Alaska 8 Day Road Trip: Anchorage, Fairbanks, Glaciers, Wildlife & Denali over 1,000 Miles
Through My Lens・96 minutes read
Alaska, known as the Last Frontier, offers diverse wildlife and snow-covered mountains, with a road trip in June 2021 exploring Denali National Park, Anchorage, and Seward. The trip included visits to various attractions, from museums to national parks, showcasing the beauty and adventure Alaska has to offer.
Insights
- The road trip across Alaska included stops at various attractions in Anchorage, showcasing unique experiences like the Planet Walk, Ulu knife making, and Moose's Tooth Pub, offering insights into the local culture and cuisine.
- Denali National Park provided opportunities for wildlife sightings, bus tours with stunning views, and a chance to visit the sled dog kennels, highlighting the park's natural beauty and conservation efforts.
- Fairbanks offered a diverse range of experiences, from exploring the Museum of the North and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline viewpoint to trying gold panning and interacting with reindeer at Running Reindeer Ranch, providing a rich immersion into Alaskan heritage and nature.
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Recent questions
What is Alaska known for?
Nature, wildlife, and snow-covered mountains.
What are some attractions in Anchorage?
Resolution Park, Coastal Trail, and Planet Walk.
What activities can be done in Denali National Park?
Bus tours, hikes, and sled dog kennel visits.
What can be found at the University of Alaska Fairbanks?
Museum of the North and Trans-Alaska Pipeline viewpoint.
What is the highlight of a boat tour to Portage Glacier?
Close views of the glacier, waterfalls, and glacier ice tasting.
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Summary
00:00
Alaska Road Trip: Mountains, Wildlife, Midnight Sun
- Alaska, known as the Last Frontier, is a place of snow-covered mountains, backcountry adventures, and diverse wildlife.
- In June 2021, the narrator and their dad embarked on an eight-day road trip across Alaska, visiting Denali National Park, Anchorage to Seward route, and experiencing the midnight sun.
- The journey began with a flight from LAX to Anchorage at 8:15 am, lasting around 5 hours with a time change, arriving at 12:30 pm.
- The first day in Anchorage involved exploring Resolution Park, the Coastal Trail, Elderberry Park, and the Oscar Anderson House Museum.
- Anchorage features a Planet Walk showcasing the solar system, with stops like the Sun, Venus, and Earth, offering a unique experience for visitors.
- Snow City Cafe in Anchorage is renowned for its benedicts and crab dishes, highly recommended for a visit.
- The Ship Creek Overlook in Anchorage provides views of massive salmon swimming, a unique sight in downtown Anchorage.
- The Ulu Factory in Anchorage showcases the making of Ulu knives, traditional Alaskan knives used for various cutting applications.
- The Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage offers a glimpse into the diverse cultural groups of Alaska through life-sized dwellings and totem poles.
- Moose's Tooth Pub and Pizzeria in Anchorage is a popular spot for residents and visitors, known for its unique pizza offerings and good beer selection.
14:43
"Exploring Talkeetna: Ghost Towns to Breweries"
- Mining operations in the area began in 1897 and continued until the 1950s.
- The area was planned to be reopened but remained preserved with mining equipment and buildings.
- The area became a state park in the 1980s and is one of the best-preserved ghost towns.
- The Hard Rock Trail leads to the mining town ruins and a waterfall.
- The town features historic buildings like an assay office and a schoolhouse.
- The Wasilla Museum and Visitor Center showcases local history and is under renovation.
- The Iditarod Trail Race Headquarters offers merchandise, a museum, and dog sled rides.
- Birch syrup production is explained in a 10-minute tour with a tasting session.
- Talkeetna is known for its flight tours of Denali National Park and has a brewery.
- The town offers attractions like the Riverview Park, Nagley's Store, and antler outpost.
32:00
Exploring Denali: Nature, History, and Adventure
- The road continued to be covered in trees with brief glimpses of the mountains, but no view of Denali.
- The Alaska Veterans Memorial provided information on Alaska's role in the war effort.
- The memorial was stunning and informative, with a trail to a historic cabin and lake nearby.
- Hurricane Gulch Bridge, built in 1921, offered picturesque views and a turnout for photos.
- Igloo City, an unfinished hotel from the 1970s, was encountered on the drive to Denali National Park.
- Wildlife sightings, including moose and their babies, were common along the road to Denali.
- Denali National Park offered various activities like bus tours, hikes, and sled dog kennel visits.
- The sled dog kennels in Denali are open in the summer and serve to protect the wilderness area.
- The Savage River area in Denali provided hiking trails with stunning views, like the Savage Alpine Trail.
