As our plane landed, we looked out the window with our eyes wide. The glacial mountains that surround the city of Anchorage are nothing short of spectacular. Jutting straight up from the sea and covered in a pure blanket of white, every way you look is awe-inspiring.
First off, a huge thank you to our home for the past week: Susitna Place Bed and Breakfast. Monica and Steve are the two of the kindest, most wonderful hosts we have ever had. And the views! In short, if you come to Anchorage (you should!), stay with them — they operate fully between May and September.
ANCHORAGE
Many travelers simply use downtown Anchorage as a base camp when they travel to other parts of southern Alaska. We spent a couple days just exploring the city. We started off our time in Anchorage with a walk along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. The trail runs parallel to the endless mud flats and on a clear day, you can see the Chugach mountains in the distance. If you don’t want to hike the entire 11 miles, you can stroll (or bike) the 2.3 miles from Elderberry Park to Westchester Reservoir — a great and easy way to be introduced to the city and nature of the region.
We also spent a particularly special afternoon at the Anchorage Museum. We loved the Strong Women of the Northexhibit. There, we learned about women of native arctic cultures — and how hard they work to keep themselves and their villages alive and healthy in the harsh and unforgiving climate.
GIRDWOOD
In Girdwood, we went on a snowmobiling tour of Chugach National Forest to Spencer Glacier with Glacier City Snowmobile Tours. It was rough terrain — icy and cold — and driving a snowmobile can be difficult. Once we got the hang of it and found some powder, we were flying through wide open meadows with snowy mountains in the distance. A freeing and exhilarating experience surrounded by natural beauty. On a 20ºF afternoon, we were able to explore the magnificent Spencer Glacier — which is too unstable to get close to in the summer months. With clear blues seldom seen in nature and popping noises (caused by slow glacial movement) that were a bit unsettling, walking under and touching a glacier is an unbelievable experience. Spencer Glacier has receded 5 miles in the last hundred years — an unfathomable amount. Seeing the effects of climate change firsthand gave us a renewed passion to work to stop it.
Also in Girdwood is Alyeska Ski Resort. Alyeska is a beautiful mountain open to all levels of skiers and riders. With reasonable pricing and amazing trails, it’s the perfect way to spend a sunny day.
Another easy stop to add along the way is the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, about 10 miles from Girdwood. They take in animals that are orphaned or injured and provide them with a safe and happy home. There, you can see muskox, moose, bison, bears, wolves, coyotes, lynx, and much more. Seeing these animals up close is a pretty awesome experience.
SEWARD
Seward is a well-known fishing town in an inlet on the Kenai peninsula. The famous Seward Highway is even better in person. With the snowy Alaska, Chugach, and Kenai Ranges towering up above the road and reflecting off the water, photos cannot capture the beauty of southern coastal Alaska. In Seward, the boat tours offer a unique view of the longest mammal migration on earth: the movement of grey whales from Baja California to the Arctic, a whopping 12,000 miles. On our four-hour tour of Resurrection Bay with Harbor Marine Tours, we unfortunately didn’t see any grey whales. But we were surrounded by a pod of Commerson’s dolphins, the fastest mammal on earth. They jumped, dove, and zipped around our boat, putting on a show for us. We also saw mountain goats, seals, otters, sea lions, bald eagles and more.
WILLOW
Host of the Iditarod and Yukon Quest, dogsledding is a trademark Alaskan sport. At Alaskan Husky Adventures, husband and wife team Liz and Matthew Failor will welcome you to their home and kennel, introduce you to their 52 Alaskan Huskies and take you on the ride of your life. All the mushers, including Matthew, have participated in the famous Iditarod. A tradition foreign to most of the country, dogsledding is something you must experience during your time in Alaska.
Overall, Alaska and the Anchorage area were spectacular and full of adventure. It is definitely worth the trip any time of year.
Chicks Astray
Our activities and accommodations:
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