When I began researching Alaska, I counted down the days to our arrival at Denali (the highest peak in North America). Then, Alaska seemed far away but still convenient because our credit cards and phones still worked. After travelling to many countries, I now know that they both work. Check out our Alaska travel guide below!
How We Traveled There
We flew directly from Chicago, where I lived at the time, on United Airlines to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. The flight was 6 hours long, but we had to wait on the tarmac 2 hours before taking off. It is rare for me to sleep on a plane, but I did.
We rented Zipcars for the entire duration of our vacation, as we stayed in two cities. We also wanted to be able to drive on some hikes on the way. Since some of the roads were bumpy and steep, I recommend an SUV. Zipcar was less expensive because we already had a membership, so we chose this service over an airport rental.
Where We Stayed
We drove from the airport to Talkeetna in a little more than 2 hours, where we stayed at the coolest Hobbit House overlooking Fish Lake. The room is small, with just a bed and a microwave. There are no other kitchen appliances. The bathroom is located behind the cabin. The sun never went down, so our brains were always awake. But as soon as the blackout curtains were used, we fell asleep. You are one of only a few cabins on the lake.
We stayed at The Anchorage Grand Hotel in Anchorage. We barely spent any time there. The hotel was near the station, so we could see and hear the train as it pulled in.
What we did
On our first full day, we drove 45 minutes north to hike Denali State Park. There are many overlooks along the way of Denali National Park and the Denali Mountain Peak. You will be lucky if you see it! Due to the changing weather, it is only visible between 30 and 40% of the time during the summer. We didn’t hike at Denali National Park because it took two hours to get there and then another hour on a bus. We hiked Denali State Park and had an amazing view of Denali National Park.
We hiked Little Coal Creek Trail, which had a 1,900-foot elevation gain over 6.2 miles. It was hard because I wasn’t an experienced hiker. The scenery was beautiful, and we felt as if we were in The Sound of Music with the mountains. There is a small entrance fee for the state park.
We took a floatplane on the second day. It was operated by Airbnb, where we were staying. We were taken through the mountains of Denali National Park, where we saw base camp and glaciers. There were days when you could see wildlife while flying towards the mountains. It was the highlight of our trip and an opportunity we will never forget. The small plane with only six seats was a bit nerve-racking, but the view and experience were well worth it.
We hiked Hatcher Pass on our way back to Anchorage. The drive is stunning, even if you’re not a hiker. We parked at the Fishhook Trailhead parking lot and hiked up about 2/3 of the way to enjoy the view. There were also paragliders here.
We walked through Kincaid Park in Anchorage and were able to see over five moose. We had not seen any bears or moose up until this point due to the unusually hot weather in Alaska. This is a huge park with ocean access. Give mooses their space, or they may become aggressive.
Salmon Berry Tours was our choice to visit at Matanuska Glacier. The trip took about an hour from Anchorage, and we were provided with all the equipment plus lunch. It was my first time walking on a glacier. We felt that the tour company was excellent, but because we were more adventurous than our tour mates and wanted to explore more of this glacier, we felt restricted. The next time, we would have driven our car. The parking lot is next to the glacier. I would recommend hiking poles and crampons, with a helmet optional. Many people did not have these items, and while they were still able to experience the glacier, they couldn’t get as deep into it.
Where did we eat
We drove to Talkeetna and ate in local restaurants. This small town is only a few blocks long, so you can’t miss it. You can also walk into and out of a number of cute shops.
We stopped off at a Thai restaurant on the way to Anchorage, and it turned out to be our favourite meal. Many Thai restaurants were located in Alaska as a result of Thailand’s “Thai Kitchen To The World Initiative”, which aims to increase Thai exports. It is highly recommended that you try at least one of them while in Alaska.
We ate and drank in Anchorage at the 49th State Brewery. This was a popular spot, so make sure you get reservations. You can enjoy the sunset and water from outside.
What We Recommend Knowing/Preparing
- There is not enough time for exploration in 4 nights. It was a real disappointment to have to leave, knowing that there were so many more things to do within driving distance of Anchorage, including Chugach State Park. We should have spent a week in Alaska.
- We went to the area in July when there was 24-hour daylight. We didn’t care because we saw a lot during the four days that we were there since we could hike at night.
- Winter is mostly dark. This gives you a greater chance of seeing the northern lights but also limits the number of hours you can spend exploring.
- Renting a car is the best way to explore Alaska.
- Travel Tips – General Recommendations
We didn’t do anything, but we looked at
- Chugach State Park is located 20 minutes away from Anchorage.
- Helicopter tour, including glacier landing
- Seward is a city on the port that we would have loved to visit.
- Tour by boat to see wildlife
What We packed
- We packed a lot of active clothes because we were exploring. We packed warmer clothes than we needed because the weather was colder.
- The loose rocks on the trails we hiked made it necessary to wear hiking boots that have ankle support.
- If you plan to tour a glacier, bring warm clothing (jackets, gloves, hats, thick socks, etc.).
- Travel essentials and clothing recommendations
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