Alaska

The Last Frontier

Known as The Last Frontier, Alaska became the 49th U.S. state in 1959. Surrounded by some of the world’s most beautiful scenery, abundant wildlife and more active glaciers and ice fields than the rest of the inhabited world, it truly is a magical and unforgettable adventure.

The best time to visit is May through September when lakes and rivers have melted and there is never ending daylight. It had always been on our list of places to see and experience and we made sure to plan many experiences. Alaska is a big state; twice as large as Texas with a longer coastline than all the other states combined. Our journey took us to Ketchikan going on to visit Juneau, Seward, Anchorage, Denali and Fairbanks even reaching North Pole, Alaska that is!

Each town offers a variety of experiences whether kayaking among humpback whales, ice trekking on Mendenhall Glacier, whale-watching, hiking, to travelling by float plane to land near remote glaciers. Orcas, puffins and sea otters in the wild, glaciers calving and mid-June snowstorms- this is where to experience adventure!

Alaska Railroad

Experiencing the Alaska Railroad is the best way to visit the interior of Alaska and Denali National Park. Every summer morning, the train departs Anchorage for the 356-mile, 12-hour journey to Fairbanks, with stops in Wasilla, Talkeetna and Denali National Park. On our adventure in the Gold Star Dome Railcars with their unique outdoor viewing platforms, we were able to see Denali (known previously as Mt. McKinley), the tallest mountain in North America, 20,320 ft. above sea level. Only one-out-of-three visitors gets to see the top of Denali!

Denali National Park

Denali, the Native Alaskan name for the peak, means “The Great One.” Denali dominates the already colossal landscape of the Alaska Range and is found at the center of Denali National Park. The park is a place for inspiration and exploration for travelers. One of the most popular activities is exploring Denali by bus along the 92-mile Denali Park Road. Take in the extraordinary landscape and the opportunity to see Denali and all its wildlife, expansive valleys, mountain passes and precipitous roadside cliffs. The park offers up close interactions with grizzly and black bears, wolves, caribou, moose, fox and more in their natural environment.
Experiencing breathtaking beauty, exploring nature through kayak, hiking, and gliding over glaciers deep in Alaskan bush make it a perfect ESCAPADITA.

www.alaskarailroad.com
www.nps.gov/dena