DW dragged me last weekend to a dog and pony show about Alaska. The company selling the tours (John Hall's Alaska) has a number of land tour/cruises that vary in length (basically 14-21 days), but 7 days on land and 7 on the inside passage seem to be the most popular.

We have never cruised nor have we ever been to Alaska, so I'm not real sure why DW is fascinated with this idea, however we seem to be heading in that direction. Is anyone here familiar with this tour company? If so, can you give me your pros/cons on the value of this kind of travel?

Any comments would be appreciated.

I am not familiar with this company, but there are many out there that do a wonderful job with Alaska, from both the cruise and land standpoint.

The value of doing a cruise + land tour is that Alaska is not only huge, its various areas are quite different from each other. On a cruise you will see just the Inside Passage area - spectacular, to be sure, with lots of wildlife (mostly bears and marine mammals/birds). Its climate is milder than most of the rest of Alaska, and tends to be wet - a nontropical rainforest. Interior Alaska is somewhat drier, and will substitute moose and caribou for the marine life; the land tours will concentrate on a portion of the interior, usually the corridor between Anchorage and Fairbanks, including Denali National Park. Both areas of Alaska are must-sees, in my opinion (I have been to both).

The John Hall company may be a good start, but do yourself a favor and consult with a good travel agent in your area - preferably one who is an Alaska specialist, or has experience in that area - to see what your other options are, both in types of travel and in cost, before you commit.