Off the Cuff

[#1]

This blog is by Adrienne M., who recently spent time in Alaska. In the Sept./Oct. issue of Going Places magazine, she detailed her Alaskan cruise, below is her experience on the land tour.

Welcome to the Great Land

Stretching almost 590,000 square miles and encompassing 1/5 of the size of the continental U.S., Alaska’s scope ranges from great to greater.

After my remarkable week cruising Alaska’s Prince William Sound, I wanted to see more of what this destination had to offer. I knew that simply traveling by sea couldn’t do the state justice, so I embarked on a land tour. I was genuinely amazed at the true vastness of the union’s largest state, which can be divided into five broad categories.

The Inside Passage region boasts millions of massive glaciers and forested islands. Its lush scenery makes a perfect habitat for a plethora of animals including bald eagles, sea lions, porpoises and whales. The Southcentral portion of Alaska is known for its world-class fishing, rugged coasts, and Alaska’s largest city, Anchorage. It is also home to over half of Alaska’s population. The Interior section of the state holds North America’s largest peak, Mount McKinley, as well as vast forests and a history of gold prospectors. Sweeping from volcanoes to the Aleutian Islands, the Southwest portion of Alaska is ideal for naturalists. To the far north lies arctic Alaska, covering a third of the state and only a few thousand people, some of who live off the land.

My land tour ventured into the Southcentral region of the state, kicking off the adventure, I arrived in Anchorage.

Alaska’s Anchor

Each Alaskan community encompasses its own unique history and culture, and Anchorage is no exception. As the gateway to adventure in Alaska, Anchorage allows visitors the chance to maximize their vacation experience with countless opportunities nearby. During summer, the sun-filled nights make way for events, tours, restaurants and activities that start early and end late. In the winter, the picturesque sights make for the perfect photo ops.

 

One of my top recommendations while in Anchorage is to explore the downtown area. Here, you can find authentic Alaskan crafts and get a taste of Alaska with the ample amount of restaurants all serving today’s freshest catch.

Travel ways throughout the state make taking advantage of the terrain ideal. If you want to take the direction in your own hands, rent a car and explore Alaska’s scenic highways. To sit back and relax, there are various bus tours available. I found bus tours ideal, as the local drivers are well-versed in the area’s heritage and make frequent stops for various wildlife—like a Dall sheep spotting along the Seward Highway or a beluga whale sight in Turnagain Arm. And all aboard for a truly unique experience on the Alaska Railroad. With a variety of routes available, traveling from Alaska to Talkeetna, I highly enjoyed wildlife sightings and scenic sights from the comfort of dome cars.

Small Town Spotlight: Talkeetna

With Denali as the backdrop of this rustic small town, I found the far-reaching highlight of my trip was visiting Talkeetna. This gem of a town provided great fun, pituresque sights and plenty of vacation excitement—pretty remarkable for a town with a few hundred residents.

K2 Aviation brought adventure to new heights in Talkeetna when I ventured on one of their flightseeing excursions. Gliding through the still mountains, viewing glacial peaks and of course, Mt. McKinley was unlike anything I had ever seen.  The Mahay’s Riverboat Service took a different spin on whitewater rafting. Traveling on an enclosed jetboat through Denali State Park we ventured into Devil’s Gorge for an experience with some true whitewaters.

 

The Last Frontier

Alaska was, for me, a land quite unlike anything else. I yearn to go back and embark on my next Alaska adventure, and explore one region at a time.

[#2]

I enjoyed your blog and am now intrigued at the possibility of visiting Alaska one day. My older brother used to travel there regularly as he was a climber and would tackle Denali on an annual basis. I must admit, I always pictured the area as being all about snow and mountains, and never felt inspired to visit it myself. But maybe now I'll change my mind.