gold Rush

The Klondike Fever, The Life and Death of the Last Great Gold Rush


by Pierre Berton

  • HISTORY
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 457 PAGES

First published in 1958, the classic history of the Yukon and Alaska gold rush by the great Canadian historian Pierre Berton. A master storyteller, Berton captures the spirit of the rowdy days of old in loving detail. (ALA20, $19.99)

Looking at Indian Art of the Northwest Coast

Looking at Indian Art of the Northwest Coast


by Hilary Stewart

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 1979
  • PAPER
  • 111 PAGES

A concise, illustrated overview of the diverse art produced by the peoples of the Pacific Northwest. It focuses on the spiritual and cultural meaning of common motifs that characterize the rich art of the area. (PNW06, $17.95)

Ada Blackjack

Ada Blackjack


by Jennifer Niven

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 384 PAGES

The incredible story of a failed 1921 mission to colonize Wrangel Island that left four men dead and Ada Blackjack, a young Inuit seamstress, alone in the arctic wilderness for six months. (ALA196, $14.99)

Alaska Wilderness, Exploring the Central Brooks Range


by Robert Marshall

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 236 PAGES

A chronicle of adventures and exploration in 1930s arctic Alaska. First published in the 1950s, the book displays the author's boundless spirit and dedication to conservation. (ALA193, $21.95)

Into the Wild

Into the Wild


by Jon Krakauer

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 1997
  • PAPER
  • 224 PAGES

The gripping tale of a young man searching for experience, wilderness and self, who meets his end in the wilds north of Mt. McKinley. (ALA52, $14.95)

Passage to Juneau

Passage to Juneau


by Jonathan Raban

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2000
  • PAPER
  • 435 PAGES

In this thoughtful account of the sea and its meaning, Raban weaves the tale of Vancouver's original voyage of discovery with his own adventures on a solo journey aboard a 35-foot ketch along the Inside Passage. (ALA94, $15.95)

The Island Within

The Island Within


by Richard Nelson

  • EXPLORATION
  • 1991
  • PAPER
  • 284 PAGES

A beautifully written tribute to the Pacific Northwest. Drawn from the author's journals, this is an account of the natural and cultural history of an island in the waters of Haida Strait, with emphasis on the relationship between people and the land. (ALA17, $17.00)

Travels in Alaska

Travels in Alaska


by John Muir

  • EXPLORATION
  • 2002
  • PAPER
  • 248 PAGES

The centerpiece of this beloved classic is Muir's wide-eyed account of the discovery of Glacier Bay. (ALA16, $15.00)

Two in the Far North

Two in the Far North


by Margaret Murie | Olaus Murie

  • EXPLORATION
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 369 PAGES
  • FAVORITE

Murie's field biologist husband supplies not only fodder for the stories, but also the illustrations for this tale of life on the Alaskan frontier. (ALA57, $16.95)

Alaska

Alaska


by James Michener

  • LITERATURE
  • 2002
  • PAPER
  • 1073 PAGES

Michener tackles the 49th state in this rousing epic tale of men and wildlife on the frontier. (ALA56, $15.95)

The Best of Robert Service, Illustrated Edition

The Best of Robert Service, Illustrated Edition


by Robert Service | Clarence Kinsey | Clarke Kinsey

  • LITERATURE
  • 2003
  • HARD COVER
  • 199 PAGES
  • FAMILY

A bank teller in Whitehorse during the Klondike gold rush, Service immortalized the frontier personalities and character in his colorful read-out-loud sagas. Features period photographs by brothers Clarke and Clarence Kinsey. (ALA37, $19.98)

Glacier Ice

Glacier Ice


by Austin Post | Edward R. LaChapelle

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 2000
  • PAPER
  • 145 PAGES

A classic book of extraordinary black-and-white aerial photographs of mountains and glaciers by two devoted men of ice. Ed LaChapelle's text is paired with Austin Post's stunning aerial photographs of glaciers from Alaska and Chile to Switzerland, the Himalayas and other parts of the world. (SCI07, $27.95)

In Denali

In Denali


by Kim Heacox

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 2006
  • HARD COVER
  • 96 PAGES

This handsome portrait of Denali features color photographs along with an overview of the wildlife, habitats, human history and conservation. (ALA26, $34.95)

The Inside Passage to Alaska

The Inside Passage to Alaska


by Art Wolfe

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 2008
  • HARD COVER
  • 240 PAGES

A longtime resident of the Pacific Northwest, Wolfe celebrates the islands, glaciers and wildlife of the Inside Passage in this photographic tribute. (ALA263, $22.95)

The Presence of Whales, Contemporary Writers on the Whale

The Presence of Whales, Contemporary Writers on the Whale


by Frank Stewart

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 1995
  • PAPER
  • 319 PAGES

In this well chosen series of essays, some of our best modern writers enlighten and entertain on the subject of whales, with pieces from Roger Payne, Diane Ackerman, and Barry Lopez. (BST02, $15.95)

Alaska Wildlife

Alaska Wildlife


by Pocket Naturalist

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 2000
  • PLASTIC CARD

This laminated card features color drawings and short descriptions of commonly encountered birds, mammals and reptiles of Alaska. We also carry Alaska Birds. (Item ALA207) (ALA123, $5.95)

Field Guide to Alaskan Wildflowers

Field Guide to Alaskan Wildflowers


by Verna Pratt

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 1990
  • PAPER
  • 136 PAGES

With 350 color illustrations, it's slim enough to slip into your pocket. (ALA40, $15.95)

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America


by Jon Dunn

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 576 PAGES

From Alaska to Baja California, Nova Scotia and Florida, this guide is the veteran's choice for birding anywhere in the United States. Tabbed for easy access, the color range maps in this sixth edition are outstanding. (FG09, $27.95)

Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast: Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Alaska

Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast: Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Alaska


by Andy MacKinnon | Jim Pojar

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 528 PAGES

A terrific handbook to nearly 800 species of trees, shrubs, wildflowers, grasses, ferns, mosses and lichens found along the Pacific coast from Oregon to Alaska. (PNW02, $24.95)

The Nature of Southeast Alaska

The Nature of Southeast Alaska


by Rita O'Clair | Robert Armstrong | Richard Carstensen

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 256 PAGES
  • OUT OF PRINT

This authoritative field guide to the natural history of the region, its plants and animals, marine mammals and habitats, includes line drawings and color photos. (ALA24, $18.95)

The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America

The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America


by David Sibley

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 474 PAGES

A compact, geographically specific version of the Sibley Guide with all-new range maps, the same glorious illustrations and expanded, extremely valuable descriptions of each bird. (USW418, $19.95)

More Recommendations

Here are some other groups of books that might be of interest

Longitude provides recommended reading for travelers in partnership with the leading tour operators and travel programs for hundreds of destinations worldwide. We've got the classic, new and hard-to-find books and maps to help you get the most out of your adventures.