There is nothing quite like the great outdoors to awaken the senses and refresh the soul, and the Last Frontier is a perfect place to bathe in the power of natural surroundings. My boyfriend Hap and I decided to spend a week discovering some of Alaska’s delights and wanted to share our suggestions.
Use Anchorage as a Jumping Off Point
After a long flight, it was nice to explore the city, enjoy a couple of good meals, and get a good night’s sleep in preparation for the next day when the adventure began. Hap and I stretched our legs by walking part of the Tony Knowles Trail before riding the Anchorage Trolley where we got a complete overview of the city, its history, and its main sights. Then, we visited the Anchorage Museum, a three-level building filled with art and depicting the area’s history. Purchase trolley tickets at the Anchorage Visitor Center downtown.
We also recommend having lunch at the Tent City Brewing Company, where handcrafted burgers reign supreme, and dinner at the 49th State Brewing Company. Microbrewing is all the rage in Anchorage.
Take the Alaska Railroad to Denali
Did you know that there are only seven days in July when the top of Denali is visible? We were extremely fortunate as we were able to view it for three days. You will want to schedule at least two days in the Denali area to increase the chances of clearly seeing the mountain in its entirety. Clouds and rain are a constant in this area. When taking the train, make sure to purchase the top level of service called the Gold Dome. For optimal animal sighting, you want to be in cars A or B and be seated in the glass-domed carriage.
Getting there via train is long, so we suggest taking the train to Talkeetna and staying overnight at Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge. This lodge has a beautiful view, and the town, which inspired the show Northern Exposure, is filled with quaint shops. In Talkeetna, make sure to take a K2 Aviation flight and do a glacier landing. There is nothing quite like the view from above that provides you with the scope of the vast terrain, but make sure to wear a good pair of sunglasses and bring a warm hat for navigating the glacier.
The next morning, get back on the train and head to the Denali Park entrance. Once you arrive, check into Grande Denali Lodge.
Make sure to take a river rafting excursion down the Nenana River. Immersed in nature, it is a perfect vantage point from which to see more animals and learn about the natural surroundings from the rafting guide. Don’t forget to wear sunscreen even on an evening tour as the sun can be relentless. Remember, at this time of year the sun is loud and proud well into the evening hours.
Day Trip to Kantishna
Kantishna is an old gold mining settlement nestled within Denali National Park, and you can take an excursion called the Kantishna Wilderness Trail Tour which affords you the opportunity to see all the park has to offer: caribou, Dall’s sheep, moose, grizzly bears, eagles, and wolves. The bus ride is long, so you have options for returning. We chose to take the air taxi back by booking with Kantishna Air Taxi to get another one of those stunning views of the park from above. For $375 per person, it was some of the best money we spent as the pilot also served as a tour guide and narrated the entire journey back to the park entrance.
Tip: You may have read July is black fly/mosquito season in Alaska. We did not see them until we went to Kantishna, so bring insect repellant if you choose to do any outdoor activities in Kantishna (panning for gold or short hikes).
Go to Seward
We made our way to Seward via Park Connection Motorcoach from Denali Lodge. The drive was scenic and relaxing. When we arrived, we checked into the brand new Seward Gateway Hotel and an ideal location for shopping and dining. We chose Ray’s Waterfront, which overlooks the marina. Great seafood and fun people watching.
Make sure to book a whale watching and glacier tour while in Seward. We chose Major Marine Tours and booked the 6-hour Kenai Fjords National Park cruise to see fin and humpback whales, bald eagles, sea otters, Dall’s porpoises, puffins, and glaciers. The stunning perspective from the sea was majestic and breathtaking. Some tips for making this excursion more comfortable: bring Dramamine because the sea can be rough, bring a wool hat, and wear waterproof pants and a raincoat with a hood to block the wind and sea sprays.
Final thoughts
Go to Fairbanks if you can. We wanted to do this but needed one more day, and now we know how easy It would be to get there via train. Make sure to eat halibut, salmon, crab, and reindeer sausage, some of the local delicacies. Our trip was organized by Alaska Tours and Travel, and they did an amazing job booking everything for us. This saved us a lot of time.
All photos courtesy of Kathy Butts.