What did you buy in Alaska?

[plutojudy]

What are the top Alaska souvenirs?

 

[engle]

Tons of t-shirts!! Red Onion Saloon, Zip Line Canopy Tour, Alaska shirt at Cariloha and another at Del Sol...also one at Liarsville!

Tons of shot glasses and fridge magnets!! See above!!

Smoked salmon, smoked cod, smoked halibut...with Moosetard (mustard!!).

Also, a Northern Lights Topaz ring and necklace.

I don't think those are the TOP souvenirs but that is what we bought!!

But seriously, jewelry is huge...and the same stores in pretty much every port.

 

[plutojudy]

Tell me more about hte Northern Lights Topaz, please.

 

[jlwhitney]

My DH got a nice pocket knife ($$), we got an ulu and salad tossers. Some hematite earrings, a couple of t shirts (DH wears them, I am not a huge fan of t shirts). Magnets from each place we went. I got a cookbook written by a local alaskan author. Soap/Lotion at Glacier Smoothie store in Juneau.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Fleece wear.

 

[sayhello]

Tell me more about hte Northern Lights Topaz, please.

'Northern Lights' is what they call the Mystic Topaz in Alaska. It's a multi-colored topaz, so it invokes the idea of the Northern Lights (greens, purples, yellows, etc.). Hence the name change. It just sounds more 'Alaskan'.

http://www.gemselect.com/gem-info/mystic-topaz/mystic-topaz-info.php

You can buy jewelry made with this stone all over Alaska. It's really quite a pretty stone. I bought a pair of earrings with Northern Lights Topazes.

Sayhello

 

[sayhello]

One of the big souvenirs in Alaska is a "Whale's tail" necklace. They're made out of various materials (precious metals, shells, etc) in the shape of -- a whale's tail! You're *supposed* to buy one to signify that you've actually seen a Whale in Alaska.

Sayhello

 

[mpicchioldi]

Some of the places in port have lithographs where you can get a different one in each port. Different sets of drink coasters and holder a different one at each port. Charms for bracelets and necklaces. Lots of branded Alaska gear.

 

[jamie@dvcstore]

Hi plutojudy,
I bought a lot in Alaska, but the one thing that stands out is a Ulu knife. I use it several times a week and it works really well. I saw many mention purchasing one in the research I did before I cruised. I am SO glad I did. Mine was taken away by cruise employees when I returned to the ship, however it was be given back on the last day. Make sure if you buy one you pack it in your checked luggage.

I also bought a lot of scrapbooking stuff, sweatshirts, normal tourist stuff. My mother in law bought jewelry in every port. I did buy a jade neckalce. Jade is big there and reasonably priced.

Have a wonderful trip. You are going at the best time. I went the beginning of last July and it was a trip I will never forget.

 

[Cerberus9]

I didn't see any souvenir stores in Alaska... or jewelry stores...

 

[DisneyBasket]

Everything we bought has been mentioned (t-shirts, sweatshirts, scrapping stuff), except that we also purchased some wood carvings of animals that we saw on the trip, and we visited a Russian shop in Juneau, and found some beautifully painted carvings that we loved. Not necessarily Alaskan, but beautiful, and not like everything we saw in every other shop on the street!

I found nice kitchen tea towels in the big souvenir shops, and, since even though the children may be twenty-something, they still greet us on a return from a trip without them with "What did you bring me??", (it's become a family ritual) we picked up pairs of socks all around. I was disappointed in the quality of the Alaskan Christmas ornaments available, as we always pick up an ornament from our vacation destinations. We did find one, but really had to look hard.

No jewelry for us, but we did bring back ulu knives and salad servers for holiday gifts. Now that I see it all in print, it looks like a lot. We did not go to Alaska to shop, so we didn't spend much time shopping!

 

[FrozenMinnie]

After living in Alaska the last ten years we have learned that there are MANY items being sold within the tourism industry that are not even made in Alaska including ULU's, jewelry etc. In our state items must have a Square Sticker with a bear on it that says Alaska. If it does not have this marking...it is not truely in Alaska. Just thought it might help for those who are looking at authentic items to return home with. Enjoy our beautiful state!

 

[DisneyBasket]

...In our state items must have a Square Sticker with a bear on it that says Alaska. If it does not have this marking...it is not truely in Alaska. Just thought it might help for those who are looking at authentic items to return home with. Enjoy our beautiful state!

I wish I had known this before our trip. I will keep it in mind for next time...

 

[PRCMickey]

Thanks for that tip about the sticker. Thats easy to remember to make sure it is authentic.

 

[jilljill]

After living in Alaska the last ten years we have learned that there are MANY items being sold within the tourism industry that are not even made in Alaska including ULU's, jewelry etc. In our state items must have a Square Sticker with a bear on it that says Alaska. If it does not have this marking...it is not truely in Alaska. Just thought it might help for those who are looking at authentic items to return home with. Enjoy our beautiful state!

Thanks for this tip.

 

[jilljill]

I saw in one of the Navigator's that you can buy gold nugget jewelry on the ship - did anyone look at it and price it? Just wondering how it compares in prices to pieces you can pick up in the ports.


My parents brought back DD a nugget pendant when they cruised in '98 and now I want to get myself one.

 

[justmestace]

Don't forget to send for your Destination Alaska coupon book!!
I can't tell you how handy this was, and how many coupons I used. I was able to go through the book ahead of time, to get an idea of what souvenirs I wanted, and which port/store had the best prices.



http://destinationalaska.com/contact.shtml

 

[justmestace]

I saw in one of the Navigator's that you can buy gold nugget jewelry on the ship - did anyone look at it and price it? Just wondering how it compares in prices to pieces you can pick up in the ports.


My parents brought back DD a nugget pendant when they cruised in '98 and now I want to get myself one.

I think you should just go pan for one yourself.

 

[HiMagicFan]

Soap/Lotion at Glacier Smoothie store in Juneau.

Love this place and their soap smells great! It is marked for my stop in Juneau.

Fleece wear.

Where did you buy this and about how much?

Jade is big there and reasonably priced.

Where did you buy this (what port, name of store?) Wondering if it is better to buy in Ak or in Vancouver?

we visited a Russian shop in Juneau, and found some beautifully painted carvings that we loved.

I found nice kitchen tea towels in the big souvenir shops

Do you remember the name of the shop in Juneau and where you bought the kitchen towels?

I am trying to budget my shopping money with my christmas shopping list...so TIA!

 

[Starshine95123]

Can you give me an idea of what kinds of coupons are in this book? I have to order it and pay $5.00 shipping since I'm leaving from San Francisco and would like to know if it will be worth it. Thank you.

Karen