Welcome to Alaska!
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There are many ways to approach visiting this beautiful state. Some will choose a cruise and then take side trips off the ship. Others will rent a car or camper van and explore on their own and some will explore by train to enjoy the magnificent views. If you plan on exploring on our own, I recommend purchasing a book called Alaska Mile Post: Alaska Trip Planner. The book details places to see by milepost markers along Alaska's highways. We discovered some amazing hikes reading thru the book. We've only been to Alaska once and plan on going back on an RV trip in the near future. Read on for some of the highlights of our trip.
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When to go: We choose the last two weeks in August. The weather was beautiful, very few mosquitoes, less crowds and prices for RV's are almost half than what they are during peak season. Hotels can be expensive everywhere in Alaska and if you plan on staying in a hotel near Denali you will want to book in advance.
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What to do: After landing in Anchorage we jumped in our rental car and headed south to Seward. Along the way we passed the train in from Whitaker, another great destination. The drive parallels the Turnagain Arm which is the most scenic 40 mile drive in Alaska. While in Seward we stayed on the water at the Best Western. Just outside the hotel is the famous start of the Nom dog shield trek. The next morning we had planned a glacier and kayak tour. Unfortunately the winds were too strong and the cruise was canceled. As a back-up plan we headed to the Aquarium and then off to Exit Glacier.
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Leaving Seward on our back towards Anchorage we stopped at Mt. Alyeska Ski Resort and hiked the Lower Winner Creek Trail. This is an easy 3-mile hike which crosses a wooden bridge over a thundering blue-water gorge, and connects to a hand tram high above thrashing Glacier Creek. It is well worth the stop!
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Ice caves, crevasses! oh my! An Alaska land trip would not be complete without a glacier tour. We chose a guided Matanuska Glacier tour. It was one of the most memorable parts of our trip. We were provided crampons (traction devices for your boots). You definitely have to know where your going (did I say guide?) but generally it is not a physically strenuous hike.
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Talkeetna & Northern Lights. The best views of Denali can be found here! We stayed overnight at the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge where you get a wake-up call if the Northern lights are out. The little town of Talkeetna is quaint, filled with arts, music and crafts shops. Don't miss the Talkeetna Roadhouse for breakfast or lunch; the seating is family-style which means you might meet someone who's just back from a trail hike and can share advice; or maybe a hiker who has just returned from Denali.
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Denali National Park. We highly recommend signing up for a bus tour a couple days in advance. On the bus tour you will experience loads of wild life and maybe even see a wolverine like we did. If you would like to take a guided hike you have to sign up at the visitors desk in person. We stopped at the desk as soon as we arrived at Denali National and we able to sign up for a hike on day 2. Don't forget to visit the Husky Homestead—home of Iditarod Champion, Jeff King. They have daily dog sled demonstrations.
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