Alaska Land Adventure: Beyond the Cruise Ship Experience
I’ve been guilty myself in times past when someone mentions visiting Alaska that I just assume a cruise is what they are doing. And unfortunately I was not alone. But now that I have had the experience of the Alaska interior, cruising to Alaska is only an option and not a mandatory way to experience the true beauty and ruggedness of this magical destination! I do want to say tho, this is on the tip of the glacier of my blogs on Alaska because there is no way in the world I could ever cover my experience in one blog entry! When most people think of exploring Alaska, their minds often drift to images of luxurious cruise ships gliding past majestic glaciers and quaint coastal towns. But as someone who recently swapped the sea for sturdy hiking boots, let me tell you: trekking through the interior of Alaska is an experience like no other!
Unforgettable Prince William Sound Glacier Cruise
One of our first experiences was the 26 Glacier Tour. This is a spectacular experience that takes you into Prince William Sound. Prince William Sound is one of Alaska’s most beautiful areas to see the state’s massive, icy glaciers, but the best way to see them is by boat. Skip renting a boat yourself and travel safely on the sound during this Prince William Sound Glacier Cruise. Spend an afternoon with others as you take in views of the glaciers and Alaskan wildlife, too. We were able to see glaciers actually calving or shedding, Orcas, seals, otters, porpoises, and other amazing wildlife! This was a seriously amazing closer look at some unbelievable scenery. Our captain was able to take the boat right up to icebergs and glaciers and maneuver a lot easier than an enormous cruise vessel. This is an unbelievable intimate look into Alaska’s interior features! But another bonus was the drive to and from this adventure! So much to take in and enjoy. Experiencing the Whittier Tunnel and the landscape was an amazing bonus!
Denali & Alaskan Railroad: A Breathtaking Train Journey
One of my favorite pieces of enjoying Alaska’s interior was riding the Alaska Railroad from Anchorage station to Talkeetna. No doubt one of the highlights of being in the land, this ride did not disappoint with its nostalgic feel and no shortage of the most amazing views, including that of Denali! Running from Seward all the way to Fairbanks, the Alaska Railroad is the top form of transportation in the interior. Over 470 miles of spectacular views and through the interior is a definite reason to spend some time on land here!
Mushing with Iditarod Champions in Talkeetna
Off to a real Alaskan tradition, mushing! We met authentic Alaskan Huskies and their puppies at the kennel of now 6-time Iditarod Champion, Dallas Seavey! And we also toured Dallas's homestead for a once in a lifetime opportunity of mushing with real Iditarod Champion athletes and drove our own dog sled ride in Talkeetna, Alaska! It was very interesting to be able to spend time with these athletic animals and realize the high standard of their care and training! And getting up close and personal with these puppies was a sloppy yet unforgettable time! This day we were also able to spend some time in the quaint town of Talkeetna, sampling reindeer sausage pizza and stayed at the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge which boasts the coziest environment complete with breathtaking views of the Alaska range!
Soaring Through Alaska's Skies: Unmissable Air Tours
We interrupt this blog for a fun fact. Flying is part of Alaska's culture: They have six times more pilots per capita than anywhere else in the United States! With that I will just touch on my two air tours that I enjoyed, one by K2 Aviation and the other, Alaska Helicopter Tours. Now, these will both get their own blog because how could they not. But today, I just want to highlight how unbelievable seeing Alaska from the air is and how it absolutely needs to be on your bucket list! With K2, we experienced a glacier landing which is breathtaking to say the least.You will experience the wonders of Alaska and Denali National Park, and gain a new appreciation for Alaska's size and rugged beauty. Their location in Talkeetna provides an excellent launching point for your explorations of Denali, the Alaska Range, and Denali National Park. And for our adventure with Alaska Helicopter Tours, we launched from Alaska Glacier Lodge (a fabulous gem) and headed out to our adventure. We flew out to admire views of the Knik River, Great Gorge, and Whiteout Glacier. Also landing by one of the famous blue pools on the glacier so we could drink water directly from the pools!
Adventure in Hatcher Pass
Last thing I'm going to touch on in this entry has to be SnowHook Adventures! This is something I never ever thought I would do in a million years! Riding an ATV into Hatcher Pass through water, rugged terrain and snow! SnowHook also has a lodge and cabins perfect for viewing the Northern Lights! And would be a perfect place to stop for a few nights on an Alaska land adventure! Weather gear provided and some of the kindest folks you’ll ever meet, just another amazing reason to spend your time IN Alaska!
I know I have just brushed on these experiences, but in all honesty, I am still trying to wrap my head around my experience here in Alaska. And I haven’t even mentioned my trip to Bear Mountain Lodge, which has to have its very own blog entry! I saw, tasted, breathed in, and experienced so much that it will take me some time to put it all into words to share with you! But, if Alaska is on your list, don’t table the idea of getting into the state’s ruggedness. I am not a great outdoors person at all and this was something I would most certainly do over and over. It was breathtaking, mind blowing, and simply unforgettable! Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more details and articles about my Alaskan Adventure! I still have so much to share!