- Healy, a town near Denali, offered lodging options and attractions like the replica of the Into the Wild bus.
49:18
Denali Bus Tour: Wildlife, Views, Adventure
- Day three started at 6 am, checking out of a hotel in Healy to head to Denali for an 8-hour bus ride.
- Booking in advance for the bus tour is recommended as tickets can sell out quickly.
- The bus tour lasts 8 hours and offers wildlife viewing opportunities.
- Different types of buses are available, with the green bus being a transit bus taking you to mile 66 in the park.
- The tour starts with a 15-mile drive accessible to private vehicles, followed by a section only accessible by tour buses.
- Rest stops are available at mile 30 and mile 53 for bathroom breaks and stretching.
- The bus tour offers wildlife sightings, including a bear, caribou, and moose.
- The Polychrome Overlook at mile 46 provides stunning views of the Alaskan Range.
- The highlight of the trip is the view of Denali at mile 66, which is a rare sight due to cloud cover.
- The Eilson Visitor Center offers a brief stop with limited time for exploration before heading back on the bus.
01:05:39
Alaskan Adventure: Cinnamon Rolls to Reindeer
- Featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives for their enormous cinnamon roll, larger than a person's head.
- Started the day in Fairbanks with a traditional breakfast at a fun diner spot in the city.
- Visited the University of Alaska Fairbanks to explore the Museum of the North, known for its stunning architecture and collection of Alaskan heritage items.
- Museum exhibits include wildlife, cultural history, art, and climbing history of Denali, showcasing different routes and success rates.
- Explored the Trans-Alaska Pipeline viewpoint, learning about its 800-mile length and the use of "pigs" to monitor the pipeline.
- Tried gold panning at Gold Daughters, a fun spot offering guaranteed gold bags for panning.
- Visited the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum in Fairbanks, focusing on pre-World War II automobiles and period fashion displays.
- Booked a tour at Running Reindeer Ranch to interact with over a dozen reindeer, learning about them and walking alongside them.
- Stayed at Chena Hot Springs, a remote resort known for natural hot springs and the Aurora Ice Museum, offering ice art displays and an ice bar.
- Enjoyed the hot springs at Chena Hot Springs, a highlight of the trip, with massive pools of varying temperatures for relaxation.
01:21:52
Scenic Drive: River, Mountains, Historic Sites, Glaciers
- Multiple turnouts along the drive offer great views of the river and mountains, within 5-10 minutes of each other.
- Delta Junction features Big Delta State Historic Park, showcasing old roadhouses and historic buildings.
- Rika's Roadhouse, serving visitors from 1913 to 1947, is a key attraction at Big Delta State Historic Park.
- Public use cabins like the Ferryman's cabin can be booked online for stays in Alaska.
- Delta Junction serves as one of the last places for gas and food before heading further.
- Rainbow Ridge offers stunning views, with a need to watch out for moose along the road.
- Summit Lake and its surrounding town provide a scenic drive alongside the lake.
- Matanuska Glacier requires a paid tour for access, offering a guided hike with crampons and helmets.
- Glacial water absorbs all colors except blue, giving it a distinctive hue.
- The drive back to Anchorage from Matanuska Glacier offers beautiful views and wildlife sightings, like moose in the water.
01:38:53
Scenic drive to Seward with glacier tour.
- The drive to Seward offers various pullouts leading to hiking trails and historic sites, though the narrator couldn't explore them on this trip.
- The road to Seward is scenic, with mountains and coastline views.
- At an unnamed viewpoint, the narrator learned about the area's mining history and enjoyed stunning views.
- The drive enters Chugach National Forest, transitioning away from Turn-again Arm towards Seward.
- A boat tour to Portage Glacier is recommended, with tours running from June to September, offering various schedules.
- The narrator joined a boat tour with a knowledgeable guide, learning about the glacier's history and surrounding area.
- The Portage Glacier, about 6 miles long, ends in a large lake, offering a unique sight.
- The boat tour provided close views of the glacier, waterfalls, and glacier ice tasting.
- After the boat tour, the narrator visited the Wildlife Conservation Center, where animals have large enclosures and are active.
- Heading to Seward, the narrator explored the town, faced restaurant closures, and opted for a quick meal before hiking to Exit Glacier.
01:56:16
Alaskan road trip: salmon, halibut, midnight sunset.
- Driving through Copper River in Alaska, enjoying fresh catch salmon and herb-crested halibut in Anchorage, heading to Point Woronzof Beach to watch the sunset at 11:45 PM, despite cloudy skies, still witnessing beautiful views until around 11:37 PM.
